Renovations include Music Walk and first Rijksmuseum at Sea
and Explorations Central
SEATTLE, June 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- When Holland
America Line's ms Westerdam emerged from a 12-day dry dock
at Fincantieri's shipyard in Palermo, Italy, in late April, the ship debuted major
renovations that added many new public spaces and amenities,
including two firsts for the fleet: Explorations Central, or EXC,
in the Crow's Nest and Rijksmuseum at Sea. Westerdam also
received the popular Music Walk venues Lincoln Center Stage and
Billboard Onboard, the intimate Gallery Bar, a reimagined Lido
Market and The Retreat area with private cabanas.
Newly released photos show the renovations, along with
additional upgrades and modifications including suite upgrades,
enhancements to the Greenhouse Spa and Salon, renovations to youth
areas Club HAL and The Loft, and the new Holland America Line logo
on the funnels. Deck 10 saw the addition of 25 guest staterooms,
including 18 verandah and seven interior staterooms, increasing the
capacity of the ship to 1,964 guests.
"We have many innovative new programs and enhancements launching
across the fleet, and it's exciting to see them finally come to
life on Westerdam, which is the first Holland America
Line ship to get Rijksmuseum at Sea and EXC," said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line's
president. "Holland America Line is in a transformative era, and
that will be reflected in on board spaces over the coming years as
ships are updated with new venues and programming that are moving
our brand forward."
Rijksmuseum at Sea Introduced on
Westerdam
Holland America
Line's partnership with Rijksmuseum — the Museum of
the Netherlands in Amsterdam — celebrates the company's Dutch
heritage. With Rijksmuseum at Sea on Westerdam,
reproductions of some of the museum's most famous masterpieces are
showcased at a dedicated space located on Deck One of the Atrium.
Guests also can view videos about the museum and its collections on
the in-stateroom television.
New EXC (Explorations Central) Program Unveiled on
Westerdam
Holland America
Line is amplifying its destination immersion experiences
with the launch of EXC programming on Westerdam. The
multifaceted EXC experience combines a wide array of indispensable
travel resources with enrichment opportunities for guests making
their travel experience more engaging, vivid and meaningful. Much
of the EXC experience is featured in the newly created Exploration
Central's hub located in the Crow's Nest, now a comprehensive
resource and engagement center with interactive screens and a
Virtual Bridge. EXC programming also offers a full EXC Team to
engage with guests, EXC Tours, EXC Destination Guides, EXC Channel
and Theater EXC.
Music Walk Adds Lincoln Center Stage and Billboard
Onboard
Guests have even more entertainment options with
the addition of Lincoln Center Stage and Billboard Onboard,
complementing the already-existing and wildly popular B.B. King's Blues Club. Under the exclusive
partnership, Lincoln Center Stage showcases an ensemble of
world-class musicians performing multiple chamber music programs
nightly, while Billboard Onboard features the talents of two
pianists performing dynamic shows centered around the interesting
facts and figures of the music industry as chronicled by
Billboard.
Raising a Glass in Gallery Bar
During the dry dock, Westerdam received the intimate Gallery
Bar. The sophisticated venue, serving an exclusive cocktail
menu created by celebrity mixologist Dale
DeGroff, replaces Northern Lights and is adorned with an
eclectic and whimsical mix of artwork including portraits,
landscapes, still lifes and abstract pieces.
America's Test Kitchen Receives New Look
America's
Test Kitchen also sports a new look with the room receiving a new
color palate and enhancements to the show kitchen featuring gray
and red motifs as well as new tables and chairs for guests viewing
the cooking demonstrations. Produced in partnership with the
namesake, long-running public television cooking program, America's
Test Kitchen features shipboard cooking demonstrations and hands-on
workshops — with topics ranging from creating authentic Asian
dumplings to making the perfect pie crust — that will combine
foolproof, accessible recipes and cooking techniques that are
rooted in the rigorous testing and science-based approach of
America's Test Kitchen.
