Holland America Line is celebrating its 70th year of Alaska exploration with special experiences and events scheduled on every Alaska cruise and Cruisetour.  Exclusive entertainment has been created especially for the anniversary. Alaska cuisine and culinary shows this year highlight partnerships created last year.  Thoughtful details added to Holland America Line’s already stellar Alaska programming even include two new Alaska brews and a seventh ship to handle traveler demand which just keeps on growing. Holland America Line also will showcase a new Alaska-centric menu with dishes created by the cruise line’s esteemed Culinary Council, commemorative gifts and more.

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Photos: Holland America Line- Andy Newman

Alaska Comes to Life with New Onboard Entertainment
Holland America Line has an exclusive partnership with BBC Earth to bring you unforgettable new ways to experience the world’s natural wonders, and for the 70th anniversary a new Alaska in Concert multimedia production will premiere. Combining live music set against a backdrop of mesmerizing footage from the BBC Earth television series, Wild Alaska, audiences will experience the cycle of four seasons and see this place is as unforgiving as it is beautiful.

In addition, Holland America Line is proud to continue its long relationship with the Huna indigenous people of Glacier Bay to showcase Native Voices, a program of Huna cultural interpretation while cruising through Glacier Bay National Park.

“Celebrating 70 years in Alaska — or any destination — is a milestone that isn’t often seen in our industry. We are especially proud to have been the first tour company in Alaska back in 1947, showing the beauty and greatness of this region to travelers- Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line.

Alaska Cuisine and Culinary Shows Highlight Each Cruise
Culinary and beverage experiences are at the heart of every Alaska cruise, and to celebrate the 70th anniversary Holland America Line plans a variety of exclusive offerings. America’s Test Kitchen turns up the heat with its Every Salmon shipboard cooking show featuring top tips to select and prepare the Alaska favorite. In addition, guests will be able to indulge in the Midnight Sun cocktail created by Master Mixologist Dale DeGroff.

The main dining room will showcase special décor and customized menus that celebrate the cruise line’s Alaska heritage with new dishes created by Holland America Line’s Master Chef Rudi Sodamin and the company’s Culinary Council composed of renowned chefs Jonnie Boer, David Burke, Elizabeth Falkner and Jacques Torres. A 70th Anniversary Baked Alaska will be the culmination of the celebratory meal.

Two New Alaska Brews Celebrate the 70th
While brewing beer in Alaska might not be easy, it’s certainly growing in reputation and has become one of the more popular highlights on board. Holland America Line currently features beers by Alaska Brewing Co., both on the menus and during tastings. For the 70th celebration the company will expand its selection by introducing a customized, exclusive Holland America Line Pale Ale. Another exclusive anniversary beer by Denali Brewing Company will be available at Denali for guests on Land+Sea Journeys.

Special Touches Make the 70th Anniversary Memorable
Guests will find other special touches during their 2017 Alaska cruise or Land+Sea Journey, such as a themed bon voyage party and 70th Anniversary Champagne toast on every voyage. Before or after embarking their cruise, Land+Sea Journey guests will enjoy special anniversary menu items and other anniversary touches on the land portion of their adventure and will receive a commemorative backpack with a special native-designed logo by Tlingit and Athabascan artist Crystal Worl that will be presented at Denali.

HAL Brings Seven Ships with 135 Alaska Departures in 2017
To make it possible for even more guests to cruise to Alaska with Holland America Line in 2017, the company added a seventh ship to the region to fill demand. Starting this spring, ms Amsterdam, ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Oosterdam, ms Volendam and ms Zaandam will offer a total of 135 Alaska departures  — more than any other cruise line.

Holland America Line will feature 126 seven-day cruises and nine 14-day Great Land Explorer sailings beginning in late April and running through late September. A highlight of every Alaska adventure is scenic cruising, and guests will have the opportunity to view Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm and/or the twin Sawyer Glaciers.

Land+Sea Journeys Combine an Alaska Cruise with Overland Exploration
Holland America Line’s award-winning Land+Sea Journeys combine a three-, four- or seven-day Inside Passage or Glacier Discovery cruise with in-depth overland tours to the Yukon and Alaska’s interior. Holland America Line is the only cruise company to weave must-see sites such as Denali National Park — the centerpiece of every Land+Sea Journey — with seldom-seen ones such as Dawson City, in the heart of the Klondike Gold Rush country. Offering up to three days at Denali National Park for wildlife viewing and spectacular scenery, Land+Sea Journeys are designed to highlight the best of Alaska’s wilderness, wildlife, native culture and history.

For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel professional, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.