With its extensive Caribbean cruise itineraries, Holland America Line offers a wide variety of seven- to 14-day Caribbean cruises. Starting in October 2009, the premium cruise line will feature a total of 57 departures on eight ships, including its newest Signature-class ms Eurodam.
“Holland America Line continues to offer incredible diversity for Caribbean cruising from week-long cruises to more in-depth exploration with intriguing Caribbean ports,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Families, baby-boomers, retirees and all types of cruisers will find an itinerary to match their vacation plans and island wishes in premium cruise style.”
Holland America Line will homeport ships in Fort Lauderdale and Tampa. Three Vista-class ships – ms Noordam, ms Zuiderdam and ms Westerdam – will join Signature-class Eurodam and ms Maasdam, ms Statendam and ms Prinsendam sailing from Ft. Lauderdale. The ms Ryndam will sail from Tampa on a series of Western Caribbean cruises. Called Collectors’ Voyages, many Caribbean cruises can be combinable to create longer voyages of 14 to 28 days with unique ports of call.
10- and 14-day Southern Caribbean Cruises
Three ships sail the majority of 10- to 14-day cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale to the southern Caribbean. The Maasdam features 14-day sailings departing Oct. 23 and Nov. 20. Port highlights include Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; and feature the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
The Noordam offers a series of alternating, 10-day Wayfarer and 10-day Seafarer itineraries Nov. 1 through Dec. 21. The Statendam also features a 10-day Wayfarer cruise Dec. 11. Wayfarer sailings highlight the exotic islands of St. Lucia and Barbados, and Seafarer cruises showcase Aruba and Curaçao. These itineraries can be combined to create a 20-day voyage that only repeats popular Half Moon Cay and St. Thomas.
The Zuiderdam sails the 10-day Sunfarer voyages that combine Panama Canal cruising with Caribbean destinations. Guests cruise to Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; Dutch-influenced Willemstad, Curaçao and Oranjestad, Aruba; the Panama Canal to Gatun Lake and Limon Bay; and Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. Sailings depart Oct. 14 through Dec. 22. Maasdam offers two 14-day versions of the Sunfarer cruises on Nov. 6 and Dec. 4, adding St. Croix, Dominica, Key West and St. Lucia or Antigua.
Seven-Day Caribbean Itineraries
Holland America Line offers an extensive selection of seven-day cruises to the eastern, western and southern Caribbean. The 2,104-guest Eurodam sails most of the eastern Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale Oct. 10 through Dec. 19. The ships call at such ports as Grand Turk, St. Thomas, San Juan and Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s private Bahamian island paradise.
Ryndam features seven-day western Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Tampa departing Oct. 18 to Dec. 20. The ship offers Sunday departures to such ports as Belize City, Belize; Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Key West, United States.
The Westerdam features three seven-day itineraries roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale that combine Half Moon Cay with an exclusive itinerary to the southern Caribbean islands of Aruba and Curaçao. A western itinerary option with three departures includes Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk, Grand Cayman and Cozumel or Costa Maya, Mexico. Three eastern itinerary cruises sail to Grand Turk, San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten and Half Moon Cay. Sunday departures are Oct. 18 to Dec. 20.
Holiday Caribbean Cruises
Holland America Line also features seven- to 14-day holiday cruises on seven ships departing in late December 2009. These include seven-day sailings on the Eurodam, Noordam and Westerdam roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, seven-day cruises on the Ryndam from Tampa, and 10- to 14-day voyages on the Maasdam, Zuiderdam and Prinsendam from Fort Lauderdale. Itineraries cover eastern, western and southern itinerary choices.
Most cruises include a day at Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s acclaimed private island. In 2008, Half Moon Cay received its eighth Best Private Island acknowledgement from Porthole readers. The island’s offerings provide a full beachside water park for children, private beach cabanas, an exclusive over-water bungalow and an array of shore excursions that include horseback riding by land and sea, personal watercraft adventures and an opportunity to swim with stingrays.
