Holland America to Circumnavigate Australia!

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I received this press release from Holland America and thought it
would be of interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings,
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LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
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Holland America Line to Circumnavigate Australia in 2010

Plus itineraries include a new series of 14-day Sydney, Australia,
roundtrip sailings -- and 34-day Australia circumnavigation voyage
that includes two days' daylight scenic cruising in the Great Barrier
Reef

SEATTLE, Feb. 10
In 2010, Holland America Line will feature new itineraries throughout
the Southern Hemisphere aboard the 1,432-guest, ms Volendam,
including--for the first time--a circumnavigation of the continent
departing in Sydney, Australia. The 34-day sailing will spend two days
cruising the Great Barrier Reef during daylight hours and visit 18
ports of call. Holland America is the only premium cruise line to
offer daylight scenic cruising along the Reef's magnificent coastline.
A new series of 14-day, Sydney, Australia, roundtrip cruises
throughout the region offer explorations focused on the cultures and
the raw magnificence of Australia's and New Zealand's diverse
landscapes. And, in the spring, Volendam will sail to the South
Pacific for a leisurely 26-day cruise, visiting some of the world's
most captivating islands from Sydney, Australia, to Vancouver, British
Columbia.

"We recognize that for many travelers a trip to Australia and New
Zealand is a cruise-vacation must," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC,
executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs, Holland
America Line. "And Holland America Line offers more itineraries and
more time cruising throughout Australia and New Zealand than any other
premium cruise line."

14-day, Sydney round-trip sailings highlight Down Under and the South
Pacific in 2010

For the first time, Holland America Line has created a series of
round-trip Sydney, Australia, 14-day cruises for travelers. Two
cruises, departing Jan. 20 and Feb. 28, are set to spend more time
discovering the multifaceted terrain of New Zealand than any other
premium cruise line. A third cruise, departing Jan. 6, highlights the
South Pacific's exotic beauty. Fares for all 14-day, Sydney roundtrip
cruises begin at just $1,599 per person, double occupancy.

On the Jan. 20 and Feb. 28 sailings, the North and South islands of
New Zealand, each with incredibly vibrant and lush scenery, will be
explored with six different port calls. Both itineraries feature
extensive scenic cruising opportunities in Fiordland National Park --
a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- as well as Queen Charlotte Sound.
Additionally, Holland America Line is one of the few premium cruise
lines calling at Picton, the gateway to the South Island and the hub
of Marlborough Sounds' thriving wine country. Picton, a lively and
picturesque resort town, will most assuredly delight the wine
aficionados.

Guests joining Volendam for the Jan. 6, 14-day Pacific Treasures
cruise will kick-start the year sailing through the breathtaking
vistas of the South Pacific. As the ship departs Sydney it makes a
beeline for Noumea, New Caledonia, known for its blend of French and
Melanesian culture and often referred to "as the place where the
French Riviera meets the South Pacific." Here, guests will leisurely
explore the region's culture with additional calls at Mouli and Ile
des Pins, New Caledonia; Port Vila and Luganville, Vanuatu, and
Lautoka and Levuka, Fiji, before returning to Sydney.

Australia circumnavigation features a two-day Great Barrier Reef
experience

Departing March 14, Volendam will celebrate a first for the line when
the ship sails a 34-day voyage circumnavigating Australia. This new
itinerary, developed out of the growing popularity of the region, will
feature an unforgettable two-day Great Barrier Reef daylight scenic
cruise experience through Torres Strait and The Far North Region
before anchoring for an overnight at Sherrard Island. Fares start from
$4,599.

Guests also will enjoy overnight calls at Hobart, Perth and Sydney,
Australia, where they can spend time sampling the local cuisine or
explore the versatile culture and nightlife of the cities. Other ports
of call on the 34-day voyage include Melbourne, Adelaide, Albany,
Exmouth, Darwin, Cairns, Whitsunday Island and Brisbane, Australia. In
addition, guests will have the opportunity to take in an optional,
fully escorted shore excursion of Komodo National Park (Indonesia) in
search of one of the fewer than 300 Komodo dragons which make their
habitat there amidst squawking cockatoos, flowerpeckers and noisy
friarbirds.

Collectors' Voyages sail to the Great Barrier Reef and includes
port-intensive visits in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific

For travelers who enjoy time aboard ship as well as the unique
experiences that Down Under offers, Holland America Line provides the
opportunity to explore Australia, New Zealand and the Fijian islands
with four Collectors' Voyages: a 28-day, Pacific Treasures and New
Zealand, roundtrip Sydney, Australia, departs Jan. 6, 2010, with fares
beginning at $3,599; a 48-day, New Zealand and Australia
Circumnavigation, roundtrip Sydney, Australia, departs Feb. 28, 2010,
with fares starting from $5,599; a 74-day, New Zealand, Australia and
South Pacific cruise from Sydney, Australia, to Vancouver, B.C.,
departs Feb 28, 2010, with fares from $7,999; and a 60-day, Australia
Circumnavigation and South Pacific sailing, from Sydney, Australia, to
Vancouver, B.C., departs March 14, 2010, with fares from $6,599.

Traverse the Pacific and Enjoy the Polynesian lifestyle

Volendam takes guests from Sydney to Vancouver, British Columbia, on a
memorable 26-day cruise to the islands of the South Pacific and
through some of the most pristine waters in the world. Guests board
the ship April 17 and enjoy an overnight in Sydney where they will
have ample time to visit the iconic opera house or perhaps catch a
glimpse of a koala or kangaroo at the Sydney Zoo before departing
April 18. This unforgettable odyssey includes Noumea and Ile des Pins,
New Caledonia; Port Vila, Vanuatu; the Fijian islands of Lautoka, Viti
Levu, and Levuka. From Fiji, Volendam will cross the equator and
International Date Line, continuing to Apia, the capital of the
Independent State of Samoa. After a full day in Apia, where guests
have the option of swimming in the placid, warm waters at the Beach of
Saleapaga, shopping with the locals, taking part in a kava ceremony or
visiting the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, the ship will spend five
relaxing days at sea before paying calls at Nawiliwili, Kauai;
Honolulu, Oahu; Lahaina, Maui and Hilo, Hawaii. Hawaii's exotic beauty
and deep history can be enjoyed at each port, from Kona's world-famous
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- to
the USS Arizona Memorial in Honolulu. Guests wishing to soak up the
sun or take in the natural surroundings can spend the day at a
black-sand beach in Kona or a lush fern grotto in Nawiliwili.

Before reaching Vancouver, travelers will have relaxing days at sea
filled with enriching activities such as cooking demonstrations at the
Culinary Arts Center, pampering at the Greenhouse Spa or simply
sipping a coffee while reading the news at the Explorations Cafe.
Fares for this 26-day South Pacific cruise start at $2,699.

Those looking to make the most out of their time in Australia and New
Zealand, pre- or post-cruise land tours are offered to further explore
sites such as Ayers Rock or Alice Springs.

For more information featuring Holland America Line's Australia, New
Zealand and South Pacific cruises, consult a professional travel
agent.

Holland America Line's fleet of 14 ships offers nearly 500 cruises to
320 ports in more than 100 countries, territories or dependencies.
Two- to 108-day itineraries visit all seven continents, and highlights
include Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia
voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the
Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama
Canal. A 15th ship, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, is scheduled to join the fleet
in 2010.

Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements,
a commitment totaling more than $525 million, that showcase the
Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine -- a
state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated
guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and
classes -- Explorations Cafe powered by The New York Times, teens-only
activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by
flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner's Dream Beds.
.

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