Fri Jul 11 2008, written and credited by TravelTrade Staff
Holland America Line’s 2009 Alaska cruise lineup includes eight ships sailing three different itineraries with 158 total departures. The line’s three major cruise itineraries - Glacier Bay Inside Passage, Glacier Discovery and Alaskan Explorer - showcase the highlights of Alaska.
“We’ve arranged our ships and itineraries for 2009 to ensure that everyone who sails, even if they are on board for only three days as part of a CruiseTour, will visit a tidewater glacier,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs at Holland America. In addition to Glacier Bay National Park, with its tidewater glaciers, HAL cruise itineraries visit Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay, as well as the 15 glaciers of College Fjord and the twin Sawyer Glaciers in Tracy Arm.
Three ships home ported in Seattle will sail 61 seven-day Alaskan Explorer cruises roundtrip. The 1,432-guest Zaandam departs on Fridays; the 1,380-guest flagship Amsterdam departs on Saturdays and the 1,916-guest Westerdam departs on Sundays. The season runs from May 8 through Sept. 25, 2009.
The Amsterdam highlights Hubbard Glacier, while the Zaandam showcases Glacier Bay or Tracy Arm, and the Westerdam cruises through Glacier Bay. All call at Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, as well as Victoria, feature scenic cruising of the Inside Passage and Vancouver Island.
The 1,432-guest Volendam (Wednesday departures) and 1,916-guest Zuiderdam (Saturday departures) sail 38 Inside Passage voyages from May 9 through Sept. 19 roundtrip from Vancouver, visiting Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Glacier Bay National Park and Tracy Arm fjord. The seven-day itinerary includes two days of glacier viewing.
Five more sailings of the Inside Passage itinerary, with port and glacier variations, will be offered on the Ryndam on May 8 and 15, the Statendam on Sept. 13 and 20, and the Veendam on Sept. 20.
The 1,258-guest Ryndam (Friday departures), Statendam and Veendam (both Sunday departures) sail 54 seven-day Glacier Discovery cruises between Vancouver and Seward (Anchorage), and reverse from May 10 to Sept. 18. The Statendam and Veendam visit Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park and College Fjord in Prince William Sound. The Ryndam visits Ketchikan, Haines, Juneau, Sitka and the Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay.
Cruise-only fares start at $599, per person, double occupancy for a seven-day cruise. The 2009 Alaska Cruises & CruiseTours brochure is available.
A Right Vacation Begins With A Certified Cruise Counsellor
The Accredited Cruise Counsellor designation is conferred by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) upon dedicated travel professionals who have completed an extensive program of classroom training, cruise experience, ship inspections, and a combination of video training and attendance at industry events.
A CLIA Certified Cruise Counsellor is your best resource in chooing a perfect vacation.
For reservations, please contact your Holland America 5-Star Agent and Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC) Kenneth Chow of Cruise Planners at 800-839-7135, kchow@cruiseplanners.com, or http://www.nycvaluecruise.com.