Holland America Line has partnered with Vital Choice, a family of over a dozen sort of related brands featuring gourmet foods, gift baskets, floral products, personalized keepsake items, and more. The plan brings the same fresh fish cuisine recipes enjoyed at sea to your home.

Guests can order three fish varieties online or through the Vital Choice and Harry & David catalogs to prepare with a Holland America Line recipe in their own kitchen: Wild Alaska Halibut, Wild Pacific King Salmon, and Wild Chilean Sea Bass. These three dishes will also be available while sailing on a Holland America ship in the Caribbean and Alaska.

I eat Salmon nearly every day. It is the perfect food. Taking a look at how that prices out with this program, it’s $80.00 a pound + shipping which works out to more than $20 per 4 oz portion for Salmon. If that’s the case, they better send Chef Rudi along with it! Or maybe a video of Rudi showing us how to do it…something along those lines.

Stop. Let’s back this up a bit.

This offering is a little bit reminiscent of sister-line Carnival Cruise Line’s Presidential Wine Club which promised hand-selected vintages chosen by the line’s then President, Bob Dickinson. We subscribed and enjoyed the wines until we found out on board that they were the wines that did not sell on the ships. Somehow they never tasted as fine after that.

Where this will go, who knows? But we have strayed a bit beyond the scope of this blog today so, in all fairness, here is the announcement from the cruise line:

PRESS RELEASE

Holland America Line Teams Up with Vital Choice® to Bring Vacation Flavors Home 
Seattle, Wash., Oct. 25, 2023 — Holland America Line is building on its groundbreaking global fresh fish program by joining Vital Choice® in a collaboration that will have guests enjoying the same fresh fish cuisine recipes at sea and at home. Vital Choice, the trusted source for premium wild-caught fish and seafood, shares Holland America Line’s commitment to serving fish that is flavorful and responsibly sourced.  

Guests will be able to enjoy three Vital Choice-inspired dishes developed by Holland America Line chefs at home. Shoppers can order three fish varieties online or through the Vital Choice and Harry & David catalogues to prepare with a Holland America Line recipe in their own kitchen: Wild Alaska Halibut, Wild Pacific King Salmon and Wild Chilean Sea Bass. Guests also will be able to enjoy the three Vital Choice-inspired dishes while sailing onboard in the Caribbean and Alaska.

“Holland America Line and Vital Choice share the belief that fish should taste great and be sustainably sourced, making this an ideal collaboration for our guests and Vital Choice customers,” said Michael Stendebach, vice president of food, beverage and guest services for Holland America Line. “Our team of chefs developed recipes that perfectly highlight the varieties of fish we will serve in Lido Market and are featured in the Vital Choice catalogue, and we look forward to debuting the dishes on board.”

The collaboration and recipes will be promoted on board, through the Vital Choice and Harry & David catalogues, online, through social media and e-mail marketing. Kicking off this month, Holland America Line guests on the six ships in the Caribbean will be able to select a Gold Gala Pan-Seared Sea Bass dish in Lido Market. When the Alaska season resumes with six ships in April, Pacific Halibut with Lime Tarragon Aioli, and Alaska Grilled King Salmon Filet with Capers and Dill entrees will be added to the Lido markets. The fresh fish dishes at Lido Market are complimentary for all guests.  

“With Holland America Line, and through exceptional cuisine, we’re furthering our vision to inspire more expression, connection, and celebration,” said Joseph Rowland, group president, Gourmet Foods & Gift Baskets, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. “By uniting our dedication to high-quality, sustainably sourced fish and innovative recipes, we’re fostering connections and creating memorable culinary experiences for all to enjoy, whether they’re cruising or savoring at home.”

The Wild Alaska Halibut, Wild Pacific King Salmon and Wild Chilean Sea Bass are available for purchase in 4- or 6-ounce options, with the choice of six, 12 or 24 portions. Recipes for the Seared King Salmon and Broiled Halibut are featured in the catalogue, and all recipes will be on VitalChoice.com, so home chefs can recreate the delicious dishes in their own kitchen.  

Holland America Line’s Fresh Fish Program
Teaming up with Vital Choice comes after Holland America Line recently announced a new fresh fish program that engages a global network of 60 ports to source and serve 80 types of fresh fish on board in all restaurants. Guests will find fresh fish and ingredients native to various regions where the ships are sailing, yielding destination-inspired menus.

The program also includes daily fresh fish specials and a planned expansion of the cruise line’s “Savor My Catch” excursion where guests can catch fish that is then prepared and served by chefs on board.

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