Aiming to bring the Holland America Line vacation experience to computer desktops, the line’s redesigned website offers a detailed virtual sampling of its premium cruise vacations along with sophisticated cruise shopping tools.

“Increasingly we find our guests turn to the Internet to view and plan their Holland America Line cruise,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales, and guest programs. “We redesigned our site to offer a virtual experience that offers a true flavor of the cruise that awaits our guests, from what their stateroom looks like to activities in port.”

With more rich media features aimed at an ever-evolving Internet-savvy audience around the world, hollandamerica.com combines updated graphics, re-organized information and search tools that underscore the details and diversity of the cruise itineraries. An interactive map lets users click on a continent and zoom in on a particular destination with access to port details, shore excursions, and itineraries.

A new Cruise Finder tool helps visitors narrow down options on their desired itinerary. Visitors may select up to three itineraries to compare side-by-side. After choosing to view details on one, adjoining tabs display a map, destination information, available shore excursions and ship information. By creating an account, visitors may save favorites to review later.

A new My Account feature allows visitors to personalize their experience when shopping for a particular cruise destination. Once an account is set up with a personal profile, the My Favorites page lets visitors save cruises, cruise tours and shore excursions that interest them for later comparison.

On the My Reservations page, visitors can book shore excursions, check-in online and buy onboard gifts. The website will also return information to the visitor based on their identified interest. For example, current promotions available in Europe are displayed for a visitor looking at European destinations.

Choosing the perfect CruiseTour in Alaska is easy with the new Alaska Tour Guide. Is it important to see tidewater glaciers or visit the Yukon? Visitors can rate an array of photos based on their personal preferences. The Guide rates the photos then recommends three CruiseTours based on visitor responses.

A video gallery filled with snapshots, video clips, virtual tours, ebrochures and podcasts engages visitors with a virtual experience of a Holland America Line vacation. Content covers destinations, ship details and activities. Video clips introduce key staff, give an overview of dining options and show shipboard activities in progress. Destination videos offer glimpses of select ports of call. Podcasts narrate the collection of art and antiques displayed on each ship.

On the Book Cruises page, guests may choose from four ways to make vacation plans. They can find a travel agent with the travel agency locator tool, call the company directly, ask to be contacted by a company representative or book online.