Visitors to Holland America Line's New Website Enjoy Virtual Cruise Experience

SEATTLE, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Aiming to bring the Holland America Line vacation experience to computer desktops, the line's redesigned website offers a detailed virtual sampling of its premium cruise vacations along with sophisticated cruise shopping tools.

"Increasingly we find our guests turn to the Internet to view and plan their Holland America Line cruise," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales, and guest programs. "We redesigned our site to offer a virtual experience that offers a true flavor of the cruise that awaits our guests, from what their stateroom looks like to activities in port."

With more rich media features aimed at an ever-evolving Internet-savvy audience around the world, hollandamerica.com combines updated graphics, re-organized information and search tools that underscore the details and diversity of the cruise itineraries. An interactive map lets users click on a continent and zoom in on a particular destination with access to port details, shore excursions, and itineraries.

A new Cruise Finder tool helps visitors narrow down options on their desired itinerary. Visitors may select up to three itineraries to compare side-by-side. After choosing to view details on one, adjoining tabs display a map, destination information, available shore excursions and ship information. By creating an account, visitors may save favorites to review later.

A new My Account feature allows visitors to personalize their experience when shopping for a particular cruise destination. Once an account is set up with a personal profile, the My Favorites page lets visitors save cruises, cruise tours and shore excursions that interest them for later comparison. On the My Reservations page, visitors can book shore excursions, check-in online and buy onboard gifts. The website will also return information to the visitor based on their identified interest. For example, current promotions available in Europe are displayed for a visitor looking at European destinations.

Choosing the perfect CruiseTour in Alaska is easy with the new Alaska Tour Guide. Is it important to see tidewater glaciers or visit the Yukon? Visitors can rate an array of photos based on their personal preferences. The Guide rates the photos then recommends three CruiseTours based on visitor responses.

A video gallery filled with snapshots, video clips, virtual tours, ebrochures and podcasts engages visitors with a virtual experience of a Holland America Line vacation. Content covers destinations, ship details and activities. Video clips give an overview of dining options, show the range of shipboard activities and highlight global destinations. Podcasts narrate the collection of art and antiques displayed on each ship.

On the Book Cruises page, guests may choose from four ways to make vacation plans. They can find a travel agent with the travel agency locator tool, call the company directly, ask to be contacted by a company representative or book online.

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc ]

Holland America Line's fleet of 13 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to 314 ports of call in 97 countries, territories or dependencies. Two- to 108-day itineraries visit all seven continents, including Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal. For more information, contact a travel agent or call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit http://www.hollandamerica.com/.

World's Leading Cruise Lines

The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world, Holland America Line is a member of the exclusive World's Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Costa Cruises. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, these lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. The World's Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.

CONTACT: Rose Abello / Sarah Scoltock PHONE: 800-637-5029 FAX: 206-262-5934 EMAIL: pr@hollandamerica.co