ΔΙΕΘΝΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΗ ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ ΠΟΙΚΙΛΗΣ ΥΛΗΣ - ΕΔΡΑ: ΑΘΗΝΑ

Ει βούλει καλώς ακούειν, μάθε καλώς λέγειν, μαθών δε καλώς λέγειν, πειρώ καλώς πράττειν, και ούτω καρπώση το καλώς ακούειν. (Επίκτητος)

(Αν θέλεις να σε επαινούν, μάθε πρώτα να λες καλά λόγια, και αφού μάθεις να λες καλά λόγια, να κάνεις καλές πράξεις, και τότε θα ακούς καλά λόγια για εσένα).

Δευτέρα 19 Φεβρουαρίου 2018

Holland America Line to launch new EXC in-depth voyages that feature Zodiac Excursions for up-close discovery





Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Holland America Line to launch new EXC in-depth voyages that feature Zodiac Excursions for up-close discovery



SEATTLE - This September Holland America Line will begin an innovative approach to cruising for travelers who are looking for thoughtful and immersive ways to see the world. Offered on the 1,258-guest Maasdam, new EXC In-Depth Voyages explore some of the most fascinating corners of the globe on itineraries from 12 to 34 days, using world-renowned experts, local scholars and customized Zodiac tours to immerse guests in the experience.
With EXC In-Depth Voyages, each journey offers guests a variety of themes and choices to tailor their exploration: photography; science and nature; arts and culture; food, wine and spirits; history and perspective; and active exploration. Guests are free to focus on one area of interest or combine their passions through onboard enrichment and captivating shore activities. Guests can choose to do as much or as little as they like.
Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Holland America Line to launch new EXC in-depth voyages that feature Zodiac Excursions for up-close discovery
"We created EXC In-Depth Voyages to further enhance our guests immersion experience in a more personalized way in the exotic destinations featured on this series of specially designed itineraries," said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. "The addition of Zodiac tours will allow guests to be modern-day explorers, and Maasdam will visit many ports that we have never been to or haven't visited in years; EXC In-Depth Voyages are truly unique."
Notable Experts Lead Workshops, Seminars and Learning Opportunities
From September 2018 through April 2019, EXC In-Depth Voyages expand on Holland America Line's exciting Explorations Central (EXC) programming by creating a total experience on board and ashore. Onboard enrichment is guided by a special resident team of subject-matter experts - covering such topics as marine and bird life, geology, cultural anthropology, history and more - who sail on all EXC In-Depth cruises, complementing each adventure with informative talks and insightful discussions of their own field experiences.
A sea day could include a lecture on Captain Cook (history and perspective), discovering the indigenous breadfruit (food, wine and spirits), growing coral (science and nature), DSLR Basics (photography) and a traditional tattoo design workshop (arts and culture). Additional EXC programming on board is designed to bring guests together with similar interests and will offer interactive activities, destination insight from location experts and EXC Guides, and cultural encounters to make each cruise more engaging and meaningful.
Since EXC In-Depth Voyages are designed with added emphasis on the destination and onboard learning, evening entertainment will reflect the local culture instead of mainstage production shows. America's Test Kitchen is being replaced with local chefs, locally sourced ingredients and local traditions to enhance the culinary offerings appreciated by Holland America Line guests. Junior cruisers are welcome, but Club HAL kids' activities will not be offered on EXC In-Depth Voyages.
Zodiac Inflatable Boats Amplify Up-close Experiences
Maasdam will carry Zodiac inflatable boats, the type popularized by famous oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, so guests may enjoy opportunities to intimately explore less-accessible sites and wildlife habitats in select ports as part of the ships EXC Tours program. A mix of onboard experts and local guides co-guide Zodiac outings to enrich the experience for guests.
For example, guests might foray around sheltered islands to spot local birdlife including waders, oystercatchers, nesting cormorants and other species. Or venture up rivers to explore the history and sights of a region from a unique vantage. Perhaps they will uncover the beauty of nature reserves on a photo adventure that features rugged shores, blue waters, limestone cliffs and abundant wildlife. Zodiac tours are not included in the cruise fare.
Dr. Peter Carey, Holland America Line's director of explorations, is currently scouting locations and refining plans for this innovative new series of voyages and Zodiac excursions. A zoologist who has traveled extensively throughout and researched the region, Carey will draw on his journeys and vast research into sea mammal behavior and seabird ecology to craft experiences that open up even wilder places for guests to enjoy and remember as the ultimate field trip. Carey is director of the Sub-Antarctic Foundation for Ecosystems Research and a contributing lecturer at the University of Canterbury and an affiliate professor with the Geography Program at the University of Alaska.
Other shoreside activities focus on offering memorable experiences like photographing the colors of a Tahitian market (photography), taking a guided walking tour of Komodo National Park in search of the Komodo dragon (active exploration), touring the Nukubalavu Village and seeing the Fijian kava welcoming ceremony (arts and culture), visiting famous ruins in Thailand (history and perspective) and watching the platypus playing in billabongs in Australia (science and nature).
