Holland America Line Wins Nine Readers' Choice Awards From Porthole Cruise Magazine in 2007

SEATTLE, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Holland America Line has won nine Readers' Choice Awards from Porthole Cruise Magazine for 2007, including Best Accommodations, Best Private Island for Half Moon Cay, the line's exclusive Bahamian port call, and Most Eco-Friendly Cruise Line.

The annual poll of readers also voted Holland America Line the winner in the following categories:

    -- Best Alaska Itineraries
    -- Best Canada/New England Itineraries
    -- Best Central America Itineraries
    -- Best Overall Facilities for Physically Challenged Passengers
    -- Best Medical Facilities
    -- Best Art Auction Program

"It's very rewarding for Holland America Line to receive these awards from experienced cruise travelers," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "We are especially proud of winning Best Private Island for Half Moon Cay again as it celebrates 10 years of operation as our top-ranking Caribbean cruise call."

"The readers of Porthole Cruise Magazine have once again voted Holland America Line as the winner of numerous Readers' Choice Awards categories," said Bill Panoff, publisher and editor-in-chief of the magazine. "Our savvy cruisers appreciate quality service and experiences, and Holland America Line clearly delivers both."

Winning Best Accommodations is a direct result of the line's Signature of Excellence commitment according to Meadows. "Since our initial announcement, Holland America Line has spent more than US$425 million enhancing our premium cruise experience with a focus on the stateroom amenities first," said Meadows.

Across the fleet, standard stateroom amenities now include flat-panel television sets, lighted make-up mirrors, professional grade hair-dryers, stainless-steel ice bucket and tray, high-thread-count linens, large fluffy cotton towels, deluxe bathrobes and plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream Beds.

Half Moon Cay won its seventh Best Private Island acknowledgement from Porthole readers. Here guests can experience both natural wonders and enjoy the extensive activities and facilities offered in the 50-acre resort portion of 2,400-acre Little San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. Opened in December 1997, the island's offerings have steadily expanded to also provide a full beachside water park for children, private beach cabanas, exclusive over-water bungalow and an array of shore excursions that include horseback riding by land and sea, personal watercraft adventures and an opportunity to swim with stingrays.

Holland America Line won the Most Eco-Friendly Cruise Line award for a commitment to responsible environmental practices through a comprehensive, fleet-wide program and innovations. The program emphasizes waste reduction and recycling, use of cleaner-burning propulsion technology in the line's new ships and cutting-edge technologies such as shore power and an emissions reducing test project on ms Zaandam. Holland America Line's ships currently meet or exceed all provisions of the international regulations governing the environmental management of marine operations.

Known for its longer, port-intensive cruise itineraries, Holland America Line picked up three awards for best itineraries in Alaska, Canada/New England, and Central America. In Alaska, the line operates three major cruising itineraries -- Glacier Bay Inside Passage Cruises, Glacier Discovery, and Alaskan Explorer Cruise -- that showcase the highlights of Alaska with distinctive options to suit the various wishes of Alaskan-bound travelers.

The line's Canada/New England cruises from May through Oct. showcase the area's historic seaports, international cities, and natural sights such as Saguenay Fjord and Acadia National Park. Central America itineraries combine cruising and transiting the Panama Canal with ports and shore excursions in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico and Nicaragua.

- http://www.hollandamerica.com -

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL) (NYSE: CUK) ]

Holland America Line's fleet of 13 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to 314 ports of call in 97 countries, territories or dependencies. Two- to 108-day itineraries visit all seven continents, including Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal.

In the 2006 Portrait of Affluent Travelers survey by Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown and Russell, Holland America Line topped the list of cruise lines sought after by affluent leisure travelers. Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, totaling more than $225 million, that showcase the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine -- a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes -- Explorations Cafe powered by The New York Times, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream Beds.

World's Leading Cruise Lines

The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world, Holland America Line is a member of the exclusive World's Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Costa Cruises. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, these lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. The World's Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.

    Rose Abello
    800-637-5029
    206-262-5934
    pr@hollandamerica.com