Koningsdam's summer 2016 itineraries unveiled

A rendering of the Atrium on-board Koningsdam

Holland America Line have released details of the summer 2016 itineraries for new vessel Koningsdam due for delivery on 20 February 2016. Previously only the itineraries up to May had been released. As of 21 May the vessel will be home ported in Amsterdam following a repositioning sailing from the Mediterranean.

"For the first summer sailing season of our beautiful new ship ms Koningsdam, we've crafted some incredible itineraries to Europe's most beautiful ports," said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line.

The ship will sail a selection of seven- and 14-day cruises to Norway that showcase the country's scenery and landscapes. A seven-day itinerary planned for May, July and August will call at Flam, Stavanger, Kristiansand and Oslo, and will offer scenic cruising around Sognefjord and Oslofjord.

Another seven-day itinerary planned for June and July will call at Eidfjord, Alesund, Geiranger and Bergen, and will offer scenic cruising around Hardangerfjord and Geirangerfjord.

A third seven-day itinerary in August will call at Bergen, Hellesylt, Geiranger, Alesund and Eidfjord, and offer scenic cruising around Hardangerfjord and Geirangerfjord.

A longer 14-day Norwegian voyage will depart on 29 May and 17 July which will cross the Arctic Circle and will call at eight ports in Norway. Guests also will enjoy memorable scenic cruising around Hardangerfjord, Geirangerfjord, Trondheimsfjord, the North Cape and Sognefjord.

Koningsdam will also briefly visit the British shores. The 14 August itinerary will call at Newcastle upon Tyne, South Queensferry (for Edinburgh) and Invergordon (for Inverness) as well as Reykjavik (overnight), Isafjordur and Akuruyri in Iceland plus Alesund and Bergen in Norway.

Two 14-day Baltic itineraries in June and September are also planned. The ship will call at Copenhagen, Denmark; Warnemunde (Berlin) and Kiel (Hamburg), Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg (overnight), Russia; Helsinki, Finland; and Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden.

At the end on the season, Koningsdam will sail from Amsterdam to Civitavecchia on a 12-day voyage that calls at England, Gibraltar, Portugal and four ports in Spain. On 24 October  the ship repositions to Fort Lauderdale, Florida (USA) on a 14-day transatlantic voyage with calls planned at Alicante, Malaga (Granada) and Huelva (Seville), Spain; and Funchal, Madeira.

These itineraries will be available to book in early February 2015.

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Two more new ships ordered for Carnival and Holland America

New Carnival president Christine Duffy

The Christmas presents are arriving thick and fast as two more cruise ship newbuilds are announced.

Even before the full details of what is planned for Carnival Vista are revealed at a press conference scheduled for January 22 in New York, a second ship of the same design has been ordered.

Vista 2, measuring 133,500 tons and with capacity for 3,954 passengers, is due to enter service in spring 2018 as the 26^th vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet.

Holland America Line is to get another ship, to the same design as Pinnacle-class Koningsdam, at 99,500 tons and carrying 2,650 passengers. It’s due to debut in autumn 2018. Both orders have gone to Italian shipbuilders Fincantieri, whose order books also include P&O’s Britannia (delivery March 2015), Koningsdam (February 2016), two Seabourn ships (2016 and 2018), Carnival Vista (2016), and a third Royal-class ship for Princess (due in 2017).

The total passenger capacity of the new ships Carnival Corporation has on order with Fincantieri amounts to almost 22,000.

The announcement of Carnival’s Vista 2 follows on the heels of the news that Christine Duffy is to take over as president of Carnival Cruise Line in February.

She replaces Gerry Cahill, who has retired. Duffy is currently president of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and will commence her new role on February 1.

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Holland America Line Opens Bookings for ms Koningsdam

Holland America Line have started to reveal more details about their latest vessel known as ms Koningsdam. This contemporary cruise ship is due to go into service in February 2016 and this week marks the start of bookings being taken for her initial sailings.

