SEATTLE, April 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- 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:
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206-262-5934
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EMAIL:
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pr@hollandamerica.com
|
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SOURCE Holland America Line