Sail farther and delve deeper with innovative and engaging
approach to cruising aboard Maasdam in fall
2018
SEATTLE, Feb. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- This September Holland America Line will begin an
innovative approach to cruising for travelers who are looking for
thoughtful and immersive ways to see the world. Offered on the
1,258-guest Maasdam, new EXC In-Depth Voyages explore some
of the most fascinating corners of the globe on itineraries from 12
to 34 days, using world-renowned experts, local scholars and
customized Zodiac tours to immerse guests in the experience.
With EXC In-Depth Voyages, each journey offers guests a variety
of themes and choices to tailor their exploration: photography;
science and nature; arts and culture; food, wine and spirits;
history and perspective; and active exploration. Guests are free to
focus on one area of interest or combine their passions through
onboard enrichment and captivating shore activities. Guests can
choose to do as much or as little as they like.
"We created EXC In-Depth Voyages to further enhance our guests
immersion experience in a more personalized way in the exotic
destinations featured on this series of specially designed
itineraries," said Orlando Ashford,
president of Holland America Line. "The addition of Zodiac tours
will allow guests to be modern-day explorers, and Maasdam
will visit many ports that we have never been to or haven't visited
in years; EXC In-Depth Voyages are truly unique."
Notable Experts Lead Workshops, Seminars and Learning
Opportunities
From September
2018 through April 2019, EXC
In-Depth Voyages expand on Holland America Line's exciting
Explorations Central (EXC) programming by creating a total
experience on board and ashore. Onboard enrichment is guided by a
special resident team of subject-matter experts — covering such
topics as marine and bird life, geology, cultural anthropology,
history and more — who sail on all EXC In-Depth cruises,
complementing each adventure with informative talks and insightful
discussions of their own field experiences.
A sea day could include a lecture on Captain Cook (history and perspective),
discovering the indigenous breadfruit (food, wine and spirits),
growing coral (science and nature), DSLR Basics (photography) and a
traditional tattoo design workshop (arts and culture). Additional
EXC programming on board is designed to bring guests together with
similar interests and will offer interactive activities,
destination insight from location experts and EXC Guides, and
cultural encounters to make each cruise more engaging and
meaningful.
Since EXC In-Depth Voyages are designed with added emphasis on
the destination and onboard learning, evening entertainment will
reflect the local culture instead of mainstage production shows.
America's Test Kitchen is being replaced with local chefs, locally
sourced ingredients and local traditions to enhance the culinary
offerings appreciated by Holland America Line guests. Junior
cruisers are welcome, but Club HAL kids' activities will not be
offered on EXC In-Depth Voyages.
Zodiac Inflatable Boats Amplify Up-close
Experiences
Maasdam will carry Zodiac inflatable
boats, the type popularized by famous oceanographer Jacques
Cousteau, so guests may enjoy opportunities to intimately explore
less-accessible sites and wildlife habitats in select ports as part
of the ships EXC Tours program. A mix of onboard experts and local
guides co-guide Zodiac outings to enrich the experience for
guests.
For example, guests might foray around sheltered islands to spot
local birdlife including waders, oystercatchers, nesting cormorants
and other species. Or venture up rivers to explore the history and
sights of a region from a unique vantage. Perhaps they will uncover
the beauty of nature reserves on a photo adventure that features
rugged shores, blue waters, limestone cliffs and abundant wildlife.
Zodiac tours are not included in the cruise fare.
Dr. Peter Carey, Holland America
Line's director of explorations, is currently scouting locations
and refining plans for this innovative new series of voyages and
Zodiac excursions. A zoologist who has traveled extensively
throughout and researched the region, Carey will draw on his
journeys and vast research into sea mammal behavior and seabird
ecology to craft experiences that open up even wilder places for
guests to enjoy and remember as the ultimate field trip. Carey is
director of the Sub-Antarctic Foundation for Ecosystems Research
and a contributing lecturer at the University of Canterbury and an affiliate professor with the
Geography Program at the University of
Alaska.
Other shoreside activities focus on offering memorable
experiences like photographing the colors of a Tahitian market
(photography), taking a guided walking tour of Komodo National Park
in search of the Komodo dragon (active exploration), touring the
Nukubalavu Village and seeing the Fijian kava welcoming ceremony
(arts and culture), visiting famous ruins in Thailand (history and perspective) and
watching the platypus playing in billabongs in Australia (science and nature).
