Holland America Line offers nearly 60 roundtrip sailings from San Diego homeport. Exclusive California resident cruise values available through end of December (Dec. 9, 2003)

Holland America Line offers nearly 60 roundtrip sailings from San Diego homeport. Exclusive California resident cruise values available through end of December
With nearly 60 sailings to and from San Diego in 2004, Holland America has made California an important homeport for cruising to Mexico, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, South America and the Pacific Coast. And now, through December 31, 2003, the leading premium cruise line is also making it easier to enjoy a cruise with a special California resident ocean-view cabin upgrade promotion, as well as up to $2,400 savings off select San Diego cruise departures. All 2004 Winter San Diego sailings depart between the months of January and April.

On select seven-day Mexican Riviera and Sea of Cortez sailings from January 17 through March 27, California residents will receive a free ocean-view stateroom upgrade when booking an inside stateroom. In addition, Holland America also offers savings of up to $2,400 per cabin for select Panama Canal, Hawaii, and 10- to 14-day Mexican cruises through 2004.

"Holland America's San Diego homeport offers travelers convenience and choice," said David A. Giersdorf, senior vice president, marketing and sales. "This year with our largest offering of cruises ever - nearly 60 in all - we have made it very easy for local residents to take advantage of the convenience of San Diego as a cruise homeport and experience the dazzling entertainment, superb dining, spacious staterooms and relaxed ambience of a vacation with Holland America."

With nearly 60 cruises ranging from 7 to 21 days, Holland America Line is also the only cruise line to offer Sea of Cortez itineraries from San Diego and a 21-day Panamerica roundtrip cruise from the "Place Where California Began." Sea of Cortez sailings visit Loreto, Pichilingue, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

The exclusive Sea of Cortez cruises feature optional sportfishing in Loreto, snorkeling at Coronado Island and scuba diving at Pichilingue, one of the world's top dive regions. Departing October 15, 2004, the Panamerica cruise calls at Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Santa Cruz Huatulco, Zihuatanejo, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Amador and Panama Canal, Panama; San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; and Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala.

Other cruise destinations feature 15- or 16-day Hawaii cruises with nine days at sea to relax and enjoy the many amenities of the ms Statendam and five or six days visiting the Hawaiian islands of Hawaii, Oahu, Kauai, and Maui.

Panama Canal cruises range from 14 to 16 days and feature departures between San Diego and Port Canaveral, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Ports of call include islands in the Caribbean, a daytime transit of the Panama Canal in its locks, and various towns along the sunny Mexican Riviera.

One 17-day South American explorer cruise departs March 31, 2004, from Valparaiso, Chile, and sails to San Diego. Ports feature Coquimbo and Arica, Chile; General San Marin and Callao, Peru; Guayaquil and Esmeraldas, Eduador; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Pricing for San Diego cruises range from $699 to $2,689 per person, double occupancy. Taxes are additional. Through November 30, this California exclusive offer applies to all 2004 winter seven-day Mexico cruises. Through December 31, 2003, it applies to select sailings.

(Source: Holland America Line Inc.)