Itineraries up to 68 days call at more than 50 ports around the
continent
SEATTLE, April 4, 2014 /CNW/
- From fall 2014 through spring 2015, Holland America Line will
offer the most comprehensive South America deployment of the season
with four ships positioned in the region. The line's ms
Statendam, ms Maasdam, ms Prinsendam and ms
Zaandam will sail 20 voyages around the continent ranging in
length from 14 to 68 days.
With departures from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; San Diego,
Calif.; and Vancouver, British Columbia, as well as
sailings originating within South America, the four ships will
explore more than 50 exotic and remote ports that include
breathtaking scenery and once-in-a-lifetime experiences like
visiting the ruins of Machu Picchu and seeing the colossal glaciers
of Chile and Antarctica.
"South
America is a big draw for cruisers because it is the
most diverse continent in the world with extreme climates, dramatic
landscapes and fantastic touring opportunities," said Richard Meadows,
Holland America Line's executive vice president of sales, marketing
and guest programs. "In addition to featuring unique experiences
like attending Carnaval, seeing penguins in their natural habitat
and rounding Cape Horn, the itineraries take guests to places that
are best visited via cruise ship, such as Antarctica
and the Amazon River."
The voyages include Zaandam's full season of cruising and
a 49-day port-intensive "Amazon and Carnaval Explorer" voyage
aboard Maasdam that visits Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, in time for the annual celebration. The
28-day "Amazon Explorer" cruise returns in November 2014 on
Prinsendam, and Statendam sails month-long roundtrip
San
Diego itineraries in November 2014 and
March
2015. The longest voyage of the season is
Prinsendam's 68-day Grand South America and Antarctica
Voyage that circumnavigates the continent.
Zaandam spends the season in South
America
To start the South America
cruising season, Zaandam departs Vancouver
Oct. 5,
2014, on a 22-day "Inca Discovery" cruise that takes
the ship from Vancouver to Valparaiso
(Santiago), Chile. The
cruise also can be embarked at San Diego,
making it an 18-day voyage. Guests will explore seven countries and
enjoy an overnight at Callao (Lima),
Peru, providing an opportunity for an
overland tour to Machu Picchu.
Departing Valparaiso Oct. 27 on a
"14-day South America Passage," Zaandam continues the
journey around Cape Horn to Buenos Aires, Argentina. The ship
visits a variety of climates, from glaciers to tropical beaches,
including an in-depth exploration of the Chilean fjords and passage
through the Strait of Magellan. An overnight at Buenos Aires
provides extra time to explore the local culture.
The "Inca Discovery" and "South America Passage" voyages can be
combined for a 36-day "Inca Discovery and South America Passage"
Collectors' Voyage.
Cruise fares begin at $1,999 for the 22-day "Inca Discovery"
cruise, $1,799 for the 18-day itinerary,
$1,299
for 14-day "South America Passage" voyage and $2,999 for the full
36-day cruise, per person, double occupancy.
From October
2014 to March 2015, Zaandam will sail seven
14-day "South America Passage" itineraries between Valparaiso
(Santiago), Chile, and
Buenos
Aires. The sailings include an overnight at
Buenos
Aires, multiple days cruising the scenic fjords and
national parks of Chile, calls at remote locations such
as the Falkland
Islands (weather permitting) and sailing around Cape
Horn. A call at Ushuaia takes guests to the southernmost town in
the world.
Cruise fares begin at $1,299 per person, double occupancy, for
the 14-day sailings.
A 20-day "South America and Antarctica Explorer"
holiday cruise from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires
on Zaandam departs Dec. 22, 2014, featuring exciting holiday
activities onboard, while two 19-day voyages between Valparaiso
and Buenos
Aires depart Jan. 11 and 30, 2015. The extended
itineraries sail farther south past Ushuaia for scenic cruising
through the Antarctic Sound to the Palmer Archipelago on the
northwestern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Cruise fares begin at $3,599 per person, double occupancy, for
the 20-day departure and $3,499 for the 19-day cruises.
