Holland America Line Announces New 'Alaska Up Close' Immersive Program

Holland America Line is putting 75 years experience cruising America's Last Frontier into its new “Alaska Up Close” programming with immersive experiences onboard and ashore that focus on culture, cuisine and immersive adventures.

Guests will not only be able to cruise Glacier Bay, they can discover its ecosystem from local tribe members and National Park Rangers. Guest can taste the salmon they caught that day and have it prepared by Holland America Line chefs, all through the new program.

“Alaska is so abundant that it needs to be explored and presented differently, and with ‘Alaska Up Close’ our guests will have access to activities and experiences that they won’t find anywhere else,” said Beth Bodensteiner, senior vice president and chief commercial officer, Holland America Line.

“We want our guests to be immersed in Alaska from the moment they step on board, and as we celebrate 75 years of exploring Alaska in 2022, we tapped into our unparalleled expertise to craft memorable and exclusive programming.”

Alaska Up Close features local experts and personalities leading workshops and lectures, Explorations Central (EXC) Talks revealing the stories of real Alaskans, tours highlighting the best of each destination, Port to Table culinary immersion and local cuisine served in dining venues throughout the ship.

EXC Talks Focus on History and Culture

Elevating the shipboard lecture, EXC Talks offer insight into local culture through the eyes of Alaskans with imagery, interviews and authentic stories:

• “Breaking the Ice Ceiling” features stories of Alaskan women working in fields traditionally dominated by men.
• “Ancestral Memories” tells the stories of native Alaskans keeping their culture and language alive.
• “Pacific Giants” describes the wonders, habits and future of Alaska’s largest inhabitants.
• “Iditarod — The Last Great Race” shares what it’s like to ride in the sled of an Alaskan adventure.

Other experiences include:

Meet Alaska Locals and Experts On Board

• Guests can learn the science and history of Alaska’s splendors as naturalists lead workshops and host wildlife spotting on deck. Itineraries that include Glacier Bay National Park will feature a Park Ranger and a member of the Huna Tlingit Tribe who will share their insights, offer commentary and answer questions.

BBC Earth Brings Alaska to Life Through New Production

• Guests on all Alaska cruises can be moved by BBC Earth’s “Alaska in Concert” multimedia performance on the main stage. A live orchestra plays the soundtrack set against a backdrop of footage from the BBC Earth television series “Wild Alaska.” Audiences can experience the cycle of four seasons and see this land is as "unforgiving as it is beautiful."

Eat Like a Local

• Through Port to Table programming, guests can delve into the culinary traditions of Alaska and learn how to eat like a local via live cooking demonstrations.

Food & Wine Tours Highlight Local Fare

• Food lovers can enjoy an array of exclusive "FOOD & WINE" shore excursions guests into Alaska’s gastronomic scene. Developed in partnership with the culinary authority, guests can dine on fresh seafood, sample Anchorage’s craft beer, taste fire-warmed sourdough rolls and attend an authentic crab feast or salmon bake.

Alaska Shore Excursions

• Holland America Line offers a wide selection of shore excursions to suit a variety of interests and activity levels. Guests can helicopter onto a glacier, spy on whales in their natural habitat, go whitewater rafting or kayaking, strike it rich panning for gold and sail on a real crabbing boat featured on “Deadliest Catch.”

‘Savor My Catch’ Ocean-to-Table Dining

• Guests who reel in a big one on select fishing-focused shore excursions can savor their catch on board. Holland America Line’s chefs will prepare and serve it in an ocean-to-table experience. Select tours also allow guests to ship their bounty home.

Raptor Encounters on Westerdam

• Guests on Westerdam will have the opportunity to meet and learn about raptors during calls at Sitka. Through presentations and interactions about the birds from the Alaska Raptor Center, guests will be able to ask questions, have a meet-and-greet and photo opportunity with the Red Tail Hawk or Northern Goshawk.

Alaska cruise fares begin at $799 per person, double occupancy for a seven-day sailing. With Holland America Line’s “The Ultimate Upgrade Event” promotion through 31MAR 2022, guests booking the “Have it All” premium package on select summer 2022 through spring 2023 cruises also receive a free stateroom upgrade, 50 per cent reduced deposits, USD $75 fares for kids on Alaska cruises, plus four perks: shore excursions, specialty dining, Wi-Fi and beverages.

In 2022, six Holland America Line ships will explore Alaska, either roundtrip from Seattle, Washington; roundtrip from Vancouver, Canada; or between Whittier, Alaska, and Vancouver. Every Alaska cruise includes a visit to one or more of Alaska’s iconic glacier destinations.

For explorers who want to travel farther, 16 different Cruisetours combine an Alaska cruise with an inland exploration of Denali National Park or to Canada’s Yukon Territory.

For more information, visit Holland America Line's web site.