To complement its already extensive and award-winning shore excursion offerings, Holland America Line has put together 55 new and captivating tours for its 2010 summer season. The new excursions range from an afternoon in the French city of Cognac, France, where one can discover the secrets of making Cognac and sample the delights of what many French call “the healing drink”; to a nostalgic steam-hauled train ride which crosses the world-famous Glenfinnan Viaduct — a 21-arch, 1000-foot span featured in the Harry Potter and Narnia films; to an unforgettable flightseeing Brown Bear and wildlife tour in the wilds of Southeast Alaska, visiting remote areas that only a bush pilot can reach.
“Holland America Line is always looking for new opportunities to provide our guests with a variety of memorable and unique excursions that will enrich their cruise-travel experience,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Our selections not only give our guests the chance to expand their cultural horizons but also cater to a variety of interests including romantic candlelight cruises in Northern Europe, an elegant, white-gloved dinner in the Mediterranean, parasailing in the Caribbean and zipline eco-adventures in Alaska. We have something for everyone.”
Holland America adds Anchorage, Alaska, to itinerary and will include 22 new shore excursions
Holland America Line will, for the first time in the line’s history, pay calls to Anchorage, Alaska. A diverse line-up of shore excursions within the state’s largest city has been arranged. Highlights include: fly-in fishing expeditions to remote Alaska backcountry; a sled dog rodeo; flightseeing safaris through the Chugach Mountain Range and over Captain James Cook’s Turnagain Inlet in search of beluga whales; a Prince William Sound Glacier cruise; a full-day scenic ride aboard the historic Alaska Railroad to Talkeetna with the chance to view Mt. McKinley; a guided, fly-out bear-watching tour where guests can view Alaska black and brown bears in their natural habitat; and a visit to Wildberry Park and Anchorage Museum, home of many Native Alaskan art and artifacts as well as paintings by renowned Alaskan artist Sydney Laurence.
In addition to the line’s Alaska offerings, 17 new excursions have been added to the company’s Europe tour itineraries. Featured tours include:
– Roman Catacombs, Pompey’s Pillar and National Museum of Alexandria — An exploration of one of the most distinguished museums in the world — the National Museum of Alexandria — home to antiquities ranging from Egyptian mummy cases to Greek statues and papyri. The museum also displays the underwater excavation of the Faros Lighthouse — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In addition, guests will explore the 2nd-century catacombs at Kom el Shugafa, where tombs are cut 115 feet into the bedrock, and the famous Pompey’s Pillar, a column of polished, rose-colored Aswan granite that stands before the ruins of the Temple of Serapis.
– Budva, Kotor and Coastal Views — An extraordinary tour in the port of Montenegro, showcasing the exotic Montenegrin Riviera with visits to The Old Town, a 15th century walled city in Budva, followed by a spectacular coastal tour to Kotor, a medieval Mediterranean town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
– Traces of Alexander the Great — A fascinating drive across the Macedonian countryside with a tour of Pella, birthplace of Alexander the Great, where guests can enter the residences of the ancient aristocrats and explore archeological sites dating from the 4th century BC.
– Historic Jewish Dublin — A panoramic tour of Dublin’s main attractions coupled with a heritage tour of Dublin’s historic Jewish community whose presence in Ireland can be traced back to 1079.
– The Atlantic Ocean Road and Håholmen Island — A unique tour, which zigzags across bridges and causeways between dozens of forested islands and right out to the ocean’s edge, will delight guests who love the call of the sea. From the Varden Viewpoint, guests will enjoy a spectacular view over Romsdalsfjord with its many small islands. A stop at Bud village, a charming fishing village facing the open ocean, is also included.
