SEATTLE, Oct. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Travelers looking
to explore the history, culture and famous sights of Europe in 2015 have more options than ever
before with eight Holland America Line ships offering sailings
ranging from seven to 50 days. The 62 unique cruises highlight
three new itineraries, four maiden calls and overnight visits to 21
of the continent's most popular and culturally rich cities.
The diverse fleet that will explore the region includes ms
Eurodam and ms Nieuw Amsterdam — Holland America Line's
two Signature-Class ships — as well as ms Maasdam, ms
Prinsendam, ms Rotterdam, ms
Ryndam and ms Veendam. New to Europe in 2015 is the 1,916-guest ms
Zuiderdam, which will sail in the Mediterranean.
"Having eight ships in Europe
enables us to reach every corner of the region — from the top of
Norway to the beaches of
Turkey and everywhere in between,"
said Richard Meadows, executive vice
president, marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America
Line. "The beauty of Europe is
that there truly is something for everyone, so it's the ideal
family cruise, romantic getaway or a vacation with friends."
In 2015 Holland America Line Europe cruises continue to focus on
destination diversity, timeless appeal and high-quality
experiences. The ships explore the entire region on itineraries
that include northern Europe and
the Norwegian fjords, Iceland and
the Baltic; the British Isles; Canary Islands; Italian and French
Riviera's; Iberian Peninsula; Black Sea; the eastern and western
Mediterranean; and transatlantics.
Maiden calls at Alta, Norway,
the northernmost town in the world; Paamiut (Frederikshab),
Greenland; Igoumenitsa,
Greece; and Canakkale,
Turkey, enhance select
itineraries.
Several convenient roundtrip options will be available from
eight ports: Barcelona, Spain;
Boston, Mass.; Civitavecchia
(Rome) and Venice, Italy; Copenhagen, Denmark; Harwich (London), England; Fort
Lauderdale, Fla.; and Rotterdam,
the Netherlands.
Many of the cruises also can be extended into Collectors'
Voyages ranging from 14 to 35 days, which offer the ultimate
European experience. These artfully crafted longer journeys combine
back-to-back itineraries, enabling guests to visit more ports and
spend extra time exploring centuries of art, history and
culture.
Notable New Itineraries:
18-Day Canary Islands Discovery
The popular
itinerary returns in 2015 on Rotterdam departing April 21 on a roundtrip Rotterdam route. The ship visits the island of
Funchal and explores ports in Spain, Portugal and northern Africa. Guests also enjoy an overnight call at
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the
largest and most diverse city on all seven of the Canary Islands,
and home to the largest volcano in the world — El Teide.
14-Day Northern Isles
Ryndam departs
June 20 and August 1 on a roundtrip Harwich (London) itinerary that showcases the best of
Iceland with six calls throughout
the country, as well as three calls in Norway. In addition to visits to key "bucket
list" ports such as Iceland's
Reykjavik and Akureyri, and
Norway's Bergen, the ship spends
three days of scenic cruising through some of the region's most
striking fjords and landscapes.
21-Day Mediterranean Adventure
Ryndam
sails from Harwich
(London) to Venice Sept.12, visiting ports in Spain and Portugal before venturing into the
Mediterranean Sea. Once there, guests are treated to calls at
exciting cities in Italy,
Greece, Croatia and Montenegro. Guests with less time can embark
on a segment of this three-week journey ranging from 10 to 20
days.
Unique Experiences:
Holland America Line's Europe itineraries enable guests to be among
the few to cross the Arctic Circle and experience the midnight sun
while visiting some of the northern-most cities in the world.
Guests can take a dip in the famous "Blue Lagoon" during a call at
Reykjavik, pay a visit to the Rock
Carvings at Alta, go on a "seal watch" at Paamiut and look for the
seals gathering in the Labrador Sea, or enjoy some local wine and
cheese while taking in the stunning vistas from the port citadel at
Calvi, Corsica. And on Ryndam's Norwegian Explorer voyage departing
September 12, guests will have the
best opportunity to witness the Northern Lights.
Culture Comes Aboard with "On Location" Programming
On each Europe cruise, Holland
America Line's "On Location" enrichment program brings local
traditions, culinary tastes and cultural experiences to life
onboard to deepen guests' appreciation of the region. Guests might
enjoy a Turkish Taraf with live belly dancers, Nordic Jazz and Food
Festival, German Bierfest with a live "oompah" band, regional beer
and wine tastings, cultural cooking demonstrations, special tapas
sail-away parties and more.
For more information about Holland America Line, contact a
travel professional or call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or
visit www.hollandamerica.com.
Editor's note: Photos and a detailed PDF fact sheet
of cruise itineraries is available at
http://www2.cleanpix.com/cleanpix/portal/W15T8-y4H-Cb5.
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