Holland America Unveils 2011-2012 South America Season

In 2011 and 2012, three Holland America Line ships -- Veendam, Rotterdam and Prinsendam -- will explore South America. The itineraries range from 12 to 37 days and include two extended, port-intensive Collectors’ Voyages aboard Veendam. A 66- and 68-day “Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage” aboard the Prinsendam is also part of the line’s 2011 and 2012 cruise schedule.

The recently upgraded Veendam and Rotterdam will sail a combined eight South America itineraries featuring 44 ports of call. From November 2011 to March 2012, the 1,350-guest Veendam will sail 12-, 16- and 17-day itineraries between Valparaiso (Santiago), Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The voyages include multiple days cruising the fjords of Chile, calls at locations such as Ushuaia and a visit to the Magellan Strait, a gateway to Antarctica. A call at the Falkland Islands offers the chance to see penguins. Cruise fares begin at $1,399 per person, double occupancy, for the 12-day sailings, $1,799 for the 16-day sailings, and $2,799 for the 17-day sailings.

Two repositioning itineraries also are available -- an 18- or 21-day “Inca Discovery Cruise” departing New York or Fort Lauderdale to Valparaiso on Oct. 16, 2011, and a 19- or 22-day “Inca Discovery Cruise” departing Valparaiso to Fort Lauderdale or New York on March 31, 2012. These itineraries include a full transit of the Panama Canal and extended port calls at Fuerte Amador (Panama City), Panama, and Callao (Lima), Peru. Cruise fares begin at $1,999 per person, double occupancy, for the 18- and 19-day sailings.

Veendam’s Collectors’ Voyages -- which combine two back-to-back sailings -- depart Valparaiso Feb. 16, 2011, for a 30-day South America adventure and March 4, 2011, for a 42-day sailing.

The Rotterdam will sail two “Incan Empire Cruises” roundtrip from the U.S. The 30-day voyage will explore 15 ports along the west coast of Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru during the ship’s Incan Empires voyage. The roundtrip San Diego cruise departs Feb. 2, 2011, and features extended calls at Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. A two-night call at Callao (Lima) enables guests to take an excursion to Machu Picchu. This itinerary will be offered again, departing Feb. 3, 2012.

Rotterdam will also embark on a 60-day roundtrip San Diego sailing in January 2011 and again in February 2012. The “Polynesian Paradise & Incan Empires” itinerary includes the Hawaiian islands of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu and Kauai before crossing the International Date Line and sailing into the South Pacific, Central and South America, and Mexico. Cruise fares begin at $3,099 per person, double occupancy, for the 30-day “Incan Empires” cruise. Fifteen-day segments between San Diego and Callao also are available with fares starting at $1,699.

On April 17, 2011, Rotterdam will set sail on a 30-day “Secret Civilizations” roundtrip Fort Lauderdale cruise that visits ports in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru. The itinerary features a double daylight transit of the Panama Canal on the way to and from Callao. Cruise fares begin at $3,299 per person, double occupancy, for the 30-day “Secret Civilizations” cruise. Fifteen-day segments between Fort Lauderdale and Callao start at $1,799. Fares for the full 60-day “Polynesian Paradise & Incan Empires” voyage begin at $6,649 per person, double occupancy.

Once again, in 2011 and 2012, Prinsendam will sail “Grand South America and Antarctica Voyages” roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale with departures on Jan. 5, 2011, and Jan. 4, 2012. During the 66- or 68-day cruise, the ship will circumnavigate South America, cross the equator twice, visit Antarctica and spend eight days exploring the Amazon River. In addition to several Caribbean islands, guests will visit ports in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Antarctica, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Panama. In all, guests will visit 13 countries, 29 ports and all three “Big A’s” -- the Andes, Antarctica and the Amazon. Fares for the 66-day voyage begin at $10,199 per person, double occupancy. Shorter segments are available.

The ship returns to South America on a 24-day “Amazon Explorer” voyage departing Fort Lauderdale Nov. 27, 2011. Guests will call at several ports in Brazil, many of which are only accessible by water. The itinerary also features an overnight stay at Manaus. Cruise fares begin at $3,899 per person, double occupancy, for the 24-day “Amazon Explorer” cruise.