Latest news with #HollandAmerica
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Holland America leans into luxury travel trend with culinary cruises
Calling all foodies: Holland America Line just unveiled a series of 'Culinary Ambassador' sailings for 2025 and 2026, featuring exclusive onboard events hosted by celebrity chefs and beverage experts, including Masaharu Morimoto, David Burke, and Ivy Mix. As travelers demand more than buffets and banquet fare, cruise lines are doubling down on celebrity chef partnerships, regionally inspired menus, and culinary programming like cooking classes. From sushi counters designed by Iron Chef Morimoto to craft cocktail classes and sommelier-led tastings, food and beverage offerings have become a key differentiator — and a powerful lever to attract higher-spending, experience-driven travelers. The immersive food-and-drink experiences are part of a growing strategy among cruise lines to stand out in a crowded, experience-driven market. 'Dining has become an essential part of how people explore the world, and our Culinary Ambassador program allows us to offer something truly special — an experience that goes beyond the plate,' Holland America's Vice President of Food, Beverage and Rooms, Michael Stendebach said in a featuring a Culinary Ambassador will offer engaging activities where the experts share their knowledge, techniques and tips. For the chef ambassadors, guests can attend a live cooking demonstration led by the chef, join a coffee chat to learn more about them, and dine at an intimate, reservation-only dinner with a curated menu hosted by the chef. The beverage experts will offer tastings, special events and host a pairing dinner in a specialty restaurant.'Through the Culinary Ambassador cruises, we can bring some of the world's most celebrated experts on board to elevate the journey. It's not just about eating well for our guests — it's about learning, tasting something new, having fun and perhaps getting some tips to use in their own kitchens,' Stendeach said. In addition to Morimoto and Burke, Holland America Line Culinary Ambassador chefs include Ethan Stowell and Jacques Torres. Besides Mix, who created cocktails for cruises in Mexico, the Culinary Ambassador beverage experts who created regionally inspired cocktails for the cruise line's bars and menus, include Sam Ross (Alaska), Tess Posthumus (Northern Europe), and David Wondrich and Jeff Berry (Caribbean). Master Tea Blender Steve Schwartz also will join a Culinary Ambassador cruise in Asia. For the remainder of 2025 and into 2026, the options for a Culinary Ambassador Cruise include: Zuiderdam, Voyage of the Vikings, Chef Burke will be on board a segment of the cruise Aug. 7-12, 2025, from Dublin, Ireland, to Reykjavik, Iceland. Nieuw Amsterdam, 7-Day Baja Peninsula, Bartender Ivy Mix will be on board Nov. 15-22, 2025, sailing roundtrip from San Diego. Volendam, 2026 Grand World Voyage, Master Tea Blender Schwartz will be on board March 25-30, 2026, from Singapore to Halong Bay (Hanoi), Vietnam. Volendam, 2026 Grand World Voyage, Chef Morimoto will be on board while the ship is in Japan, dates to be announced. Volendam, 2026 Grand World Voyage, Chef Stowell will be on board April 29 – May 3, 2026, from Seattle, Washington, to San Diego, California. Chef David Burke enhances the menu at Pinnacle Grill, adding contemporary flavors and signature recipes. Currently, Burke and his David Burke Hospitality Management team operate or orchestrate the culinary component of 18 restaurants, a historic event venue and a bakery. They also oversee a growing roster of David Burke-branded products, including cookware, bakeware, steak sauce, cutlery and wine. He has been featured on 'Top Chef Masters,' 'Every Day with Rachael Ray,' and NBC's 'TODAY.' Chef Ethan Stowell incorporates the flavors of the Pacific Northwest on ships sailing in that region, using fresh, sustainably sourced Alaska seafood. His fare also is featured at New York Pizza and Lido Market across the fleet, using pasta and pizza crust made fresh on board. Stowell is founder and CEO of ESR with an impressive roster of highly acclaimed restaurants. He was named one of the Best New Chefs in America by Food & Wine magazine and one of the Best New Chef Masaharu Morimotois Holland America Line's Global Fresh Fish Ambassador, bringing his signature style to dishes in the Dining Room and at Morimoto By Sea. This exclusive restaurant is featured on Nieuw Amsterdam and as a pop-up across the rest of the fleet. Additionally, a Morimoto By Sea sushi counter is available within the Tamarind Restaurant on Pinnacle- and Signature-class ships. Chef Morimoto — known to millions as the star of 'Iron Chef' and 'Iron Chef America' and executive producer and head judge for Roku's 'Sushi Master' — has garnered critical and popular acclaim for his seamless integration of Western and Japanese ingredients. He has restaurants around the world, is a cookbook author and the recipient of numerous awards. Bartender Ivy Mix's cocktails are featured on cruises to Mexico and South America, where her unique knowledge of the agave spirits field shines through. In 2015, she co-opened her bar, Leyenda, with Julie Reiner in Brooklyn, New York, as well as her bottle shop Fiasco! Wine + Spirits. She is the author of 'Spirits of Latin America' and the recipient of numerous awards. Mix is the co-founder of Speed Rack, a woman-only, high-speed bartending competition that has raised more than $1 million for breast cancer Tea Blender Steve Schwartz is founder of Art of Tea. He is known by many authoritative figures in the tea industry as a Master Tea Blender. He has blended award-winning teas under the Art of Tea brand, and his blends are offered under the company's private-label program for tea companies around the world. Schwartz will host a tea tasting experience, a 'Rituals of Tea' seminar and an exclusive High Tea with Art of Tea event on his Culinary Ambassador cruise. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
