Holland America President Discusses What’s New This Year and Next

Holland America Line celebrates its 150th anniversary on April 18, 2023.

We caught up with President Gus Antorcha to discuss the line’s history and what’s new in 2023 and 2024. Here is a transcript, edited for space and clarity.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TRAVEL ADVISORS AND YOUR CUSTOMERS TO HAVE SUCH STORIES HISTORY
Gus Antorcha: Very few cruise lines, in fact very few companies, can say that they’ve been around for 150 years. That’s a testament to not only our brand and the experience we offer, but the loyalty of our guests. Some of our guests have been cruising with us for decades and their parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents cruised with Holland America or emigrated to North America on a Holland America ship.

We’ve evolved as a brand, and we’ve only gotten better, staying intune with what our guests want, like and expect. Our cuisine is among the best in the industry. Our live music is unmatched. Our voyages are perfectly planned, with each port selected for a reason. And we continue to excel at longer cruises, like our Grand Voyages around the world, to Africa and beyond. And now our Legendary Voyages offer a Grand Voyage-like experience but are slightly shorter.

We weave our history into each cruise, whether it’s through a visual telling of Holland America Line’s history, our Orange Parties that honor our Dutch heritage, or our Heritage Cruises this year that put a spotlight on ports that are rich in our history. With 150 years of cruising behind us, advisors and guests can trust the quality of the Holland America experience.

LAST YEAR, HOLLAND AMERICA MARKED 75 YEARS OF OPERATIONS IN ALASKA. WHAT SETS IT APART FROM OTHER LINES IN ALASKA?
Gus Antorcha: Holland America has been helping guests explore the Great Land even longer than Alaska has been a state. That gives us a breadth of knowledge and a level of access that goes well beyond what other lines possess.

For example, in Glacier Bay National Park – which we have priority access to – we bring aboard a National Park Ranger to answer questions and point out areas of interest. We also work with Huna Tlingit guides, who are descendants of the first human inhabitants of the Glacier Bay area.

Our “Alaska Up Close” program lets guests discover, taste and experience the real Alaska. Holland America is the only cruise line with Alaska seafood certified sustainable by the Responsible Fisheries Management.

WHAT IS IN STORE FOR ALASKA AND THE YUKON THIS YEAR AND IN 2024?
Gus Antorcha: We have very robust seasons in 2023 and 2024, both featuring six ships – including the Pinnacle- Class Koningsdam.

In addition to seven-day itineraries, Holland America will feature the popular 14-day “Great Alaska Explorer” cruise that extends up to Homer, Valdez, Anchorage and Kodiak. In 2024, there’s a first-of-its-kind itinerary for Holland America: The “Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice Cruise” – a 28-day roundtrip from Seattle to the Bering Sea that calls at Anchorage, Dutch Harbor, Haines, Homer, Kodiak, Nome, Seward, Valdez and Wrangell.

ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD THAT WE DIDN’T ASK YOU ABOUT?
Gus Antorcha: We hear more and more from guests that they would love to avoid the extra complications of international flights when possible – but they love international ports.

This led us to really focus on the concept of “see the world from your doorstep.” Guests can visit Africa, Europe, Australia, the South Pacific, South America, Antarctica and the Arctic, all departing from the U.S.