Holland America Line Continues Improving with Bold, Onboard Enhancements,

I happened to find this when I awoke this morning:

Press Release Source: Holland America Line


Holland America Line Continues Improving with Bold, Onboard Enhancements, Setting a New Standard in Cruise Dining Experience
Wednesday February 11, 4:52 pm ET
New Signature of Excellence Initiative Delivers an Enhanced Five-Star Culinary Experience with a Stunning Ocean View


SEATTLE, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Holland America Line announced today that, as part of its $225 million Signature of Excellence initiative, it is once again elevating the five-star dining experience in premium cruising. Dining enhancements include a groundbreaking new Culinary Arts Theater, elegant dining alternatives such as the Pinnacle Grill, more personalized service, the flexibility of additional dining times in the main dining room and enhanced Lido dining service. Holland America Line has long been famous for its innovative dining concepts and the most extensive menus at sea, blending together modern Continental cuisine, traditional favorites and regional specialties appropriate to each cruising area. With these new enhancements, Holland America Line continues to demonstrate its leadership in defining the ultimate premium cruise experience.
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The new Culinary Arts Theater integrates a love for food and wine with an entertaining, onboard enrichment experience. The Pinnacle Grill provides an elegant, reservations-only dining alternative that features Sterling Silver premium meats and fresh seafood. Guests in the main dining room will benefit from enhanced one-on-one service, innovative food preparation techniques as well as the ability to choose from four dining times. New services added to the casual Lido include made-to-order dinner entrees and table service provided by wait staff. In addition, Holland America Line's complimentary 24-hour room service has been expanded and enhanced.

"These enhancements will ensure that every dining experience aboard our ships is truly extraordinary," said David A. Giersdorf, Holland America Line's executive vice president, marketing and sales. "We're continuing to deliver on our philosophy that the total dining experience must be as impeccable as the service and quality of the food."

Culinary Arts Theater - Where Food and Wine Meet Entertainment

The innovative Culinary Arts Theater is the perfect draw for food and wine lovers who can choose to participate in guest chef presentations, demonstration events and small cooking classes. The interactive gourmet experiences will take place in the ships' new, specially designed Culinary Arts Theaters featuring state-of-the-art show kitchens with broadcast capabilities that allow guests in the theater audience to get a close-up of the cooking action, and allow other guests to watch these culinary events from the comfort of their staterooms. In addition to interactive events and demonstrations, guests will be able to explore the wide array of culinary offerings at new wine and gourmet specialty shops.

The Culinary Arts Theater will debut on the ms Ryndam in October 2004 during a cruise to Mexico and will be added to all ships in Holland America Line's fleet in the next 24 months.

Pinnacle Grill -- The Best Steakhouse at Sea

The Pinnacle Grill is one of the most notable additions to the at-sea dining experience. The popular alternative restaurant is currently featured on all but one of Holland America Line's ships. The restaurant will be added to the last ship, the ms Veendam, in Spring 2004. The reservations-only restaurant celebrates Northwest cuisine and select fine wines in a romantic, upscale atmosphere. Distinctive Bulgari china, elegant Riedel stemware and Frette linens take the Pinnacle Grill to a level of elegant sophistication unmatched anywhere in the premium cruise category.

Menus include "Sterling Silver" premium hand-selected cuts of beef, unsurpassed in tenderness and taste, including bone-in Delmonico rib-eye steak, center-cut Porterhouse steak and two sizes of filet mignon. Also featured are savory seafood dishes such as Northwest clam chowder, Alaskan king salmon, and Dungeness crab cakes with spiral shaved cucumber and sweet chili sauce. Delicious entrees are complemented by a wide assortment of side dishes, including Washington spuds au gratin, grilled asparagus avec Bearnaise, sauteed button mushrooms or a honey maple three-bean ragout. Guests can top off their meal by choosing from a collection of delectable desserts such as warm Grand Marnier chocolate volcano cake, not-so-classic baked Alaska made with Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream and a new creme brulee sampler.

