HAL's Half Moon Cay Wins Award!

[Ray Goldenberg]

Hi Everyone,

I received this press release from Holland America and thought it
would be of interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings,
they are available on my web site.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

HOLLAND AMERICA'S HALF MOON CAY WINS SECOND CONSECUTIVE PORTHOLE
CRUISE MAGAZINE'S EDITOR IN CHIEF AWARD FOR "BEST PRIVATE ISLAND"

Seattle
Holland America Line's private Caribbean island paradise, Half Moon
Cay, has won the 2003 Editor-in-Chief Award for "Best Private Island"
in the cruise industry from Porthole Cruise Magazine, for the second
year in a row.

Since developing Half Moon Cay in 1997, Holland America and Windstar
ships have brought more than 600,000 guests to enjoy its stunning
scenery and luxurious amenities. Half Moon Cay is located on 45 acres
of the 2,400-acre Little San Salvador Island, which lies less than 100
miles southeast of Nassau between southern Eleuthera and Cat Island.

"We are delighted to receive the 'Best Private Island' award once
again," said David A. Giersdorf, senior vice president, marketing and
sales. "Holland America has created the ultimate Caribbean experience
on an unspoiled retreat where guests can both experience its natural
wonders and enjoy the extensive activities and facilities offered in
the resort portion of the island."

Most Holland America Caribbean cruises include a visit to Half Moon
Cay, a crescent-shaped, white sand beach more than a mile long that
fronts a protected bay. The site has been cited as a model visitor
destination by the Bahamian government for its balance of
environmental and cultural concerns. Guests may sail, swim and snorkel
in the turquoise waters, bask on white sand beaches, have a beachside
massage and then enjoy an array of traditional barbecue fare. The
company's Club HAL children's program offers a variety of
age-appropriate activities for younger visitors to Half Moon Cay.

Half Moon Cay features an aqua-sports center with beach gear and
water-sport equipment, a fully-equipped Club HAL children's
playground, beach chairs, volleyball, shuffleboard and horseshoes, a
trail with exercise stations and a network of nature trail bridges
across dunes for beach access, and a designated wild bird reserve. All
facilities are accessible to persons using wheelchairs, featuring
hard-surfaced pathways to connect venues. Beach and jitney trams also
operate at the island.

Half Moon Cay also has a West Indies Village with shops, including an
art gallery and a straw market, a post office selling a Bahamian stamp
bearing a Half Moon Cay design, a Spanish-style chapel, and an ice
cream shop, soda bar and frozen drink bar. The food pavilion includes
15 tropical, open-air dining shelters, a large bar and three
convenient satellite bar stations, two fresh fruit and condiment
shelters, and a bandstand.

About Holland America Line

Holland America is cruising's premium leader providing unsurpassed
value, renowned service and quality, industry leading worldwide
itineraries and responsible corporate stewardship. In 2003, Holland
America's fleet of twelve, five-star, premium ships will offer 447
premium cruises on industry-leading itineraries to all seven
continents and will sail from 15 North American home ports. By 2006
Holland America will increase its capacity by 34 percent- and its
fleet to a total of 15 ships- with the introduction of three
additional 85,000-ton, 1,848-passenger Vista Class ships, the largest
ever built for Holland America Line. The line offers the only trip
cancellation program in the industry that offers cash back for
canceling for any reason prior to 24 hours before departure.

The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world in the 2002 "Travel
& Leisure" magazine "World's Best" Awards, Holland America is a member
of the exclusive World's Leading Cruise Lines alliance. Conde Nast
Traveler magazine readers also ranked Holland America Line as the top
premium cruise line in the world in the much-anticipated 2002 Readers'
Choice Awards. In 2002, for a second consecutive year, Holland America
Line won four Readers' Choice Awards from the prestigious Porthole
Cruise Magazine.

For more information, consult a professional travel agent.

World's Leading Cruise Lines

The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world in the 2002 "Travel
& Leisure" magazine "World's Best" Awards, Holland America is a member
of the exclusive World's Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also
includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line,
Costa Cruises and Windstar Cruises. Together, these member lines share
a commitment to quality and value, offering cruise vacations that
appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets and sail to some of
the world's most exciting destinations. Conde Nast Traveler magazine
readers also ranked Holland America Line as the top premium cruise
line in the world in the much-anticipated 2002 Readers' Choice Awards.

[MrZuiderdam03]

I 2nd that !!!
Ken G............>

[Schaller MACAW]

Half noon cay was a BIG let down for us (after all the great hype) !!!
We were on the Second ship in , that day & when we got ashore ALL the
beach chairs were taken over by mobs of people from first ship ,what a
screwed up mess that was!
Why does HAL schedule Two ships with thousands of people on that tiny
island all at the same time?
BILL

[Diva]

Ahhhhh....but when there is only one ship there, and you get up early enough to get on one of the first tenders over.....it is paradise. I was there for the first time just after it opened in '98 and before they even had the swimming area marked. Then it was paradise.

But, I agree with you on the 2 ships thing. We were there when there were 2 ships in. It was just awful. To me there is no such thing as paradise when there are 4,000 people on one small beach.

"Schaller MACAW" <schall...@webtv.net> wrote in message news:13345-3EB...@storefull-2111.public.lawson.webtv.net...