Seven Holland America Line Ships Offering Extensive Alaska Itineraries in 2011 Are Now Available for Booking

Icy Strait Point with Native Tlingit Culture Added to 14-day Explorer Cruise from Seattle

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Mar 30, 2010, 01:28 ET

SEATTLE, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska-bound travelers can choose from four cruise itineraries of seven to 14 days with Holland America Line in 2011. The company's fleet of seven ships will offer a wide selection of visits into Glacier Bay throughout the 2011 cruise season and reservations are now open for booking.

Guests can choose from a 14-day Explorer cruise roundtrip from Seattle and three seven-day itineraries departing from Seattle, Vancouver and Seward. The 14-day Explorer from Seattle will add Icy Strait Point as a port of call for the first time since 2007, providing guests with an opportunity to discover native Tlingit culture near Hoonah.

Holland America Line will deploy seven ships to cruise Alaska with 125 total departures from May 7 through September 21, 2011. The premium cruise line continues to offer an extensive choice of seven-day cruises, both roundtrip from Seattle and Vancouver and one-way between Vancouver and Seward.

"Holland America Line continues to lead the cruise industry in offering the most cruises to Alaska and especially Glacier Bay," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "Alaska adventurers appreciate Holland America Line's mid-sized cruise ships with more of the popular verandah staterooms for maximum viewing opportunities."

The seven-day roundtrip Seattle itineraries will feature two Vista-class ships – ms Westerdam and ms Oosterdam – increasing verandah stateroom availability by almost a quarter. The ms Zaandam will sail the seven-day Glacier Discovery between Vancouver and Seward, increasing verandah staterooms on that route by nearly a third.

14-day Explorer from Seattle

The ms Amsterdam will sail 14-day Explorer cruises roundtrip from Seattle – a new itinerary that debuts in summer 2010 – and add Icy Strait Point as a new port of call in 2011. The 1,380-guest Amsterdam will also change to Friday departures, sailing May 13 to Sept. 2 on an extensive itinerary that features scenic cruising in the Tracy Arm fjord and past the Hubbard Glacier – North America's largest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and port calls at Ketchikan, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Anchorage, Homer, Kodiak and Sitka.

Guests will enjoy a day ashore at Icy Strait Point near Hoonah, the largest Tlingit Indian village in Alaska. They can visit the Native Heritage Center to learn Tlingit history and culture through exhibits and live performances. They can also go wildlife watching, flightsee above Glacier Bay, book a charter fishing excursion or ride the world's longest ZipRider™ line.

Seven-day Alaska Cruises

The 1,916-guest Westerdam and Oosterdam will sail the seven-day Explorer itinerary roundtrip from Seattle from May 7 through Sept. 18. The Westerdam departs Saturdays and highlights the Hubbard Glacier, while the Oosterdam leaves Sundays and features Glacier Bay scenic cruising. In addition, the Amsterdam sails the itinerary on Fri., Sept. 16. Ports include Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Victoria, BC.

The 1,916-guest ms Zuiderdam and 1,432-guest ms Volendam will sail the seven-day Inside Passage roundtrip from Vancouver May 14 through Sept. 21, departing Saturdays and Wednesdays, respectively. The Zaandam also offers a Sunday sailing on Sept. 18. The ships cruise Tracy Arm fjord with its twin Sawyer Glaciers, spend a full day exploring spectacular Glacier Bay, and call at Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.

One-way, seven-day Glacier Discovery cruises between Vancouver and Seward will depart on Sundays May 15 through Sept. 18. The 1,432-guest Zaandam and the 1,260-guest ms Statendam will each sail 18 cruises through the Inside Passage and Alaskan Gulf, visiting Glacier Bay and College Fjord with 15 glaciers named after Ivy League colleges. Northbound from Vancouver, the ships call at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway; southbound from Seward, they visit Haines, Juneau and Ketchikan.

All cruises bring Alaska native guides, naturalists and park rangers aboard at key times to share their knowledge of local culture, history, glaciers and wildlife with guests. Holland America also offers more than 250 optional shore excursions so guests can maximize their Alaska experience with everything from sea kayaking and wildlife watching to history, art and cuisine.

Holland America is now taking 2011 Alaska cruise bookings. Cruise-only fares start at US $699 per person, double occupancy for a seven-day cruise and $1,999 for a 14-day sailing.

For more information and to book a 2011 cruise, contact a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

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About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]

Holland America Line's fleet of 14 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to 320 ports in more than 100 countries, territories or dependencies. Two- to 108-day itineraries visit all seven continents, and highlights include Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal. A 15th ship, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, is scheduled to join the fleet in 2010.

World's Leading Cruise Lines

The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world, Holland America Line is a member of the exclusive World's Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Costa Cruises. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, these lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. The World's Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.