<p>SEATTLE, Oct. 2 /CNW/ -- With today's traveler looking for more enriching<br />experiences and activities, Holland America Line has broadened its onboard<br />programming with the new Explorations Team.&nbsp; As part of the premium line's<br />ongoing Signature of Excellence initiative, the Explorations Team will be<br />comprised of event staff with specific, niche expertise ranging from<br />technology to travel who will offer guests a menu of &quot;edutainment&quot; programs.</p><p><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Holland America Line Explorations Team will be a cohesive team<br />dedicated to enhancing the overall cruise experience and includes an onboard<br />party planner, a travel guide, a &quot;techspert&quot; and dance directors. On cruises<br />lasting 12 days or more, a book club leader will also join the team.</p><p><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;People learn through experience and our guests are looking for programs,<br />events and activities they can personally connect with,&quot; said Richard D.</p><p><br />Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs.<br />&quot;Our goal is not only to entertain guests but to offer them the opportunity to<br />learn a new skill or discover something about a new port or country; the<br />choice is theirs, and the Explorations Team is in place to facilitate that<br />choice.&quot;</p><p><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The onboard party planner will schedule, implement and host events in the<br />Culinary Arts Center, significantly expanding the innovative program which<br />already brings more than 70 culinary experts on board each year for cooking<br />demonstrations and seminars. The line has invested more than $14 million in<br />the professional show kitchens found on each ship and will use the space for<br />more activities such as wine tasting, craft classes, floral arranging, and<br />table and lifestyle presentations such as creating the line's beloved towel<br />animals.</p><p><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The travel guide will host lectures and be a one-stop source for<br />information on the various ports of call. A destination expert, the travel<br />guide will be available throughout the cruise to interact with guests on a<br />one-on-one basis, answer questions, and give presentations on the<br />destination's history, culture and geography. On Grand Voyages and on ms<br />Prinsendam, rotating guest speakers fill the role of travel guide.</p><p><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The &quot;techspert&quot; will be on hand to teach guests how to take advantage of<br />technology, whether helping guests make the most of their vacation photos,<br />arranging a digital scrapbook, blogging, creating a slideshow or editing a<br />movie. Classes and personal workshops will be available throughout the cruise.<br />Novices can learn about Web 2.0 and how to work with digital photos. Those<br />with more experience will enjoy the opportunity to learn new shortcuts and<br />techniques.</p><p><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dance directors show guests how to dance the night away. Classes are<br />available throughout each cruise. Whether teaching line dancing in the Crow's<br />Nest or ballroom dancing in the Ocean Bar, the dance instructors will ensure<br />guests of all experience levels enjoy themselves while learning new steps.<br />After class, guests will find dance events on the ship's activity schedule<br />where they may show off their new moves.</p><p><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On cruises lasting 12 or more days, a book club leader will host lively<br />book discussions in the Explorations Cafe powered by the New York Times. Book<br />titles will be posted online before the cruise so guests interested in joining<br />the discussion will have time to read the chosen book. The book club leader<br />will plan and facilitate two to three discussions for each book. Books chosen<br />will relate to the sailing destination whether by author or topic. For<br />example, on an Australian itinerary the book may be &quot;In a Sunburned Country&quot;<br />by Bill Bryson or in Asia, &quot;Saving Fish from Drowning: A Novel by Amy Tan.&quot;</p><p><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With the addition of this new team of experts, Holland America Line<br />guests now will have even more memories to take home from their cruise plus<br />the personal experiences that have enriched their lives to share with family<br />and friends. The Holland America Line Explorations Team will be implemented<br />fleet-wide.</p><p><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This $200-million phase in the Signature of Excellence commitment brings<br />the latest innovations at sea to Holland America Line's ms Statendam, ms<br />Maasdam, ms Ryndam, ms Veendam and ms Rotterdam. The first of the extensive<br />dry-dock periods begins with the Veendam in spring 2009 and the last will be<br />completed on the Maasdam in late 2010. While in dry-dock, ships will expand<br />the aft deck to create a new resort pool concept, The Retreat, and create a<br />new bar concept called Mix that features separate areas -- Martinis, Champagne<br />and Spirits &amp; Ales. Enhancements will be made to all existing staterooms and<br />additional staterooms will be added to the ships. The ships will also<br />introduce 46 innovative lanai staterooms with direct access to the Lower<br />Promenade Deck. New spa staterooms near the Greenhouse Spa and Salon will<br />offer special in-room spa amenities. Overall Holland America Line has<br />committed $525 million to its Signature of Excellence program that redefines<br />premium cruising.</p><p><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For a cruise brochure or for more information, consult a professional<br />travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425) or visit<br />http://www.hollandamerica.com.</p>