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Holland America Line marks 150th anniversary in Rotterdam with royalty, citywide fanfare and dual-ship events

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 19 April 2023 19 April 2023

Holland America Line’s flagship Rotterdam arrived at the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, yesterday morning following a 150th Anniversary crossing that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, April 3. The ship’s arrival on the exact date of Holland America Line’s 150th birthday kicked off all-day celebrations that included royalty, local dignitaries, port officials and guests who commemorated the special day.

Holland America Line President Gus Antorcha was joined by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb and descendants of Holland America Line’s original founders for a celebration at Hotel New York, home to Holland America Line’s original headquarters from 1901 to 1977.

“The celebration of 150 years is about more than our history, it’s about how we are building on the legacy of a great brand to make it relevant for the next 150 years,” said Antorcha. “From those first early days, we built our reputation on the care we provided to every person who stepped on board. And through the decades, whether that person was an immigrant, a titan of industry, a soldier or a vacationer, each of them was treated as though they were a guest in our own home. It is still a hallmark of our brand.

“The fabric of history is woven from the threads of millions of stories, and at the heart of each of those stories is a person,” Antorcha continued. “I am certain that there are many chapters still to be written. And I hope that decades from now, those who come after us will gather on this very spot at Hotel New York to share them.”

From the ship’s arrival through an overnight stay, memorable moments marked the milestone. Inside a room that once collected luggage for immigrants in the early 1900s, Holland America Line presented a commemorative 150th Anniversary bell to be permanently displayed at Hotel New York. Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet poured champagne over the bell, which is a Holland America Line tradition usually reserved for a new ship launch.

Holland America Line worked closely with PostNL, the postal office of the Netherlands, to design a collectable 150th Anniversary gold-foil stamp that was revealed by Bob van Ierland, director of mail, Netherlands, at the ceremony. The stamp, designed by Frank Janse, features an illustration of two iconic ships from the company's long history: Rotterdam VII, Holland America Line’s newest ship, and Rotterdam I, its first ship. The limited-edition stamp is available for purchase throughout the Netherlands.

In addition, members of one of Holland America Line’s founding families presented an original company share that will be kept as part of a special collection in the Rotterdam City Archives. Attendees at the Hotel New York ceremony included Holland America Line team members and more than 60 of the line’s top Mariners, guests who have sailed at least 1,400 days on the line’s ships.

Following a Gala dinner on board Rotterdam VII, Antorcha invited the ship’s guests to a party around the Lido Pool where he toasted to Holland America Line’s anniversary alongside ship’s Captain Bas van Dreumel and Mai Elmar, executive director of Cruise Port Rotterdam and the ship’s madrina.

“To the builders, architects, visionaries and explorers who have brought us to today. To our generations of crew who have seen our guests from shore to shore. And most importantly, to all of the passengers and guests who have trusted us along the way. Cheers to 150 years and many more to come,” toasted Antorcha.

As a finale to the evening’s events, the city of Rotterdam’s Erasmus Bridge was illuminated with a special light display honoring Holland America Line’s 150th Anniversary. Following the lighting of the bridge, Antorcha made his way to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and joined Zuiderdam and Grand World Voyage guests around the Lido Pool to commemorate Holland America Line’s birthday. The additional nine ships in Holland America Line’s fleet also held anniversary parties on board for guests.

Interferry invites industry leaders to share Customer Experience and Sustainability Solutions at the 47th Annual Interferry Conference

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 17 April 2023 17 April 2023

Interferry is seeking proposals from industry leaders for their upcoming conference, centered around the theme of Customer Experience and Sustainability. Taking place in Hobart, Tasmania on November 4-8, 2023, the Annual Interferry Conference will once again provide a forum for the global ferry industry and highlight successful and leading-edge innovations.

“For speakers addressing the Customer Experience, we are looking for innovative approaches that both enhance the passenger experience throughout the customer journey and improve efficiency and revenue for operators. In the area of Sustainability, we will especially consider proposals demonstrating a decrease of the environmental impact throughout the entire lifecycle. In addition to emission reduction, we are also welcoming proposals addressing various types of vessel discharge, ship construction, maintenance, and refits, as well as onshore power and port practices,” says Mike Corrigan, CEO of Interferry.

According to Mike Corrigan, Interferry is looking for speakers who can present advanced solutions on the verge of or in the process of being implemented.

