Holland America Line will welcome chef Ethan Stowell and chocolatier Jacques Torres on its 2025 Grand Voyages. These culinary artists will join a segment of the “Grand World Voyage” and “Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole,” respectively, offering guests a series of events and interactive culinary sessions.
Stowell, celebrated for his approach to Pacific Northwest cuisine, will join the 124-day “Grand World Voyage” from April 19 to 25 aboard Zuiderdam. Stowell will participate in live cooking demonstrations, dinner experiences with destination-specific menus and attend a pizza event as the ship sails out of Naples. He will also host a “Coffee Chat” for guests where they will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn about his culinary approach.
On the other hand, chocolatier and pastry chef Torres will join the 133-day “Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole” aboard Volendam, departing January 25, 2025, from Fort Lauderdale, FL. Torres will join the voyage from April 29 to May 4 to host live demonstrations and dessert tastings. Guests can look forward to interactive sessions where Torres will share his culinary journey and insights into the world of chocolate. Torres will also lead the “Chocolate Surprise” parade, a late-evening procession of his chocolate confections, which happens once a cruise on every ship. Additionally, Torres will host a dinner in Pinnacle Grill with his desserts.
During the 2025 Grand Voyages, Zuiderdam will visit 49 ports in 30 countries across six continents, and Volendam will explore 68 ports across five continents and 26 countries. Both voyages include overnight calls, including scenic cruising in Antarctica, the Amazon River, the Great Barrier Reef and more.
Guests can still book the full “Pole-to-Pole” cruise or join segments on either Grand Voyage. The “Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole” aboard Volendam comprises seven segments, ranging from 33 to 100 days. On Zuiderdam’s “Grand World Voyage,” guests can choose from among six segments, ranging from 20 to 55 days. The segments allow guests to choose from a diverse selection of shorter itineraries, tailoring the Grand Voyage experience to their own taste and timeline.
Guests looking to sail with Stowell can embark in Athens on the 20-day “Athens, Greece to Fort Lauderdale” itinerary (April 19 to May 9, 2025), calling at ports in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Morocco, including an overnight celebration in Barcelona, before heading across the Atlantic Ocean, visiting San Juan for a day before disembarking at Fort Lauderdale.
Guests eager for time aboard with Torres can embark in Barcelona on the 44-day “Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale” itinerary (April 24 to June 7, 2025) and experience the dramatic landscapes of Spain through northern Europe, calling at ports in Portugal, France, Iceland, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Scotland, Greenland and Canada.
On April 24, 2025, Volendam and Zuiderdam will meet in Barcelona for a joint overnight call, bringing the two Grand Voyages together for a celebration. Special festivities involving both ships will mark the occasion of the planned dual visit. The Grand Meetup dinner will spotlight a chocolate globe, created by Chef Torres, representing the world-spanning journey of both ships.
For more information, visit www.hollandamerica.com.
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