Cruise Lines Offering the Best Food

Now that we’ve outlined some of the things to avoid while taking a cruise in terms of avoiding over-eating - here is a good look  at some of the main cruise lines and what to expect from them in terms of the awards they have earned.



Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine awarded 3 cruise lines (Crystal Cruises, Oceania Cruises and Windstar Cruises) with the Best Cruise Line Food aboard Luxury Cruise Lines 2012/2013 awards, and 3 other cruise lines (Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises and Costa Cruises) with the Best Cruise Line Food aboard Other Cruise Lines 2012/2013



Cruise Critic singled out Oceania Cruises with their Best Dining award saying that “Oceania Cruises does an exceptional job on it’s cuisine”.



Cruise International recognized 6 cruise lines as having the best food. These are Celebrity Cruses, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, and  Oceania Cruises.


Condé Nast Traveller recognizes Seabourn with very high scores for Best Food, Carnival Cruise Line has been recognized by CruiseMates as providing more for your money than any other cruise line, Crystal Cruises has been recognized for their outstanding on board restaurants by Howard Hillman’s popular Cruise Guide, and Best Food Awards have also been granted to Silversea and Regent.



And finally, after studying the various popular chat rooms about cruising and the quality of food at various cruise lines, it is clear that the repeated winners and favorites as far as those offering the best food are Crystal Cruises, Celebrity Cruises.



Overall - the three cruise lines consistently winning awards for the best food are Oceania Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Celebrity Cruises, followed closely by Holland America Line and Windstar Cruises.



Follow our next blog as we investigate the chat rooms in more detail and find out what is being said about food on cruise lines, and whether we should be taking these comments and awards very seriously!

All About Ports and Shore Excursions

Holland America Line has dramatically increased its video library on www.hollandamerica.com with the recent addition of 325 short videos showcasing the line’s shore excursions in Alaska and select ports around the world. 

Featuring 275 videos on Alaska tours and 53 port overviews with shore excursion details, guests can get a glimpse of select tours before departing on a cruise and deciding which ones to book. Whether it’s a flightseeing tour in Anchorage, Alaska, or exploring the streets of Quebec City — the premium line’s top-rated port call — the videos show the beauty and diversity of each port while highlighting a particular tour.

“Videos are the best way to show our guests what’s in store when they book a tour and to let them know what they can expect,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line. “We have more than 4,000 shore excursions, so these videos help our guests select the right tour that fits their desires.”

When in port, guests on a Holland America Line cruise can choose from several diverse shore excursions including Overland Adventures, off-the-beaten-track explorations, Signature Collection private-car touring and exclusive Medallion Collection excursions.

For stories about cruises experienced with Holland America Line  visit:

http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-articles-reviews-alaska-holland-america-line.html 

http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-articles-reviews-alaska-holland-america-line-2.html

http://www.prowsedge.com/cruise-articles-reviews-panama-canal-holland-america.html

and more at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine at http://www.prowsedge.com

Holland America Line Rescues Stranded Sightseers

Yesterday, on the 19th August, Holland America Line’s ms Volendam rescued 70 persons from a disabled sightseeing boat, the 79-foot sightseeing vessel Baranof Wind, which had struck a rock near Russell Island in Glacier Bay disabling its steering and propulsion and causing the boat to take on water.

The ms Volendam rescued the 69 tourists and one Glacier Bay park ranger and cleared them all through security, gave them a safety briefing and then provided a meal.

“It’s the code of the sea to provide assistance in an emergency, and Captain Peter Bos and his crew responded quickly and professionally to render aid to the passengers of Baranof Wind,” said Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line. 


The ms Volendam rendezvoused with an Allen Marine boat at around 6 pm to transfer the rescued passengers back to Bartlett Cove, where their excursion had originated.


The ms Volendam then proceeded on to its next port call at Ketchikan, where it arrived on schedule today.

The USA Coast Guard thanked the crew of the ms Volendam for their quick response to the emergency.

Holland America Increases Alaska Opportunities

Many cruisers have claimed that a cruise to Alaska is “old news” now and that every one has already done that particular kind of cruise and that no one has any wish to repeat the experience.



Simply not true!

Cruising to Alaska continues to be a popular option for first time cruisers as well as for cruise “experts” who have been there before – several times.

