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Holland America Line Launches ‘Selling and Sailing in the Mediterranean’ HAL Academy Specialist Training Course

Agents who complete the course areentered to win a 12-day Mediterranean cruise

Seattle,Wash., Dec. 22, 2016– In the most recent installment of Holland America Line's Specialist TrainingCourses, travel professionals can learn the ins and outs of "Selling andSailing in the Mediterranean." The award-winning Holland America Line Academydesigned the online courses to help travel professionals increase their cruisesales by giving insider tips, tricks and tools centered around a specificdestination. Travel professionals can access "Selling and Sailing in theMediterranean" through HALacademy.com.

"TheMediterranean is one of the most diverse and intricate regions we offer, soit's important to provide our travel partners with the training they need tosuccessfully sell our cruises," said Denella Ri'chard, Holland America Line'ssenior director oftrade communications andengagement. "Our Mediterranean cruises range in length and region andcan easily be combined to increase commission. Byoffering the ‘Selling and Sailing in the Mediterranean' course, we're givingagents the insider information they need to book cruises with confidence."

"Selling and Sailing inthe Mediterranean" takes 15 to 20 minutes to complete and includes informationabout features and benefits of a Holland America Line Mediterranean cruise. Thecourse also provides information to help travel partners become more familiarwith the major Mediterranean ports, identify which clients are likely to book aMed cruise and close Mediterranean sales.

Thenew HAL Academy Specialist Training Courses series launched in July 2016 with"Alaska and the Yukon: The Great Land = Great Sales for You" and continued with"The Panama Canal and More." The courses were developed in collaboration withindustry training expert Dr. Marc Mancini. They are designed to offer learningthrough a combination of video instruction, reading and interaction. Travelpartners taking the course have access to helpfulinsights as well as downloadable marketing e-tools.

Bycompleting these new courses, travel partners earn trainingcredits with Cruise Lines International Association as well as The TravelInstitute for U.S. travel professionals or the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies.Partners also receive a "Mediterranean" logo and an online personalizedcertificate.

Upcoming HALAcademy Specialist Training Courses include Grand Voyages, which is set todebut in December 2016, and more are planned for 2017, with launch dates to beannounced. In total, more than 19,000 travelprofessionals have completed various specialist courses over the past 15 years.

About Holland America Line Academy

Holland America Line Academy is designed to support travelprofessionals in their ongoing quest for knowledge about travel sales, thecruise industry and Holland America Line. The training program began 15 yearsago and today is an interactive online experience. Holland America LineAcademy includes training sites for agents in the key international markets ofthe United Kingdom, Australia and the Netherlands. More than 18,000 travelprofessionals have graduated from Holland America Line Academy. Travel partnerscan access Holland America Line Academy through the PartnerSHIPS portal at GoHAL.com.

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About Holland America Line [a division ofCarnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCLand CUK)]

Holland America Line's fleetof 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 115-dayitineraries, the company's cruises visit all seven continents with highlightsincluding Antarctica explorations, South America circumnavigations and exoticAustralia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; four annual Grand Voyages; and popularsailings to the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Bermuda, Europeand the Panama Canal. The line currently has a new 2,650-guest ship, msKoningsdam, delivered in April 2016, as well as a second Pinnacle Classship, ms Nieuw Statendam, due fordelivery in November 2018.

The company recently announced$300 million in brand enhancements to secure its position as the leader inpremium cruising. Fleetwide, the ships feature innovative initiatives and adiverse range of enriching experiences focused on destination immersion andpersonalized travel. Guests can expand their knowledge onboard at an America'sTest Kitchen show; Explorations Café, powered by The New York Times and DigitalWorkshop powered by Windows. Outstanding entertainment fills each evening atvenues including Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard and B.B. King's BluesClub. The dining experience can be savored at a variety of restaurants withmenus that feature selections from Holland America Line's esteemed CulinaryCouncil that comprises world-famous chefs who design dishes exclusively for ourguests.

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