Islands and Ports Are Off-the-Beaten Track but Accessible to Intimate Maasdam
The ports on EXC In-Depth itineraries were selected to evoke curiosity and inspire wonder. Maasdam will visit 154 ports in 36 countries on 12 individual cruises with guests having the opportunity to explore far-flung locales like Easter Island, Pitcairn Island, Java, the Maldives, the Marquesas and Nuku Hiva. Twenty-eight ports are maiden calls or have not been visited by Holland America Line ships in years.
EXC In-Depth Voyages Range from 12 to 239 Days
The first EXC In-Depth Voyage departs Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Sept. 10, 2018, and sets sail for Papeete, Tahiti, via the Panama Canal. Along the way the ship calls at ports on the west coast of South America, sails across the Pacific Ocean to Easter Island, and visits several South Pacific islands during the 34-day voyage. Maasdam then spends October and part of November exploring the South Pacific before heading to New Zealand.
Come December, Maasdam journeys along the southern coast of Australia, featuring a special 16-day holiday cruise departing Dec. 21. The ship spends January cruising the northwest coast of Australia up to Singapore where it embarks on a 20-day adventure in the culturally rich Indian Ocean region. Following a 20-day Southeast Asia itinerary in February 2019, the ship explores the Spice Islands and ports along the northeastern coast of Australia, then sails back to the South Pacific and charts a course throughout the idyllic islands. The final EXC In-Depth cruise is a 24-day Polynesian Crossing ending at San Francisco, California, May 7, 2019.
Cruises can be combined to form longer voyages extending up to an incredible 239-day adventure that covers French Polynesia, the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.
Overnight calls are a highlight of the EXC In-Depth Voyages. Guests will have overnight experiences in Callao (Lima), Peru; Easter Island; Papeete, French Polynesia; Tauranga and Waitangi, New Zealand; Adelaide, Australia; Singapore; Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Halong Bay, Vietnam; and Hong Kong, China.
Holland America Line debuts new trade promise and redesigns Sales Department
Holland America Line’s sales team launched a new trade promise, Committed to Your Success, that pledges the cruise line’s commitment to providing the most comprehensive support to its travel partners and an exceptional cruise experience for its clients. The department will work to uphold the promise under the guidance of the sales leadership team comprised of key members of the sales team, led by Eva Jenner, vice president of sales. The promise states:
We’re dedicated to being your reliable, responsive and easy-to-work with partner. When your clients experience Holland America Line’s classic style and enriching journeys, we create mutual customers for life.
“We’ve seen a lot of exciting changes to our brand in recent years; and as we evolve as a company our commitment to our travel partners remains the same, yet our level of support is growing immensely,”said Jenner. “We launched our new trade promise, Committed to Your Success, to officially put it in writing and make sure our partners know we’ll do everything possible to help them succeed. Our sales leadership team and all of the talented members of our department are dedicated to building on this promise.” 
Five Refined Sales Teams Designed to Build Success
Dedicated teams in the sales department were created to better support the unique business model of the cruise industry that requires customization and personalization. The teams are Strategic Accounts; Field Sales; National Account Sales; Trade Communications and Engagement; and Sales Planning and Development (Sales Intelligence, Sales Administration, Charter and Incentive Sales, Series and Wholesaler Sales and International Sales). The teams will be headed by a member of the new sales leadership team, which includes Michele Sutter, director, Strategic Account Sales; Christine Stevens, senior director of Field Sales; Charles Dunwoody, senior director, National Account Sales, North America; Rob Coleman, senior director of Sales Planning and Development; and Denella Ri’chard, senior director, Trade Communications and Engagement. 
In addition to the newly created channel sales area, a new Strategic Accounts team was formed that reports to Sutter. Nate Burdulis and Tara Schreiner are senior managers, Strategic Accounts, and Amy Barnett is senior sales representative, Strategic Accounts.
Sales territories across North America were reconfigured to maximize performance, and Business Development Managers (BDMs) will focus on accounts in their new region. To provide guidance and additional supervision, four senior managers of Field Sales were appointed to oversee the BDMs in their territory: Jackie Day, western; Cathy Larson, central; Lucy Owen, eastern; and Tami Normann, Canada.
New Tools and Training Make Travel Partners Brand Experts
In addition to the restructuring of the department, Holland America Line is dedicating more resources to help travel professionals deepen their knowledge of the cruise line’s products and itineraries. New award-winning Holland America Line Academy courses and Specialist Training courses are designed to establish agents as experts in the brand, while the North America PartnerSHIPS Sales Seminar Series brings Holland America Line’s latest news and initiatives to its partners in-person and through webinars.