There is a lot going on at Holland America as the 145-year-old cruise line continues to grow. Last year, new Koningsdam was introduced and this year brings sister-ship Nieuw Amsterdam.  Appropriate partnerships with America’s Test Kitchen, Food & Wine Magazine and more (even Oprah), have proved to be a good fit for Holland America Line cruise travelers. As the Holland America Experience evolution continues, we have a round up of several recent stories that got them there.

Welcome New Culinary Council Member Ethan Stowell
Holland America Line is amplifying the star power on its award-winning Culinary Council with the addition of Seattle chef Ethan Stowell. Keeping the Holland America Experience in mind, the Seattle-based premium cruise line chose the hometown chef to enhance its culinary offerings aboard its fleet of 14 ships, including Nieuw Statendam, which begins sailing Dec. 5, 2018.

Ethan Stowell is the executive chef and owner of Ethan Stowell Restaurants in Seattle. His highly acclaimed restaurants include Tavolàta, How to Cook a Wolf, Staple & Fancy Mercantile, Ballard Pizza Company, Rione Xlll, Bar Cotto, Mkt., Red Cow, Frēlard Pizza Company, Bramling Cross, Marine Hardware, Tavolàta Capitol Hill, Derby at The Shop, and Ballard Pizza Company SLU, as well as Goldfinch Tavern in the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle. His food philosophy is all about keeping it simple, using fresh ingredients and allowing the food to do the talking.

No Roughing It As Denali Experience Expands- Alaska Denali Operation Gets New Guest Accommodations Featuring First-Ever Junior Suite-Level Rooms
Holland America is expanding the guest experience on its Alaska Land+Sea Journeys cruisetours with the new guest accommodations at its 68-acre Denali Resort operation on the Nenana River. A 99-room addition will feature the first-ever junior suites at the resort and is expected to be open for the 2019 Alaska season. The 55 new junior suites will showcase balconies, larger living areas and greater amenities for guests.

A different Holland America Experience on land, all junior suites have balconies with views of the surrounding Alaska wilderness for them to enjoy private comfort. Each floor will have a central, open-air lobby with cozy furniture. The third floor has open public deck space with tables and loungers so guests can take in the panoramic scenery.

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See The Newly Elevated Holland America Alaska Experience for more

Tasty: Three America’s Test Kitchen Feature Cruises Showcase Cast Members, Editors and Authors
Foodies and those who simply love to learn about gastronomy can now embark on a culinary journey with Holland America Line during three exclusive America’s Test Kitchen feature cruises. The special sailings elevate the cruise line’s partnership with the multifaceted media company and will showcase leading America’s Test Kitchen cast members.

The three America’s Test Kitchen feature cruises:

• May 6, 2018, seven-day Alaska Inside Passage cruise on Westerdam
• July 7, 2018, 14-day Northern Isles on Zuiderdam
• Sept. 22, 2018, seven-day Canada & New England Discovery on Veendam

See The Collectively Intelligent Vision Continues At Holland America Line for more

Culinary-themed EXC Tours Developed in Partnership with FOOD & WINE
The long-time partnership between Holland America Line and FOOD & WINE magazine has delivered the a culinary-focused version of the Holland America Experience for more than a dozen years. The collaboration is expanding with a collection of exciting culinary-themed EXC Tours (shore excursions), that explore food, wine and culture in some of the world’s hottest gastronomic locales.

Twenty-three new shore excursions are now available for booking on select 2018 cruises to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. FOOD & WINE EXC Tours on Mediterranean cruises are offered in Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kerkira, Nisos Kerkira (Corfu), and Thira (Santorini), Greece; Livorno (Florence), Naples and Venice, Italy; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Kotor, Montenegro; and Cádiz (Seville), Barcelona and Málaga (Granada), Spain.

See Holland America Culinary Evolution Continues Thoughtful Focus for more

As the Holland America experience evolution continues, we’ll have the details.  The story is far from over.

Holland America Experience Photos: Holland America Line