What else would Holland America Line now increase its presence in the region with more departures and more guests than in previous years.

Although Holland America Line still only has seven vessels cruising the area each year, the ms Amsterdam will double its departures on new seven-day roundtrip sailings from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As a result, Alaska-season departures will increase 8.5 percent and guest capacity will increase 6 percent over 2012.


And to make the idea of an Alaska cruise with Holland America Line even more tempting, Early Advantage savings feature complimentary upgrades and free and reduced fares for third or fourth guests who share the same stateroom on select sailings.  

By planning ahead, a family of four can take advantage of fares on select departure dates starting at $699 per person for the first and second guest in a stateroom, and the third and fourth sailing free.  Taxes are additional.

For more information visit www.hollandamerica.com

For a taste of Alaska cruises with Holland America Line take a look at some Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine experiences.

•  Hot Boullion and Icy Waters – by Kevin Retief

•  Gone Fishin’ with the Rotterdam – by Ruby Turner

2013 Cruise Savings with Holland America Line

There is an advantage for those booking their 2013 cruises way in advance with Holland America Line.

The "Early Advantage" savings on a wide selection of 2013 cruises are well worth convincing would be cruisers to book their cruises well in advance of departure.
 
Advantages include free upgrades on select sailings, as well as savings of up to 50 % by combining two cruise itineraries on select Collectors’ Voyages in Europe.

There is also a wide selection of free and reduced cruise fares for third or fourth guests who share the same stateroom on various cruises to more than 415 destinations around the world, from Alaska to Antarctica and everything in between.

Examples of specific savings with Early Advantage bookings are 14-day Collectors’ Voyage cruises now on offer for as little as $1,799 per person, with free upgrades from inside staterooms to ocean-view suites, and 14-day Australia/New Zealand cruises starting at $1,699 with similar upgrades as pafrt of the deal.
 
Popular seven-day Alaska Inside Passage cruises from Seattle, Washington., or Vancouver, British Columbia, are available for only $699 for inside staterooms or $999 for verandahs, with free upgrades available.
 
For more information on Holland America Line’s Early Advantage savings, consult a professional travel seller or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

Prows Edge articles about specific cruises with Holland America Line can be found at:

•  Cruising to Puerto Rica – by Sharon Spence Lieb

•  Cruising Alaska – by Kevin Retief

•  Cruising the Panama Canal – by Brooke Cunningham

Helping Charity on a Holland America Line Cruise

A recent Grand World Voyage aboard Holland America Line’s ms Amsterdam saw the creation of 85 blankets and 50 hats by a group of volunteer “blanketeers” which were then donated to the Seattle chapter of Project Linus on Friday, June 1.



Project Linus provides new, handmade blankets, afghans and hats to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need. 



During each sea day the “Sit and Knit” group aboard the ms Amsterdam of more than 50 guests got together to knit squares, hats and blankets. Both seasoned and novice knitters took part in the effort, including ship captain Jonathan Mercer’s wife, Karen.



On a previous Grand Asia Voyage in 2010, another group knitted 120 hats and 38 blankets that went to hospitals and cancer patients in the Seattle area through Project Linus. 



Plans are underway to continue a Project Linus effort on next year’s Grand World Voyage, departing January 5, 2013, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.



For more information about Project Linus, visit : www.projectlinus.org.  



To learn more about Holland America Line’s charitable programs, please visit http://www.hollandamerica.com/about-best-cruise-lines/Main.action and click social responsibility.



For more information about Holland America Line’s cruises and cruisetours visit :  www.hollandamerica.com.



For more about Holland America Line and other cruise lines visit Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine

Holland America Line announced today that it has selected Maria Henderson’s essay as winner of the contest held to commemorate the line’s 40th anniversary of its transition from offering scheduled trans-Atlantic crossings to becoming entirely dedicated to pleasure cruising. A panel of judges chose the winning essay from more than 400 entries.

For her literary winning story, Henderson will receive a cruise for two on ms Rotterdam’s July 12, 2011, celebratory trans-Atlantic voyage from New York to Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The “Your Trans-Atlantic Story” contest focused on classic Holland America Line crossing experiences during the line’s nearly 140-year history, whether told firsthand or through a family member or friend.

