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May 24, 2011 – Cruise Specialists continues to keep our finger on the pulse and bring you the most current and exciting news in the cruise industry.
We are pleased to announce a move that’s a first for Holland America Line. Ms Rotterdam will deploy from Europe year-round starting in September, 2012, on a series of extended sailings round-trip from Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The home port of Rotterdam was selected because of the company’s deep historical connection to the city as well its easily accessible location in Northwest Europe.
Itineraries to be released soon will carry through the spring of 2013 including several regional sailings ranging from 14 to 18 days, and two extended voyages that sail 34 and 90 days.
“The city of Rotterdam is where Holland America Line has its roots, and for us to place a ship there year-round is sentimental, exciting and ground-breaking for our line and our guests,” said Richard Meadows, CTC, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Guest Programs. “Sailing from Rotterdam is going to be a wonderful home port for many of our European guests, but these longer itineraries also will appeal to travelers coming from all over the world.”
After concluding its previously announced summer season throughout Europe, ms Rotterdam sails Sept. 15, 2012 on a 14-day Spain & Portugal Explorer cruise that takes guests through the Strait of Gibraltar to Barcelona, Spain, also calling at ports in Portugal along the way there and back.
Two 17-day explorations in September and October take different routes. The Sept. 29 Moorish Empire voyage sails through the Strait of Gibraltar to Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, and back, calling at popular ports in Spain and Portugal, while the Oct. 16 Canary Island Adventure heads south to the Canary Islands and Morocco, with overnight calls at Funchal, Madeira, Portugal and Tenerife, Canary Islands. The 18-day Canary Island Holiday departs Dec. 22 and offers the same ports of call with an additional overnight at Tenerife to celebrate the New Year. The April 9, 2013, 19-day Canary Island Adventure takes the same route as the holiday cruise but adds a call at Portimão, Portugal.
Departing Nov. 2, 2012, ms Rotterdam sets sail from the port of Rotterdam on a round-trip 34-day Caribbean Odyssey adventure that takes the ship across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean and back. After calling at the Azores, the ship sails to the Caribbean, with calls at Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Trinidad, Barbados and all three “ABC” islands — Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao — before returning to Rotterdam via calls at Funchal, Madeira, Portugal and Southampton, England.
Guests looking for a unique adventure can embark on ms Rotterdam’s 90-day Passage to the Far East cruise that departs Jan. 9, 2013. The round-trip Rotterdam voyage takes an easterly route to Asia, passing through the Suez Canal and calling at ports in Spain, Greece and India, both before and after a far-reaching journey to the Far East. Guests will enjoy several overnight stays and extended time in port during calls throughout Dubai, Malaysia and Singapore. Another cruise highlight includes an in-depth two-week exploration of Indonesia, a place rich in Dutch heritage, as well as home to many Holland America crew. In addition to the full 90-day voyage, segments ranging from 12 to 53 days are available.
Keep your eyes and ears tuned to Cruise Specialists for more details and pricing as soon as they become available. For more information call 800-544-2469 or visit our Holland America Specials page.