Travel Weekly
5 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Holland America Line pitches a relaxing Caribbean experience in new campaign
A new Holland America Line advertising campaign aims to differentiate its Caribbean cruises from competitors that sail mega-ships with amusement-park qualities. The campaign, "Refreshingly Free," tells cruisers what they won't find on Holland America sailings. "Refreshingly free of bland buffets," one ad reads. "Refreshingly free of amusement parks on board," another says. Holland America Line has found strength in its Alaska and Europe sailings and is now looking to bolster interest in the Caribbean, said chief marketing officer Kacy Cole. "I think we're not top of mind when you think about Caribbean," she said. "You don't think about Holland America or, candidly, the typical type of cruising that we do. And I think for us, it's really about how do we differentiate within each region?" The line crafted the campaign after surveying guests about what is most important to them on a Caribbean cruise. Exceptional service came in as the highest-ranked factor. During that same research process, some customers shared distaste for the experience aboard the largest cruise ships, recalling long lines and staff that could not keep up with demand due to the number of guests onboard, Cole said. "They are looking for service and relaxation and cultural enrichment," she said. The launch of the campaign accompanies the launch of fare discounts of up to 40% for certain sailings this fall and next spring. Those promotions, dubbed "Travel By Sea," run through the end of July.
Travel Weekly
7 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Holland America will add a third ship for Northern Europe sailings in 2027
Holland America Line will sail an additional ship in Northern Europe in 2027, increasing its fleet in the region to three ships. The Zuiderdam will homeport in Amsterdam with sailings complementing the current offerings on the Nieuw Statendam and the Rotterdam, which both sail from the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands. The Zuiderdam will also offer departures from Reykjavik, Iceland. Northern Europe has proven "extremely popular" with Holland America guests, said Paul Grigsby, the line's vice president of deployment and itinerary planning. Internal surveys found it to be among the most appealing destinations for the line's prospective and existing guests, the company said. • Cruise insight: Sailings to see the 2026 eclipse "The destinations in the region are some of our highest-rated, from standout ports in Norway like Eidfjord and Bergen and scenic cruising in Eyjafjorour, Iceland, to the U.K.'s Liverpool and Ireland's Killybegs," Grigsby said in a statement. "This season provides guests more chances to experience everything Northern Europe has to offer." The Zuiderdam is sailing the Caribbean, New England and Canada this year and in 2026.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Should You Buy Carnival Stock Right Now?
Carnival continues to report record quarterly revenue as demand remains historically high for cruise vacations. There are risks that could hurt its momentum, but the company also offers great prospects for growth through 2030. The stock's low price-to-earnings multiple could undervalue its growth prospects. 10 stocks we like better than Carnival Corp. › Shares of Carnival (NYSE: CCL) (NYSE: CUK) have more than doubled since bottoming out in 2022, but the stock has been volatile this year. It currently sits at around $23, down from its 52-week high of $28.72. While strong demand for cruises has fueled higher revenue for Carnival, Wall Street is focused on risks that could derail its momentum. Specifically, declining consumer confidence in recent months could lead to weaker demand for cruise vacations. There's also the risk of new taxes on cruise lines that could hurt Carnival's profitability. Despite these headwinds, analysts remain positive about Carnival's prospects. The consensus price target of $27.73 implies 20% upside in the near term from current share prices. The bullish view is supported by the stock's low earnings multiple of 12.4 based on 2025 earnings estimates. This looks attractive and could support significant upside for investors if Carnival continues to report solid financial results like it did in the first quarter. Carnival reported record quarterly revenue of $5.8 billion in Q1, while operating income nearly doubled year over year to $543 million. Management noted incredible demand across its cruise brands, which include Holland America and Princess Cruises. Carnival is the leading cruise operator in the world, with more than $25 billion in trailing-12-month revenue. Demand is exceeding the limited availability of rooms, which is leading to higher pricing. This is fueling the surge in Carnival's profits. In fact, Carnival is currently seeing historically high prices for 2025, yet people are still booking trips into 2026. The secondary effect of this strong demand is that it is helping Carnival pay down its debt and reduce interest expense. Lower debt saved the company $94 million in interest expense last quarter, and that helped improve the company's profitability. On a non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) basis, analysts expect Carnival's earnings per share to improve from $1.42 in fiscal 2024 to $1.86 in fiscal 2025. The company still has $27 billion in debt, but that provides a catalyst for more earnings growth as management