Holland America disappointed by minor tsunami in Hawaii, looks forward to Indian Ocean typhoon season
February 27, 2010
by shf
SEATTLE, Wash. (FASTLAUGH.com) — Despite being clearly disappointed that the tsunami in Hawaii did not live up to their eager anticipation and expectations earlier today, senior executives at Holland America Lines — based in Seattle, Washington — were congratulating themselves heartily for the responsiveness of their contingency planning department for recognizing and immediately seizing upon exploiting a potential revenue-generating opportunity following the devastating 8.8 magnitutude Chilean earthquake.
Repeating portions — with minor revisions — of the statement issued earlier in the day, a Holland America Lines spokesperson from the Office of the President noted, “We were looking at immediately diverting at least one, and possibly two, of our aging fleet of ships to the Hawaiian Islands to take advantage of the booming trend in Disaster Zone Cruising. Look at how popular RCL’s Labadee Beach cruises were in Haiti last month during such a devastating earthquake that killed over 200,00 people. It remains clear to us that our affluent and adventure-seeking clientele, based upon the success of our SS Veendam’s Mexican Riviera Hurricane Cruises last October, would have been clamoring for Hawaiian Tsunami cruises. This is an emerging, high-dollar trend in our industry.”
Holland America is determined not to be outdone by rival Royal Caribbean Lines’ successful Disaster Zone Cruises to Haiti during last month’s devastating earthquake.
The Holland America spokesperson added, “we’re viewing today’s mobilization as a live drill, and as a result we’re now much better prepared to realign our fleet to take advantage of the upcoming cyclone season in the Indian Ocean. We’re certainly planning to make port calls in Bangladesh as soon as that first category 3 or greater typhoon hits. Why should Royal Caribbean Lines get all of the action?”