Holland America Line Features 57 Caribbean Cruises with 7- to 14-day itineraries in FALL 2009
Seattle, April 7, 2009 – With its extensive Caribbean cruise itineraries, Holland America Line offers a wide variety of seven- to 14-day Caribbean cruises. Starting in October 2009, the premium cruise line will feature a total of 57 departures on eight ships, including its newest Signature-class ms Eurodam.
“Holland America Line continues to offer incredible diversity for Caribbean cruising from week-long cruises to more in-depth exploration with intriguing Caribbean ports,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Families, baby-boomers, retirees and all types of cruisers will find an itinerary to match their vacation plans and island wishes in premium cruise style.”
Holland America Line will homeport ships in Fort Lauderdale and Tampa. Three Vista-class ships – ms Noordam, ms Zuiderdam and ms Westerdam – will join Signature-class Eurodam and ms Maasdam, ms Statendam and ms Prinsendam sailing from Ft. Lauderdale. The ms Ryndam will sail from Tampa on a series of Western Caribbean cruises. Called Collectors’ Voyages, many Caribbean cruises can be combinable to create longer voyages of 14 to 28 days with unique ports of call.
10- and 14-day Southern Caribbean Cruises
Three ships sail the majority of 10- to 14-day cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale to the southern Caribbean. The Maasdam features 14-day sailings departing Oct. 23 and Nov. 20. Port highlights include Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; and feature the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
The Noordam offers a series of alternating, 10-day Wayfarer and 10-day Seafarer itineraries Nov. 1 through Dec. 21. The Statendam also features a 10-day Wayfarer cruise Dec. 11. Wayfarer sailings highlight the exotic islands of St. Lucia and Barbados, and Seafarer cruises showcase Aruba and Curaçao. These itineraries can be combined to create a 20-day voyage that only repeats popular Half Moon Cay and St. Thomas.
The Zuiderdam sails the 10-day Sunfarer voyages that combine Panama Canal cruising with Caribbean destinations. Guests cruise to Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; Dutch-influenced Willemstad, Curaçao and Oranjestad, Aruba; the Panama Canal to Gatun Lake and Limon Bay; and Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. Sailings depart Oct. 14 through Dec. 22. Maasdam offers two 14-day versions of the Sunfarer cruises on Nov. 6 and Dec. 4, adding St. Croix, Dominica, Key West and St. Lucia or Antigua.
Seven-Day Caribbean Itineraries
Holland America Line offers an extensive selection of seven-day cruises to the eastern, western and southern Caribbean. The 2,104-guest Eurodam sails most of the eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale Oct. 10 through Dec. 19. The ships call at such ports as Grand Turk, St. Thomas, San Juan and Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private Bahamian island paradise.
Ryndam features seven-day western Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Tampa departing Oct. 18 to Dec. 20. The ship offers Sunday departures to such ports as Belize City, Belize; Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Key West, United States.
The Westerdam features three seven-day itineraries roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale that combine Half Moon Cay with an exclusive itinerary to the southern Caribbean islands of Aruba and Curaçao. A western itinerary option with three departures includes Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk, Grand Cayman and Cozumel or Costa Maya, Mexico. Three eastern itinerary cruises sail to Grand Turk, San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten and Half Moon Cay. Sunday departures are Oct. 18 to Dec. 20.
Holiday Caribbean Cruises
Holland America Line also features seven- to 14-day holiday cruises on seven ships departing in late December 2009. These include seven-day sailings on the Eurodam, Noordam and Westerdam roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, seven-day cruises on the Ryndam from Tampa, and 10- to 14-day voyages on the Maasdam, Zuiderdam and Prinsendam from Fort Lauderdale. Itineraries cover eastern, western and southern itinerary choices.
Most cruises include a day at Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s acclaimed private island. In 2008, Half Moon Cay received its eighth Best Private Island acknowledgement from Porthole readers. The island’s offerings provide a full beachside water park for children, private beach cabanas, an exclusive over-water bungalow and an array of shore excursions that include horseback riding by land and sea, personal watercraft adventures and an opportunity to swim with stingrays.
