This Overwater Pickleball Court is Causing a ‘Racket’
The pickleball craze continues! Not content to dominate community parks around North America, the sociable, ‘tennis light’ paddle sport is taking root in holiday destinations – not just on land resorts and hotels, but also at sea, and, in the latest twist, overwater! Pickleball on the Rivers of EuropeAmaWaterways made waves when it became the first river cruise line to introduce a full-sized pickleball court (pictured, below). That’s courtesy of the extraordinary (for river cruise ships) size of the AmaMagna, the...
This New Cruise Ship Bar Beat Out Restaurants, Hotels and More to Win “Best Beverage Menu” Award
Why just have a drink – when you can have a story, too? That’s the premise behind the cruise ship bar menu that’s won out over competitors throughout the world of hospitality. “Best Beverage Menu” was awarded to Holland America Line for its newest bar concept onboard its newest ship at the 2022 VIBE (that’s the Very Important Beverage Executives) conference.That means this bar menu isn’t just the best at sea. The award is open to any venue in the...
North American Cruising is Complete: Canada Reopens, Intra-Island Hawaiian Cruises Resume
The return of cruise travel has looked like a bit of a jigsaw puzzle. Piece by piece, cruise lines have worked out how to resurrect itineraries within the Caribbean, from the U.S. to the Caribbean, between the U.S. and Mexico… you can see the picture. Now at last, with the final two pieces, the puzzle – or rather, the cruise map of North America - is complete. Travellers can now book cruises to the entire continent. Holland America Line’s Konigsdam 1st Ship Back...
6 New Cruise Ships that Debuted this Fall You'll Want to Sail on in 2022
Just this fall, since the return to ocean cruising, we’ve also seen a splendid return of cruise ship christenings. Along with new health innovations like ventilation systems and virtual safety musters that help keep cruise travellers safe, these brand new ships offer cutting-edge design and brand-new experiences that make the ships destinations themselves. Cruise travel expert Lynn Elmhirst, producer and host of BestTrip TV, names six new ships that debuted this fall, and are sure to become cruise fan favorites...
One COVID Change of Plans Continues a Heart-Warming Legacy for this Cruise Line
Holland America Line Changes the Name of its Newbuild and Designates it the New FlagshipTravel has taken a beating by COVID-19. But there’s one way it’s giving us something to celebrate. Like all cruise lines, Holland American Line has been hit very hard by COVID. HAL has announced its operations are paused through the end of this year. The company is famous for its long and rich heritage, and what fans call its fleet of ‘dam’ ships (with names all...
In it for the Long Haul: Cruise Line Marks 147 Years of Sailing History
These historic photos and delightful vintage posters trace one of the longest journeys of any cruise line. Holland America Line commemorates its 147th anniversary in April 2020. While 147 years is not the round number milestone that usually marks big anniversary celebrations, this anniversary takes place while travel has paused globally and HAL cruise operations have temporarily ceased for only the second time in its storied past. Today’s historic times have given us all a moment to reflect, and HAL is no...
Cruise Company Offers Ships as Floating Hospitals During COVID-19
And this wouldn't be the first time ocean liners have served.
3 New Cruise Line Private Islands
It used to be that private islands were the playgrounds of the ridiculously rich and fabulously famous. Then cruise lines got into the game. Now, cruise lines are competing with each other to build exclusive tropical enclaves in the Caribbean for their guests to experience not just a day on the beach, but create travel memories they can't get anywhere else.Most of the actual private cruise line islands are small, uninhabited islands ('cays', pronounced 'keys') among the hundreds of islands...
3 New Cruise Line Private Islands
It used to be that private islands were the playgrounds of the ridiculously rich and fabulously famous. Then cruise lines got into the game. Now, cruise lines are competing with each other to build exclusive tropical enclaves in the Caribbean for their guests to experience not just a day on the beach, but create travel memories they can't get anywhere else.Most of the actual private cruise line islands are small, uninhabited islands ('cays', pronounced 'keys') among the hundreds of islands...
Hawaii and Tahiti Added to Holland America Line's FOOD & WINE Shore Excursions
Now guests of the cruise line can choose from nearly 100 culinary-themed shore excursions that allow you to connect with destinations through their food culture while sailing on Holland America Line cruises. HAL's partnership with FOOD & WINE already includes exclusive tours in Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Canada & New England, the Mediterranean, and Northern Europe. These shore excursions allow you to take hands-on cooking classes with top local restaurant chefs, culinary walking tours of a destination, taste authentic street food, explore local...