Holland America Line will position ms Volendam and ms Rotterdam in Asia for the 2013-14 season, increasing capacity and adding more robust itineraries inside the popular region. New expanded Singapore sailings aid you sail round-trip from the bustling port and experience exotic calls at destinations like Myanmar and India.
The diverse 14-day itineraries and longer Collectors’ Voyages—that combine back-to-back itineraries into longer cruises—also feature extended and overnight stays at a number of Asia’s most iconic cities and supply travelers with ample time to explore the region’s diverse historical and notable landmarks. Two extensive 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.
“Asia continues to flourish as a well-liked cruise destination, so the timing is good to extend our capacity inside the region and supply our guests with various exciting travel options to this magical area of the realm,” said Richard Meadows, executive vp, marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line. “The enhanced itineraries offer guests a chance to absorb the wealthy Asian culture or even go inland to work out many of the most well-known sites.”
New 14-day Asian Adventure Voyage
Departing Feb. 17, 2014, from Singapore, Volendam sails on a brand new round-trip itinerary that stretches as much as Myanmar and explores 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 town of Kuala Lumpur, famous for its diverse architecture, Malay mosques, Hindu temples and 222-acre Lake Gardens. With an overnight at Rangoon, guests may have time to go to the Shwedagon Pagoda—one of Asia’s greatest religious sites—with its gilded domes that hover over the town protectively.
New 14-day Indonesian Discovery Voyages
Rotterdam will sail a sequence and Volendam will offer one departure of recent 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), in addition to an overnight stay at Bali. Guests can have the chance to return face-to-face with the infamous Komodo dragon on Komodo Island, while an overnight at Bali gives time ashore to soak up a standard fire dance performance or visit Besakih Temple, considered by the Hindu Balinese to be their mother temple. 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 different 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 perform a little shopping on the spectacular Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, or those purchasing 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 favor 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. South Korea is instantly becoming one of many hottest destinations in Asia, and guests may have the chance to go to the country’s Beomeosa Temple or the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gyeongju. Beijing brings millennia of history with a number of sites in and across the city, including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the comprehensive Wall and the 2008 Olympic Games National Stadium (aka the “Bird’s Nest”).
19-day Great Barrier Reef
Travel Melbourne to Singapore at the Volendam departing Nov. 20, 2013. Featuring two days of scenic cruising within 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, in addition to extended stays in lots of of the region’s favorite destinations. The itinerary includes ports in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar and India.
51-day Spice Path 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 Collectors’ 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. In this extended journey, guests have the prospect to go to among 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 can be found in 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 come in in this cruise.
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