Henderson’s essay told the story of her family’s crossing from Rotterdam to New York City in 1956 aboard ss Groote Beer, a Holland America Line ship at the time. She, her four sisters and her parents made the journey to America to fulfill her father’s desire to become a U.S. citizen after being liberated from Buchenwald concentration camp in 1945. Throughout the years Henderson and her family continued to take Holland America Line cruises, including one in December 2010 where she met two American men who served in Gen. George S. Patton’s army that liberated her father in 1945. Making the tale even more incredible was that she also met a fellow guest who, she discovered after a chance encounter in the dining room, was on the same trans-Atlantic crossing aboard ss Groote Beer in 1956.

Upon hearing that her essay had won, Henderson said the news was yet another emotional twist of fate in her relationship with Holland America Line.

"It was on April 13, exactly 55 years ago, that my family and I sailed past the Statue of Liberty and into our American life,” she recalled. “I am excited to cruise back, hopefully with my siblings, to greet our cousins in Holland that as children waved good-bye to us from the banks of Rotterdam's River Maas those many years ago. I feel I have come full circle, this is a dream come true!" added Henderson.

For more information and cruise fares, contact a professional travel seller, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

For a brief overview of Holland America Line visit PROW'S EDGE CRUISE LINES - HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

Holland America Line Increases Australia Capacity

Holland America Line continues to strengthen its commitment to the Australian marketplace with the announcement of the Vista-class ms Oosterdam deployment to the South Pacific for the 2012-13 season. This will boost Holland America Line's capacity in the region by almost 25 percent. In preparation for the increase, the line is opening a dedicated sales, marketing and reservations office in Sydney.

This follows an earlier announcement marking the 2011-12 season as the first time the line will have two ships sailing a series of itineraries in the region simultaneously. The 1,926 passenger Oosterdam will join ms Volendam, replacing the 1,432 passenger ms Zaandam in 2012-13. Ten to 25-day itineraries will be introduced in and around Australia and New Zealand.

Said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs, Holland America Line, “This is a natural next step in our strategy to expand our premium brand internationally. We are inspired by the continued demand for cruising in Australia.”

Detailed deployment for the 2012-13 Australia and New Zealand season will be announced later this year.

For an overview of Holland America Line visit the Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine Cruise Lines - Holland America Line profile or visit the Holland America Line site

The Latest in Cruise Food News

Do you know what the Holland America Line Culinary Council is all about? Have you even heard of the Holland America Line Culinary Council?

Do you know about the popular Relais & Châteaux L'École des Chefs interactive cooking school aboard Silversea Cruises?

And do you know about the plethora of new dining options for passengers aboard Oceania Cruises new Marina ?

If not - no need to worry - the new Cruise Food section at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine includes a page dedicated to the latest news about food on cruises, including news about the latest meeting of the Holland America Line Culinary Council and how they provide guidance on the line’s culinary initiatives; news about the 10 new voyages from Silversea Cruises offering the only Relais & Châteaux L'École des Chefs cooking school at sea; and news about Oceania Cruises’ 10 dining venues, six of which are no-charge, gourmet restaurants aboard the new Marina.

Take a look at CRUISE FOOD NEWS at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine

9 Awards for Holland America Line

Holland America Line has just won a whole slew of awards from Porthole Cruise Magazine's 2010 Readers’ Choice Awards.

These awards include :

· Best Eco-Friendly Cruise Line
· Best Private Island (Half Moon Cay)
· Best Alaska Itineraries
· Best Northern Europe Itineraries
· Best Central/ South America Itineraries (including Panama Canal)
· Best Canada/ New England Itineraries
· Best Shore Excursions
· Best Medical Facilities
· Best Overall Facilities for Physically Challenged Passengers

For more information about these awards and Holland America Line visit the latest Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine news item Holland America Line wins 9 awards from Porthole Cruise Magazine or visit the Holland America Line site at http://www.hollandamerica.com

New Cruise Food Section at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine

Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine introduces the brand new cruise food section with news about the latest in cruise food, with items of interest such as the historic partnership of Holland America line with famed Le Cirque restaurant in Le Cirque teams up with Holland America Line Holland America Line’s Master Chef Rudi Sodamin is working with Le Cirque’s Executive Chef Craig Hopson to re-create the legendary eatery’s whimsical ambiance and award-winning dining experience on board .

