Holland America Line has been exploring Alaska since 1947, for 75 years, and all of this experience is now part of its new “Alaska Up Close” program – a 360° immersion that plunges guests into the Big Land through authentic onboard and shore experiences focused on culture, food, and adventure. “Alaska Up Close” allows guests to discover, taste, and experience the real Alaska by exploring its ecosystem with Native tribe members and National Park rangers, or by savoring the day’s freshly caught salmon prepared by Holland America Line chefs.
“Alaska needs to be explored and presented differently, and with 'Alaska Up Close' our guests will have access to activities and experiences they won't find anywhere else,” said Beth Bodensteiner, senior vice president and chief commercial officer of Holland America Line. “We want our guests to be immersed in Alaska from the moment they step aboard, and as we celebrate 75 years of Alaskan exploration in 2022, we are leveraging our unparalleled expertise to craft a memorable and exclusive program.”
Alaska Up Close features local experts and personalities leading workshops and lectures, Explorations Central (EXC) talks that reveal the stories of authentic Alaskans, tours highlighting the best of each destination, Port to Table culinary immersion, and local cuisine served in restaurants throughout the ship.
The EXC talks focus on history and culture:
– “Breaking the Ice Ceiling” presents stories of Alaskan women working in traditionally male-dominated fields.
– “Ancestral Memories” tells the stories of Alaska Natives keeping their culture and language alive.
– “Pacific Giants” describes the wonders, customs, and future of Alaska’s largest inhabitants.
– “Iditarod – The Last Great Race” shares what it’s like to ride the sled in this incredible Alaskan adventure.
Guests on all Alaska cruises can enjoy the BBC Earth multimedia show “Alaska in Concert” on the main stage. A live orchestra performs the soundtrack against a backdrop of stunning images from the BBC Earth television series “Wild Alaska.”.
Through Port to Table programming, guests delve into Alaskan culinary traditions and learn to eat like a local through live cooking demonstrations.
Food lovers will find plenty to explore on an Alaska cruise, and through a series of exclusive FOOD & WINE shore excursions, guests can take advantage of Alaska's unique culinary scene, such as dining on some of the freshest seafood in the world, sampling Anchorage craft beer, tasting fire-baked sourdough rolls, and attending a crab feast or salmon roast.
Holland America Line offers a wide selection of excursions: helicopter trips to a glacier, whale watching in their natural habitat, or rafting or kayaking for an adventure, among others.
In 2022, six Holland America Line ships will explore Alaska, either round-trip from Seattle, Washington; round-trip from Vancouver, Canada; or between Whittier, Alaska, and Vancouver. All Alaska cruises include a visit to one or more of Alaska’s iconic glacier destinations. For explorers who want to travel further afield, 16 different cruises combine an Alaska cruise with an exploration of the interior of Denali National Park or the wilderness of Canada’s Yukon Territory.
