Holiday News

Seven ships in Europe in 2011
January 25, 2010 - Holland America's 2011 Europe season will feature the newest Signature-class ship, Nieuw Amsterdam, on popular Mediterranean sailings and more round-trip and seven-day itineraries than ever before.
Seven ships - Nieuw Amsterdam, Eurodam, Noordam, Rotterdam, Prinsendam, Maasdam and Ryndam - will be based in the region with the first voyage departing April 3 on the Nieuw Amsterdam and the final transatlantic sailing departing November 7 on the Prinsendam.
The 2011 season features 15 maiden calls and offering overnight visits at 16 diverse ports, it marks the debut of several new European itineraries including two commemorative nine-day historical transatlantic crossings aboard Rotterdam in July.
More about 2011 in Europe.

Prisendam emerges after makeover
January 20, 2010 - Holland America's ms Prinsendam has emerged with new staterooms, an expanded aft pool deck, upgraded public areas and other enhancements following her ten-day drydock in Freeport, Bahamas.
A new sea-view bar was created to enhance the ambiance, several lounges and other public areas received new carpeting and the Wajang Theatre and Culinary Arts Center were updated with furniture and carpeting in warm, light colors.
Fifteen of the new staterooms are deluxe verandah ocean view categories. There are six new standard inside staterooms and guest capacity increases from 793 to 835.
More about the upgraded Prinsendam.

Grand Voyages to seven continents in 2011
January 3, 2010 - Holland America Line's Amsterdam and the line's Elegant Explorer, Prinsendam, will each sail two spectacular Grand Voyages in 2011.
When combined, the four extensive itineraries feature a total of 308 cruising days, 121 ports of call and 65 countries.
Built for world cruising, Amsterdam will sail a 110-day Grand World Voyage in January and a 70-day Grand Asia & Australia Voyage in the fall. Simultaneously, Prinsendam will sail a 66-day Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage followed by a 62-day Grand Africa & Mediterranean Voyage.
More about the 2011 Grand Voyages.

Rotterdam joins the HAL upgraders
December 22, 2009 - When Rotterdam sailed from Fort Lauderdale on December 16, guests enjoyed many new Signature of Excellence enhancements and amenities completed in a 28-day drydock in the Bahamas.
Rotterdam received the trendy Mix lounge, innovative Retreat Pool, classy Showroom at Sea and the addition of the industry's only Lanai staterooms. Every stateroom now features a fresh new cabin and bathroom design as well.
Says executive vice president Richard Meadows: "Rotterdam looks spectacular. The enhancements are going to impress our guests and engage them in exciting, new ways."
More about the Rotterdam upgrade.

Europe and Alaska 2011 unveiled
December 17, 2009 - Holland America's Europe and Alaska cruise schedule for summer 2011 sees an increases in the number of sailings from the homeports of Dover and Rotterdam.
Seven ships will be cruising the Mediterranean, Baltic and Northern Europe. Both ms Nieuw Amsterdam and ms Noordam will sail the Med all season. The Nieuw Amsterdam will offer 12-day sailings while the Noordam will feature seven and ten-day voyages.
The Alaska season will feature a total of 50 cruises from Seattle.
More about the Europe and Alaska in 2011.

Nieuw Amsterdam floated out
November 5, 2009 - Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam, currently under construction at Fincantieri shipyard, was traditionally floated out of its dry dock at Marghera, Italy, last Friday (October 30).
Following the ancient practice of shipbuilders, two commemorative coins were sealed in a compartment in the traditional Coin-Under-the-Mast ceremony, believed to bring good fortune to a vessel.
"It is always a meaningful moment to bring a new ship along to this point in the building process," said Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line. "With the rich legacy of the name Nieuw Amsterdam, and this being the fourth ship in our 136-year history to carry this name, it is all the more significant for our company."
More about the Nieuw Amsterdam float out.

