Holland America Line Receives Accolades for Best Cruise Industry Shoreside Experiences in 2018 Readers' Choice Awards from Porthole Cruise Magazine

Readers Place Premium Line at the Top for Best Shore Excursions and Best Private Island in Half Moon Cay

SEATTLE, Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Holland America Line took home five Porthole Cruise Magazine's 2018 Readers' Choice Awards. Readers from Porthole, one of the world's leading consumer cruise travel publications, recognized Holland America Line in areas that covered everything from top shoreside experiences to onboard facilities.

Holland America Line won in the categories of Best Shore Excursions, Best Private Island for Half Moon Cay, Most Eco-Friendly Line, Best Medical Facilities and Best Facilities for Guests with Disabilities.

"Receiving Porthole's Readers' Choice Awards is a tremendous validation of the work we're doing at Holland America Line to provide our guests with a memorable and immersive cruise vacation," said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. "We've taken a lot of time these past few years to evaluate the experiences we're delivering, and it's gratifying to be recognized in areas that are important to us. Thank you to Porthole and all of the readers for these awards."

Porthole Cruise Magazine's annual Readers' Choice Awards are determined by thousands of the publication's readers who vote by online ballot on their favorite cruise lines in 51 categories.

"I always look forward to seeing the results of our Readers' Choice Awards because our readers are discerning travelers who have stunningly high standards for every part of the cruise experience," said Bill Panoff, publisher and editor-in-chief. "For Holland America Line to do so well in so many categories year after year speaks volumes about their ability to deliver a quality voyage consistently and without compromise."

Half Moon Cay: Best Private Island
For the past 18 years, Porthole Cruise Magazine's readers have named Half Moon Cay the industry's Best Private Island. Half Moon Cay has evolved into an idyllic playground for cruise guests and features the finest beaches in the Caribbean; a natural 700-acre lagoon; incredible two-story villas and private cabanas; delicious dining venues like Lobster Shack; a new children's waterpark; and a variety of fun-filled shore excursions for nature lovers, adventurous travelers and explorers.

Cruisers can visit Half Moon Cay on nearly all of Holland America Line's Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Best Shore Excursions
Holland America Line guests can participate in incredible EXC Tours (shore excursions) that are designed to help guests deeply connect with the people and places they are visiting. To help make the most of time ashore, Holland America Line's expertly curated EXC Tours provide a wide variety of ways to explore and learn about the cultures of each port of call. Guests looking for a more tailored experience can delve deeper into The Collections tours and choose a shore excursion that has a particular focus.

Holland America Line recently introduced new tours in partnership with Food & Wine magazine. These exceptional excursions around the globe show the culinary side of destinations in some very special ways, combining food and culture with entertaining and unique experiences. Guests can learn how to make authentic Italian pizza in Naples or shop with a renowned Barcelona chef and create an extraordinary meal together.

Most Eco-Friendly Cruise Line
Holland America Line is committed to safeguarding the oceans and environment. A comprehensive environmental management program encompasses fleetwide practices to reduce waste; promote recycling, reuse and conservation; introduce innovative technology; and comply with international environmental guidelines.

Responsible energy management is one of the most important components of the company's sustainability strategy and is achieved by ensuring ships are designed and operated as efficiently as possible while identifying opportunities to reduce emissions through the use of new technology. Eleven of Holland America Line's 14 ships are equipped to use shore power.

State-of-the-Art Medical Facilities and Facilities for Guests with Disabilities
Once again, Holland America Line received recognition for its accessibility and medical facilities. Holland America ships accommodate guests with a variety of special needs and feature state-of-the-art shipboard medical facilities and equipment. Holland America Line offers a number of services to guests who may need extra support, including from eight to 30 accessible staterooms on each ship, in-room equipment for assistance, computer and entertainment tools for those needing them and a tender transfer system to accommodate guests using wheelchairs.

About Porthole Cruise Magazine
Porthole Cruise Magazine is published bimonthly in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is the nation's leading consumer cruise publication, featuring cruise and destination articles for both first-time and experienced cruisers. Available on newsstands as well as by both print and digital subscriptions, each issue includes ship reviews, cruise destination features and other editorial about cruise trends, food and wine, spa and well-being, entertainment, kids' activities, and other onboard amenities. To learn more, visit Porthole.com.

For more information, contact a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.

Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland America Blog.  Access all social media outlets via the home page at hollandamerica.com.

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE:  CCL and CUK)]
Holland America Line's fleet of 14 ships offers more than 500 cruises to more than 400 ports in 98 countries, territories or dependencies around the world. From shorter getaways to 113-day itineraries, the company's cruises visit all seven continents, with highlights including Antarctica explorations, South America circumnavigations, Cuba cruises and exotic Australia & New Zealand and Asia voyages; four annual Grand Voyages; and popular sailings to the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada & New England, Bermuda, Europe and the Panama Canal. The line welcomed Koningsdam in 2016 and has a second Pinnacle-class ship, Nieuw Statendam, to be delivered in December 2018. A third Pinnacle-class ship will be delivered in 2021.

The company is undergoing $300 million in brand enhancements to secure its position as the leader in premium cruising. Fleetwide, the ships feature innovative initiatives and a diverse range of enriching experiences focused on destination immersion and personalized travel. Guests can expand their knowledge through an exclusive partnership with O, The Oprah Magazine; during an America's Test Kitchen show; at Explorations Café presented by The New York Times; and by taking a Digital Workshop powered by Windows. Outstanding entertainment fills each evening at venues including Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard and B.B. King's Blues Club. The dining experience can be savored at a variety of restaurants with menus that feature selections from Holland America Line's esteemed Culinary Council, comprising world-famous chefs who design dishes exclusively for our guests.

SOURCE Holland America Line