Zaandam begins the reposition back to Fort
Lauderdale on a "14-day South America Passage" cruise
departing March 18,
2015, from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso.
The ship sails a clockwise route down to Glacier Alley and around
Cape Horn, with an overnight call at Buenos Aires
at the end of the voyage.
An 18-day "Inca Discovery" voyage continues the journey north
departing April
1 from Valparaiso to Fort
Lauderdale. The ship overnights at Callao
(Lima) and Fuerte Amador,
Panama, before transiting the famed
Panama Canal.
The "Inca Discovery" and "South America Passage" voyages can be
combined for a 32-day "Inca Discovery and South America Passage"
Collectors' Voyage.
Fares for the 14-day "South America Passage" cruise begin at
$1,599,
$1,999
for the 18-day "Inca Discovery" itinerary and $3,399 for the
32-day "South
America and Inca Discovery" Collectors' Voyage, per
person, double occupancy.
Statendam showcases Mexico and
the Panama Canal
On Nov. 2, 2014, Statendam embarks on
a 31-day roundtrip San Diego "Inca Empires" voyage that sails down
to Callao and includes a partial transit of the Panama Canal.
Guests will have more time in port with overnight calls at
Huatulco,
Mexico; Fuerte Amador, Panama; and
two nights at Callao, allowing for ample time to take an overland
tour to Machu Picchu. The ship also calls at ports in Ecuador,
Costa
Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala,
and four additional ports in Mexico.
A 16-day segment from San Diego to Callao is available, and a
15-day segment from Callao to San Diego
departs Nov.
18, making the trip to Machu Picchu possible on both
segments.
Fares for the 31-day cruise begin at $2,999 per person,
double occupancy, and $1,599 for the 15- and 16-day
segments.
Departing March
15 on a 30-day roundtrip San Diego
cruise, Statendam sails another "Inca Empires" itinerary
that duplicates the November route, but without the Panama Canal
partial transit. Two 15-day segments are available from
San
Diego to Callao and Callao to San
Diego.
Fares for the 30-day cruise begin at $3,499 per person,
double occupancy, and $1,799 for the 15-day segments.
Explore the Amazon, Experience Carnaval on
Maasdam
Guests who want to experience the excitement
of Rio's Carnaval and the natural beauty of the Amazon River can
embark Maasdam for a 49-day "Amazon and Carnaval Explorer
Voyage," conveniently sailing roundtrip from Fort
Lauderdale Jan. 23, 2015.
The cruise will call at 25 ports, including all three of the
"ABC Islands" — Aruba, Bonaire and
Curacao — and an astounding 14 ports in
Brazil. The ship will cross the equator
three times during the voyage and venture deep into the heart of
the Amazon River. Another highlight of the itinerary is Carnaval, a
festive celebration often referred to as the world's largest party
that coincides with an extended two-night call at Rio Feb 15-17. Extended
calls at three ports — Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad,
Curacao; and Salvador de Bahia, Brazil — as
well as overnights at Rio and Manaus, Brazil, allow
plenty of time ashore to enjoy historical and cultural
attractions.
Shorter segments of Maasdam's "Amazon and Carnaval
Explorer Voyage" are available for guests with less time. The
23-day segment departs Fort Lauderdale for Rio de Janeiro
Jan.
23, and the 26-day segment departs Rio de
Janeiro for Fort Lauderdale Feb. 15 and
includes Amazon River cruising and a two-night call at Rio de
Janeiro during Carnaval.
Cruise fares begin at $7,999 per person, double occupancy, for
the 49-day sailing, $3,799 for the 23-day segment and
$4,999
for the 26-day segment.