Go online to see the Nieuw Amsterdam
October 25, 2009 - Cruisers can explore Holland America Line's newest ship, the 2,104-guest Nieuw Amsterdam, through a new dedicated microsite.
The site allows visitors to experience the beauty and features of Holland America Line's newest Signature class ship through interactive videos, photographs, animation and renderings that bring the ship to life.
Says executive vice president Richard Meadows: "We are using the latest technology to present our new ship's diverse amenities in a way that informs, engages and inspires our guests.This new site allows us to share all the wonderful details with cruisers who are anxious to experience the Nieuw Amsterdam."
More about Nieuw Amsterdam microsite

Volendam returns to Asia and Down Under in 2011
October 12, 2009- Holland America's Volendam is set to cruise to Australia and New Zealand in early 2011 with 14 and 18-day voyages to the lands of kangaroos, kiwis, the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef and exotic Asian ports..
The ship also will sail a 14-day exploration of the South Pacific to island jewels known for their powdery beaches and turquoise waters.
In the spring, Volendam will uncover the mysteries of the Far East with 17 and 18-day voyages throughout the Orient, and then take a trans-Pacific journey that will cross the International Date Line on the way back to North America.
More about 2011 in Asia and Down Under

Rotterdam to make five explorations of South America in 2010-11
October 7, 2009 - Holland America's Rotterdam will sail three 30-day South America adventures in 2010 and two more in 2011, allowing guests to visit the remote site of Machu Picchu and explore the mysterious and exotic Inca civilization.
With Rotterdam's Incan Empires voyages departing February 6, April 10 and October 23, and again on February 2 and the Secret Civilizations voyage departing April 17, 2011, these voyages sail round-trip from US ports on the East and West coasts.
More about Rotterdam in South America

Loyalty programme to encourage guests to book again and again
September 14, 2009 - Holland America Line are introducing a new loyalty programme to encourage guests to cruise with them again and again.
The new Mariner Society Rewards Program offers benefits ranging from generous onboard discounts to special rates on select cruises to reduced or free third and fourth rates when booking future cruises. Benefits are tiered and vary based on a guest's cruise history.
The society offers a four-level progressive membership with a wide range of cruise and on-board savings and extra values. All guests are automatically welcomed into the Mariner Society where they receive special offers on upcoming cruises as well as advance information about new ships and the latest product enhancements.
More about the Holland America loyalty programme

Amsterdam world voyage stretched to 128 days
July 29, 2009 - Holland America's flagship ms Amsterdam will usher in 2010 with a record 128-day round-trip Los Angeles, Grand Holiday-and-World Voyage featuring 13 overnight calls. Forty-five ports of call showcase some of the world's most remote and exotic regions including South America, Africa, India the Far East and scenic cruising in Antarctica.
An optional 14-day holiday cruise, when combined with the 114-day Grand World Voyage, creates the 128-day roundtrip sailing from Los Angeles, departing Dec. 23, 2009. The voyage begins with calls in Mexico and Central America, including a transit of the Panama Canal.
Guests wishing to sail after the holidays can embark January 6, 2010, at Fort Lauderdale on a 114-day World Voyage. Amsterdam will sail the Panama Canal for a daylight transit of the man-made wonder before beginning its southbound exploration of Central and South America.

HAL goes overboard on overland
June 23, 2009 - Holland America Line is offering exciting new World Cruise tours and Overland Adventure tours in some of the world's most exotic locations: South America, Africa and India.
Overland Adventures allow guests to extend their holiday or Grand World Voyage with an in-depth exploration of regions such as India, the Far East, Africa and South America. The adventures range from two- and three-day tours to eight-day explorations.
"More cruise guests are looking to fully immerse themselves in the culture they've flown thousands of miles to see," says executive vice president Richard Meadows. "By prearranging and offering these unique tours, we're making it simple for our guests to take full advantage of their time."
More on Holland America's overland tours in 2010