Holland America Line
Features ms Ryndam In South America
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Seattle, June 30, 2000 -
From sheer-walled Chilean fjords to cosmopolitan Rio de Janeiro,
Argentine tangos to haunting Peruvian pipes, colonial splendor
to penguin colonies, South America's vast variety is highlighted
on 10 Holland America Line cruises in 2001. New for 2001 are
three ports of call, a fall season incorporating four sailings,
San Diego as an embarkation port and the introduction of the
luxurious ms Ryndam to the destination.
The 1,266-passenger cruise ship Ryndam is the first of Holland America's
premier "S" class ships to cruise to South America. It
will offer a series of 17-day winter/spring cruises from Jan. 6
to April 1, 2001 and fall sailings from Oct. 28 to Dec. 18.
"For the first time, San Diego will be an embarkation port
for a fall cruise to South America," said David A.
Giersdorf, senior vice president, marketing and sales.
"This provides a great opportunity for travelers from the
Western states, as our other U.S. embarkation port is Ft.
Lauderdale.
"We've also added three new ports of call to our
itineraries on South America's west coast - Emeraldas and
Guayaquil in Ecuador and Trujillo/Salaverry, Peru. They all
offer a glimpse back through the centuries to colonial times and
native Indian culture, plus shore excursions to Quito, a World
Heritage Site; Cuenca, a colonial jewel surrounded by volcanoes
and rivers; and Chan Chan, the long-abandoned city of the Chimu
Indians.
"South America is among Holland America's most popular
cruise offerings. Our goal is to engage passengers in the best
this fascinating, highly diverse continent has to offer. All of
our 2001 South America cruises are designed for those who want
to explore the ports of call and beyond, as well as enjoy a
superb cruising experience," concluded Giersdorf.
Holland America is featuring three "Time Travel"
Explorer Cruises, one of which is the new departure from San
Diego Oct. 28 to Valparaiso, Chile. The 17-day sailing calls at
Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Esmeraldas, Ecuador (Quito tour option);
Guayquil, Ecuador (Cuenca tour option); Callao, Peru (Lima and
Cuzco/Machu Picchu tour options); General San Martin, Peru (Ballestas
Islands, Nazca Lines and Paracas National Reserve tour options);
Arica, Chile (Lauca National Park tour option); and Coquimbo/La
Serena, Chile.
Holland America offers another "Time Travel"
itinerary, with a Panama Canal transit, departing from Ft.
Lauderdale to Valparaiso Jan. 6. It calls at George Town, Grand
Cayman; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica (rain forest aerial tram, San
Jose and eco-tour options); Guayquil; Trujillo/Salaverry (Chan
Chan tour option); Callao; General San Martin; Arica; and
Coquimbo/La Serena.
The reverse itinerary, departing from Valparaiso to Ft.
Lauderdale, sails April 1. For those who want to loop the
southern half of the continent, Holland America features six
"Wild Majesty" Explorer Cruises between Valparaiso,
Chile and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in winter and fall, plus a gala
Holiday Cruise Dec. 18.
On Jan. 23, Feb. 26, Nov. 14 and Dec. 18, the Ryndam sails from
Valparaiso to Puerto Montt, Chile, and includes the following
ports or scenic cruising days: Darwin Channel, Chilean fjords
(including the spectacular Seno Eyre Fjord) and the Strait of
Magellan; Punta Arenas, Chile (Antarctica flightseeing and
Patagonia's Torres del Paine National Park tour options); scenic
Cockburn and Beagle Channels; Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego,
Argentina; Cape Horn; Stanley, Falkland Islands; Buenos Aires,
Argentina (Iguazu Falls tour option); and Montevideo, Uruguay (Colonia
del Sacramento tour option).
The reverse itinerary departs from Rio de Janeiro on Feb. 9,
Mar. 15 and Dec. 1. Some of the sailings can be combined
to create a 34-day South American Odyssey Cruise. For example,
guests can take the Oct. 28 cruise from San Diego to Valparaiso
and then connect with the Nov. 14 sailing from Valparaiso to Rio
de Janeiro.
Holland America also
offers pre- and post-cruise options with tours to Machu Picchu,
the "Lost City of the Incas," an Amazon River
adventure, spectacular Iguazu Falls, Easter Island and the
Galapagos Islands. The Ryndam is one of 10 Holland America
five-star luxury liners, all offering premium cruises featuring
the company's acclaimed "Tradition of Excellence." It
includes spacious staterooms, superb dining, renowned service,
casino, first-rate entertainment, duty-free on-board shops, the
"Passport to Fitness" activity program and complete
fitness center, coupled with popular "tipping not
required" and "cashless" ship policies.
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