On my last cruise, a transatlantic crossing with Holland America, the onboard library was closed for renovations. I’m an avid reader and had planned to rely on the ship’s library for my literary needs during the long days at sea, so I was disappointed and little inconvenienced. And so were many of my fellow cruisers who, like me, had packed only one book, thinking they would be able to get more on board. But it was only a matter of time before the cruise line got the onboard libraries running again. As per a press release from Holland America on April 4, 2024, all of the libraries on Holland America Line’s ships have now been refurbished, redecorated, and stocked with up to 1,700 books across a multitude of genres. And that’s not all: Holland America now runs its very own book club.
This Cruise Line Started Its Own Traveler Book Club, and You Can Join for Free
Holland America is teaming up with Audible to create a virtual book club for its guests, whether they be on shore or at sea. On the first week of the each month, the cruise line will select an audiobook or Audible Original which highlights the regions where Holland America travels, such as Alaska, Europe, Canada, Asia, and the Caribbean. The book selection will be announced on the cruise line’s social media channels (Facebook and Instagram) and followers will be able to obtain the virtual volume from Audible thanks to a two-month extended free trial of Audible Premium Plus. The first book chosen is James Patterson’s The Justice, which is an Audible Original thriller.
The book club discussions will take place at the end of each month on the cruise line’s social media platforms. Holland America will post thought-starters about the books and encourage conversation in the comments among its followers.
Because voracious readers can’t just stick to only one book per month, in between the Holland America Book Club selections, you can check out the cruise line’s curated audiobook recommendations and take your pick.
If two free months with Audible isn’t nearly enough for you, don’t fret. While on board, guests are now able to listen to Audible for free and without a subscription via their cabin’s entertainment system.
Holland America is not the only one in the travel sphere who’s noticed that having a good selection of reading materials is important to travelers. Daytona Beach International Airport provides books for passengers traveling through. The airport’s newly renovated business center offers complimentary books that travelers can take without the need to return them. The airport also has a virtual library of almost one million titles ranging from eBook, eAudio, comic, movie, music, television, and magazine titles available through the online platforms Hoopla and Flipster. Passengers don’t need a library card to borrow anything, but they do need to be inside the airport to take advantage of them. 