It was lucky number 13 for Holland America Line when counting their wins in Travel Weekly magazine’s 2017 Magellan Awards. The line received nine gold awards and four silver.
Top Honors for Holland America
Holland America earned a gold award for Westerdam in the premium ship category. The vessel recently debuted major renovations, including the new Explorations Central and Rijksmuseum at Sea. The ship also received the Music Walk venues Lincoln Center Stage and Billboard Onboard, the Gallery Bar, a redesigned lido buffet, and The Retreat area with private cabanas.
The line’s partnership with O, The Oprah Magazine earned a gold for new programming, which was designed to unite travel with the magazine’s commitment to personal growth. Five themed cruises featured programming developed with the magazine’s editors, and one even included Oprah herself onboard. Over 300 voyages throughout next year will also have a variety of activities that the magazine’s editors helped to design.
Holland America’s television spots “Why We Sail,” “Carefully Crafted Journeys,” and “Music Walk” all won gold in the TV commercial category for their message, vivid imagery, and expression of the onboard experience. Carefully Crafted Journeys also won gold for cruise marketing campaigns. It illustrates the expertise behind each itinerary, and celebrates the depth of ports visited on all seven continents. The campaign was featured on television, in print and trade publications, as well as on digital and social outreach platforms.
The cruise line’s program for travel professionals, PartnerSHIPS, earned gold awards in two areas: Education Program for Holland America Line Academy and Website for the Promo Toolkit. A gold in Direct Mail was also earned for the Mariner Magazine 2017 summer edition – a glossy publication for members of the line’s loyalty program.
Silver Recognition
Holland America also received silver awards for the following categories:
- Entertainment – BBC Earth programming, including “Frozen Planet Live,” a concert that features live musicians playing a musical score as the images unfold on screen.
- Premium Ship – Restaurant Design – Rudi’s Set de Mer specialty restaurant. Following the success of Sel de Mer on Koningsdam, the line launched the venue aboard six ships as an homage to their Master Chef and culinary consultant Rudi Sodamin. The brasserie is a pop-up in the Pinnacle Grill and serves French seafood with a modern twist.
- Advertising/Marketing – Holland America won silver for the 70th Anniversary Showing Guests Alaska campaign. 2017 is the 70th anniversary of the line in Alaska, and the 70th logo with the landmark Denali was the centerpiece.
- GoHAL.com – The cruise line’s portal for travel agents won the final silver. The website gives travel professionals the tools they need to learn, promote, book, and plan Holland America cruises for their clients.
About The Travel Weekly Magellan Awards
Since 2008, Travel Weekly has been recognizing excellence in travel with its annual Magellan Awards. They honor a broad range of industry segments, including hotels and resorts, destinations, cruise lines, online travel services, airlines and airports, travel agents/agencies, tour operators, and car rental companies.
