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Holland America Introduces Food & Beverage Aficionado Cruises Featuring Culinary Council Members, Mixologist, Wine Curator & Winemakers

World-renownedcelebrity chefs, vintners and cocktail collaborator host select 2018 cruises

Seattle, Wash., Mar. 8, 2018 —Holland America Line is introducing Food & Beverage Aficionado Cruises in2018 that showcase the talents of the members of its esteemed Culinary Council,Master Mixologist Dale DeGroff, and the premium line's wine curator andwinemaker partners. The Culinary Council comprises a collection of eliteinternational celebrity chefs who bring global influence to every dining venueacross Holland America Line's fleet of premium ships.

The Culinary Council is led by Holland America Line's Master Chef Rudi Sodamin,who is joined by international chefs Jonnie Boer, David Burke, ElizabethFalkner, Andy Matsuda, Ethan Stowell and Jacques Torres. The cruise line alsocollaborates with acclaimed wine critic James Suckling on curating its wineprogram, master mixologist Dale DeGroff on its cocktail program and vintnersfrom its home state of Washington, including Chateau Ste. Michelle winery,which helped develop the BLEND wine experience on board Koningsdam.

"We have an unrivaled breadth of talent among our Culinary Council, winecurator, master mixologist and winemaker partners. These new Food &Beverage Aficionado Cruises give our guests a unique opportunity to have anup-close and personal learning experience with some of the world's most notableexperts," said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line's president. "It's notevery day that you get to see a famous chef cooking live or have a personalconversation with someone whose restaurant you've dined in, and we're makingthose experiences possible for our guests through these cruises."

During each Food & Beverage Aficionado Cruise, guests will have theopportunity to attend cooking, cocktail or wine demonstrations; get to know theexperts at presentations; meet them at photo opportunities; and join anintimate reservation-only dinner in the Pinnacle Grill.

All events are complimentary excluding the Pinnacle Grill dinner. Guests whowish to make reservations for the specialty dinner can contact Holland AmericaLine's Ship Services department upon booking to secure their spot.

The current schedule of Food & Beverage Aficionado Cruises includes:

Rudi Sodamin,Culinary Council Chairman
Sodamin was born in Austria and trained in France. The Master Chef recentlyreleased his latest culinary masterpiece, an art table book called "Food Faces"that features more than 150 images of edible creations that display a whimsicalspectrum of human emotion. His innovative approach has made him the mostdecorated chef on the world's oceans.

  • Koningsdam, 7-Day Norse Legends, July 1, 2018, roundtrip Amsterdam, Netherlands

David Burke
Burke is a restaurateur, cookbook author, inventor and consultant at ESquaredHospitality, which owns and operates the BLT restaurant brand. He has beenfeatured on "Iron Chef America" and "Top Chef Masters." He is a graduate of theCulinary Institute of America and has worked with legendary chefs in France andNew York.

  • Zuiderdam, 10-Day Colors of Canada & New England, Sept. 13, 2018, New York City to Quebec, Canada


Andy Matsuda
The Japanese-born Matsuda is at the forefront of sushi trends and techniques.At Matsuda's Sushi Chef Institute in Los Angeles, California, he teachesaspiring chefs and professionals about sushi and Japanese cuisine.

  • Nieuw Amsterdam, 7-Day Western Caribbean, March 17, 2018, roundtrip Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  • Koningsdam, 7-Day Norse Legends, June 3, 2018, roundtrip Amsterdam, Netherlands


Ethan Stowell
With an impressive roster of highly acclaimed restaurants, Stowell has helpedto change the face of the Seattle food scene. He was named one of the Best NewChefs in America by Food & Wine magazine in 2008 and chosen as one of theBest New Chef All-Stars in 2013.

  • Eurodam, 7-Day Alaskan Explorer, May 26, 2018, roundtrip Seattle, Washington
  • Amsterdam, 7-Day Alaskan Explorer, Sept. 16, 2018, roundtrip Seattle, Washington


Jacques Torres
A French-trained Master Chef and artisan chocolatier, Torres is a James Beardaward winner. After rising to executive pastry chef at New York's legendary LeCirque, he opened a chocolate factory and stores throughout New York. Torres isco-hosting and head judge on the new Netflix culinary show "Nailed It" withNicole Byer.

