February 13, 2008 - Holland America is set to travel Down Under in 2009 with nine select voyages throughout Australia and New Zealand on, for the first time, the 1,432-passenger Volendam.
Iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and Auckland's Sky Tower will greet guests as the ship explores the varied landscapes and exotic cultures of the Australia and the North and South islands of New Zealand through several unique ports of call.
Departing from Auckland, Sydney, or Singapore, the exclusive 14, 16 and 19-day sailings willprovide spectacular scenic cruising and pre- and post-cruise tours to some of world's renowned destinations.
Says HAL vice president Richard Meadows: "For many of our guests, a cruise to Australia and New Zealand is a dream come true. The itineraries we offer are unlike any others, and that ensures we're giving our guests the most extraordinary experiences possible."
15- and 19-day itineraries sail the Great Barrier Reef and Asia
Volendam's two new Great Barrier Reef itineraries are firsts of their kind among major cruise lines in the region. On these select sailings, guests enjoy four days of cruising the Great Barrier Reef, including two days of daylight cruising through the world's largest coral reef system.
Scenic highlights in the reef include viewing the sunrise or sunset - depending on itinerary - while anchored off Lizard and Bobby Islands, an overnight anchorage in the reef near Sherrard Island and cruising Torres Strait.
Several interesting ports also will be visited in Indonesia, including Komodo Island, part of the Komodo National Park; Padang Bai, Bali, with its abundance of shopping opportunities, and Semarang, a bustling city teeming with ancient temples. The 19-day itinerary from Auckland to Singapore departs March 16, and the 15-day Singapore-to-Sydney cruise departs November 21.
Discover the many wonders of New Zealand
Guests are treated to a picturesque backdrop and extraordinary ports of call on 14-day voyages throughout Australia and New Zealand. Volendam brings cruisers from Sydney's famous harbor to Auckland's bustling city with calls along the way at Burnie, Australia; and Christchurch, Tauranga, Dunedin and Picton, New Zealand. The verdant landscape of New Zealand welcomes guests as they encounter breathtaking sights while cruising through Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The lush forests and enchanting waterways will continue to charm guests, even as they sample the region's many culinary delights including Picton's wine country, Tauranga's kiwi fruit farms and Burnie's Lactos Cheese Factory.
Additional adventures can be experienced on Picton's waterways, which are perfect for kayaking, and Tauranga's bubbling hot springs. Itineraries between Sydney and Auckland depart January through March, and December, and a special holiday sailing departs December 20.
Lectures in Holland America's Explorations Speaker Series further enhance the experience by providing guests the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the region. When in port, guests can choose from a multitude of diverse shore excursions including the exclusive Medallion Collection featuring Overland Adventures; Signature Collection private-car touring; visits to natural, architectural and technical masterpieces from the Wonders of the World Collection; and rare and unusual experiences with the Encore Collection excursions.
A selection of unique voyages to the Asia Pacific region in 2009 features a new round-trip Hong Kong itinerary. For the first time next fall through spring of 2009, Volendam will sail to destinations throughout the Pacific, calling at exotic locales in China, Southeast Asia, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam and Russia.
Amsterdam will also be sailing a 67-day voyage to the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand.
Guests begin their 67-day voyage aboard Amsterdam on September 26 from Seattle and sail westward toward the South Pacific where they can explore the region both on land and by sea in the Society and Cook Islands. Remote ports of call include Pago Pago, Samoa, and Port-Vila, Vanuatu, where cascading waterfalls and tropical rain forests abound.
Amsterdam continues on to Cairns, Australia, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, and after three full days in Sydney, the 1,380-passenger ship heads to New Zealand for calls at Christchurch, Napier and Tauranga before completing the voyage in Los Angeles, via Hawaii, on December 2. Overnight stays in Bora Bora and Sydney, along with an extended stay in Papeete, Tahiti, enhance the itinerary.
Additional highlights include scenic cruising through New Zealand's Milford Sound, a 12-mile long incision through 5,000-foot hillsides, and Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The voyage also offers more than 20 relaxing days at sea.
Departures from Seattle, Vancouver or Los Angeles, with segments of 31 to 36 days, are also available.
