In 2017 Holland America Line will celebrate its 70th year of Alaskan exploration, and to commemorate the milestone anniversary the cruise line has planned special experiences and events that will take place on every cruise to Alaska and on the popular Land+Sea Journeys.

In addition to exclusive entertainment that was created especially for the anniversary that falls in the same year as Denali National Park’s centennial, Holland America Line will also showcase a new Alaska-centric menu with dishes created by the cruise line’s esteemed Culinary Council, two anniversary Alaska beers, commemorative gifts and more.

“Celebrating 70 years in Alaska — or any destination — is a milestone that isn’t often seen in our industry. We are especially proud to have been the first tour company in Alaska back in 1947, showing the beauty and greatness of this region to travellers”, said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “Going into 2017 we wanted to mark our anniversary in a memorable way with special experiences that add an extra dimension to our robust Alaska programming and bring even more of Alaska to our guests.”

Holland America Line has an exclusive partnership with BBC Earth to bring you unforgettable new ways to experience the world’s natural wonders, and for the 70th anniversary a new Alaska in Concert multimedia production will premiere. Combining live music set against a backdrop of mesmerising footage from the BBC Earth television series, Wild Alaska, audiences will experience the cycle of four seasons and see this place is as unforgiving as it is beautiful.

Guests will find other special touches during their 2017 Alaska cruise or Land+Sea Journey, such as a themed bon voyage party and 70th Anniversary Champagne toast on every voyage. Before or after embarking their cruise, Land+Sea Journey guests will enjoy special anniversary menu items and other anniversary touches on the land portion of their adventure and will receive a commemorative backpack with a special native-designed logo by Tlingit and Athabascan artist Crystal Worl that will be presented at Denali.   

To make it possible for even more guests to cruise to Alaska with Holland America Line in 2017, the company added a seventh ship to the region to fill demand. Starting this spring, ms Amsterdam, ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Oosterdam, ms Volendam and ms Zaandam will offer a total of 135 Alaska departures.