There is news too about news about cruise line chefs like three Star Michelin chef Heinz Beck, Master Chef Andre Soltner and colorful celebrity chef Jon Ashton joining the Crystal Cruises’ 15th annual Wine & Food Experiences of Discovery series in 2011 in Star chefs star on board Crystal Cruises in 2011 In addition to food events and hands-on instruction, days at sea will feature chefs’ demos, wine tastings, pairing sessions and lessons in the art of the perfect cocktail.

There is also cruise food news from Holland Holland America Line at Holland America Line Creates the Holland America Line Culinary Council about Holland America Line's Culinary Council of celebrated chefs from around the world who have come together to enrich Holland America Line’s culinary initiatives and to present signature recipes to be featured in all dining venues on all 15 ships. The Culinary Council members include Council Chairman and Holland America Line’s Master Chef Rudi Sodamin, along with renowned international chefs Jonnie Boer, David Burke, Marcus Samuelsson, Jacques Torres and Charlie Trotter.

And there is news also about how Celebrity Cruises has adapted their casual dining experience in Celebrity Cruises redesigns their evening casual dining experience with news about the revamping of the Celebrity Cruises evening offerings in its “lido,” or primary casual dining venues.

For more cruise food news and indeed many pages of information about cruise line food, take a look at the Cruise Food Section of Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine and discover a host of cruise ship recipes and more.

New Rudi Sodamin / Holland America Line Cookbook

Completing the Holland America Line Culinary Signature Collections cookbooks, published by Rizzoli, Holland America Line’s Master Chef Rudi Sodamin has written his third cookbook, “A Taste of Celebration” .

The first two titles are Sodamin’s “A Taste of Excellence” and “A Taste of Elegance”, and all three are available at the Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine Cookbooks page and in bookstores and on on board Holland America Line cruise ships.

“A Taste of Celebration” is filled with Sodamin’s inspired recipes for complete menus — from appetizers to desserts — for 16 celebratory occasions.

These include 11 holidays: Valentine’s Day, Passover, Easter, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Also included are recipes for a Captain’s Dinner, Master Chef’s Dinner (a Holland America Line signature event), Super Bowl Sunday, birthday or anniversary celebration and a cocktail party. All of the menus feature distinctive four-star favorites from Sodamin’s extensive recipe collection.

Chef Rudi Sodamin shares one of the recipes for Prow’s Edge readers – Vegetarian Black Bean Chili – the perfect dish for Super Bowl Sunday – and joins the many celebrity chefs featured in the cruise food section of Prow's Edge.

Sodamin is internationally recognized as a food authority and one of the hospitality industry's most innovative chefs. He continues to direct the evolution of fine dining and unique menu options at Holland America Line, including the introduction of alternative dining venues such as the Italian-themed Canaletto and pan-Asian Tamarind, a highly acclaimed, exclusive dining experience on Signature-class ships ms Eurodam and ms Nieuw Amsterdam.

Sodamin is a member of the Academy Culinaire de France, Maîtres Cuisiners de France and Honoree Member Club des Chefs des Chefs.

For more recipes from cruise line chefs, visit the popular Cruise Line Recipes at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine.

For more about Holland America Line visit the official web site at http://www.hollandamerica.com

New Safety Boss for Holland America Line

With awareness of safety at sea and environmental issues becoming more of an issue for the media and for cruise passengers around the world, the cruise lines are starting to take note.

Merging both the issues of safety and the environment, Holland America Line has created a new department that combines Environmental Management Systems with Safety/Training and Regulatory Compliance to be headed by Bill Morani, Vice President, Safety and Environmental Management Systems.

Morani came to Holland America Line after a distinguished 28-year career in the U.S. Coast during which he became recognized as one of the most experienced marine accident investigators. He retired after 28 years as a captain.

For more information about safety at sea visit the Safety at Sea section at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine with important news and tips about cruise ship crime, cruise victims, and safety on a cruise ship.

HAL's Culinary Arts Center

Following on our story about Chef Randy Zweiban appearing in Holland America Line’s Culinary Arts Center, here are some details about the Culinary Arts Center.

