Breathtaking sights. Awe-inspiring adventures. Unforgettable journeys. These are some of the ways you could describe a Holland America Line<\/a> cruise. <\/span>From the glistening glaciers of Alaska<\/a><\/span> and<\/span> the towering fjords of Norway<\/a>,<\/span> to the captivating and diverse landscapes of Australia and New Zealand<\/a>, we help you see the world from your doorstep and dive deeper into destinations <\/span>across the globe<\/span>. <\/span>I<\/span>t all starts with an incredible itinerary that has been researched, <\/span>curated<\/span> and customized to present unique opportunities <\/span>for guests from ship to shore, and our <\/span>deployment <\/span>planning and analytics team <\/span>is<\/span> responsible for<\/span> putting <\/span>those incredible itineraries together. The visionary lead<\/span>er at the helm <\/span>is the one and only Paul Grigsby.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Though he serves as the vice president of planning and analytics today, he joined Holland America Line at the turn of the century in 2000 as a pricing manager. Before that he worked in marine transportation for an Alaska steamship company. When asked about his career journey and the moments that led to where he is today, you quickly realize there\u2019s a common thread that unites every key moment in his timeline \u2013 his love for the sea.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMy father inspired me when I was young,\u201d Paul said. \u201cHe was in the coast guard and similarly influenced by the sea, so I grew up around boats. It was always in my blood.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> His love for <\/span>traveling across the <\/span>ocean <\/span>isn\u2019t<\/span> the only thing in his blood. Paul has a heart for history, and that passion shines when <\/span>he\u2019s<\/span> working with his team to cultivate unimaginable itineraries. <\/span>He\u2019s<\/span> not alone. The team loves researching historical itineraries and resurfacing them for milestone moments.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> When you work for a cruise line that has been navigating the seas for more than 150 years, you can\u2019t help but discover those historical gems and then try to recreate them for our guests today.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe transatlantic crossing is one example. We couldn\u2019t help ourselves! We had to try and match the original 1872 crossing on the very first Rotterdam from the Port of Rotterdam to New York City in October 2022 in honor of our 150<\/span>th<\/span> anniversary. Of course, we wanted to do this cruise on our newest Rotterdam with stops at historical ports. A lot of people out there are interested in our line\u2019s history and the itineraries we craft \u2013 then and now.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Given he\u2019s an itinerary visionary, we couldn\u2019t help but ask about his favorite one. Becoming quite animated with a contagious smile, he responded: \u201cThat\u2019s like asking if I have a favorite kid!\u201d All joking aside, Paul said his favorite itinerary is the one he hasn\u2019t cruised yet. One that has piqued his interest takes guests to the Coral Triangle<\/a> with scenic cruising around volcanoes \u2013 an itinerary he researched with a marine biologist. Others include cruises to Antarctica<\/a>, Greenland<\/a> and the Amazon.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe go to all seven continents. What haven\u2019t you done yet? That\u2019s where you go.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As for the cruises he has taken, Paul can check Europe, Alaska, Mexico, Panama Canal, the Caribbean, Canada and New England, the South Pacific and South America off his list. Of course, he wouldn\u2019t hesitate to visit them again.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He also didn\u2019t hesitate to share his advice for those considering a career in the cruise or maritime industry. \u201cThink about where you want to be \u2013 on the ship or on the shore. Either place can offer a rewarding career. Study commerce, pay attention in geography class and explore nautical schools if you want to sail the seas professionally.\u201d <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Overall, his sentiment is this: Keep your mind open to new experiences. There\u2019s a whole wide world out there just waiting to be part of your adventure \u2013 professionally and personally.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Quick Cruise Q&A with Paul:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Favorite thing to eat on board:<\/span><\/i> \u201cSalmon. I fished salmon commercially in Alaska one summer, so I\u2019m particular about it. Anytime I order it on a Holland America Line ship, the quality and preparation are always first rate!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Favorite onboard entertainment:<\/span><\/i> B.B. King\u2019s Blues Club<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Best part of working for Holland America Line:<\/span><\/i> \u201cWorking with incredibly talented people with such great cultural diversity. Our field is the world. It never gets old.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"View](\"https:\/\/www.hollandamerica.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/holland-america-line-vice-president-cruise-ship.webp\" "\\"Paul")
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