Antipasti, Osso Bucco, Gelato—Canaletto Brings Italian Favorites To Four More Holland America Line Ships
Complimentary Italian restaurant soon to be found on ms Oosterdam, Veendam, Noordam and Amsterdam
Seattle, WA, February 2009 —A dedicated Italian restaurant first introduced on ms Eurodam, Canaletto will soon be found on four more Holland America Line ships this spring. The popularity of the family style Italian restaurant has prompted the line to add it on board ms Oosterdam, ms Veendam, ms Noordam and ms Amsterdam during planned dry docks scheduled to be completed in early May, 2009.
Canaletto, which debuted on the ms Eurodam in 2008, comes to life for dinner when a section of the Lido restaurant is transformed each evening into the Italian restaurant. Although reservations will be encouraged for this casual dining venue, walk-ups will be accepted. Canaletto will be open for dinner from 5:30pm to 9:30 pm. There is no extra charge.
“We’ve received very positive comments about Canaletto from our guests on the Eurodam,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “They appreciate the variety offered by yet another restaurant.”
Featuring cuisine from many regions in Italy, Canaletto’s menu begins with an antipasti plate with a fresh selection of meats and vegetables chosen nightly by the chef. Soup choices include a traditional Italian minestrone and zuppa di pesci, assorted seafood in a tomato broth. Salad Canaletto combines seasonal greens with olives, tomatoes and cucumber.
Four pasta dishes are available each evening: spaghetti with meatballs, penne alla vodka, linguine frutti di marre and baked meat lasagna pomodoro. Four more entrées fall under Carne, Pesce o Pollo—meat, fish or chicken. Choices include veal Milanese, chicken marsala scaloppini, osso bucco and cod putanesca.
To end the meal on a sweet note, four desserts have been chosen. Italy’s most famous desert, tiramisú, is served as a trio of flavors—espresso, lemon, and Amaretto. There is also limoncello crème, mille-feuille of Madagascar chocolate and four flavors of gelato: strawberry, mango, vanilla and lemon.
Holland America Line’s ships feature As You Wish dining which allows guests to choose from the best of both worlds – either traditional pre-set seating and dining times, or a completely flexible dining schedule. In addition to Canaletto, dining options include the main dining room, the casual Lido Buffet, Terrace Grill, the reservations-only Pinnacle Grill and room service. The ms Eurodam also features Slice pizzeria, Tamarind and the Silk Den.
Holland America to Host 60 Culinary Experts In 2009
Published on: February 18, 2009; www.travelpulse.com
Holland America Line’s Culinary Arts Center will host more than 60 chefs from around the country this year, making them part of the guest enrichment program. While onboard, the guest chefs and experts offer culinary demonstrations, tastings and hands-on cooking classes to guests, in addition to participating in question-and-answer sessions. In partnership with “Food and Wine” magazine, Holland America has scheduled approximately 60 celebrated chefs and wine experts to sail in 2009. On cruises that do not have a guest chef on board, classes and demonstrations in the show kitchen are scheduled with Holland America’s own chefs.
This season Holland America will welcome personalities such as Capt. Keith Colburn from Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” sailing on Westerdam June 7-14 in Alaska, George Duran of “Ham on the Street” on the Food Network sailing aboard Amsterdam Aug. 29-Sept. 5 in Alaska, “Top Chef” contestant Richard Blaise on Maasdam Oct. 23-Nov. 6 in the Caribbean, and Christina Pirello of “Christina Cooks” on a PBS sailing in Alaska on Zuiderdam Aug. 8-15. In addition to famous chefs, the Culinary Arts Program includes cookbook authors as well as chocolatiers and tablescape experts.