Food and Service Reign at Lido Market
The traditional, casual Lido buffet has been transformed into the
Lido Market concept — a marketplace with different themed stations
offering a selection of delicious options guests can grab on the go
or have quickly made to order. Areas include fresh-baked breads and
pastries at Breadboard, classic comfort food at Homestead, dishes
from around the globe at Distant Lands, Wild Harvest's freshly made
personalized salads, and sweet treats at Sweet Spot.
Service at Lido Market is enhanced with coffee, juices, water
and iced tea served tableside, and in the evening the tables have
an upgraded setting with placemats, glassware and cutlery awaiting
guests after they have selected their food from the new menu.
Additional Upgrades and Enhancements to
Westerdam
To further complete Westerdam's
transformation, 25 new staterooms were added near the top of the
ship on Deck 10. The 18 verandah and seven interior staterooms
increase the ship's capacity to 1,964 guests.
Additionally, the suites on board received the fleetwide suite
upgrades. The main living area was refreshed with a new headboard,
new carpet, wall coverings, a privacy curtain, drapery, bed runner
and bed skirt. New quartz-stone surfaces were added to the desk,
dresser, nightstands and makeup vanity which, along with new vanity
lighting, enhance the cosmetic transformation. Electronic upgrades
include a new USB outlet added to the bed's headboard, bedside LED
lights, upgraded electrical outlets and a lighted closet rod. Suite
bathrooms also were upgraded, including a wall of designer glass
tile, new vanity area, stylish floor tiles and a nightlight.
A new interactive television system was installed throughout the
ship, featuring large LED flat-screen TVs with complimentary movies
and popular TV shows on demand as well as easy access to the daily
program and shipboard information including restaurant overviews,
spa services and guest billing.
Outside on Deck 11, The Retreat was relocated from Deck 10,
providing a quiet lounging area and 15 private cabanas available
for rental that offer a relaxing oasis on deck. Various other
public spaces around the ship received new soft furnishings
including carpets, drapery, chairs and sofas, while additional
outside enhancements include new pool deck loungers and teak
decking.
Westerdam currently is cruising the Mediterranean on
12-day itineraries between Barcelona,
Spain, and Venice or
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy.
For more information, contact a travel professional, call
1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.
Editor's note: Photos are available at
https://www.cruiseimagelibrary.com/c/w5dywspw.
Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland
America Blog. Access all social media outlets via the Online
Communities quick link on the home page at hollandamerica.com.
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival
Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]
Holland
America Line's fleet of 14 ships
offers more than 500 cruises to more than 400 ports in 98
countries, territories or dependencies around the world. From
shorter getaways to 113-day itineraries, the company's cruises
visit all seven continents with highlights including Antarctica explorations, South America circumnavigations and exotic
Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; four annual Grand Voyages; and
popular sailings to the Caribbean,
Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Bermuda, Europe and the Panama Canal. The line welcomed
ms Koningsdam in 2016 and has a second Pinnacle-class
ship, ms Nieuw Statendam, to be delivered in
December 2018. A third Pinnacle-class
ship, due for delivery in 2021, recently was announced.
The company is undergoing $300
million in brand enhancements to secure its position as the
leader in premium cruising. Fleetwide, the ships feature innovative
initiatives and a diverse range of enriching experiences focused on
destination immersion and personalized travel. Guests can expand
their knowledge through an exclusive partnership with O, The Oprah
Magazine; during an America's Test Kitchen show; at Explorations
Café presented by The New York Times;
and by taking a Digital Workshop powered by Windows. Outstanding
entertainment fills each evening at venues including Lincoln Center
Stage, Billboard Onboard and B.B.
King's Blues Club. The dining experience can be savored at a
variety of restaurants with menus that feature selections from
Holland America Line's esteemed Culinary Council that comprises
world-famous chefs who design dishes exclusively for our
guests.
CONTACT:
|
Sally
Andrews
|
PHONE:
|
800-637-5029
|
EMAIL:
|
pr@hollandamerica.com
|
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SOURCE Holland America Line