OREANDA-NEWS. November 03, 2015. Selecting the right cruise itinerary and then deciding what to do while in port can be daunting, but Holland America Line’s new collaboration with Utrip will give guests the most comprehensive and interactive personalized planning and discovery tool in the cruise industry.
 
Through integration into the Holland America Line website, the Utrip platform will offer a novel way to personalize content in new Destination Guides being created in partnership with travel authority AFAR Media. Cruisers will be able to browse the information on their own or utilize the Utrip functionality to select desired ports of call, highlights and activities ashore. They will then receive customized recommendations on the line’s cruise itineraries, port highlights, as well as shore excursions tailored to their interests.
 
“Our guests want to experience destinations in their own way, and through our partnership with Utrip they can now personalize their trip in a fun and engaging way, as well as make more informed choices about what to do and see ashore,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “We are thrilled to partner with another Seattle-based company, and we know our guests are going to enjoy exploring the world in a whole new way using the Utrip interface on our website.”
 
Utrip simplifies searching through Holland America Line’s thousands of cruise itineraries and shoreside activities by enabling guests to narrow down their options and save specific ports and interests. These are recommended by either a pre-determined profile or a personalized one created with interactive sliders covering History, Art and Culture, Food and Drink, Nature and Outdoors, and Contemporary Life.    
 
For each destination, Utrip searches top-pick attractions, local dining and shopping options for the best match to personal preferences. Interactive maps allow users to see the location of each suggestion and click for additional information. The interface also will make recommendations for Holland America Line group shore excursions based on preferences.
 
Another facet of the Utrip platform is that it will enable guests to find cruises visiting specific ports and regions without having to sort through dozens of itineraries in the area. For example, if a traveler knows she wants to visit Europe and explore Spain, Italy and Monaco, and more specifically Barcelona, Rome, and Monte Carlo, Utrip might recommend ms Oosterdam’s 12-day Mediterranean Rivieras voyage departing May 24, 2016, or ms Eurodam’s 12-day Mediterranean Tapestry cruise departing July 5, 2016.
 
“We are excited to work with Holland America Line to create a new way for their guests to plan and personalize their cruise,” said Gilad Berenstein, Utrip founder and CEO. “Utrip’s platform will generate itinerary and shoreside recommendations based on a guest’s preferences, so it’s much easier to find sailings and activities that are most interesting to them. It simplifies the decision-making process and makes planning their next vacation more engaging and enjoyable.”
 
Users can save the recommendations to their profile so they can easily find them when they are ready to book their cruise.