Holland America’s New Culinary Formula: Fresh, Regional and Local

During a recent press event on the Nieuw Statendam at Port Everglades, Holland America Line’s President Gus Antorcha highlighted the cruise line’s ongoing enhancement of its onboard experience, focusing on three core principles: freshness, regional inspiration, and local sourcing.
Antorcha detailed the company’s commitment to enriching guest experiences by closely aligning with the diverse destinations featured in their extensive itineraries. “We are focused on guest research and bringing the guest closer to the experiences from our vast itineraries and the regions we visit,” he stated.
Highlighting the initiative’s ‘fresh’ aspect, the Carnival Corporation subsidiary has initiated a global fresh fish program. This ambitious project ensures that fish caught locally can be served to passengers onboard in under 48 hours, ensuring a farm-to-table—or rather, sea-to-plate—experience.

Antorcha elaborated that while there’s a significant focus on seafood, the concept extends beyond just fish, drawing culinary inspiration from each region’s culture and cuisine. “When you are regional, it’s also easier to do fresh because you’re buying local,” he explained, leading to the ‘local’ aspect of their strategy.
He proudly shared how this tri-fold strategy manifests in real-world offerings, such as passengers sailing from Seattle to Alaska having the opportunity to taste Rainier cherries and fresh certified Alaskan Halibut.
Further, Antorcha shared insights from the company’s research, which indicates a strong guest preference for seafood, underlining the strategic alignment with customer desires. “Understanding and responding to our guests’ preferences is key,” he added.
The integration of fresh, regional, and local elements extends beyond the dining experience to include entertainment and beverages, creating a holistic and immersive onboard environment that reflects the distinctive character of the cruise line’s destinations.
This approach not only differentiates Holland America Line but also positively impacts the local economies of the destinations its ships visit. “It’s important to us to support those economies and those people and the places that we visit,” Antorcha concluded, emphasizing the broader significance of the company’s strategic direction.