As lists of cruise awards go, winners can make perfect sense, no sense at all and everything in-between. Still, of all the awards, Porthole Cruise Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Awards seem to most accurately reflect what we might actually experience when sailing. A highlight of the 2019 Porthole Editor-in-Chief awards: Rudi’s Sel de Mer French seafood brasserie on Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam.

 Here’s the news:

Seattle, Wash., Jan. 23, 2019 — Rudi’s Sel de Mer, a French seafood brasserie aboard Holland America Line’s newly launched Nieuw Statendam, and the cruise line’s Alaska itineraries were named among the best of the best in Porthole Cruise Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Awards for 2019. The annual awards are chosen by Bill Panoff, the magazine’s editor-in-chief and publisher, and winners were announced in the January/February 2019 issue of Porthole Cruise Magazine.
 
“As Holland America Line continues to revolutionize the brand and build on its reputation as the leader in premium cruising, we are honored to receive these awards from a travel expert as esteemed as Bill Panoff,” said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line’s president. “Rudi’s Sel de Mer has quickly become one of the most sought-after dining reservations at sea, and with more than 70 years of experience taking guests throughout the great state of Alaska, Holland America Line is uniquely qualified to show travelers the best of the Great Land. We’re grateful that Bill and Porthole Cruise Magazine recognized our expertise.”
 
Panoff’s role at the magazine includes extensive travel, and the Editor-in-Chief Awards honor his favorite travel experiences that left amazing impressions in terms of service, quality and memorable moments. The Best New Restaurant at Sea and Best Alaska Itineraries awards earned by Holland America Line recognize the premium brand’s innovative approach to culinary offerings at sea as well as more than 70 years of Alaska exploration.
 
“The cuisine I enjoyed at Rudi’s Sel de Mer, coupled with a charming ambiance and fantastic service, put it up there with the finest Michelin restaurants,” said Panoff. “And with Holland America Line’s decades of Alaska exploration, they have perfected everything, from crafting the ideal itineraries to the variety of shore excursions and exclusive overland tours. Congratulations on these well-deserved recognitions.”
 
Rudi’s Sel de Mer on Nieuw Statendam is an intimate French brasserie serving an à la carte selection of classic seafood dishes with a modern twist. Re-creating a setting reminiscent of the finest casual French restaurants, Rudi’s Sel de Mer is the namesake of Holland America Line’s Master Chef Rudi Sodamin. Menu items include Marinated Lobster, Grilled Shrimp Provençale, Grilled Seafood Platter and Duck à l’Orange.
 
Holland America Line’s “We Are Alaska” branding stakes a claim about its leadership, expertise and history in Alaska for more than seven decades — longer than Alaska has been a state. In 2019 Holland America Line will offer a robust season of cruises on eight ships, with more visits to Glacier Bay than any other line. The upcoming season also will see the introduction of soft-adventure EXC In-Depth Alaska cruising and the continuation of the line’s popular Land+Sea Journeys, the only travel option that combines an Alaska cruise with overland travel to Denali and the Yukon’s hidden gems.
 
Porthole Cruise Magazine, the world’s leading cruise travel magazine, now in its 23^rdyear, is published bimonthly and is available on newsstands as well as by both print and digital subscriptions. Featuring a wide range of cruise content for both first-time and experienced cruisers, each issue includes ship reviews, destination features, and other editorial surrounding cruise trends, food and wine, spa and well-being, entertainment, kids’ activities, and other onboard amenities.

Rudi Does It Nieuw, Excellence Ensues

To learn more, visit Porthole.com and connect with @PortholeCruise on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
 
For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.
 
Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland America Blog.  Access all social media outlets via the home page at hollandamerica.com.

Here’s more of the 2019 Porthole Cruise Magazine Editor-in-Chief Awards with some other notable wins highlighted as well, each the topic of upcoming first-hand account posts here.

Best Lounge: Blue Eye (Ponant)
Best Production Shows: Viaggio and Sonor by Cirque du Soleil (MSC Cruises)
Best Spa Operator: OneSpaWorld
Best Specialty Restaurant: Remy (Disney Cruise Line)
Best Cruise Director: Gary Hunter (Crystal Cruises)
Best Mobility/Accessibility Provider: Special Needs Group
Best New Restaurant at Sea: Rudi’s Sel de Mer (Nieuw Statendam,
Holland America Line)
Best New Activity Enhancement: Le Grand Bistro’s plate projections
(Celebrity Edge)
Best Speaker Series: Crystal Cruises
Best Cruise Partnership: Windstar Cruises and James Beard Foundation
Best New Ship: Norwegian Bliss (Norwegian Cruise Line)
Best Art Collaboration: Wyland (Norwegian Bliss)
Best Social Media: U by Uniworld
Best Must-Have Cruise App: Ship Mate
Best Hawaiian Itineraries: Norwegian Cruise Line
Best South American Itineraries: Oceania Cruises
Best Caribbean Itineraries: Royal Caribbean International
Best Alaska Itineraries: Holland America Line
Best Trans-Atlantic Experience: Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line