Holland America Line will position ms Volendam and ms Rotterdam in Asia for the 2013-14 season, increasing capacity and adding itineraries to the region. New Singapore sailings are available to destinations such as Myanmar and India.
The 14-day itineraries and longer Collectors’ Voyages, which combine back-to-back itineraries with longer cruises, also include extended and overnight stays. Two 51- and 53-day Collectors’ Voyages in January and March, respectively, provide comprehensive explorations of the region with visits to Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia while sailing from and to Europe.
New 14-Day Asian Adventure Voyage
Departing Feb. 17, 2014, from Singapore, Volendam sails on a new round-trip itinerary to Myanmar and Malaysia, Thailand and India. The 14-day cruise calls at Malacca, Penang, Porto Malai and Port Klang (overnight), Malaysia; Phuket, Thailand; Rangoon (overnight), Myanmar, and Port Blair, India. Port Klang is the gateway to the city of Kuala Lumpur. With an overnight at Rangoon, guests will have time to visit the Shwedagon Pagoda.
New 14-day Indonesian Discovery Voyages
Rotterdam will sail a series and Volendam will offer one departure of new round-trip Singapore itineraries in 2014. The 14-day voyages include calls at Jakarta; Semarang (Java); Lembar (Lombok); Komodo Island; Makassar (Sulawesi); Probolinggo and Suabaya (Java), as well as an overnight stay at Bali. Guests will have the opportunity to visit the Komodo dragon on Komodo Island, with an overnight at Bali. Departure dates are Jan. 6, Feb. 14 and 28, and March 14, 2014.
14-day Far East Discovery Voyages
Volendam’s 14-day Far East Discovery voyages sail between Hong Kong, China and Singapore and have calls at Koh Samui and Bangkok (overnight), Thailand; Sihanoukville, Cambodia, and Phu My, Nha Trang, Da Nang and Halong Bay, Vietnam. Departure dates are Dec. 9, 2013 (12-day sailing), Jan. 6 and 20, and Feb. 3, 2014. The ship also offers a special 16-day Holiday voyage Dec. 21, 2013, with overnights at Hong Kong, Phu My and Laem Chabang (Bangkok). The overnight at Bangkok enables guests ample time to do some shopping at the spectacular Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, or those looking for a more peaceful experience can explore the serene golden temples and the Grand Palace.
14-day China and Japan Voyages
For Volendam’s China and Japan voyages, guests can choose to sail between Hong Kong and Kobe (Osaka), Japan, or round-trip from Kobe. The 14-day cruises include overnight calls at Xingang (Beijing) and Shanghai, China, and day calls at Dalian, China; Pusan, South Korea and Nagasaki, Japan. Departure dates are March 17 and 31, 2014.
19-day Great Barrier Reef
Travel from Melbourne to Singapore on the Volendam departing Nov. 20, 2013. The cruise has two days of scenic cruising in The Great Barrier Reef with stops at Sydney, Burnie (Tasmania), Hamilton Island, Cairns and Darwin, Australia; Komodo Island, Bali and Semarang, Indonesia before arriving Singapore.
28-day Far East Adventure Collectors’ Voyage
Volendam’s 28-day Far East Adventure Collectors’ Voyage from Hong Kong to Singapore departs Feb. 3, 2014, and combines back-to-back Far East Discovery and Asian Adventure itineraries. The trip includes overnight calls at Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Rangoon and Port Klang, as well as extended stays in several destinations. The itinerary includes ports in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar and India.
51-day Spice Route to Singapore Collectors’ Voyage
Departing Jan. 8, 2014, from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, or Jan. 9 from Southampton (London), England, Rotterdam sets course for Singapore on a 51- or 50-day Collector’s Voyage that calls at ports in Portugal, Spain, Malta, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Oman, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Highlights include a daylight transit of the Suez Canal, a late departure from Safaga, Egypt, and overnight calls at Muscat, Oman; Mumbai (Bombay), India, and Bali, Indonesia. On this extended journey, guests have the chance to visit some of the world’s most impressive landmarks, including Ephesus in Turkey, the Acropolis in Greece, Luxor and the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, the Taj Mahal in India and the temple of Borobudu in Java. Additional Collectors’ Voyage segments of 25-, 36-, 37- and 39-days are available on this cruise.
53-day Indonesia, Arabia and India Discovery Collectors’ Voyage
Departing March 14, 2014, Rotterdam will sail a 52- or 53-day day Collectors’ Voyage from Singapore back to Southampton (London) or Rotterdam visiting ports in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Oman, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal, including a daylight transit of the Suez Canal. Highlights include Java and Komodo Island, Indonesia; Port Klang, Malaysia; Phuket, Thailand; Colombo, Sri Lanka, and overnight calls at Bali, Mumbai (Bombay) and Muscat. Additional Collectors’ Voyage segments of 25-, 38- and 39-days are available on this cruise.
Cruise fares begin at $1,699 per person, double occupancy for the 14-day Far East Discovery sailings; $1,499 for the 14-day China and Japan cruises; $1,799 for the 14-day Indonesia Discovery departures; $2,299 for the 19-day Great Barrier Reef; $3,599 for the 28-day Far East Adventure Collectors’ Voyage; $5,699 for the 51-day Spice Route to Singapore Collectors’ Voyage and $5,999 for the 53-day Indonesia, Arabia and India Collectors’ Voyage.
For more information, visit www.hollandamerica.com.