Tag: Holland America Line

Holland America Line is now offering pasta-making classes

Holland America Line is known for serving fresh, local ingredients on board, with a focus on dishes that highlight regional flavours.

In addition to its Global Fresh Fish program that offers more than 80 varieties of fresh fish sourced locally, Holland America Line is highlighting “Made Fresh Daily” handcrafted breads, pastas and regionally inspired desserts.

Guests can now enjoy an array of freshly made selections at all dining venues — from just-out-of-the-oven baguettes to perfectly prepared spaghetti. To enhance the onboard options featuring fresh ingredients, Chef Ethan Stowell has curated an Italian-inspired menu of pasta dishes, along with a made-to-order pizza with freshly baked crust. In addition to handmade pasta and bread, Holland America Line also serves freshly made daily gelato, waffle cones, regionally inspired desserts and additional pastries.

New signature eats

In summer 2025, Holland America Line will be launching a signature bread: a flavourful sourdough raisin loaf with pumpkin seeds. The item will be available fleetwide in Pinnacle Grill every night and in the Dining Room on dressy nights.

Guests looking to indulge in Chef Stowell’s fresh pasta in Lido Market can choose from tortiglioni with basil pesto, haricot vert and baby potatoes; paccheri with spicy tomato, shrimp and parsley; spaghetti with beef and ricotta meatballs, basil and tomato; casarecce with beef short rib bolognaise; and basked conchiglie with mozzarella and tomato basil. At New York Pizza, Chef Stowell created the “Primo” with salami, pickled peppers and red onion, all atop a freshly made pizza crust.

Pasta making classes at sea

Stemming from a November 2024 collaboration, Holland America Line is teaming up again with Sur La Table for cooking classes offered at Sur La Table locations nationwide. The recipes are inspired by the cruise line’s Destination Dining program and give participants the opportunity to prepare and create pasta made from scratch, guided by one of Sur La Table’s professional chefs, and using top-of- the-line Sur La Table tools.

Starting in March 2025, consumers can sign up for the “Made from Scratch Ravioli with Holland America Line” class to learn how to make pasta dough, smoked salmon ravioli with vodka cream sauce, Swiss chard and ricotta ravioli with lemon brown butter, and, as a nod to the cruise line’s Dutch roots, stroopwafel apple crumble. The class features step-by-step instructions on the ravioli making – from rolling and cutting dough to filling and cooking.

“Our initial class on fresh fish with Sur La Table was fantastic, and we are excited to expand the partnership by having consumers prepare and cook a menu that is carefully crafted by both brands connecting to the more than 140 ports we call at across Europe,” said Kacy Cole, chief marketing officer for Holland America Line. “Sur La Table and Holland America Line share a vision that cuisine is a door to different cultures, and this new class will introduce participants to more of our global flavors, while benefitting from Sur La Table’s culinary authority and expertise.”

At Sur La Table’s 58 stores nationwide, guests have access to top chefs and expert advice from the leading culinary retailer and largest recreational cooking school in the nation. Through its culinary program, Sur La Table annually teaches over 425,000 students and offers 40,000 classes — from date nights and kids’ series to global flavor, baking and more —inspiring customers to bring their cooking dreams to life.  All Sur La Table culinary classes are 100% hands-on, so guests know that they will truly experience the culinary lesson, rather than simply observing.

Classes can be booked at www.surlatable.com/cooking-classes/ or at local Sur La Table stores.

For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.

Holland America Line welcomes chefs Ethan Stowell & Jacques Torres on 2025 Grand Voyages

Holland America Line is bringing an extraordinary culinary experience to its 2025 Grand Voyages by welcoming chef Ethan Stowell and chocolatier Jacques Torres on board.

These renowned culinary artists will join a segment of the Grand World Voyage and Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole, respectively, offering guests a series of exclusive events and interactive culinary sessions.

“Including Chefs Ethan Stowell and Jacques Torres on our Grand Voyages builds on our commitment to delivering unique and exclusive travel experiences on these longer cruises,” said Michael Smith, Holland America Line’s senior vice president for guest experience and product development. “These two extraordinary chefs will enable our guests to enjoy world-class culinary events that complement the breathtaking destinations and memorable moments of these itineraries.”

Meet the chefs

Ethan Stowell, celebrated for his innovative approach to Pacific Northwest cuisine, will join the 124-day Grand World Voyage from April 19-25 aboard Zuiderdam. Stowell will participate in live cooking demonstrations, exclusive dinner experiences featuring destination-specific menus and attend a special pizza event as the ship sails out of Naples, Italy.

Additionally, Stowell will host a “Coffee Chat” for guests where they will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn from a world-renowned chef on their culinary approach.

Jacques Torres, the acclaimed chocolatier and pastry chef, will join the 133-day Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole aboard Volendam, departing Jan. 25, 2025, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Torres will join the voyage from April 29 to May 4 to delight guests with his expertise in chocolate and pastry through live demonstrations and exclusive dessert tastings. Guests can look forward to interactive sessions where Torres will share his culinary journey and insights into the world of chocolate.

During his time on board, he will also lead the Chocolate Surprise parade — a beloved late-evening procession of Torres’ chocolate confections that happens once a cruise on every ship.

Additionally, Torres will host an exclusive dinner in Pinnacle Grill featuring his delectable desserts.

About the 2025 Grand Voyages

The 2025 Grand Voyages offer an unparalleled travel experience, with Zuiderdam visiting 49 ports in 30 countries across six continents and Volendam exploring 68 ports across five continents and 26 countries.

Both voyages feature overnight calls and memorable moments, including scenic cruising in Antarctica, the Amazon River, the Great Barrier Reef and more.

Segments offer a taste of a Grand Voyage

Guests can still book the full Pole-to-Pole cruise or join segments on either Grand Voyage. The Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole aboard Volendam features seven segments, ranging from 33 to 100 days. On Zuiderdam’s Grand World Voyage, guests can choose from among six segments, ranging from 20 to 55 days.

The segments allow guests to choose from a diverse selection of shorter itineraries, tailoring the Grand Voyage experience to their own taste and timeline.

  • 20-Day Athens, Greece to Fort Lauderdale, April 19 — May 9, 2025: Guests looking to sail with Ethan Stowell can embark in Athens for a Mediterranean adventure, calling at ports in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Morocco — including a special overnight celebration in Barcelona, Spain — before heading across the Atlantic Ocean, visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico, for a perfect day in paradise before disembarking at Fort Lauderdale.
  • 44-Day Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, April 24 – June 7, 2025:  Guests eager for time aboard with Jacques Torres can embark in Barcelona and experience the dramatic landscapes of Spain through northern Europe, calling at ports in Portugal, France, Iceland, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Scotland, Iceland, Greenland and Canada.

Grand meetup in Barcelona

On April 24, 2025, Volendam and Zuiderdam will meet in Barcelona for a joint overnight call, bringing the two Grand Voyages together for a celebration. Special festivities involving both ships will mark the occasion of the perfectly planned dual visit.

The Grand Meetup dinner will feature a show-stopping chocolate globe, an exquisite creation by Chef Torres, representing the world-spanning journey of the two ships.

A Grand onboard experience

On each Grand Voyage, Holland America Line ships provide gracious service, superior amenities and unexpected experiences. Guests can relax during leisurely days at sea, taking advantage of the extra time to participate in shipboard activities.

Shipboard entertainment shines in the evening with local cultural performers and special guest headliners. Festive gala balls and dressy nights create memorable moments, along with a Captain’s Grand Voyage Dinner.

Dining is elevated to a new level on each Grand Voyage with menus that change daily and are seldom repeated, featuring local ingredients and regional cuisine.