Phil Reimer–Holland America is adding some ships, moving others, and when all has settled, seven HAL ships will be based in Europe in 2011.
The latest in the fleet, the Nieuw Amsterdam—coming online this year—and the Eurodam will be based there along with Noordam, Rotterdam, Prinsendam, Maasdam and Ryndam. They will start as early as April 3rd and finish in early November.
“In 2011, we are catering to a broader range of interests as the appeal of cruising Europe continues to grow,” said Rick Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “By expanding our cruise opportunities — both in new ports and varied itineraries — we expect to entice both first-time and seasoned cruisers.”
Highlights include 15 maiden calls and offering overnight visits at 16 diverse ports, it marks the debut of several new European itineraries, including two commemorative nine-day historical trans-Atlantic crossings aboard Rotterdam in July.
Eurodam, the line’s first Signature-class ship, will start the Europe season with two seven-day Mediterranean sailings before continuing a series of mostly northern Europe itineraries. Nieuw Amsterdam offers the 12-day Mediterranean Romance, 12-day Tapestry and 12-day Empires itineraries as well as two seven-day Mediterranean cruises mid-season.
Additional round trip itineraries, which allow time to explore a departure city before or after the cruise, depart from nine European cities — Tilbury and Dover (London), U.K.; Rome and Venice, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Athens, Greece; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
The season also will feature three new itineraries aboard the Ryndam. A 21-day Mediterranean Adventure offers a comprehensive tour of fascinating Mediterranean ports, as well as the less-visited Sète, France, and Sardinia, Italy. The 14-day North Cape cruise features a crossing of the Arctic Circle, a sail by the North Cape and Norwegian ports. An 11-day Canary Island Explorer sailing round trip Rotterdam visits the Canary Islands, Morocco and Spain.
You can check these with your travel agent or hollandamerica.com.
