Holland America Line offers most extensive Panama Canal program ever in 2006. Flexible itinerary options allow travelers to customize vacations (Jul. 19, 2005)

Holland America Line offers most extensive Panama Canal program ever in 2006. Flexible itinerary options allow travelers to customize vacations
With 30 different Panama Canal cruises offered in 2006, Holland America Line showcases the eighth wonder of the modern world with more experience and more choices than before. Building on its rich maritime tradition, the premium cruise leader offers 15 diverse itineraries - including roundtrip sailings and full transit voyages ranging from 10 to 34 days - aboard the newest five-star fleet in the Panama Canal.

"Holland America Line was among the first to explore this spectacle of engineering, and we continue to lead the way today with more departures and more time than others in the actual canal itself," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, senior vice president, marketing and sales.

From Pacific rain forests to Atlantic reefs, seven Holland America Line ships offer epic adventures with intriguing explorations of the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Mexico, as well as the spectacular locks of the Panama Canal.
The line's popular 10-day Panama Canal Sunfarer itinerary travels roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, while longer full transit cruises feature the added convenience of customizing cruise length with flexible embark and debark options in major east and west coast cities.

10- to 22-day Panama Canal Transits: Winter, Spring & Fall
The year begins with a 16-day winter canal transit aboard the ms Ryndam that departs San Diego on January 6 en route to Tampa, Florida. April features seven departures of 14 to 22 days aboard seven different ships sailing from Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa or San Diego to gateways from Los Angeles to Vancouver. Four September cruises offer 14- to 21-day flexible itineraries from Vancouver or Seattle.

With rates starting at just US$1,749 per person, double occupancy, ports of call may include: Victoria, British Columbia; Astoria, Oregon; San Diego and San Francisco, California; New York City; Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Mazatlán, Zihuatanejo, Santa Cruz Huatulco and Cozumel, Mexico; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Panama Canal; Cartegena, Colombia; George Town, Grand Cayman; La Romana, Dominican Republic; San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; Oranjestad, Aruba; Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.

10- and 13-day Panama Canal Sunfarer
The ms Zaandam and ms Amsterdam travel round trip from Ft. Lauderdale showcasing the Canal on 17 ten-day Southern Caribbean itineraries, cruising to Gatun Lake with a stop in Colón, Panama, and then sailing to Puerto Limón or Puerto Moin, Costa Rica. Additional ports of call include the line's private island Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; Oranjestad, Aruba; and Willemstad, Curaçao.
With rates from US$1,149 per person, double occupancy, cruises sail January 4 through April 4, 2006 and again between October 30 and December 9, 2006. A 13-day itinerary departs New York City on October 17, 2006, returning to Ft. Lauderdale.

30- to 34-day Transcanal & Amazon River
The ms Veendam sets off from Vancouver on the ultimate voyage on September 24, 2006 - with options to join the ship in Seattle, Los Angeles or Acapulco - on a transcanal cruise highlighted by a journey into the spellbinding Amazon River.
Travelers will also discover the Mexican Riviera, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean. Per person, double occupancy rates for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure begin at US$4,399.

14-day Panama Canal Holiday
Perfectly timed to encompass Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's 2006, the ms Amsterdam's December 19, 2006 holiday cruise travels roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale visiting the Panama Canal; the ABC Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao; Puerto Limón, Costa Rica; George Town, Grand Cayman, Roatán, Honduras; Cozumel, Mexico; and, Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.

Culinary and Historic Enrichment
A Panama Canal historian travels as part of the Exploration Speaker Series on every sailing, providing insight and answering questions. In addition, James Mazzio, executive chef of The Studio at Long Grove in Chicago and a 1999 Food and Wine magazine Best New Chef, will sail on the Sept. 30, 2006, departure of the ms Zuiderdam from Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale. On board, Chef Mazzio will provide complimentary culinary demonstrations as well as teach private optional cooking classes.

(Source: Holland America Line)