SEATTLE — Holland America Line’s new 2018 Signature Experiences on select itineraries departing from Montreal, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Rome, Venice and Copenhagen include immersive pre-cruise cultural tours, luxury hotel stays and transfers.
Each pre-cruise Signature Experience was created exclusively for Holland America Line and includes an evening event, two-night luxury hotel stay and transfers, says the cruise line. Guests who book a suite on the eligible cruises receive the Signature Experiences complimentary, but space is limited and reservations are required.
“Holland America Line guests are travellers who enjoy immersing themselves in the cultures of the places we visit, and our new Signature Experiences present some of the most iconic destinations in a unique way that isn’t available to the general public,” said Holland America Line President Orlando Ashford. “By showcasing these incredible cities at night with exclusive opportunities, our guests will come away with a deeper cultural impression and experiences that go well beyond traditional tours.”
The new Signature Experiences include Taste of Montréal – Old & New. On select Canada & New England cruises that depart from Montréal, the Taste of Montréal – Old & New Signature Experience visits the city’s most popular sights and takes guests behind the velvet rope at one of its leading cultural institutions. In addition to the immersive city tour, the package also includes a two-night hotel stay and complimentary transfers.
In Amsterdam, An Evening at the Rijksmuseum takes guests on an after-hours private tour of the most-visited national museum in the Netherlands. After a cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres in the museum’s foyer, participants tour the Rijksmuseum Honor Gallery, followed by a three-course dinner in the Rijksmuseum’s café.
An Evening at Casa Batlló in Barcelona includes a private tour of this iconic architectural treasure created by Antoni Gaudí between 1904 and 1906. Guests will have time to take in this masterpiece of shape, color and light, then feast on tapas and drinks while enjoying flamenco fusion music provided by Son de Cajon.
In Copenhagen, A Night at Kronborg Castle Signature Experience features this memorable UNESCO World Heritage Site, immortalized in Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’. At Kronborg Castle guests will be entertained by actors who provide a history of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, followed by appetizers and beverages.
During A Night Out in Ancient Rome, guests will spend a magical evening at the Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi (House of the Knights of Rhodes) on a terrace overlooking the Roman Forum. After indulging in appetizers and prosecco, guests will be privy to a private, after-hours tour of Rome’s iconic Colosseum by one of the monument’s most elite guides.
Venice’s An Evening on the Grand Canal Signature Experience takes guests on a motor-launch cruise to the water entrance of a charming, privately owned, 16th-century palace overlooking the city’s Grand Canal. In this opulent and historic setting guests will enjoy appetizers, drinks and Venetian music, all in the company of a countess or member of her noble family.
Holland America says Signature Experiences for Australia and New Zealand, Asia and South America cruises will be coming soon.
