Holland America 2013 Early Advantage Savings

Holland America Line announces free upgrades and Early Advantage savings on a selection of 2013 cruises/cruise-tours. 

Save up to 50% by combining two cruise itineraries on select Collectors Voyages in Europe. On some sailings, third and fourth cruise guests in the same cabin can qualify for free or reduced cruise fares.

Early Advantage savings on a 14-day Collectors Voyage is priced from $1,799 per person, double occupancy, for an inside stateroom - includes a free upgrade to an ocean-view while staterooms are available.

A family of four can take advantage of free or reduced third and fourth guests in the Caribbean, with fares starting at $699 for the first two guests, and the third and fourth sailing free. Guests who book an ocean-view category for $999 qualify for a complimentary verandah upgrade.

A 14-day Australia/New Zealand cruise starts at $1,699 for an inside stateroom and $1,999 for an ocean-view stateroom for the first and second guests, with reduced fares for the third and fourth guests starting at $1,049. While staterooms are available guests who book an ocean-view statement qualify for a verandah category.

Seven-day Alaska Inside Passage cruises from Seattle or Vancouver start at $699 for inside staterooms or $999 for verandahs, with free upgrades available. Alaska cruise tours are also available from 10 to 20 days, and prices start at $999 for inside staterooms and ocean-view staterooms.

Visit Holland America's site for more info on Early Advantage 

Popular Cruise Destinations

Alaska
from $76 / night

Bahamas
from $37 / night

Bermuda
from $53 / night

Caribbean
from $38 / night

Europe
from $36 / night

Hawaii
from $69 / night

Mexico
from $50 / night

Canada / New England
from $53 / night

Alaskan Dream New Itineraries, Ports of Call

Alaskan Dream Cruises, a small-ship cruise line sailing in Southeast Alaska, announced three new itineraries, additional ports of call and ship renovations. Owned and operated by an Alaska Native family in Sitka, the company will operate its second season from May through September.

The 42-passenger Alaskan Dream will sail on three new itineraries in 2012 -- an eight-day trip that focuses on less-explored destinations, including Hobart Bay and Kasaan, and two 11- and 13-day trips through the Inside Passage. The three itineraries include new ports of call for the cruise line -- Ketchikan, Skagway, Haines, Thorne Bay, Kasaan, Wrangell and Gustavus.

The new eight-day “Alaska’s Inside Passage Sojourn” itinerary travels between Sitka and Ketchikan, visiting the village of Kake, Petersburg, Kasaan, Thorne Bay and Misty Fjords. In addition, Hobart Bay is an adventure base camp visited exclusively by Alaskan Dream Cruises, offering sea kayaking, all-terrain vehicle tours and small Zego sport boat excursions. Rates for the cruises begin at $2,269.

The “Alaska’s Southeast Explorer” 11-day itinerary also sails between Ketchikan and Sitka, but expands the route to include Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Gustavus, Skagway, Haines and Wrangell. Travelers also spend an evening on Colt Island at Orca Point Lodge, which is available only to guests of Alaskan Dream Cruises and its sister company, Allen Marine Tours, for an Alaska salmon and king crab dinner. Rates for the cruises begin at $3,399.

The 13-day “Alaska’s Glacier Bay and Inside Passage Voyage” follows a similar route to the 11-day cruise, but visits Windham Bay from a private wilderness retreat that offers fishing, sea kayaking and two-person outboard motor boats. A full day is spent whale watching among the Inian Islands and near Point Adolphus, a famous feeding area for endangered humpback whales. Guests will also visit Lake Eva near Sitka for a hike on a newly rebuilt trail in Tongass National Forest, the nation’s largest. Rates for the cruises begin at $3,989.

Complimentary shore excursions are included. In addition, local naturalists and Alaska Native guides conduct onboard presentations.

Alaskan Dream Cruises also renovated both of its ships for the new season. Its 42-passenger Alaskan Dream, formerly the Executive Explorer, was redone with new carpet and paint, new closets in passenger cabins and a revamped forward lounge. The Admiralty Dream, formerly the Spirit of Columbia, was give a lighter color scheme in the cabins and public areas, as well as new carpet. The forward lounge was also redesigned.

The company was launched in 2011 by the Allen family, members of the Tlingit Kaagwaantaan Clan. The Allen family also founded Allen Marine Inc., a boat-building company, in 1967, and operates Allen Marine Tours, which offers day cruise tours to travelers in Alaska’s Inside Passage.

Source: TravelPulse

Holland America Line Facebook Contest

Holland America Line launched a contest on Facebook that will award one fan a seven-day Alaska cruise for four, including two veranda staterooms.

The sweepstakes runs through November 30, 2011 and the winner will be selected in December 2011.

To enter the contest, new visitors to Holland America Line’s Facebook page must become fans and answer a few questions to be entered.

Existing Holland America Line fans simply fill out the form for their chance to win the cruise. The sweepstakes is limited to legal residents 18 years of age or older from the United States, District of Columbia, Canada — except Quebec — and the United Kingdom.

The contest is just one of the cruise line’s latest Facebook initiatives. To further enhance its interactivity, three new Facebook tabs, Connect, Plan a Cruise and Roll Call, enable Holland America Facebook fans to access the line’s other social media platforms, plan a cruise vacation and find fellow guests sailing on the same cruise.

Using the Connect tab, fans can view Holland America Line videos on YouTube, check the latest Twitter and Holland America Blog posts, and flip through numerous photo albums — all without leaving Facebook.

The Connect tab also lets fans create a pre-cruise message to post on their wall, while the Roll Call tab enables fellow travelers on the same upcoming cruise to connect with each other.

For more information on Holland America Line, visit www.hollandamerica.com.

Source: TravelAgentCentral

Vampire Cruise Sails to Alaska Next Year

Now we can add "Vampires" to "Theme" Cruising!

Hundreds of vampire enthusiasts will sail Alaska's fabled Inside Passage in a summer 2012 cruise tailored to their interests that combines gazing at glaciers with a late-night costume ball.

The group will sail on a Holland America ship, the Zuiderdam, and will hit the usual ports of call such as Juneau, Glacier Bay and Ketchikan.

Continue Reading - Vampire fans to sail off Alaska coast next year | Reuters