focuses on reducing this financial burden. Carnival's business looks stronger than ever, which builds the case for buying the stock after the recent dip. But what about the risks? Consumer confidence was down in April for the fifth consecutive month, although it showed signs of rebounding in May. Lower consumer confidence could impact demand for travel and limit upside for the stock. But that's not all. Investors also must weigh the possibility of new taxes on the cruise industry. This comes after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick commented earlier this year that the Trump administration might seek to crack down on cruise companies headquartered in the U.S. that benefit from tax exemptions. New taxes on cruise companies would create higher costs and weigh on earnings. Still, these headwinds are also why investors can buy the stock at such a low P/E multiple. With the stock trading at just 12 times this year's earnings estimate, it may not take much good news to send the stock higher. Another strong quarterly earnings report could send the stock hurtling to new highs in 2025. Long term, Carnival's upcoming launch of Celebration Key, an exclusive destination that management expects to drive strong demand through 2030, could create enough upside in revenue and profits to offset the risks. If Carnival's earnings reach analyst estimates of $2.46 in 2027 and the stock is trading at a fair P/E of 15, that would put the share price at nearly $37, implying upside of 60% over the next few years. The upside seems to outweigh the downside at this point, but this assumes that the economy continues to grow. The cruise industry can be cyclical with the economy. Investors who buy Carnival stock should closely monitor the company's quarterly financial reports. If it starts to show weakening revenue and consumer demand, investors would need to think about selling and moving on to better opportunities. Given the need to closely monitor the business, Carnival stock may not be a good fit for everyone's investment goals. Before you buy stock in Carnival Corp., consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Carnival Corp. wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $651,049!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $828,224!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 979% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 John Ballard has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Carnival Corp. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Should You Buy Carnival Stock Right Now? was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
USA Today
29-05-2025
- USA Today
Cruise to the path of totality: Holland America offers new eclipse itineraries for 2027
Cruise to the path of totality: Holland America offers new eclipse itineraries for 2027 Show Caption Hide Caption How to find the best price, perks when booking a cruise Find the cruise that works for your budget with these tips. Problem Solved Next year's solar eclipse isn't the only one on the horizon. There will be another total solar eclipse in 2027, and Holland America Line will take guests to the path of totality. The cruise line will sail two ships off the coast of North Africa to give passengers a prime viewing experience on Aug. 2, 2027. 'The excitement around viewing total solar eclipse the past few years has been palpable, and we jumped at the chance to create more itineraries that give our guests the incomparable opportunity of viewing the eclipse at sea,' Paul Grigsby, the line's vice president of deployment, said in a news release. 'When you're at sea, there is a greater opportunity to witness an eclipse in the clear because the ship can attempt to position itself away from cloud cover – and the view on the horizon means you get more of the shadow coming in and going out.' Here's what to know. When are Holland America's 2027 solar eclipse cruises? The 28-Day Legendary Solar Eclipse & Cosmic Port Explorer cruise will depart on July 10, 2027. Guests will sail round-trip from Rotterdam in the Netherlands aboard the line's nearly 2,700-guest Nieuw Statendam ship. For those looking for a shorter option, the 14-Day Solar Eclipse & Astronomical Discovery itinerary will begin on July 31. The line's Oosterdam – which can accommodate just under 2,000 guests – will sail round-trip from Piraeus, Greece, the port for Athens. What can guests expect? Passengers booked on the 28-day itinerary will visit ports in Denmark, the U.K., France, Spain, Morocco and more before making their way to an eclipse-viewing spot off Morocco's coast. The itinerary includes overnight stops in Tilbury, England and Barcelona. Oosterdam, for its part, will kick off its voyage with eclipse viewing near Tunisia, before visiting the country along with Malta – where it will stay overnight in Valletta – Italy and Greece. Grigsby noted the cruise line 'took care to add ports into the itinerary that have some connection to the study of the sun and stars,' such as England's Isle of Portland which offers access to Stonehenge. Both voyages will feature onboard scientific experts and 'themed activities,' according to the release. And no need to worry about buying eclipse glasses – the cruise line will provide them. 'The ship can move': Why you should watch next solar eclipses from a cruise ship Holland America will also offer eclipse cruises in 2026. How much do the cruises cost? The 28-day cruise currently starts at $5,619 per person based on double occupancy, including taxes and fees, according to Holland America's website. The 14-day itinerary currently starts at $3,529 per person. Holland America Line fares include accommodations, many meals on board, entertainment and more. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@
