Holland America’s Adds New Itineraries to 2012 Europe Season

Holland America’s Adds New Itineraries to 2012 Europe Season

Holland America Line’s 2012 summer Europe program offers 44 itineraries, including four new ones, ranging from seven to 35 days. The line will deploy seven of its 15 ships in Europe –Eurodam, Maasdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Prinsendam, Rotterdam and Ryndam- to cruise throughout Europe on 103 departures that span from the northern tip of Norway to the Baltic and Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

Maiden calls are scheduled at Durress, Albania; Fowey, England; and Eidfjord, Kirkenes and Ulvik, Norway. Overnight stays are planned in 17 cities including Barcelona, Spain; Hamburg, Germany; Istanbul, Turkey; St. Petersburg, Russia; Stockholm, Sweden; Dublin, Ireland; Mgarr (Victoria), Malta; Reykjavik, Iceland; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Venice, Italy; and Bordeaux, France.

The extended Collectors’ Voyages, ranging from 14 to 35 days, combine back-to-back itineraries. Per-person cruise fares begin at $2,149, double occupancy.

The Ryndam will depart April 16 on the 20-day “Portugal, Spain & Canary Islands” from Rotterdam, Netherlands, to Dover (London), England. The itinerary also includes calls in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Guests have the option of sailing for 19 day and making their trip either roundtrip from Rotterdam on April 16 or roundtrip from Dover on April 17. Per-person cruise fares begin at $2,999, double occupancy.

The Rotterdam will operate 17-day Spain sailing roundtrip from Rotterdam. The cruise departs May 2 and calls at Lisbon, Portugal; Cartagena, Valencia, Barcelona, Ibiza, Almeria and Cadiz (Seville), Spain; Gibraltar; and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy. Cruise fares begin at $2,599 per person, double occupancy.

Cruisers looking to explore the glaciers and fjords of northern Europe can choose from two seven-day itineraries that sail roundtrip from Dover, Rotterdam or Amsterdam aboard Ryndam, Rotterdam or Eurodam. These shorter cruises call at popular Norwegian ports from May through September. The seven-day Southern Norwegian fjords cruise visits ports such as Oslo, Kristiansand and Stavanger. The seven-day Northern itinerary visits ports such as Bergen, Alesund and Geiranger. Per-person cruise fares begin at $1,199, double occupancy.

Also new for 2012 is the 14-day “Venetian Empire” voyage aboard the Prinsendam. Guests depart Oct. 17 and sail roundtrip from Civitavecchia past the still-active Stromboli volcano, and to Dubrovnik and Split, Croatia; Ravenna, Sorrento, Venice (overnight) and Gallipoli, Italy; Valleta and Mgarr (overnight), Malta; and Sousse, Tunisia. Cruise fares begin at $2,899 per person, double occupancy.