The Main Dining Room -- a Dining Experience as Breathtaking as the View

Servers greet guests in the main dining room with menus of five-course selections, from appetizers, soups and salads to entrees and desserts. Each day, guests can choose from more than 25 delicious menu items. Here they are able to savor fare such as seared scallops and filet mignon with crab legs and Hollandaise sauce. To complement the meal, Holland America Line offers an extensive wine list, including many wines rated "excellent" by Wine Spectator. Holland America Line is enhancing its gracious, old-world hospitality and service in the main dining room by providing new, one-to-one service. This will allow one server to stay with their assigned tables while a food "runner" delivers each course from the kitchen. This not only ensures quicker delivery time for the delectable cuisine, but the freshness of meals will be increased as well.

Other enhancements include all-white table linens on every ship and elegant, new Rosenthal main course plates.

In addition, guests now can choose from four dinner seating times in the main dining room. With two additional seating times, guests enjoy greater flexibility and still can take advantage of the Holland America Line's celebrated evening entertainment.

New Options Continue to Enhance Popular Lido Dining Experience

If a more casual experience is desired, guests can choose to visit the renowned Lido. Holland America Line pioneered Lido dining as an alternative that features breakfast, lunch and dinner in a relaxed atmosphere. The Lido offers a broad selection of freshly carved meats and seafood, fruits and vegetables, breads and cereals, beverages and desserts. This popular dining experience has been further enhanced to provide guests with a relaxed, sit-down dinner option with new made-to-order dinner entrees and table-side waiter service at dinner.

Complimentary 24-hour room service has also been expanded and enhanced to provide yet another dining choice for those who wish to enjoy their meals in the privacy and comfort of their stateroom or private verandah.

These changes as well as other aspects of the Signature of Excellence program began in late 2003 and will be completed across all of Holland America Line's fleet of ships in the next 24 months.

About Signature of Excellence

As the premium cruise leader, Holland America Line is investing $225 million in the Signature of Excellence initiative to provide unparalleled product and service enhancements to its fleet of five-star ships. Signature of Excellence will build on Holland America Line's renowned tradition of excellence by significantly raising the standard in premium cruising. The comprehensive enhancements will focus on five areas central to the Holland America Line guest experience: spacious, elegant ships and accommodations; sophisticated five-star dining; gracious, unobtrusive service; extensive enrichment programs and activities; and compelling worldwide itineraries. Enhancements, and in some cases construction build-outs, have been started and are expected to be completed by the end of 2005.

About Holland America Line (a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL; CUK)

In 2004, Holland America Line's fleet of 13, five-star, premium ships will offer nearly 500 sailings from 15 North American home ports, including new departures from Norfolk, VA; Baltimore, MD; and Boston, Mass. Recent additions to the fleet include the 1,848-passenger Vista ships, ms Zuiderdam and ms Oosterdam. In April 2004, the third Vista sister, ms Westerdam joins the fleet. The fleet will visit all seven continents in 2004, while increasing the number of cruises to popular destinations like Alaska (139 cruises scheduled), the Caribbean (191), Europe (58) and Canada/New England (26).

Holland America Line excels in service, amenities and special programs. Known for consistent and attentive service, its ships have one of the highest staff members to guest ratio. Spacious staterooms average 25 percent larger and verandahs twice as large as those on other lines' ships. Menus are among the most extensive at-sea. Dining choices include formal elegance, alternative specialty dining in the Pacific Northwest-themed Pinnacle Grill, casual fare and complimentary 24-hour room service.

The winner of the 10th consecutive "Best Overall Cruise Value" award from the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society (WOCLS), the line offers the only trip cancellation program in the industry that offers cash back for canceling for any reason prior to 24 hours before departure. For more information, consult a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425) or visit http://www.hollandamerica.com .

World's Leading Cruise Lines

The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world in the 2003 Travel & Leisure magazine "World's Best" Awards, Holland America is a member of the exclusive World's Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line, Costa Cruises and Windstar Cruises. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, the member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. The World's Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations. Conde Nast Traveler magazine readers also ranked Holland America Line as the top premium cruise line in the world in the much-anticipated 2003 Readers' Choice Awards.