A rendering of Holland America's latest cruise ship Koningsdam

Once Holland America Line take delivery of Koningsdam from Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera, near Venice, Italy, she will be repositioned to Civitavecchia (for Rome). Her maiden voyage will be a seven-day sailing departing on 20 February 2016 and will see this brand new cruise ship call in at Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kérkira (Corfu) and Katakolon (Olympia), Greece; and Naples, Italy before returning back to Civitavecchia.

Between February and early May she will then sail six 12-day alternating itineraries. The first is called the “Greek & Turkish Treasures” itinerary and this sees the ship call in at Katakolon, Piraeus (Athens), Rhodes and Crete, Greece; Istanbul (overnight) and Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey; and Naples, Italy.

Conversely, the “Mediterranean Mosaic” itinerary calls in at the ports of Naples, Italy; Palermo, Sicily; Cagliari, Sardinia; Gibraltar, British Territory; and Cádiz, Málaga, Cartagena and Barcelona (overnight), Spain.

For clients who wish to experience both itineraries, these can be combined into an epic 24-day back-to-back Collectors’ Voyage covering the Mediterranean and Athenian Seas. Similarly, the maiden seven-day Premier Voyage and the 27 February 2016 12-day Mediterranean Mosaic voyage can be combined to form a 19-day Collectors’ Voyage through a back-to-back cruise.

From the preview of Koningsdam it is very clear that she will be designed as a refreshingly modern and contemporary vessel, whilst retaining the trademark Holland America Line touches. 68 per cent of the cabins will come with a balcony, 32 cabins will be family ocean-view staterooms and there will also be 12 single occupancy ocean-view cabins too.

These initial itineraries went on sale on the 1 December. Details of the vessel’s summer and winter itineraries are being finalised by the line and are expected to be released early in 2015.

(Photo credit to Holland America Line)

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Strictly star Artem joins Holland America's Dancing with the Stars

Holland America Line has announced that Strictly Coming Dancing professional Artem Chigvintsev will be joining two of the line’s Dancing with the Stars themed cruises at the end of this year. 

Cruise with Artem – seven night Caribbean cruise from £1,009pp

Departing from Fort Lauderdale on 6 December, the seven night cruise onboard MS Westerdam will call at HAL’s private island, Half Moon Cay, St Thomas, San Juan and Grand Turk before returning to Fort Lauderdale. This cruise starts from £1,009 per person, based on two sharing an inside cabin and including return flights from London, one night’s pre-cruise hotel stay and transfers.

The 29 November cruise starts from £1,029 per person, and swaps the St Thomas port call with a visit to St Maarten. On each cruise, as well as the dancing, guests will enjoy experiences such as steel drum performances and classes, cooking demonstrations of Caribbean dishes, and Caribbean rum tastings as part of Holland America Line’s “On Location” programme. 

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Holland America Line launches Australia sailings

In anticipation of cold weather to come, Holland America Line has launched a brand new winter cruise holidays brochure covering winter sun cruise holidays from September 2015 to April 2016. The brochure incorporates destinations such as Australasia, South Pacific, Asia, Caribbean, South America, the Panama Canal and Africa, as well as a number of Grand Voyages.

MS Noordam will be positioned in Australasia for the first time during winter 2015/2016. Carrying 1,972 guests, she offers 25 staterooms on the observation deck, most of which feature a private verandah. There is also a retreat area with luxury cabanas for guests to hire. The ship will be sailing 13 to 15-night Australia & New Zealand or South Pacific cruises from Sydney or Auckland, more leisurely Great Barrier Reef cruises and a 33-night Australia circumnavigation featuring Komodo Island and Bali. Australasia cruises start from £1,349 per person, cruise only.

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New HAL ship to be named ms Koningsdam

Until now, it has been referred to jokingly as Nonamedam. From today, Holland America Line's new 99,500-ton cruise ship is ms Koningsdam. 

While the name pays homage to the company’s heritage and roots in the Netherlands, it also reflects a new era with a bold name that is an original in Holland America Line’s 141-year history.  Since 1883 every Holland America passenger vessel has borne the “dam” suffix, and ms Koningsdam carries on that tradition. The word koning means “king” in Dutch, and the name celebrates the majestic new ship. The name also pays honor to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, the first king of the Netherlands for more than a century.

