Holland America Line is debuting Glacier Day on its Alaska cruises as it rolls out new programming within its We Love Alaska onboard experience.
The 2024 season kicks off April 27 from Vancouver and May 4 from Seattle.
The new offerings include Alaska Up Close presentations, as well as culinary and beverage experiences to help foster a deeper connection to the people, history and culture of the state.
"Holland America Line continues to focus on bringing regional and local experiences on board every cruise, with our Alaska sailings leading the way in authentic programming, localized cuisine, and now special events like Glacier Day," said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer of Holland America Line. "We continue to cultivate like-minded partnerships and fine-tune everything from co*cktails to wildlife maps to ensure our guests are completely immersed in all facets of Alaska."
Through September 2024, guests can embark on Holland America Line's Alaska cruises and Cruisetours from Vancouver and Seattle aboard Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam.
In addition to seven-day itineraries, guests can take longer 14-day cruises and a new 28-day Arctic Circle Solstice Legendary Voyage that includes 12 Alaska ports.
Cruisetours range from nine to 18 days and include a one-, two- or three-day visit to Denali National Park.
Select Cruisetours also include a journey into the wilds of Canada's Yukon.
Holland America Line remains the only cruise line that offers overland tours to the Yukon combined with an Alaska cruise and Denali experience.
The new Glacier Day includes sighting times, scenic commentary, presentations, informational viewing stations, photo opportunities, Dutch pea soup on deck, glacier ice co*cktails, insightful talks by Glacier Bay National Park rangers and Huna cultural interpreters, and an open bow for viewing.
Every Alaska cruise includes a visit to one or more of Alaska's iconic glacier destinations: Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier, and the Twin Sawyer Glaciers of Tracy Arm.
Shore excursions also offer the opportunity to visit additional glaciers, including Mendenhall and Portage glaciers.
Holland America continues to build on its Global Fresh Fish program, which includes being the only cruise line with Alaska seafood certified sustainable by the Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) and bringing locally sourced fresh fish from port to plate in less than 48 hours.
In addition to the seafood and other local delicacies served on the menus, ships in Alaska will serve three exclusive dishes created by the brand's Fresh Fish Ambassador Chef Morimoto: Fresh Black Cod Yuzu, Morimoto Epice Lobster and Fresh Halibut XO.
A new Alaska seafood boil will be offered once per cruise in Lido Market for a surcharge.
The foodie feast will serve Ivar's northwest-style clam chowder, Dungeness cruise clusters, Alaska salmon, Penn Cove clams, Penn Cove mussels and a shrimp bucket, with triple berry crisp and vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Offered once per cruise, all dishes on the Alaska brunch menu in the dining room were created with the influence of fresh, local Alaskan and Pacific Northwest ingredients.
The selections range from sweet to savory and include Alaskan blueberry pancakes, salmon and potato chowder, wild forest mushroom and tarragon crepes, Kodiak steak and egg skillet, crab and hot smoked salmon cakes, biscuits with gravy and Alaskan reindeer sausage, and home smoked Gulf of Alaska cod benny.
Acclaimed bartender Sam Ross created a menu of exclusive co*cktails that will be featured in the bars on all Alaska ships: Juneau AK, Klondiker, PNW Penicillin, Mosquito, Midnight Sun and Frontier Champagne Flip.
Holland America Line is debuting a new Killer Whale Pale Ale on all Alaska cruises.
The beer was produced in collaboration with Pike Brewing – Seattle's oldest craft brewery – and features notes of honey, citrus and tropical fruits.
The label artwork was created in collaboration with Native artist Rico Worl, a member of the Tlingit and Athabascan community, who also designed the artwork featured on the Alaska menus.
The Killer Whale Pale Ale label represents the foodchain in the Pacific Northwest, with a seal deftly maneuvering out of the grasp of a killer whale.
Alaska ships also carry an expert on board to help guests witness the wildlife found in the region, and a wildlife spotting guide points out the animals found along the cruise route and includes a map with the best places to see each species.
Ashore, Holland America Line offers nearly 180 shore excursions to see species of all kinds.
Holland America Line will continue to donate proceeds from its On Deck for a Cause charitable event aboard ships in the region to Alaska Geographic, the nonprofit education partner of Alaska's parks, forests, refuges and conservation lands.
Guests on all Alaska cruises will be invited to donate $25 to participate in a noncompetitive 5K fundraising walk aboard every sailing.
Funds raised will go to support education, science and research in Alaska's parks.
The 2023 Alaska season raised more than $100,000 for Alaska Geographic.
Guests with easy access to Seattle or Vancouver have an opportunity to cruise to Alaska at a reduced rate of $49 per person, per day with Holland America Line's Standby program.
Travellers who sign up for a cruise are alerted between seven and two days before departure if they will be sailing.
Solo cruisers also only pay $49 per day and do not incur a single supplement for a double stateroom.
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