HOLLAND America Line (HAL) yesterday kicked off its 2024/25 Australian season with a unique event on board Noordam, which arrived in Sydney Harbour yesterday morning. Industry partners were treated to a high level pickleball tournament, where some of Australia’s leading players demonstrated their prowess at the fast-growing sport on the...
HOLLAND America Line (HAL) yesterday kicked off its 2024/25 Australian season with a unique event on board Noordam, which arrived in Sydney Harbour yesterday morning.
Industry partners were treated to a high level pickleball tournament, where some of Australia’s leading players demonstrated their prowess at the fast-growing sport on the ship’s dedicated top deck court.
Carnival Vice President of Sales & Partnerships Ryan Taibel also showcased the new ‘All Thats Missing is U’ campaign which will “reinvigorate the brand in the local market”.
“Holland America is back to sailing in Australia, and we want to lean into the human need to be at the centre of the cruising experience – to make sure our guests know they are a part of the journey,” he said.
“There’s just one thing that’s missing for our local guests…our slogan is ‘Savor the Journey’ and while that’s important to us, we seem to have left out something relevant to our guests in Australia and NZ – the letter U,” he added.
The event aboard Noordam was the first in Holland America’s “Savour Series” which will highlight a different element of the cruise experience.
Holland America’s local season runs until Apr, offering a series of seven- to 14-day trans-Tasman itineraries, while the cruise line is also currently promoting its Europe and Alaska programs for next year.
MEANWHILE, Taibel also unveiled plans for a new dining experience on board Noordam.
Dubbed “Morimoto By Sea”, the once-per-cruise pop-up restaurant will launch on the vessel next year, “ready for the Alaska season in 2024” featuring the cuisine of Holland America’s Fresh Fish Ambassador, the famed Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Taibel confirmed.
Attendees at yesterday’s event were treated to bite-sized samples of some of the unique appetisers which will be offered at Morimoto By Sea.
The concept is also rolling out as a pop-up on the rest of the Holland America’s fleet, apart from Nieuw Amsterdam which will amp things up even further with a stand-alone specialty Morimoto restaurant starting from next month. BP
Pictured above are Caitlyn Paris and Carina Mullen from Cruise HQ with Holland America’s Nola Melamet and Rebecca Cranston, plus Josh Duncan from itravel.
Inset, Melamet is seen with Brendan Lee, Executive Officer at Pickleball Australia Association with a HAL-branded pickleball bat – and some pickles, naturally!
