Holland America Line has added sailings, destinations, and new itineraries to its South American and Antarctic cruise offerings. “No one offers more diverse and remarkable views of South America than Holland America,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs.
Two new cruises are scheduled:
Inca Discovery Cruise (13 or 26 days)
A November sailing of the ms Statendam will inaugurate a new Holland America Line cruise sailing round-trip from Fort Lauderdale to Callao, Peru . Callao is the port city for Lima. The ship will sail through the Panama Canal twice on a trip that visits five Central and South American countries. A two-night stay in Callao is scheduled to give passenger the opportunity to visit Machu Picchu, high in the Andes. The ruins of the Inca city has just been named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. On this trip, one-way 13-day options between Ft. Lauderdale and Callao are also available in both directions.
Americas Discovery Cruise (22 days)
A second new itinerary sends the ms Amsterdam to Mexican as well as Central and South American ports. Optional excursions to Lauca National Park, Quito, Ecuador, and Machu Picchu, Peru are featured. Lauca National Park is a UNESCO Global Biosphere Reserve that contains one of the highest lakes in the world, volcanoes, and Andean mountains. The colonial capital of Ecuador, Quito, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Other expanded and updated itineraries include:
South America Explorer & Antarctica Experience (20 days)
Holland America Line has added the Wilhelm Archipelago, South Shetland Islands, and the Antarctic Sound to the 2008 schedule for this itinerary. Additionally, a second departure has been added to the January schedule. The December 2008 holiday cruise will be aboard the ms Amsterdam. All other 2008 sailings will be on the ms Rotterdam.
South America Explorer (16 days)
From February through March, 2008, the ms Rotterdam will sail through the glaciers and fjords of the Straight of Magellan and the Beagle, Cockburn, and Darwin channels on its route between Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Valparaiso, Chile. The cruise includes two full days in Buenos Aires, Argentina on its way around Cape Horn. The stop in Buenos Aires gives passenger enough time for an optional excursion to Iguazu Falls.
Tri-Continent Sojourn (16 or 28 days)
In April, the ms Rotterdam will leave Rio de Janeiro for Lisbon, Portugal. It will then sail on to Athens, Greece. The three-continent 16-day crossing to Lisbon will stop in Africa on its way to Europe, then continue sailing through the Mediterranean, creating a 28-day itinerary ending in Greece’s capitol.
Panama Canal & Amazon Explorer (32 to 36 days)
In September, the ms Veendam will sail from Vancouver, Canada to Brazil’s Amazon Basin via the Panama Canal, then on to Tampa, Florida. Passengers can also board in San Diego. The itinerary features a week on the waters of the Amazon River, including an overnight in Manaus. Manaus is the last navigable port on the Amazon for ocean-going ships.
Amazon Explorer (26 days)
In addition to a week cruising the Amazon and a stop in Manaus, the ms Prinsendam will call at two maiden ports of call on this voyage. Macapa, Brazil is the gateway to the Amazon River. Alter do Chao, Brazil is also called Ilha do Amor, or Island of Love. The round-trip cruise will sail in November from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
2008 Grand South America & Antarctica Highlights
On this ultimate cruise, passenger will travel 17,400 nautical miles, see thirty ports of call, and visit fourteen countries without taking an international flight. A single voyage will depart from Ft. Lauderdale in January 2008 to explore the wonders of South America, with three days Antarctic cruising included. There will be a limited number of rooms available between Ft. Lauderdale, Callao (port for Lima, Peru), and Buenos Aires.
Holland America Line operates on close to five hundred cruises every year, sailing its thirteen ships to more than 320 ports.
For additional information contact a travel professional; call 1-877-724-5425 or visit http://www.hollandamerica.com.