The 2,650-passenger ship, being built at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri's Marghera yard near Venice, is scheduled for delivery in February 2016. 

Many of Holland America Line’s ships have been christened by members of the Dutch Royal Family over the past 75 years. Most recently, ms Nieuw Amsterdam was christened by Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima in 2010. And in 2008 ms Eurodam was christened by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. 

“In choosing the name Koningsdam, we are honouring our rich Dutch heritage while reflecting that we’re entering a new era as a company,” said Stein Kruse, chief executive officer of the Holland America Group. “This new Pinnacle Class ship will be our largest, most contemporary vessel, and it was only fitting to give it a name that embodies great achievement for the future, while embracing timeless tradition.”

Holland America Line was founded in the Netherlands in 1873 as the Netherlands-American Steamship Company headquartered in Rotterdam. The original headquarters building still stands today as the Hotel New York on the Wilhelmina Pier, with the company’s European headquarters located nearby.

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TBE Holland America Line announces free Emirates flight on Asia cruise specials

Holland America Line has announced it is partnering with Emirates Air to offer a free flight to guests who book select segments of ms Rotterdam’s 88-Day Passage to the Far East Voyage before 16 October 2014. Sectors which include a free flight between London and Singapore start from £2,499pp whilst the full voyage, a roundtrip ex-UK cruise from Southampton, departs on 8 January 2015 with prices starting from £4,999pp

Guests who book the 40- or 54-night segments, departing 8 January 2015, from Southampton to Singapore will receive free return air on Emirates Air from Singapore back to London.  Guests who set sail from Singapore to Southampton on the 48-night segment, departing 17 February 2015, or the 34-night segment, departing 3 March 2015, will receive this fly/cruise special on flights to Singapore.

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Save Big With A Holland America Med Cruise

Enjoy early summer sunshine, with us here at World of Cruising whilst avoiding the peak summer crowds, on a fantastic value Mediterranean cruise with Holland America Line. Departing June 20, this 11-night Rome to Barcelona cruise starts from just £1,049pp, saving guests up to £1,000. This includes return flights, transfers and full board accommodation (all prices are based on two people sharing an inside stateroom).

This Mediterranean Explorer cruise departs from Rome, and the first port of call is beautiful Naples, from where Pompeii and Capri can be visited. The ship then heads south to Palermo in Sicily, famed for its stunning cuisine and summer produce and then calls at Tunisia’s La Goulette, home to bustling markets and medinas. 

Sailing back to Italian shores, the ship visits Livorno, where excursions to Florence and Pisa are available, before moving onto Calvi, rumoured to be the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, the glamorous Monte Carlo, and Marseille. The cruise ends in Barcelona on July 1, but guests can spend an extra night onboard the ship before disembarking in order to enjoy a more in-depth experience of the city.

More info: 0843 374 2300 www.hollandamerica.co.uk

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Sample A Fjord Spring With Holland America

Here's a great idea to sample a spring break in the fjords this May as Holland America Line are featuring a one-off cruise at a great price.

Their Norwegian Fjords cruise sets sail round-trip from Dover on May 10 and features a chance to to see the glorious blossoming of the fruit trees Prices start from £499pp for an Inside Stateroom and just £599 for an Ocean View Stateroom.

Setting off from the Kent port, guests can start their holiday the moment they step on board without the hassle of airport queues or baggage allowances. The first port of call is cultural Oslo, where open-air music concerts can be enjoyed throughout spring and summer. The ship then cruises through the scenic Oslo Fjord and up the Norwegian coast to the fjords further north. 

A paradise for walkers, guests can explore the beautiful hills, rustic towns and quaint villages of Kristiansand, Stavanger, and Ulvik before experiencing the breathtaking scenery of the Hardangerfjord.

