Premium Line at the Top

HOLLAND America Line took home five Porthole Cruise Magazine's 2018 Readers' Choice Awards. Readers from Porthole, one of the world's leading consumer cruise travel publications, recognized Holland America Line in areas that covered everything from top shoreside experiences to onboard facilities.

Holland America Line won in the categories of Best Shore Excursions, Best Private Island for Half Moon Cay, Most Eco-Friendly Line, Best Medical Facilities and Best Facilities for Guests with Disabilities.

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Rise in Baltic Cruises

GOOD opportunities for local port cities are up for grabs as a cruise shipping boom sweeps the Baltic. Both Rostock and Kiel are already profiting from it. Between them they are expecting 1.3 million #cruise ship visitors during this year’s season – an increase of 12.5% over last year.

The 2018 cruise shipping season on the Warnow River begins on April 8th with the arrival of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ “Boudicca”. This year a total 205 visits by 43 different cruise ships are expected. On the 2018 timetable are 39 visits by very big passenger ships which are more than 300 m long.

In the port of Kiel the 2018 season starts on April 6th and lasts until the end of October. A total of 166 calls by 32 different cruise ships have been registered. The numerical highlight of the year will come on August 11th when five cruise ships will be in the port at the same time. Although Kiel is predominantly a start and end port for cruises, it also expects 23 visits this year by ships on running cruises, whose international passengers will visit Kiel and the surrounding region as well Hamburg and Lübeck. One particular draw is the Kieler Woche sailing regatta, which will take place June 16th-24th. Twelve ocean-going and three inland river cruise ships will be in port to attend that event.

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Picture Credit: 03 Ostseekai Kiel Foto Tom Koerber

Australia’s cruise industry soars

A record number of ships making a record number of visits to ports around #Australia has seen the value of the #cruise industry surge past $5 billion for the first time, but sluggish growth for New South Wales spells crunch time for the nation’s gateway port, Sydney. 

A new report has revealed that the Australian cruise industry’s national economic output surged by 15.4 per cent in 2016-17 to reach $5.3 billion, up from $4.6 billion in 2015-16.

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Holland America Lines Million Dollar art collection

HOLLAND America Line newest vessel, ms Koningsdam, which launched in April 2016 has a collection of art on board worth USD $4.1 million. The result is a floating art gallery with 1,920 pieces ranging in value from USD $500 to USD $600,000 that spans the decks, public rooms and staterooms. 

More than 21 nationalities are represented by Koningsdam’s artists, with the greatest number of contributors coming from the Netherlands, the United States and the United Kingdom. Artists also hail from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Norway, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, South Korea, Spain and Switzerland. Koningsdam features artworks in many media, including photography, painting, mixed media, illustration, prints and sculpture.

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Picture Credit: Pintrest Holland America Line

Cruise Industry surpasses 2016 ocean cruise passenger projections

CRUISE Lines International Association (CLIA) announced the cruise industry has surpassed 2016 ocean #cruise passenger projections, reaching 24.7 million cruise passengers globally up from a projection of 24.2 million. 

For 2017, based on current new vessel launch schedule and expected regional deployment, CLIA is projecting another positive year of growth for the industry with a passenger forecast of 25.8 million. 

“One of the many reasons that the cruise industry continues to thrive is because of the personalization it is able to offer to its guests from around the world,” said Cindy D’Aoust, president and CEO, CLIA. “Never before have I been a part of or seen an industry that is so good at listening and reacting to what its customers want, and this is why we are going to see our industry continue to grow.” 

Top Cruise Destinations in 2016:

1. Caribbean (35 percent) 

2. Mediterranean (18.3 percent) 

3. Europe w/o Med (11.1 percent) 

4. Asia (9.2 percent) 

5. Australia/New Zealand/Pacific (6.1 percent) 

6. Alaska (4.2 percent) 

7. South America (2.5 percent)

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