Contact: Rose Abello
Phone: 206-281-3535; 206-313-7673 international cell phone
Fax: 206-281-0351 E-mail:




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Source: Holland America Line

Seared scallops, Filet mignon, and crab legs with hollandaise sauce.
...... I hope they haven't elliminated the lobster tails. ...Jon

We were disappointed that on our 16 day cruise lobster was only offered one
time. On the previous Hawaii cruise I recall that they were offered at
least twice.

They did not automatically bring doubles this time.
--
DG in Cherry Hill, NJ

ABB

wrote in message
...
Seared scallops, Filet mignon, and crab legs with hollandaise sauce.
..... I hope they haven't elliminated the lobster tails. ...Jon

I don't know what the big deal about lobster is. I have had much better
lobster in my own kitchen, or even at Red Lobster than some I've been
served on a ship. I'd personally welcome a wonderful dish as this, if
the Maitre d' would peel the legs for me.

Candy -- liked the Dover Sole better than the lobster

wrote:

Seared scallops, Filet mignon, and crab legs with hollandaise sauce.
..... I hope they haven't elliminated the lobster tails. ...Jon

Lot's of info on Pinnacle ,But will they now start charging extra ?
On Vollendam in six weeks !
BILL

"Candy" wrote
I don't know what the big deal about lobster is. I have had much better
lobster in my own kitchen, or even at Red Lobster than some I've been
served on a ship.

I agree. On the Radiance the lobster was barely average... a bit mushy. It
was one of the poorer dishes served during the week. OTOH... the jerk
chicken was truly outstanding. It may not have been authentic, but it was
very well prepared and had a nice, spicy flavor. It is nice to see spicy
dishes turning up every now and then. I wish it would happen more often.

Oh... NEVER order Huevos Rancheros on Royal Caribbean unless your idea of
Mexican food is Campbell's pork and beans served with two fried eggs. vbg


--
George in PA http://www.countryside-travel.com

r.t.c. Great Land Cruise-Las Vegas http://www.cruisemaster.com/lvbash.htm
Sleazy 3 - Carnival Conquest http://www.cruisemaster.com/sleazy3.htm
The Mother of All Group Cruises http://www.motherofallgroupcruises.com

As the HAL website suggests, "There is a modest surcharge for this
extraordinary dining experience."

I believe that it was $20 per person.
--
DG in Cherry Hill, NJ

ABB

wrote in message
...
Lot's of info on Pinnacle ,But will they now start charging extra ?
On Vollendam in six weeks !
BILL

From: "Dick Goldhaber"

As the HAL website suggests, "There is a modest surcharge for this
extraordinary dining experience."

I believe that it was $20 per person.

It is .. and it is worth that ... but cheapskates like me ...book it the first
night when they offer a twofer ...

Be seeing you
In the Village
Number 6

I agree the Lobster tails are no hell, especially on the HAL cruise
ships. (And probably on every cruise ship, for that matter) . ...Reminds
me of those little guys I get when I order steak and lobster in the Reno
casinos for around $6.95 a serving. (about half of them are mushy too.)
...But as with anything, you get what you pay for. On my drive down from
B.C. to Calif., I always stop at a little seafood restaurant in Oregon.
Here, the tails are still those "big" pinkish/brown guys with the white
and black markings on the sides . ...You know the ones I'm talking
about. ...You pay at least 40 bucks a dinner for. -- And worth every
penny, too!! ...I can't figure out why they make such a big issue out
of serving these piddly little tails on the cruise ship. ...It's like
their "one time" caviar appetizer -- Right...Less than a teaspoon full.
...And it's not even good caviar. ....Nevertheless, I still love
lobster-- small or large. ...What worries me though, is If they start
eliminating this dish, then you know the cruise line is definitely
working at creating an assembly line of crap food, simply to cut costs.
Lobster has been a tradition on cruise ships for some time now... Hate
to see it go.

....You can have your spicy food. All you're eating is bland, tasteless
TV dinner type "crap" food that's been camouflaged. ...This is
becoming the major problem with cruise ship food. ...At home, I may put
a bit of salt and pepper on my meal -- simply to enhance the taste.. In
contrast, on a cruise line, if they didn't liberally smother their food
with hot spices and that horrible herb: Rosemary...The food would
undoubtedly taste like dog food.. ...Jon

Pinnacle Grill has a surcharge of $20 per person.