Oprah at Sea

Holland America Line is well-versed in forging partnerships with brand leaders in various industries, including B.B. King Blues Club, Lincoln Center and America’s Test Kitchen, to name a few.

Now the company has aligned itself with one of the world’s giants of thought, inspiration and enterprise—Oprah Winfrey.

Its exclusive, attention-getting partnership with O, The Oprah Magazine unites the soul-stirring power of travel with the magazine’s commitment to connection and personal growth. The result is a series of “Share the Adventure” cruises and other partnership offerings.

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“We are deeply honored that O, The Oprah Magazine chose Holland America Line as its first cruise line partner to further our shared belief that travel and wellness have the power to open minds, build connections and inspire humanity,” said Holland America Line President Orlando Ashford.

The first O, The Oprah Magazine cruise was held in July on the Eurodam in Alaska and featured Winfrey herself. Four more “Share the Adventure” cruises are scheduled and, while they’ll offer Winfrey-inspired programming and events, they won’t feature Oprah in person.

Still, the theme cruises are the perfect trip to sell to the legion of hyper-loyal Oprah fans, as well as travelers looking for a little inspiration and healthful activity.

Sailing with Winfrey on the first O cruise was her bestie, CBS News anchor Gayle King, who also is the magazine’s editor-at-large. Also in attendance were the publication’s Editor-in-Chief Lucy Kaylin and Creative Director Adam Glassman. Other special guests included members of Winfrey’s “SuperSoul 100”—notable people “who are using their voices and talent to elevate humanity.”

The week was filled with events such as “A Conversation with Oprah” and the “Making of O” with the editors. Mornings featured meditation and yoga with celebrity fitness instructor Sara Ivanhoe around the Lido pool; more than 200 attended every session.

There were presentations throughout the week by fitness evangelist Angela M. Davis, a member of Oprah’s SuperSoul 100 (not the 1960s activist), and motivational speaker Glennon Doyle, a Christian mommy blogger now married to soccer superstar Abby Wambach.

Other special functions included fashion and trunk shows, the kickoff of the O’s Reading Room book club with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Elizabeth Strout, healthy eating with Impatient Foodie founder Elettra Wiedemann (daughter of Isabella Rossellini), and entertainment from singer-songwriter India Arie and comedian Rita Rudner.

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Every passenger received commemorative nightly motivational Oprah quote cards, T-shirts, journals, visors, tote bags celebrating Holland America’s 70th year in Alaska, cell phone-friendly fleece gloves and “O’s Little Book of Happiness.” The cruise even included a popular pop-up shop featuring lots of Oprah-branded goods, women’s clothing and jewelry.

Four “Share the Adventure” cruises scheduled for late November and 2018 will feature similar events and activities, with other SuperSoul 100 members and special guests from the magazine.

Departures will include an 11-day Southern Caribbean itinerary sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale aboard Konigsdam on November 29, 2017; the seven-day “Tropical Caribbean,” sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale aboard Nieuw Amsterdam on March 3, 2018; a seven-day Alaska cruise roundtrip from Seattle aboard Eurodam on August 11, 2018; and a seven-day Eastern Caribbean voyage roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale aboard Nieuw Amsterdam on October 28, 2018.

Additionally, more than 300 Holland America cruises sailing from North America for the remainder of 2017 and throughout 2018 will offer a variety of the same activities.

Agents should keep in mind that more than 18 million people subscribe to O, The Oprah Magazine, which delivers thoughtful, trusted advice each month and encourages women to reach for their dreams.

The high-spirited passengers participating in the “Share the Adventure” cruise were devout readers of the magazine and devotees of Oprah’s personal growth message, and they were hungry for more. Hundreds attended all the events, asked insightful questions during Q&A sessions, shared their stories and offered positive support upon hearing tales from others.

They were yearning for inspiration and encouragement—and they were rewarded.