Hardangerfjord is known as the Orchard of Norway as it is the main fruit producing region and May is the perfect time to catch the blossoming of the trees. One final day at sea gives guests the opportunity to relax and indulge in some onboard pampering before the ship arrives back in Dover.

More info: call 0843 374 2300 or visit www.hollandamerica.co.uk.

The next edition of World of Cruising will be out on March 17, and you can see the current version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link. 

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Holland America Start Work On Their Biggest Ship

Holland America have started work on their biggest ship to date with the ceremonial steel-cutting occasion for their as-yet unnamed new-build that will launch in February 2016.

The event was held at Italian ship-builder Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard (above), with the first steel being cut on Tuesday for the 99,500-ton Pinnacle-class vessel, under the gaze of Holland America Group chief executive Stein Kruse and yard director Antonio Quintano.

The ship is a completely new design and the largest for the line, following a four-year gap since Marghera handed over the Nieuw Amsterdam in 2010, and is the 15th ship Fincantieri has constructed for the Seattle-based line.

The newcomer will have 2,660 lower berths and be able to accommodate up to 3,152 passengers, with an overall length of 299.8 meters.

Holland America have cagily disclosed few details of their latest vessel but it boasts some
promising design concepts that have never been seen on their ships before.

The interior design team will be Adam Tihany and Bjørn Storbraaten. The latter, of prolific ship architects Yran & Storbraaten, worked on Nieuw Amsterdam and Eurodam while Tihany, a noted hotel and restaurant designer, made his first foray into cruise design with Celebrity Solstice, creating the two-level Grand Epernay dining room, the Tuscan Grille steak house and the casual Oceanview Café and Grill on the Lido Deck.

More info: visit www.hollandamerica.com.

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Holland America Feature A Trio Of Savings

Anyone looking to grab some European travel and sunshine this spring and early summer should take note of the latest trio of cruise offers to hit the World of Cruising Inbox, this time from Holland America Line.

 

Take your pick from this tempting threesome:

Save up to £700 on seven-night Norwegian Fjords fly-cruise – now £909pp
This Rotterdam round-trip cruise, departing May 17 on MS Noordam, takes in the best of Norway and its stunning fjords. The first port of call is Oslo, where guests can explore the city’s Viking history, before heading out for scenic cruising of the Oslo Fjord. The ship then visits Kristiansand, home to one of the country’s best fish markets, Stavanger, and Flam. Guests will enjoy a cruise through Sognefjord before returning to Rotterdam. Price is based on two sharing an inside stateroom, and includes return flights from London Gatwick.

Save up to £900 on 12-night Mediterranean fly-cruise – now £1,469pp
Departing on 29 June, this round-trip Venice cruise explores the most interesting ports of the Eastern Mediterranean. First off, MS Nieuw Amsterdam calls in Katakolon, gateway to Olympia, followed by Piraeus from where Athens can be visited. Guests will then be able to enjoy an overnight stop in Istanbul, before the ship moves on to Lesbos, Kusadasi (from which Ephesus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, can be visited), Santorini and Argostoli in Greece. The voyage ends with an overnight call in Venice and prices are based on two sharing an inside stateroom, and include return flights from London Gatwick.

11-night Mediterranean cruise from just £80pppn - £899pp in total
This voyage departs from Venice on June 9 on MS Noordam, this cruise takes in a wonderful range of Eastern and Western Mediterranean destinations. The first port of call is Katakolon, from where guests can visit Olympia, followed by Nafplion, the perfect port for visiting Corinth. The ship then moves onto Piraeus (Athens), beautiful Mykonos, Kusadasi (Ephesus), World Heritage Site Rhodes, scenic Santorini and Naples, before ending in Civitavecchia (Rome). Price is again based on two sharing an inside stateroom. Fly-cruises are available from £1,199pp

More info: call 0843 374 2300 or visit www.hollandamerica.co.uk 

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Holland America Go 'Above & Beyond'

In anticipation of the 2014 sailing season, Holland America Line is launching a new Above and Beyond promotional programme that allows guests to take advantage of four special offers. Above and Beyond is available on select 2014 sailings from June through December and features offers for multiple destinations so guests are encouraged to book early for best stateroom selection.