Holland America Line’s Culinary Arts Center
Holland America Line’s Culinary Arts Center is featured on each of the line’s 14 ships. A first-class “show kitchen at sea,” the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine resembles the elaborate show kitchens used by celebrity chefs on television cooking programs. The facilities offer demonstrations, tastings and hands-on cooking classes aboard every Holland America Line sailing.

Each facility features a theater-style venue, with two large plasma video screens and a large cooking display counter where guests can learn from and interact with the masters. On cruises that do not have a celebrity chef on board, hands-on classes and demonstrations in the show kitchen are scheduled with Holland America Line’s own expert chefs.

Holland America Line also offers a youth Culinary Arts Center activity program to teach kids and teens how to cook. The program incorporates dishes from breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in complimentary 45-minute-long classes. Kids under eight years old learn to make theme cookies, fruit roll-ups, ice cream sandwiches, salad people art and scones. Kids eight and over make soft pretzels, granola bars, pita chips and hummus, and saltwater taffy. Teens also can attend adult culinary demonstrations.

For a full schedule of Holland America Line’s culinary guest program, visit http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-onboard/Enrichment.action and click on the Culinary Arts Center tab.

For the latest in cruise cuisine and cruise line chef's recipes, visit the free Prow's Edge cookbook at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine

Food for Foodies aboard Holland America Line

A real treat for foodies is coming up on Holland America Line. Randy Zweiban, executive chef and owner of Chicago’s acclaimed restaurant, Province, is scheduled to sail as part of the guest enrichment program on the July 12, 2010, Alaskan Adventurer Via Hubbard Glacier cruise aboard Holland America Line’s ms Amsterdam.

The 14-day cruise sails round-trip from Seattle and will call at Ketchikan, Skagway, Sitka, Anchorage, Homer and Juneau, Alaska, before visiting Victoria, British Columbia.

Zweiban, who will be on board from July 12 – 19, will share his expertise on Nuevo Latino cuisine and conduct cooking demonstrations for guests in the ship's state-of-the-art show kitchen.

From the moment Zweiban opened Province in Chicago’s trendy West Loop neighborhood in 2008, the Nuevo Latino concept captured the hearts and tastes of the Windy City’s food critics and foodies alike. Featuring cuisine inspired by Central and South America and Spain, Province was given a three-out-of-four-star review by the Chicago Tribune. Additionally, Zweiban’s work has been featured in several national publications including USA Today, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Newsweek, Food Arts, Metropolitan Home and Esquire magazine.

For a full schedule of Holland America Line’s culinary guest program, visit http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-onboard/Enrichment.action and click on the Culinary Arts Center tab.

For recipes from famous cruise line chefs visit the CAPTAIN'S TABLE at Prow's Edge.

More award-winning shore excursions from HAL

To complement its already extensive and award-winning shore excursion offerings, Holland America Line has put together 55 new tours for its 2010 summer season.

The new excursions range from an afternoon in the French city of Cognac, France, where one can discover the secrets of making Cognac and sample the delights of what many French call “the healing drink;” to a nostalgic steam-hauled train ride which crosses the world-famous Glenfinnan Viaduct — a 21-arch, 1000-foot span featured in the Harry Potter and Narnia films; to an unforgettable flightseeing Brown Bear and wildlife tour in the wilds of Southeast Alaska, visiting remote areas that only a bush pilot can reach.

“Holland America Line is always looking for new opportunities to provide our guests with a variety of memorable and unique excursions that will enrich their cruise-travel experience,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Our selections not only give our guests the chance to expand their cultural horizons but also cater to a variety of interests including romantic candlelight cruises in Northern Europe, an elegant, white-gloved dinner in the Mediterranean, parasailing in the Caribbean and zipline eco-adventures in Alaska. We have something for everyone.”

Holland America Line offers hundreds of shore excursions to more than 300 ports in more than 100 countries.

For more information about Holland America Line, take a look at the recently updated cruise line profile at Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine at www.prowsedge.com/cruise-lines-holland-america-line.html .

To discover more about Holland America Line’s entire award-winning shore excursions program or to pre-book excursions online, visit www.hollandamerica.com and click “shore excursions.”

Holland America Line’s ms Ryndam comes out of dry dock

Holland America Line’s ms Ryndam recently sailed with several new enhancements on its seven-day western Caribbean cruises sailing from Tampa, Florida.