Prinsendam's Grand Voyage and in-depth Amazon
exploration
Departing Nov. 20, 2014, Prinsendam sails
south on a 28-day "Amazon Explorer" voyage roundtrip from
Fort
Lauderdale. During the cruise the ship will cross the
equator twice and sail throughout the Caribbean
visiting island jewels like Guadeloupe, St. Lucia,
Aruba, Tobago and
Barbados. The Amazon is the star of the
itinerary, however, with nine full days cruising on the longest
river in the world, calling at six ports along the way with an
overnight at Manaus.
Cruise fares begin at $5,999 per person, double occupancy, for
the 28-day sailing.
Guests looking to get a taste of the whole continent and journey
to Antarctica can embark Jan. 3, 2015, on
Prinsendam's Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage.
Sailing roundtrip Fort Lauderdale, the 68-day adventure
takes a counter-clockwise course through the Panama Canal and down
the west coast to Ecuador, Peru and
Chile before spending three days in the
waters of Antarctica. After rounding Cape Horn,
the ship sails north to the Falkland Islands, Argentina,
Uruguay and Brazil before
island-hopping through the Caribbean at the end of the
journey.
Guests with less time on their hands can take a 37-day segment
from Fort
Lauderdale to Buenos Aires, or the 31-day return from
Buenos
Aires to Fort Lauderdale.
Cruise fares begin at $7,299 for the 31-day segment;
$8,799
for the 37-day sailing; and $13,999 for the full 68-day Grand Voyage,
all per person, double occupancy.
Shore Excursions, Overland Tours in South
America
Holland America Line guests can experience some
of the most iconic and famous South American attractions and
destinations by taking an award-winning shore excursion or in-depth
overland tour, many of which visit UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Some notable excursions include a trip to dramatic Iguazu Falls at
the border of Brazil, Argentina and
Paraguay; an overland journey to Cuzco
and Machu Picchu — the Lost City of the Incas — at an elevation of
7,874 feet; a tour to see thousands of Magellan penguins near their
caves and nesting areas; and a drive to Tierra del
Fuego National Park that includes a stop at Lapataia Bay, the
southernmost place that can be reached by road.
Experiencing more of South America through "On
Location"
Through the line's "On Location" enrichment
program, local traditions, culinary tastes and cultural experiences
come to life both onboard and ashore to deepen guests' appreciation
of the destinations they are exploring. In South
America, that might mean learning to cook Gaucho
Steak with Chimichurri Sauce in the Culinary Arts Center, tango
lessons from a professional South American dance expert, a
gaucho-themed barbecue on deck with traditional South American fare
and Spanish lessons.
For more information about the South America
2014-15 season and Holland America Line, contact a travel
professional or call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit
www.hollandamerica.com.
Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland
America Blog. Access all social media outlets via the Online
Communities quick link on the home page at
www.hollandamerica.com.
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival
Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]
Holland America Line's fleet of 15 ships offers
more than 500 cruises to 415 ports in 98 countries, territories or
dependencies. One- to 110-day itineraries visit all seven
continents and highlights include Antarctica,
South
America, Australia/New Zealand
and Asia voyages; four annual Grand
Voyages; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean,
Alaska, Mexico,
Canada/New England, Europe and
Panama Canal. The line currently has a new ship on order from
Fincantieri shipyard for delivery in February 2016.
Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence
enhancements, a commitment totaling more than $500 million, that
showcase the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine
magazine — a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than
60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking
demonstrations and classes — Explorations Cafe powered by The
New York
Times, Digital Workshop powered by Windows,
teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities
highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream
Beds.
World's Leading Cruise Lines
Holland America Line is a proud member of World's
Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival
Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and
Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment
to quality and value, World's Leading Cruise Lines inspires people
to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a
variety of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's
most desirable destinations. Visit us at
www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com.
CONTACT:
|
Sally
Andrews
|
PHONE:
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800-637-5029
|
FAX:
|
206-262-5934
|
EMAIL:
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pr@hollandamerica.com
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SOURCE Holland America Line