Guests who book select 2014 cruises or Alaska Land + Sea Journeys will receive Above and Beyond promotional fares, reduced fares on select summer shore excursions when booked before February 28, reduced third and fourth fares and 50 per cent deposits off the standard deposit rate.

Cruise destinations featured in Above and Beyond include Alaska cruises and Land+Sea Journeys, Africa, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Canada/New England, Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii/Tahiti, Mexico, Panama Canal and South America itineraries.

In addition, any guest booking ocean-view or suite accommodation on a round-trip Dover cruise on MS Ryndam can enjoy free parking.

More info: 0843 374 2300 or visit www.hollandamerica.co.uk.

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Celebrate Canal's 100th Anniversary With Holland America

August 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the stunning engineering achievement that is the Panama Canal (and which will be featuring in World of Cruising later this year). And we are not surprised to see some of the cruise lines offering special commemorative deals to mark the occasion.

Holland America Line are the first, with an offering of a free $100 onboard credit per cabin on select Panama Canal sailings. The offer is available on 28 full and partial transits of the Canal throughout 2014, on five different ships. Ranging in length from 10 to 22 days, the different itinerary options provide guests with more ways to experience this amazing phenomenon than any other line.

An example cruise, eligible for this special anniversary deal, is the MS Westerdam's 14-night cruise, sailing on April 15. Departing from Fort Lauderdale, it calls at Cartagena before transiting the Panama Canal. It then continues to Puerta Caldera, Puerto Chiapas, Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas, before disembarking in San Diego.

This 14-night fly-cruise starts from £2,175 per person, based on two sharing an inside cabin and the price includes return flights, full board accommodation, one night’s pre-cruise hotel stay and international transfers.

More info: 0843 374 2300 visit www.hollandamerica.co.uk.

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Even More Med In 2014 From Holland America

Holland America Line’s MS Noordam will sail new Central and Western Mediterranean itineraries next spring and summer to allow for longer voyages, including the introduction of three new 11-day sailing, each with several departures and numerous ‘Collectors’ Voyages’ opportunities.

From April to October, Noordam will sail between Civitavecchia (Rome), and Barcelona or Venice. The new 11-day itineraries feature a combination of calls in Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Tunisia, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro and Turkey. Guests who want a longer holiday can combine two or three back-to-back voyages to form a 22- or 33-day Collectors’ Voyage. These extended itineraries offer a more in-depth cruise and allow for extra time ashore to become immersed in the culture and history of the Mediterranean.

Mediterranean Explorer

Departing April 4, May 18, July 1 and August  14, the voyage sails from Barcelona to Civitavecchia. The cruise begins with an overnight at Barcelona and continues on to Marseille, Monte Carlo, Monaco, Calvi, Corsica, Livorno (Florence/Pisa), La Goulette (Tunis), Palermo and Naples. From £1,149 per person, cruise only.

Adriatic Dream

This itinerary departs April 15, May 29, July 12 and August 25 from Civitavecchia and sails to Venice, where guests enjoy an overnight stay before disembarking. Along the route the ship calls at Messina, Sicily, after scenic cruising along the Strait of Messina taking in Malta, Argostolion and Kerkira (Corfu), Kotor, Dubrovnik, Korcula and Split. From £1,149 per person, cruise only.

Mediterranean Dream

This cruise departs April 26, June 9, July 23 and September 5 from Venice and sails to Civitavecchia. This itinerary features six calls throughout the beautiful Greek Isles, including Katakolon (Olympia), Navplion, Piraeus (Athens), Mykonos, Rhodes and Santorini. The ship also calls at Kusadasi, Turkey, and Naples, Italy. From £1,149 per person, cruise only.

Venetian Adventure

This September 16 voyage sails round-trip Civitavecchia with an overnight at Venice. The ship also calls at Messina after scenic cruising along the Strait of Messina, Valletta, Kotor, Split, Dubrovnik and Kerkira (Corfu). From £1,399 per person, cruise only.

