Alaskan Seafood Feast is 'Home Excursion' Back to Alaska

SEATTLE, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Guests who cruise in Alaska can relive the culinary experience of the Great Land with Fresh Ketch, an Alaskan seafood feast delivered at home for friends and family to enjoy. The innovative 'home excursion' brings a taste of Alaska home through a partnership with seafood specialists, Alaska Fresh Ketch.

Ketchikan-based Alaska Fresh Ketch serves up the ultimate in Alaskan souvenirs -- wild Alaskan king salmon, halibut, smoked salmon and king crab. With two variations, the feast for six to eight people comes wrapped in a keepsake box decorated with local artwork and filled with menus, recipes, cooking tips, special cooking tools, place cards for your table and secret sauces. A souvenir memory book includes descriptions about the seafood, the local Alaskan fishing fleet and other facts about Alaska.

Available for purchase on ships in Alaska this year, it is also available online year-round at a website developed especially for Holland America Line: http://holland.alaskafreshketch.com.

On each cruise, guests may attend a complimentary cooking demonstration in the ship's Culinary Arts Center--professional show kitchens installed for guests' culinary entertainment and enrichment. The ship's own chef will open a box of wild seafood from Fresh Ketch and take guests step-by-step through the process of preparing a true Alaskan feast.

"Our Alaska cruise guests tell us that enjoying wild Alaskan seafood is a major part of their vacation experience," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "We've prominently featured wild Alaskan seafood on our ships' menus, and now we're taking it a step further and providing a convenient way for guests to take that culinary experience home as a gift or souvenir."

Guests may choose from two packages -- the Halibut Schooner and the Salmon Troller. The Halibut Schooner features wild Alaskan halibut as the entree and includes appetizer portions of Alderwood-smoked sockeye salmon and wild Alaskan king salmon. The Salmon Troller features an entree portion of wild Alaskan king salmon and appetizer portions of Alaskan king crab. Seafood is flash-frozen to preserve its fresh flavor and texture, and all seafood is sustainably harvested in Alaska. Each package contains six-pounds of seafood, enough to treat six to eight diners.

"Fresh Ketch has done an outstanding job creating this culinary adventure," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "Besides the quality seafood, the package contains personal stories about the fishermen and fishing fleet responsible for the catch. It creates a real connection between diners and the food on the table."

Guests sailing in Alaska can order the home excursion at the shore excursion desk. Guests, along with friends and family, can also place their order for either Fresh Ketch home excursion at http://holland.alaskafreshketch.com. Each package is $294 including all shipping and handling.

- www.hollandamerica.com -

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

Holland America Line's fleet of 14 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to 320 ports in more than 100 countries, territories or dependencies. Two- to 108-day itineraries visit all seven continents, and highlights include 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. A 15th ship, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, is scheduled to join the fleet in 2010.

Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, a commitment totaling more than $525 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. 

    CONTACT:  Rose Abello
    PHONE:    800-637-5029
    FAX:      206-262-5934
    EMAIL:    pr@hollandamerica.com

SOURCE Holland America Line