YEAR 2010

November 11, 2008 - Holland America Line's 2010 Grand Voyage itineraries gives cruisers the opportunity to choose either the full, 114-day Grand World Voyage or one of the Grand Voyages, ranging from 51- to 70-days.

The four globe-spanning odysseys encompass the savannah of South Africa, the treasures of ancient China, the mysteries of Antarctica and South America, the warm, azure waters of the Great Barrier Reef and the marvels of the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

114-day Grand World Voyage Features 12 Overnight Ports of Call, Antarctica

Amsterdam returns to world cruising in 2010 with a 114-day Grand World Voyage departing January 6 from Fort Lauderdale. The line's flagship, Amsterdam, sails an eastbound route, but first moves west through the Panama Canal and sails down the coast of South America before rounding Cape Horn and exploring Antarctica.
Amsterdam will then cross the Atlantic to Africa, sail around the southern tip of the continent to the Indian Ocean and on to Asia and Canada en route to Los Angeles, Calif. Guests are able to shorten their voyage by disembarking in Vancouver on April 25 or Seattle on the 26th, making the voyage 109 or 110 days, respectively. Segments ranging from 17 to 47 days are available for those who wish to sample some of the world's most fascinating countries.
The itinerary, which takes the ship to 40 ports on six continents, features 12 overnight calls - the most ever included on a Holland America Line world cruise. With the overnights, guests will have two full days to explore the heritage and culture of Panama City, Panama; Callo (Lima), Peru; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cape Town, South Africa; Victoria (Seychelles); Mumbai, India; Singapore; Hong Kong, Shanghai and Xingang (Beijing), China; Kobe (Osaka) and Yokohama (Tokyo), Japan.
Port collectors will be able to add to their list a maiden call at Isla Robinson Crusoe, Chile, where Alexander Selkirk was marooned in 1704, thus inspiring the classic novel, Robinson Crusoe. Hundreds of optional shore excursions, an array of overland tours and the opportunity to visit 14 UNESCO World Heritage sites add color to this epic voyage.

Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage features spectacular scenery

Prinsendam will sail two back-to-back Grand Voyages in 2010. The 793-guest ship first departs January 13 on a 70-day, Grand South America and Antarctica cruise round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. During the voyage, Prinsendam will circumnavigate South America and spend seven days exploring the Amazon River. On the other end of the continent, the ship spends three days cruising in Antarctica, a rare journey for many travellers.
This Grand Voyage also will feature opportunities to visit Machu Picchu and Iguacu Falls, passage through the Panama Canal, four equatorial crossings and an impressive total of nine different ports in Brazil. Guests will enjoy maiden calls at Iquique and Isla Robinson Crusoe, Chile, as well as overnight stays in Manaus and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Buenos Aires; Callao (Lima), Peru; and Fuerte Amador, Panama.

Turkish Bazaars and Greek Gods on the Grand Mediterranean & Black Sea Voyage

Guests who always have wanted to explore Europe without flying overseas are able to do so when Prinsendam departs Fort Lauderdale March 24 on a 54-day round-trip cruise to the Mediterranean and Black Sea. The ship sails a leisurely eastbound course across the Atlantic where the history, art and culture of Europe await. The extensive Mediterranean exploration calls at ports in more than 10 countries, including Morocco, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Russia, Georgia, Greece and Turkey.
Overnight stays in Barcelona, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal and Istanbul, Turkey, as well as late-night departures in Athens and Santorini, Greece, and Lisbon, Portugal, allow ample time for shopping and discovering some of the world's most renowned and historic ports.  After sailing westward back across the Atlantic and calling at Bermuda, the cruise ends in either New York - shortening the voyage to 51 days - or Fort Lauderdale.
For guests wishing to explore both sides of the Atlantic without taking an international flight, the Grand South America and Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea voyages aboard Prinsendam can be combined to form a 124-day epic journey that sails round-trip Fort Lauderdale on Januasry 13, 2010.

Explore the Great Barrier Reef on the Grand Australia and Asia Voyage

In the fall, Amsterdam departs September 24 on a 69-day voyage from Seattle that follows a westward route toward Asia. After visiting myriad mystical Asian ports such as Tokyo, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, China; Saigon, Vietnam; Bankok, Thailand; and Kampong Saom, Cambodia, Amsterdam continues on to Darwin, Australia, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. The ship will spend three full days exploring the world's largest coral reef system, with cruising through both major regions: the Far North and Ribbon Reef. Following calls throughout Australia, the ship heads east through the South Pacific and visits Honolulu, Hawaii, before ending at San Diego on December 2.
Overnight stays in Sydney, Australia; Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand, and Xingang (Beijing), Shanghai and Hong Kong, enhance the itinerary. Additional highlights include the opportunity to visit the Great Wall of China, the famed Sydney Opera House and Pearl Harbour.

For more information on Holland America Line's Grand Voyages, visit www.hollandamerica.com.