Some of your favorite music venues are going away on this line's cruise ships
Fans of music on Holland America Line's ships will want to brace themselves for this news. The line is revamping some of its musical offerings, moving them to different venues and eliminating some completely on select ships.
First, the line's partnership with the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts will morph into something new. It will change from a quartet on ships with a dedicated performance venue (Lincoln Center Stage) to a traveling ensemble. The group will move between all ships in the fleet and put on shows on the World Stage, the main theater found on all vessels.
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"While the vision for the new program is still being developed, beginning this summer it will be featured on a rotating basis on the World Stage, similar to Holland America Line's touring troupes including Step One Dance Company, Cantare and Island Magic," Michael Smith, Holland America's SVP of guest experience and product development, told The Points Guy in an email.
Following the switch, Holland America plans to repurpose the dedicated Lincoln Center Stage venue. A representative from the line said it is still too soon to release details about what the spaces will become.
Additionally, on Vista-class ships — Noordam, Westerdam, Oosterdam and Zuiderdam — the line will replace B.B. King's Blues Club with the Rolling Stone Lounge, a new club powered by the popular magazine's "best of" lists.
"Our Vista-class ships typically cruise our longest voyages, and the expanded repertoire of the Rolling Stone Lounge allows for more variety of music, including R&B, rock and pop," Smith said. "The band at the Rolling Stone Lounge will play live six nights a week, and shows will vary nightly."
But not everything is changing. Smith noted that B.B. King's will remain in place on five of the line's Signature- and Pinnacle-class ships: Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam.
Plus, rolling out between February and early Summer, the line will add a music offering in the form of a band at the Ocean Bar on all Vista- and Signature-class ships. The contemporary trio will play pop arrangements, dating from the 60’s through today.
The addition of Lincoln Center Stage, B.B. King's Blues Club, the Rolling Stone Rock Room (different from the new Rolling Stone Lounge) and Billboard Onboard changed the game for Holland America when the venues — which together form the Music Walk on Pinnacle-class vessels — debuted on Koningsdam in 2016.
Music Walk's offerings provided a much-needed update to HAL's entertainment lineup and created a nightlife experience that was a welcome change from early bedtimes and more subdued onboard activities.
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- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees