Holland America Line has launched its 2024-2025 Caribbean season, and the seven ships exploring the region have a host of new destination-centric culinary, beverage and shore excursion experiences that delve deeper into 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.
“Caribbean culture is full of vibrant flavors that allowed us to get creative developing new dishes and cocktails that showcase the culinary traditions of the region,” said Michael Smith, senior vice president, guest experience and product development, Holland America Line. “We continue to add new and exciting experiences ashore that make a memorable impression on our guests while also taking a more personal look at the destination.”
CULINARY
Regionally themed menus in the Dining Room and Lido Market add to the culinary journey on every Caribbean cruise. Guests can enjoy a Caribbean themed brunch, indulge in local rum tastings and celebrate with a traditional, pirate-inspired rum punch.
- 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 Sandwich 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.
- There is a Themed Caribbean Tea Time once per cruise that includes: Pinacolada Mousse, Rum Baba Cupcake, Key Lime Tartlet, Caribbean Chocolate Brownie, Scones (Raisin/plain) and Gugelhupf, Assorted Sandwiches.
- For ships sailing to the Panama Canal, there is a Panamanian themed dinner in Lido Market.
BEVERAGE
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.
- 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 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.
SHORE EXCURSIONS
Holland America Line 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)
INTINERARIES
A brief selection of the Caribbean cruises for the 2024-2025 season includes
- 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
Contact us for more information or to book your cruise with Holland America Line.