Holland America Line took home a win for “Best Beverage Menu” for its newest onboard bar, Half Moon Bar, at the 2022 VIBE Vista Awards that were presented during the VIBE (Very Important Beverage Executives) conference this week in Carlsbad, California. According to HAL, the award spans the entire beverage industry and competition included a collection of restaurant groups, hotel chains, casinos and more.
Half Moon Bar is a new concept for the brand that was exclusively introduced aboard its most recent ship, Rotterdam, which launched in NOV 2021. The venue is an immersive experience looking at the history of HAL and cruising through the lens of a cocktail. Each drink comes with a tale of its inspiration that is described in the bar menu for guests to peruse.
“Holland America Line has a rich history of nearly 150 years, and with Half Moon Bar on Rotterdam we wanted to create a bar concept that celebrates our story with an immersive menu, and it’s quickly become the most popular bar on board,” said Michael Smith, senior vice president, guest experience and product development for the cruise line. “We are honored to be named best beverage menu for Half Moon Bar, selected from across the beverage industry, and we thank the panel from Johnson & Wales University for recognizing our commitment to giving our guests an exceptional experience.”
The cocktails at Half Moon Bar aim to take guests back in time, on a journey though HAL’s history. Drinks on the menu include:
- “The Original” celebrates the line’s first ship, Rotterdam I, made with a Dutch gin and a hint of single malt Scotch, ingredients inspired by the building of the ship and HAL’s Dutch beginnings.
- “De Halve Moon” is an ode to the Dutch sense of exploration and the botanical scenery Henry Hudson found in present-day New York, made with Old Duff genever, lemon rosewater shrub and DDG Bitters.
- “Three Mile Run” is a prohibition cocktail that tells the story of HAL Prohibition-era cruises to nowhere for New Yorkers, where cocktail bars on the ship could be legally open. It is made from a combination of lemon, honey and gin for a Bee’s Knees, whiskey for a Gold Rush or rum for a Honey Bee.
- “May She Be Blessed” is an ode to the godmothers who bless the HAL ships, made with champagne and a choice of essence.
- “Rotterdam VII” is dedicated to its namesake ship and the ship’s blend of tradition and innovation, made with smoked gin and maraschino cocktail.
The VIBE Vista Awards recognize the top performers in the beverage industry through the creation, training, execution, management and on-going positive results of beverage programs. Entries were reviewed by a panel of Johnson & Wales University beverage faculty, staff and alumni and were judged on positive beverage sales initiatives, efficient operational innovations and training and service programs producing high quality standards. VIBE Conference is an annual event for chain and hotel adult beverage executives and suppliers.