A selection of participating chefs and experts in the continuing 2009 season include:
- Oliver Reschreiter, executive chef at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, Calif., on Ryndam, June 19-26 in Alaska
- Lee Hilson, executive chef at the Royal Palms Resort in Phoenix, on Oosterdam, June 24-July 6, Mediterranean
- Randy Lewis, executive chef of La Provence in Lacombe, La., Noordam, June 28-July 8, Mediterranean
- Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough, authors of the “Ultimate” cookbook series, Prinsendam, July 3-17, British Isles
- Stewart Woodman, executive chef at Heidi’s in Minneapolis, Minn., Maasdam, July 18-25, Canada/New England
- Scott Tycer, executive chef at Gravitas in Houston, Rotterdam, Aug. 11-23, Baltic
- Olga Krasnoff, designer of tabletop landscapes, Eurodam, Aug. 27-Sept. 6, Canada/New England
- David McMillan, corporate executive chef of Consilient Restaurants, Prinsendam, Sept. 6-20, Western Europe
- Ryan Hardy, executive chef of Little Nell in Aspen, Colo., Rotterdam, Oct. 3-17, Mediterranean
- Jacques Torres, master pastry chef and chocolatier, Oosterdam, Oct. 17-Nov. 2, trans-Atlantic
- Maria Hines, executive chef of Tilth in Seattle, Zuiderdam, Oct. 24- Nov. 3, Panama Canal.
The program began in 2005 when the line installed state-of-the-art Culinary Arts Centers aboard each ship. The Culinary Arts Centers resemble the show kitchens used by celebrity chefs on television cooking programs. Each facility features a theater-style venue, with two large plasma video screens and a large cooking display counter. Holland America Line also offers a youth Culinary Arts Center activity program to teach kids and teens how to cook. The program incorporates dishes from breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in complimentary 45-minute classes. Kids under 8 years old learn to make theme cookies, fruit roll-ups, ice cream sandwiches, salad people art and scones. Kids 8 and over make soft pretzels, granola bars, pita chips and hummus, and saltwater taffy. Teens also can attend adult culinary demonstrations.
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE AUSTRALIA IN 2010
Plus itineraries include a new series of 14-day Sydney, Australia, roundtrip sailings— and 34-day Australia circumnavigation voyage that includes two days’ daylight scenic cruising in the Great Barrier Reef
Seattle, Feb 10, 2009 — In 2010, Holland America Line will feature new itineraries throughout the Southern Hemisphere aboard the 1,432-guest, ms Volendam, including—for the first time—a circumnavigation of the continent departing in Sydney, Australia. The 34-day sailing will spend two days cruising the Great Barrier Reef during daylight hours and visit 18 ports of call. Holland America is the only premium cruise line to offer daylight scenic cruising along the Reef’s magnificent coastline. A new series of 14-day, Sydney, Australia, roundtrip cruises throughout the region offer explorations focused on the cultures and the raw magnificence of Australia’s and New Zealand’s diverse landscapes. And, in the spring, Volendam will sail to the South Pacific for a leisurely 26-day cruise, visiting some of the world’s most captivating islands from Sydney, Australia, to Vancouver, British Columbia.
“We recognize that for many travelers a trip to Australia and New Zealand is a cruise-vacation must,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs, Holland America Line. “And Holland America Line offers more itineraries and more time cruising throughout Australia and New Zealand than any other premium cruise line.”
14-day, Sydney round-trip sailings highlight Down Under and the South Pacific in 2010
For the first time, Holland America Line has created a series of round-trip Sydney, Australia, 14-day cruises for travelers. Two cruises, departing Jan. 20 and Feb. 28, are set to spend more time discovering the multifaceted terrain of New Zealand than any other premium cruise line. A third cruise, departing Jan. 6, highlights the South Pacific’s exotic beauty. Fares for all 14-day, Sydney roundtrip cruises begin at just $1,599 per person, double occupancy.
On the Jan. 20 and Feb. 28 sailings, the North and South islands of New Zealand, each with incredibly vibrant and lush scenery, will be explored with six different port calls. Both itineraries feature extensive scenic cruising opportunities in Fiordland National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — as well as Queen Charlotte Sound. Additionally, Holland America Line is one of the few premium cruise lines calling at Picton, the gateway to the South Island and the hub of Marlborough Sounds’ thriving wine country. Picton, a lively and picturesque resort town, will most assuredly delight the wine aficionados.
