Holland America Line’s 2024-25 cruise season in the Caribbean is focusing on destination-centric experiences, the company announced in a press release.

After starting on Oct. 20, the deployment includes seven ships exploring the region, with cruises departing from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades.

According to the company, the season will focus on local flavors and cultural immersion, offering guests authentic connections to the food, drinks and history of the destinations they visit.

The Holland America vessels in the Caribbean will host new destination-centric culinary, beverage and shore excursion experiences that delve deeper into the region, the company added.

“Caribbean culture is full of vibrant flavors that allowed us to get creative developing new dishes and cocktails that showcase the culinary traditions of the region,” said Michael Smith, senior vice president, guest experience and product development at Holland America Line.

“We continue to add new and exciting experiences ashore that make a memorable impression on our guests while also taking a more personal look at the destination,” he added.

Regionally themed menus will be featured in the Dining Rooms and Lido Market restaurants, adding to the culinary journey on every Caribbean cruise.

Guests can enjoy a Caribbean-themed brunch, take part in rum tastings and celebrate with a traditional, pirate-inspired rum punch, Holland America said.

The complimentary Caribbean Brunch in the Dining Room is one of the highlights of the offering, with a menu that is said to showcase fresh, local ingredients, with selections that include Jamaican Banana Pancakes, Sweet Potato Chowder and Florida Keys Mahi-Mahi Sandwich with grilled pineapple.

Holland America Line is also introducing its exclusive Rum Ambassador programming on all Caribbean sailings.

Developed in collaboration with beverage experts and historians David Wondrich and Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, the program is said to immerse guests in history and flavors of rum through tastings and seminars led by an onboard Rum Ambassador.

A menu of five Caribbean cocktails created by David Wondrich was also introduced for the season, featuring a pirate-inspired rum punch that debuted last season.

Holland America Line is also offering hundreds of tours for its visits to Caribbean ports, the company said.

The shore-ex program was designed to showcase the best of each destination, Holland America added, with experiences ranging from water-based tours to culturally immersive explorations.