Holland America Creates Explorations Team

We're all familiar with a traditional "cruise director" staff - those people who organize the onboard activities such as trivia games, pool fun and evening entertainment. Holland America is taking that concept a step further, creating what they're calling their Explorations Team.

The Explorations Team will be comprised of event staff with specific expertise ranging from technology to travel who will offer guests a menu of “edutainment” programs. The Explorations Team will be a cohesive team dedicated to enhancing the overall cruise experience and includes an onboard party planner, a travel guide, a “techspert” and dance directors. On cruises lasting 12 days or more, a book club leader will also join the team. “People learn through experience and our guests are looking for programs, events and activities they can personally connect with,” said Richard D. Meadows, executive vice president for marketing, sales and guest programs. “Our goal is not only to entertain guests but to offer them the opportunity to learn a new skill or discover something about a new port or country; the choice is theirs, and the Explorations Team is in place to facilitate that choice.”

The onboard party planner will schedule, implement and host events in the Culinary Arts Center, significantly expanding the program that already brings more than 70 culinary experts onboard each year for cooking demonstrations and seminars. The line has invested more than $14 million in the professional show kitchens found on each ship and will use the space for more activities such as wine tasting, craft classes, floral arranging, and table and lifestyle presentations such as creating the line’s towel animals. The travel guide will host lectures and be a source for information on the ports of call. A destination expert, the travel guide will be available throughout the cruise to interact with guests on a one-on-one basis, answer questions, and give presentations on the destination’s history, culture and geography. On Grand Voyages and on Prinsendam, rotating guest speakers fill the role of travel guide.

The “techspert” will be on hand to teach guests how to take advantage of technology, whether helping guests make the most of their vacation photos, arranging a digital scrapbook, blogging, creating a slideshow or editing a movie. Classes and workshops will be available throughout the cruise. Novices can learn about Web 2.0 and how to work with digital photos. Dance directors show guests how to dance. Classes and dance events are available throughout each cruise. On cruises lasting 12 or more days, a book club leader will host book discussions in the Explorations Café. Book titles will be posted online before the cruise so guests will have time to read the chosen book. The book club leader will plan and facilitate two to three discussions for each book. Books chosen will relate to the sailing destination whether by author or topic. For example, on an Australian itinerary the book may be “In a Sunburned Country” by Bill Bryson or in Asia, “Saving Fish from Drowning: A Novel by Amy Tan.” The Holland America Line Explorations Team will be implemented fleetwide.

This type of group has long been a feature of luxury lines, and I think it demonstrates Holland America's committment to improving the quality of their onboard offerings and drawing in cruisers looking for more from their cruises.