Holland America’s 2011 Grand Voyages to Explore 65 Countries

Holland America Line’s Amsterdam and Prinsendam will each sail two Grand Voyages in 2011. When combined, the four 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.”

Departing Jan. 5, 2011, and sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Amsterdam rings in 2011 with its sixth “Grand World Voyage.” The 110-day journey includes 10 overnight calls, visits to a collection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and three maiden ports of call –Alofi, Niue; Oban, Stewart Island, New Zealand; and Koror, Palau.

Several segments ranging from 16 to 48 days also are available. Sailing westbound, Amsterdam will call on Puerto Limón, Costa Rica, before continuing through the Panama Canal. Also in store for guests are calls at Callao, Peru –the gateway to Machu Picchu- and Easter Island, Chile, known for its famous giant stone statues.

As Amsterdam continues its voyage, the ship will journey throughout Australia and Asia, transit the Suez Canal and cruise the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic and heading back to the States.

Also departing Jan. 5, 2011, on a Grand Voyage is the Prinsendam. The ship returns to South America, Antarctica and the Amazon on a 66-day “Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage” that sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. The itinerary emphasizes in-depth exploration by offering eight overnight calls, including an overnight at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and a maiden call at Fernando de Noronha, Brazil.

Other highlights include eight days of cruising the Amazon River, navigating around Cape Horn and through the Straits of Magellan, a daylight passage through the Panama Canal and scenic cruising in Antarctica. An option for those with less time is a 33-day segment to or from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Following its Grand Voyage down south, Prinsendam returns to Fort Lauderdale on March 12, 2011, and embarks on a 62-day “Grand Africa & Mediterranean Voyage.” The roundtrip Fort Lauderdale sailing takes guests to West Africa, the Mediterranean and the Holy Lands. Guests will enjoy a call at Haifa (Tel Aviv), Israel, where they may travel to Nazareth and visit Galilee, the Jordan River, the Mount of the Beatitudes and Tabgha.

This itinerary will call at Banjul, Gambia; Dakar, Senegal; and Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Four maiden ports of call are Havre de Robert, Martinique; Lipari, Italy; Syracusa, Sicily, Italy and Motril, Spain.

Amsterdam will wrap up the year with a 70-day “Grand Asia and Australia Voyage” sailing from Seattle to Los Angeles, departing Sept. 26, 2011. Following calls throughout Asia to Indonesia, the itinerary will continue to Western Australia and the South Pacific.

This voyage includes overnights at Beijing and Hong Kong, China, and Sydney, Australia. Guests on board also can enjoy some tropical sunshine with calls at New Caledonia, Samoa, Fiji and Hawaii. Reservations are now available for all four 2011 Grand Voyages.

Early-booking bonus amenities for full-cruise guests may include prepaid hotel service charges, a shipboard credit, luggage delivery service and an exclusive shore event when booking select stateroom categories; amenities vary by cruise and category booked.