Holland America’s Newest Caribbean Ship

By: - April 18th, 2016

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Holland America Line will soon be debuting a new ship.

The new Pinnacle-class ship, ms Koningsdam, will be christened May 20 in a ceremony in Rotterdam.

The 2,650-guest ship is the first in a new class of vessel for the company.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands will be christening the ship in a ceremony.

“We are incredibly honored that Her Majesty Queen Máxima will carry on the tradition of Dutch Royalty christening Holland America Line ships, which began 87 years ago,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “We chose Rotterdam as the location for the official ceremony because of the deep historic connection between Holland America Line, the city and the people of the Netherlands. May 20 will be a very special day in our company’s 143-year history as we officially dedicate ms Koningsdam.”

After a series of European itineraries this summer, the ship will sail to Fort Lauderdale for winter and spring Caribbean cruises.

News

The State of Coral Reefs in the Bahamas

By Felicity Burrows CJ Contributor When you think of The Bahamas, you may think of stunning coral reefs, white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. This island chain is popular for snorkeling and scuba diving, with many visitors coming from near and far to marvel at the country’s brilliant underwater world. But how are these […]

News

Jamaica to Appoint “Investment Ambassadors”

In a bid to court new investment, Jamaica’s government says it will be appointing a handful of “investment ambassadors.” The announcement was made this week by new Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who said the envoys would be responsible for stimulating economic opportunities for Jamaica overseas. “We will be expanding the number of persons, who […]

News

Caribbean Travel Marketplace Returning to the Bahamas

By the Caribbean Journal staff The Caribbean’s largest travel marketing forum is returning to the Bahamas. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace will again take place in the Bahamas in January 2017. The event will take place from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, 2017 at Atlantis, Paradise Island, where it was also […]


Dominican Republic Readies for DATE Conference

By Guy Britton PUNTA CANA — The Dominican Republic is set to launch its annual DATE conference, the largest tourism conference in the Caribbean’s largest tourism destination. This year’s DATE, or Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange, begins April 19 and lasts through April 21. The exchange was created to bring together international wholesalers, tour operators, incentive […]

Belize Tourism Off to Booming Start in 2016

By Alexander Britell Belize is booming. The Caribbean destination is off to a blazing start in 2016, according to the latest numbers from the Belize Tourism Board. The country reported a 24 percent year-over-year increase in stayover visitors in January, followed by an 18.4 percent increase in stayover visitors in 2015. The increase was reflected […]

Your New Swim-Up Suite in Punta Cana

By Guy Britton PUNTA CANA — The Dominican Republic is set to launch its annual DATE conference, the largest tourism conference in the Caribbean’s largest tourism destination. This year’s DATE, or Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange, begins April 19 and lasts through April 21. The exchange was created to bring together international wholesalers, tour operators, incentive […]

This Caribbean Hotel Has Its Own Oxygen Bar

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon CJ Travel Editor It’s a breath of fresh air. Literally. Punta Cana’s only oxygen bar, at CHIC Punta Cana, offers guests O2 on demand, giving them an opportunity to find out for themselves whether oxygen therapy – which claims to increase mental alertness, boost concentration and memory, and to impart a sense […]