“Today’s challenges require tangible actions, and we are happy to provide a global platform for discussions and information exchange so that the entire industry can learn and improve. We believe that our industry is “Stronger Together” when we work collectively to embrace opportunities, overcome challenges and share our knowledge. Our 47th Annual Interferry Conference on November 4-8 in Hobart, Tasmania, will once more gather industry leaders and visionaries from around the world who share our passion for ferry transportation”, says Mike Corrigan.

Interferry encourages all interested parties to submit proposals that align with the program's theme until May 30, 2023, through the Interferry website. Selected speakers will be notified by mid-July. Priority consideration for speaking slots will be given to Interferry members and conference sponsors, subject to the merits of their respective submissions.
Register here: https://interferryconference.com/call-for-speakers/

On a further note, Interferry announces that the presentations from the 2022 Annual Interferry Conference in Seattle can now be viewed publicly at https://interferry.com/2022-conference- presentations/

Life at Sea Cruises names Kari Tarnowski as Chief Marketing Officer

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 April 2023 13 April 2023

Life at Sea Cruises, the world's first and only three-year cruise, announced today the hiring of Kari Tarnowski as its Chief Marketing Officer. Tarnowski brings over 30 years of cruise and travel industry experience in marketing, branding, revenue management, sales and reservations to the role. In her role at Life At Sea Cruises, Tarnowski will be responsible for the company's overall marketing strategy.

Prior to joining Life at Sea Cruises, Tarnowski served as the Senior Vice President of Marketing & Sales at American Queen Voyages, rebranding the line in September 2021. Tarnowski also held senior marketing roles at Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Sandals & Beaches Resorts, and Silversea Cruises, and was part of the launch team for Hotels.com in 2002.

"Kari's extensive experience in the cruise industry and her background in luxury brands make her the perfect fit for Life at Sea Cruises,” said Mike Petterson, Managing Director of Life at Sea Cruises. "We are thrilled to have her on board to help us grow our brand and build a loyal customer base."

Tarnowski will oversee the development and implementation of the Life at Sea Cruises’ multi-channel marketing plan, which will include generating customer demand, the brand's positioning, building customer loyalty and retention and establishing partnerships.

"I'm excited to join Life at Sea Cruises and help bring their unique cruise experience to cruisers around the world," said Tarnowski. "I look forward to working with the team to establish clear marketing goals and drive business growth."

Life at Sea Cruises launched in March 2023 and offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend three years at sea, visiting exotic locations around the world. With Tarnowski's expertise, the company is poised for continued success and growth in the cruise industry. Tarnowski is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and resides in South Florida.

Princess Cruises to host coronation themed events on two UK based ships

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 April 2023 13 April 2023

Princess Cruises will host a series of coronation themed events on Sky Princess and Regal Princess that operate from Southampton in the UK on 6 May, it has been reported.

Live coverage of the coronation service of King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be shown on deck, followed by a concert and Windsor Castle.

British food and drinks plus afternoon tea would also be served on both ships.

Image: St Edward's Crown Photo Credit: Royal Collection Trust

Explora I completes sea trials

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 13 April 2023 13 April 2023

Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle hospitality brand of the MSC Group, announced that Explora I has successfully completed her sea trials. This will be the first of a fleet of up to six luxury ships to be built for Explora Journeys by Fincantieri in Italy, the cruise line said in a statement.

Following the successful sea trials, Explora I will now undergo final preparations before embarking on her maiden journey in July 2023. Explora Journeys will offer today’s discerning luxury traveller an opportunity to experience a truly transformative and purposeful ocean travel experience, reflecting both the essence of each destination visited as well as the brand’s cosmopolitan and vibrant European luxury.

Construction of the 63,900 GT vessel began on 10 June 2021 at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. The naming ceremony for Explora I will take place in Civitavecchia near Rome, Italy on 8 July, followed by her maiden journey departing on 17 July from Southampton, UK for a 15-night sailing into Norwegian fjords and the Arctic Circle to Copenhagen, Denmark.

Michael Ungerer, CEO of Explora Journeys said in the statement: “Our vision and purpose from day one has been to create an ocean travel experience like no other and we are thrilled that the first of our ground-breaking new class of ships, Explora I will start sailing in July 2023. The sea trials are a critical part of the process, and we're pleased that Explora I passed with flying colours. Our team has worked tirelessly to design and build a ship that offers the perfect combination of luxury, adventure, and sustainability, and we can't wait to share it with our guests."