Islands and Ports Are Off-the-Beaten Track but Accessible to
Intimate Maasdam
The ports on EXC In-Depth itineraries were
selected to evoke curiosity and inspire wonder. Maasdam will
visit 154 ports in 36 countries on 12 individual cruises with
guests having the opportunity to explore far-flung locales like
Easter Island, Pitcairn Island, Java, the Maldives, the Marquesas and Nuku Hiva.
Twenty-eight ports are maiden calls or have not been visited by
Holland America Line ships in years.
EXC In-Depth Voyages Range from 12 to 239 Days
The
first EXC In-Depth Voyage departs Fort
Lauderdale, Florida, Sept. 10,
2018, and sets sail for Papeete, Tahiti, via the Panama
Canal. Along the way the ship calls at ports on the west coast of
South America, sails across the
Pacific Ocean to Easter Island, and
visits several South Pacific islands during the 34-day voyage.
Maasdam then spends October and part of November exploring
the South Pacific before heading to New
Zealand.
Come December, Maasdam journeys along the southern coast
of Australia, featuring a special
16-day holiday cruise departing Dec.
21. The ship spends January cruising the northwest
coast of Australia up to
Singapore where it embarks on a
20-day adventure in the culturally rich Indian Ocean region.
Following a 20-day Southeast Asia
itinerary in February 2019, the ship
explores the Spice Islands and ports along the northeastern coast
of Australia, then sails back to
the South Pacific and charts a course throughout the idyllic
islands. The final EXC In-Depth cruise is a 24-day Polynesian
Crossing ending at San Francisco,
California, May 7, 2019.
Cruises can be combined to form longer voyages extending up to
an incredible 239-day adventure that covers French Polynesia, the South Pacific,
Australia, New Zealand, South
America, Southeast Asia and
the Indian Ocean.
Overnight calls are a highlight of the EXC In-Depth Voyages.
Guests will have overnight experiences in Callao (Lima), Peru;
Easter Island; Papeete, French Polynesia; Tauranga and Waitangi,
New Zealand; Adelaide, Australia; Singapore; Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Halong Bay, Vietnam; and Hong
Kong, China.
Fares for the EXC In-Depth Voyages start at $1,599 per person, double occupancy for a 12-day
sailing. Taxes, fees and port expenses are additional. Air specials
are available on select cruises: Fly roundtrip Los Angeles, California, for $999 per person when booking the October 14 or October 28,
2018, 14-Day Polynesian Idyll cruise. Additional gateways
also are available from $1,199 per
person.
For more information, contact a travel professional, call
1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.
Editor's note: Photos are available at
https://www.cruiseimagelibrary.com/c/wgnlfvzn.
Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland
America Blog. Access all social media outlets via the Online
Communities quick link on the home page at hollandamerica.com.
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival
Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]
Holland
America Line's fleet of 14 ships
offers more than 500 cruises to more than 400 ports in 98
countries, territories or dependencies around the world. From
shorter getaways to 113-day itineraries, the company's cruises
visit all seven continents, with highlights including Antarctica explorations, South America circumnavigations, Cuba cruises and exotic Australia/New
Zealand and Asia voyages;
four annual Grand Voyages; and popular sailings to the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada and New England, Bermuda, Europe and the Panama Canal. The line welcomed
Koningsdam in 2016 and has a second Pinnacle-class
ship, Nieuw Statendam, to be delivered in
December 2018. A third Pinnacle-class
ship, due for delivery in 2021, recently was announced.
The company is undergoing $300
million in brand enhancements to secure its position as the
leader in premium cruising. Fleetwide, the ships feature innovative
initiatives and a diverse range of enriching experiences focused on
destination immersion and personalized travel. Guests can expand
their knowledge through an exclusive partnership with O, The Oprah
Magazine; during an America's Test Kitchen show; at Explorations
Café presented by The New York Times;
and by taking a Digital Workshop powered by Windows. Outstanding
entertainment fills each evening at venues including Lincoln Center
Stage, Billboard Onboard and B.B. King's Blues Club. The dining
experience can be savored at a variety of restaurants with menus
that feature selections from Holland America Line's esteemed
Culinary Council, comprising world-famous chefs who design dishes
exclusively for our guests.
CONTACT:
|
Sally
Andrews
|
PHONE:
|
800-637-5029
|
EMAIL:
|
pr@hollandamerica.com
|
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SOURCE Holland America Line