The premium ship just completed a 17-day dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas, and now features the new, stylish lounge called Mix, a sophisticated Showroom at Sea with several new productions, the complimentary Italian eatery Canaletto, and a complete new stateroom and bath design.

“We are in the midst of an extensive and exciting phase of our Signature of Excellence enhancements program,” said Richard Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs at Holland America Line. “As the most recent ship to receive the new public areas and soft goods, the Ryndam looks wonderful and our guests will feel like they are sailing on a new ship.

The industry-leading Signature of Excellence initiative is an ongoing and comprehensive program that touches every aspect of the Holland America Line experience and the investment now exceeds $525 million.

Signature of Excellence features and amenities offer guests more luxurious accommodations, enhanced dining experiences, more enriching activities and exceptional levels of service.

Some of these improvements include new carpeting, soft goods and completely renovated bathrooms with new vanities and cabinetry in all staterooms, more experts and expanded education and entertainment options, a new Italian restaurant called Canaletto,

For more about Holland America Line visit Prow's Edge Cruise Magazine for the profile of the cruise line at www.prowsedge.com/cruise-lines-holland-america-line.html

For a cruise brochure or for more information, consult a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE OFFERS NEW REWARDS PROGRAM

The new Mariner Society Rewards Program provides past guests with exciting new benefits from generous onboard discounts while sailing and special rates on select cruises to reduced or free third and fourth rates when booking future cruises. Benefits are tiered and vary based on a guest’s cruise history.

The Mariner Society Rewards Program offers a four-level progressive membership with a wide range of cruise and on-board savings and extra values. All guests who sail with Holland America Line are automatically welcomed into the Mariner Society where they receive special offers on upcoming cruises as well as advance information about new ships and the latest product enhancements.

Based on past cruises recorded as cruise days, members now enjoy Star memberships with four different levels offering an ever-widening range of cruise options and enhancements. Guests automatically collect additional “cruise days” or cruise day credits based on their onboard spending or through the purchase of one of the premium line’s suite options.

Star Mariner
Guests who complete their initial cruise with Holland America Line are automatically enrolled in the Mariner Society’s first level, earning cruise days towards future cruises and an exclusive collectable gift. Among the features of Star Mariner status: special offers on select sailings, 50 percent discount for third and fourth guests on select sailings, hosted sailings with Holland America Line Ambassadors, a relaxing Welcome Back Embarkation Brunch on future cruises, a subscription to the Mariner Magazine and a Mariner Champagne Brunch on future cruises.

Two-Star Mariner
After 30 cruise day credits earned, Two-Star guests receive all the amenities of a Star Mariner plus shopping discounts, featuring 15 percent off merchandise purchased from ShopHollandAmerica.com and 10 percent off logo apparel items onboard in the gift shops. Two-Star Mariners also will receive a complimentary ship photo and be sent an exclusive annual cruise planner and special recognition pin.

Three –Star Mariner
With 75 cruise days earned, Three-Star guests automatically are given all Two-Star amenities plus generous new discounts including 10 percent off on select spa treatments; a 25 percent discount on all wine packages, mini-bar purchases, Explorations Café drinks and alternative restaurant surcharges; special advanced notice of new itineraries; and a waiver of air deviation fees.

Four-Star Mariner
At the top of the tiers, with 200 cruise days earned, Four-Star guests enjoy the benefits of all Star levels below and the bonus of free fare for third and fourth guests on select sailings; complimentary wine tasting and laundry/pressing; a 50 percent discount on all wine packages, mini-bar purchases, Explorations Café drinks and alternative restaurant surcharges; a 15 percent discount on logo apparel items onboard in the gift shops; priority tender service and check-in; priority shore excursion pre-booking; and a free subscription to Food and Wine magazine or Travel and Leisure magazine.

The new Mariner Society Rewards Program will roll out to the entire fleet by October 18, 2009. For more information, consult a travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

For news about other rewards programs offered by other cruise lines, visit www.prowsedge.com/cruises-advice-reward-programs.html or visit our forum pages at www.prowsedge.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=53&sid=ac06f8a560971d0b824878877131f8e2 where visitors share their own opinions about cruise line reward programs.