With occasions like Nutcracker Afternoon Tea and Breakfast with Santa added to new winter-themed stateroom décor packages, cruising makes the vacations merry and vibrant
COURTESY HOLLAND AMERICA LINE: Seattle, Wash., Oct. 28, 2024 — Holland America Line is spreading cheer this vacation season with a bunch of latest culinary traditions and enhanced experiences that flip every ship into a house away from dwelling. Slightly than cooking, cleansing and taking part in host, friends on a Holland America Line cruise all through the winter holidays can bask in a brand new Nutcracker Afternoon Tea, say cheers with a refreshed cocktail menu and luxuriate in spending time with family members surrounded by the sights and smells of the season.
By the start of December, Holland America Line ships will likely be adorned for the season with festive décor, together with gingerbread villages, particular lighting, presents nestled below the tree, menorah shows and extra. From Thanksgiving by New 12 months’s, favourite vacation dishes will seem on menus all through every ship, and bars will characteristic themed cocktails that seize the spirit of the season.
“The ambiance on a vacation cruise is particular, and this yr we’ve made some enhancements like a themed afternoon tea, breakfast with Santa, stateroom décor and even festive towel animals which might be positive to thrill our friends,” mentioned Michael Smith, senior vp, visitor expertise and product growth, Holland America Line. “We’re grateful to our friends who select to share their holidays with us, and we need to ensure that we make it memorable — from a dish on the menu that tastes like dwelling to actions which might be enjoyable for the entire household.”
Culinary Favorites Carry a Style of Residence
Vacation-themed culinary delights make friends really feel at dwelling with out having to do the cooking. Menus will provide a standard Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas Eve feasts with genuine dishes from world wide, and contemporary jelly donuts and crispy potato latkes for Hanukkah. Canaletto will serve an Italian-inspired Christmas Eve dinner.
New this yr, friends on Caribbean cruises can take pleasure in a “Breakfast with Santa” expertise, and in the course of the month of December a “Nutcracker Afternoon Tea” will likely be served on choose sea days within the Eating Room on all ships.
Festive cocktails and coffees present a luxurious sipping expertise, additional enhancing the vacation spirit. Company can toast the vacations with a brand new menu, together with a Minty Elf Martini, Rudolf the Pink Margarita, De Lijn Ginger Mojito, Spiked Eggnog, Christmas Cocoa Mint Espresso, or non-alcoholic libations just like the Vanilla Gingerbread Latte and Eggnog Latte.
Actions Make the Holidays Merry
Company trying to expertise the vacations to the fullest can have loads of alternatives to make recollections on each cruise. Household and buddies can collect for a tree lighting ceremony, vacation motion pictures, caroling and extra. They’ll additionally make festive origami decorations, create ornaments in crafting classes and be taught cookie adorning ideas and methods from professional pastry cooks. Santa Claus is anticipated to make an look, and Holland America Line’s beloved towel animals will likely be becoming a member of in on the vacation theme.
Within the Youngsters Membership and Artwork Studio, households can look ahead to actions like a vacation coloring contest and making vacation playing cards, plus handprint turkeys and wreaths. A vacation scavenger hunt will present enjoyable for the entire household.
Celebrations on board begin with a tree lighting ceremony, and the enjoyable continues with a Christmas Eve Occasion and concludes with a New 12 months’s Eve Ball, full with a countdown to midnight and Champagne toasts. A visitor favourite, the “Sounds of the Season” live performance options performances by choirs made up of shipboard group members from world wide.
Holland America Line just lately launched enhanced stateroom décor packages, and over the vacations friends should purchase the “Winter Vacation” package deal to make their stateroom much more festive. The package deal comes with particular decorations and unique keepsakes, together with two stockings, an ornamental pillow and a “Blissful Holidays” blanket.
Decide the Good Vacation spot to Have fun the Holidays
With 11 ships to select from, it’s straightforward for cruisers to flee cool winter climate and decide their best locale to have a good time the vacations. Pattern vacation sailings embody:
12-Day Panama Canal Sunfarer, Rotterdam, Nov 17: After exploring ports within the Caribbean, South America, Central America, and cruising across the Panama Canal, friends can take pleasure in a calming Thanksgiving Day at sea.
14-Day Southern Caribbean Vacation, Volendam, Dec. 21: This itinerary permits friends to have a good time Christmas or Hanukkah and ring within the New 12 months on board. Highlights embody Christmas Eve in St. Thomas, Christmas Day in Basseterre, New 12 months’s Eve in Oranjestad, and a calming New 12 months’s Day at sea.
7-Day Japanese Caribbean, Nieuw Amsterdam, Dec. 22: This cruise is good for vacationers trying to spend Christmas or Hanukkah in a location well-known for its festive season. The ship visits San Juan, Puerto Rico, on the vacations (that are each celebrated on Dec. 25 in 2024).
7-Day Japanese Caribbean Vacation, Eurodam, Dec. 23: The ship overnights at San Juan on Dec. 25 after a night arrival. Company take pleasure in Christmas Day at sea earlier than arriving within the late night and might discover the town the following day to take pleasure in las Navidades even longer.
Have It All Provides Standard Facilities
Whether or not they’ve been naughty or good, friends who e book a vacation cruise with the “Have It All” premium package deal obtain further perks, relying on size of cruise: shore excursions, specialty eating, a beverage package deal and Wi-Fi.
Choices together with Breakfast with Santa, Christmas Eve in Canaletto, vacation cocktails and winter vacation décor packages can be found for an extra cost.
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