Holland America Line brings 7 ships to the Caribbean

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Holland America Line (HAL) wants to leverage the local culture for its 2024-25 Caribbean sailing season which began on Oct. 20. The Carnival-owned brand will have seven ships sailing in the region.

"With a focus on local flavors and cultural immersion, the cruise line is eager to offer guests authentic connections to the food, drinks, and history of the destinations they visit," the cruise line shared in a press release.

Related: Carnival and Royal Caribbean make controversial casino changes

The cruise line has modified its main dining room and Lino Market menus to embrace Caribbean culinary traditions. Guests can enjoy a Caribbean-themed brunch, indulge in local rum tastings, and celebrate with a traditional, pirate-inspired rum punch.

HAL shared some of what can be found on its Caribbean ships.

The complimentary Caribbean Brunch menu in the Dining Room showcases fresh, local ingredients, with selections that range from sweet tropical flavors to savory dishes. Examples include Jamaican Banana Pancakes, Sweet Potato Chowder, and Florida Keys Mahi-Mahi Sandwich with grilled pineapple.

Local flavors on the dining room menu include Chilly Caribbean Shrimp Cocktail with orange habanero aioli; Jerked Pork Tenderloin with peanuts, rice pilaf, and black beans; Spiced Pork Belly with pineapple, salsa, roasted squash, and sweet potatoes; and Chicken and Callaloo Soup with butternut squash, garlic, thyme, and toasted coconut.

During Caribbean sailings, the casual Lido Market features regional favorites like Puerto Rican Tostones, Caribbean Lamb Curry, Caribbean Roasted Pork Sandwiches, and Caribbean Bread Pudding.

Pinnacle Grill also features local flavors with the addition of Caribbean dishes to the menu, including Jerked Chicken Bao and a Cuban Mojo Pork Chop.

The cruise line will also offer a Caribbean Tea Time once per cruise that includes: Pina Colada Mousse, Rum Baba Cupcake, Key Lime Tartlet, Caribbean Chocolate Brownie, Scones, and Gugelhupf (a traditional cake), as well as assorted sandwiches. For ships sailing to the Panama Canal, there is a Panamanian-themed dinner in Lido Market.

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Hal also plans a Caribbean beverage menu "Holland America Line is excited to introduce its exclusive Rum Ambassador programming on all Caribbean sailings, developed in collaboration with world-renowned beverage experts and historians David Wondrich and Jeff 'Beachbum' Berry. Guests can immerse themselves in the rich history and flavors of rum through tastings and seminars led by an onboard Rum Ambassador, making this a unique, interactive experience for the Caribbean season," the cruise line shared.

A new menu of five Caribbean cocktails created by David Wondrich will feature the flavors of the region. A pirate-inspired rum punch debuted last season and will make a return to the bars and lounges.

Green Swizzle: Choice of Planteray 3 Star or Fords Gin, Velvet Falernum, lime juice, absinthe, soda, and Angostura, swizzled.

El Presidente: Planteray 3 Star, Vermouth blanc, dashes of orange curaçao, grenadine.

Myrtle Bank Special Punch: Planteray 3 Star and Smith and Cross Rum, pot-still Jamaican rums plus lime, sugar, and a dash of Italian cherry brandy.

Big Youth: Planteray Xaymaca Rum and Smith and Cross Rum, sweetened condensed milk, coconut water, bitters, and nutmeg.

17th Century Caribbean Pirate Punch: Two kinds of rich, pot-stilled Jamaican rum, a dash of orange curaçao, three kinds of citrus juice, and a sprinkling of fresh-grated nutmeg.

On each ship in the Caribbean, one of Holland America Line’s bartenders will train to become a Rum Ambassador. In this role, they will lead rum tastings for guests.

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HAL wants you to explore the Caribbean HAL offers hundreds of tours in Caribbean ports that showcase the best of each destination. From water-based experiences to culturally immersive explorations, the range of shore excursions features something for every taste and level of activity. Six new shore excursions on Caribbean itineraries offer new experiences for guests ashore

Dominican Culture: Cooking, Coffee & Casa Typica (Amber Cover, DR)

Steel Band Extravaganza at Sunbury Plantation (Bridgetown, Barbados)

Traditional Alebrije Carving & Painting Workshop (Cozumel, Mexico)

Megan’s Bay Beach and Skyride at Paradise Point (Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas)

Historic St. Thomas & Blackbeard’s Castle (Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas)

San Juan Artisanal Rum Distillers Experience with Lunch (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

Here is a brief selection of the Caribbean cruises for the 2024-2025 season:

11-Day Eastern Caribbean Wayfarer, Eurodam, departs Nov. 27, 2024

7-Day Western Caribbean, Nieuw Amsterdam, departs Dec. 8

14-Day Southern Caribbean, Volendam, departs Dec. 21, 2024

12-Day Panama Canal Sunfarer, Rotterdam, departs Feb. 2, 2025

7-Day Tropical Caribbean, Nieuw Statendam, departs Feb. 8, 2025

10-Day Southern Caribbean Seafarer, Eurodam, departs Feb. 19, 2025

6-Day Tropical Caribbean, Rotterdam, departs April 6, 2025

Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.

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