Guests joining Volendam for the Jan.6, 14-day Pacific Treasures cruise will kick-start the year sailing through the breathtaking vistas of the South Pacific. As the ship departs Sydney it makes a beeline for Noumea, New Caledonia, known for its blend of French and Melanesian culture and often referred to “as the place where the French Riviera meets the South Pacific.” Here, guests will leisurely explore the region’s culture with additional calls at Mouli and Ile des Pins, New Caledonia; Port Vila and Luganville, Vanuatu, and Lautoka and Levuka, Fiji, before returning to Sydney.
Australia circumnavigation features a two-day Great Barrier Reef experience
Departing March 14, Volendam will celebrate a first for the line when the ship sails a 34-day voyage circumnavigating Australia. This new itinerary, developed out of the growing popularity of the region, will feature an unforgettable two-day Great Barrier Reef daylight scenic cruise experience through Torres Strait and The Far North Region before anchoring for an overnight at Sherrard Island. Fares start from $4,599.
Guests also will enjoy overnight calls at Hobart, Perth and Sydney, Australia, where they can spend time sampling the local cuisine or explore the versatile culture and nightlife of the cities. Other ports of call on the 34-day voyage include Melbourne, Adelaide, Albany, Exmouth, Darwin, Cairns, Whitsunday Island and Brisbane, Australia. In addition, guests will have the opportunity to take in an optional, fully escorted shore excursion of Komodo National Park (Indonesia) in search of one of the fewer than 300 Komodo dragons which make their habitat there amidst squawking cockatoos, flowerpeckers and noisy friarbirds.
Collectors’ Voyages sail to the Great Barrier Reef and includes port-intensive visits in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific
For travelers who enjoy time aboard ship as well as the unique experiences that Down Under offers, Holland America Line provides the opportunity to explore Australia, New Zealand and the Fijian islands with four Collectors’ Voyages: a 28-day, Pacific Treasures and New Zealand, roundtrip Sydney, Australia, departs Jan. 6, 2010, with fares beginning at $3,599; a 48-day, New Zealand and Australia Circumnavigation, roundtrip Sydney, Australia, departs Feb. 28, 2010, with fares starting from $5,599; a 74-day, New Zealand, Australia and South Pacific cruise from Sydney, Australia, to Vancouver, B.C., departs Feb 28, 2010, with fares from $7,999; and a 60-day, Australia Circumnavigation and South Pacific sailing, from Sydney, Australia, to Vancouver, B.C., departs March 14, 2010, with fares from $6,599.
Traverse the Pacific and Enjoy the Polynesian lifestyle
Volendam takes guests from Sydney to Vancouver, British Columbia, on a memorable 26-day cruise to the islands of the South Pacific and through some of the most pristine waters in the world. Guests board the ship April 17 and enjoy an overnight in Sydney where they will have ample time to visit the iconic opera house or perhaps catch a glimpse of a koala or kangaroo at the Sydney Zoo before departing April 18. This unforgettable odyssey includes Noumea and Ile des Pins, New Caledonia; Port Vila, Vanuatu; the Fijian islands of Lautoka, Viti Levu, and Levuka. From Fiji, Volendam will cross the equator and International Date Line, continuing to Apia, the capital of the Independent State of Samoa. After a full day in Apia, where guests have the option of swimming in the placid, warm waters at the Beach of Saleapaga, shopping with the locals, taking part in a kava ceremony or visiting the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, the ship will spend five relaxing days at sea before paying calls at Nawiliwili, Kauai; Honolulu, Oahu; Lahaina, Maui and Hilo, Hawaii. Hawaii’s exotic beauty and deep history can be enjoyed at each port, from Kona’s world-famous Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — to the USS Arizona Memorial in Honolulu. Guests wishing to soak up the sun or take in the natural surroundings can spend the day at a black-sand beach in Kona or a lush fern grotto in Nawiliwili.
Before reaching Vancouver, travelers will have relaxing days at sea filled with enriching activities such as cooking demonstrations at the Culinary Arts Center, pampering at the Greenhouse Spa or simply sipping a coffee while reading the news at the Explorations Café. Fares for this 26-day South Pacific cruise start at $2,699.
Those looking to make the most out of their time in Australia and New Zealand, pre- or post-cruise land tours are offered to further explore sites such as Ayers Rock or Alice Springs.