 

More info: call 0843 374 2300 or visit www.hollandamerica.co.uk.

  

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Holland America Offers More In 2014

Holland America Line recently launched its new On Location programme, which gives guests a more in-depth destination experience, with insider tips and local insights about the ports of call, including special onboard activities, themed entertainment, and even local food and products.

 

Here are more highlights from their new 2014 programme:

More UK departures

MS Ryndam’s European season will see more round-trip cruises from Dover. The ex-UK programme runs from May 3-August 23 and will now boast 11 cruises, including seven week-long Norwegian Fjords itineraries, two 14-night Baltic cruises, and two ‘Midnight Sun’ itineraries.

D-Day 70th Anniversary cruise

New for the European 2014 season, Holland America will be commemorating the 70th anniversary of D-Day with this unique 12-day cruise. Departing on April 29 from Rome, MS Eurodam will visit Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar and the UK before journeying on to Normandy, where the most famous World War II battle took place on June 6, 1944. The 70th anniversary cruise starts from £1,349pp.

Increased Arctic cruises
MS Prinsendam, the fleet's smallest ship, will now be sailing its Northern European itineraries out of Ijmuiden (Amsterdam), giving UK travellers a greater choice of flight options. In 2014, she will also embark on more Arctic cruises, with one 14-night itinerary and a 20-night North Cape and Spitsbergen cruise that journeys beyond the Arctic Circle to Ny, Ålesund, Longyearbyen, Tromsø and Honningsvåg. The 14-night North Cape Explorer, with the chance to see Polar Bears in their natural habitat (picture, above) starts from £2,449pp, departing August 10.

New Asian adventures to Burma
New for 2014, MS Volendam will cruise three 14-night Asian Adventure cruises that include a special two-day overnight call in Rangoon, Burma, from where guests can travel to see the stunning pagodas of Bagan, the floating villages of Inle, and experience Mandalay. Other ports include Malacca, Penang, Phuket, Port Blair, Porto Malai, Port Kelang, plus an overnight stop in Singapore. The 14-night Asian Adventure starts from £1,399pp, departing February 17. Holland America also boasts a range of other Asia cruise itineraries, which include calls in Japan, China, Vietnam and Cambodia.

New Africa explorer cruises
September 28 will see the start of a fantastic new 83-night circumnavigation of Africa voyage. A round-trip cruise from Southampton, on MS Rotterdam, this cruise will take in the Seychelles, Mauritius, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Ghana, The Gambia, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Oman and the UAE as well as Israel and the Canaries. Shorter itineraries as sectors of this cruise are also available. The 83-night Africa Explorer starts from £7,649pp.

South America cruises have also seen an increase in popularity in the last few years and Holland America offers a robust line-up of great itineraries to choose from. These cruises provide guests with a fantastic range of destination experiences as they visit the Amazon, experience Carnaval in Brazil and even journey to Antarctica.

All prices are cruise-only and are based on double occupancy of an Inside Stateroom.

More info: visit www.hollandamerica.co.uk or call 0843 374 2300.

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Archbishop Tutu Aboard Holland America

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the former archbishop of Cape Town and Nobel Peace Prize winner, is scheduled to lecture on a segment of Holland America Line’s 2014 Grand World Voyage on MS Amsterdam, sailing March 28 to April 2 from Durban to Cape Town in South Africa.

Tutu will address guests at two speaking engagements on board about his role as the first black African to serve as archbishop of Cape Town and about his work forging racial equality throughout the world. Guests will also be able to gain a personal insight into his remarkable life through an open question and answer session with the archbishop.

The full Grand World Voyage lasts 113 days or, for those unable to travel for the full length, guests can book segments of the cruise that range from 20 to 86 days. Cruise prices for segments of the Grand World Voyage start from £2,430 per person, and the full voyage begins at £12,470 per person, both based on double occupancy of an Inside Stateroom.

More info: contact Holland America in the UK on www.hollandamerica.co.uk or call 0843 374 2300.

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