  • Westerdam, 7-Day Glacier Discovery, June 24, 2018, Vancouver, Canada, to Seward, Alaska
  • Veendam, 14-Day Summer Cuba, Aug. 4, 2018, roundtrip Boston, Massachusetts


Dale DeGroff
DeGroff received the James Beard Award for Wine & Spirits, was inductedinto the prestigious James Beard Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America in2015 and is author of "The Essential Cocktail" and "The Craft of the Cocktail."He is a partner in the award-winning Beverage Alcohol Resource bar-trainingprogram and founding president of the Museum of the American Cocktail.

  • Zuiderdam, 18-Day Azores and Normandy, April 22, 2018, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Copenhagen, Denmark (DeGroff on board through Bermuda call on April 25)
  • Oosterdam, 7-Day Tropical Caribbean, Nov. 10, 2018, roundtrip Fort Lauderdale, Florida


Top Vintners ShareTheir Love of Wine
The spotlight is on wine — and its fascinating journey from vine to table — onselect Koningsdamitinerariesthroughout 2018. On each of these special cruises, a different Chateau Ste.Michelle expert will join the onboard vinologist for three, one-hour sessionseach day at BLEND by Chateau Ste. Michelle. They'll also be present for theship's special Cellar Master's Dinner at the Culinary Arts Center, where theaccent will be on perfect wine and food pairings. There is a modest fee forthis dinner.

BLEND — the only purpose-built wine-blending venue at sea — has a tasting tablethat accommodates 10 guests who can create their own blend from a selection offive barrels of single-vineyard red wine. In addition to participating in theblending process, guests also will learn about wine from each wine expert.BLEND has a small fee.

Leah Adint
Adint holds a bachelor's degree in viticulture and enology from WashingtonState University and a Master of Science in enology from the University ofAdelaide. After working at wineries in Australia, Burgundy, central England andScotland, she joined Chateau Ste. Michelle in 2015.

  • Koningsdam, 12-day European Splendour, May 1, 2018, Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy to Amsterdam, Netherlands


David Rosenthal
In 2007, Rosenthal rejoined Chateau Ste. Michelle as white wine enologist andwas later promoted to assistant winemaker in 2011. Rosenthal continued to exceland was promoted to white winemaker in 2015, where he currently managesday-to-day operations at the winery's white wine cellar in Woodinville,Washington.

  • Koningsdam, 7-day Norse Legends, June 3, 2018, roundtrip Amsterdam, Netherlands


Kara Koh
Koh is assistant winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle and has been with thewinery for more than 20 years working in most aspects of the business. Kohregularly shares her knowledge and experience at tastings and wine-pairingmeals.

  • Koningsdam, 7-day Norse Legends, July 1, 2018, roundtrip Amsterdam, Netherlands


Tracey Keller
President and winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle, Keller oversees the wineryoperations and collaborates with his winemaking team to develop blends andtastes for the acclaimed winery.

  • Koningsdam, 7-day Viking Sagas, July 22, 2018, roundtrip Amsterdam, Netherlands


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

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About HollandAmerica Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL andCUK)]
Holland America Line's fleet of 14 ships offers more than 500 cruises to morethan 400 ports in 98 countries, territories or dependencies around the world.From shorter getaways to 113-day itineraries, the company's cruises visit allseven continents, with highlights including Antarctica explorations, SouthAmerica circumnavigations, Cuba cruises and exotic Australia/New Zealand andAsia voyages; four annual Grand Voyages; and popular sailings to the Caribbean,Alaska, Mexico, Canada and New England, Bermuda, Europe and the Panama Canal.The line welcomed Koningsdamin 2016 and has a second Pinnacle-class ship,Nieuw Statendam, tobe delivered in December 2018. A third Pinnacle-class ship, due for delivery in2021, recently was announced.

The company is undergoing $300 million in brand enhancements to secure itsposition as the leader in premium cruising. Fleetwide, the ships featureinnovative initiatives and a diverse range of enriching experiences focused ondestination immersion and personalized travel. Guests can expand theirknowledge through an exclusive partnership with O, The Oprah Magazine; duringan America's Test Kitchen show; at Explorations Café presented by The New YorkTimes; and by taking a Digital Workshop powered by Windows. Outstandingentertainment fills each evening at venues including Lincoln Center Stage,Billboard Onboard and B.B. King's Blues Club. The dining experience can besavored at a variety of restaurants with menus that feature selections fromHolland America Line's esteemed Culinary Council, comprising world-famous chefswho design dishes exclusively for our guests.


CONTACT:

Sally Andrews

PHONE:

800-637-5029

EMAIL:

pr@hollandamerica.com


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