Holland America Ships Call on Seven New Wonders
July 16, 2007
Holland America Line offers cruises that visit the new Seven Wonders of the World on its more than 500 worldwide cruise itineraries. The line also visits the Pyramids of Giza, the only remaining wonder of the ancient world. “Cruising opens up new horizons to travelers,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest services. “As the world’s leading premium cruise line, we explore destinations off the beaten path and are constantly striving to develop new, intriguing itineraries. We were the first major line to sail to Antarctica and continue to offer distinctive experiences by bringing the wonders of the world within reach of our cruise guests.”
Recently announced in Lisbon, Portugal, the new Seven Wonders of the World were voted on by people worldwide through an Internet poll. The new wonders are the Great Wall of China; Petra, Jordan; the Statue of Christ Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Machu Picchu, Peru; the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza in Mexico; the Colosseum in Rome, Italy; and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. For travelers visiting the Great Wall of China, Holland America cruise options include a 64-day Asia, Australia and Polynesian Explorer cruise on the Amsterdam in September or 14-day cruises on the Statendam in March and April that call at Xingang (Beijing), where the famous site can be visited on a shore excursion. Next year, on the 68-day Grand South America and Antarctic voyage, guests may explore Machu Picchu on calls by the Prinsendam to the ports of Salaverry and Callao, Peru. Departing in November, the Statendam visits both ports on its 26-day Inca Discovery cruise, while the 22-day Americas Discovery cruise on the Amsterdam calls at Callao. At South America’s other new wonder, guests may visit the Statue of Christ Redeemer on the above 68-day voyage when calling at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, or on two fall 2007 and seven 2008 cruises between Rio de Janeiro and Valparaiso, Chile.
The Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza are accessed through shore excursions in the Caribbean port of Cozumel, included on three seven-day Western Caribbean departures aboard the Westerdam in early 2009. Aqaba, the coastal gateway to the sixth-century ruins of the Nabataeans in Petra, Jordan, appears regularly as a Grand World Voyage port of call for Holland America Line. Also, in Mumbai, India, guests can travel to the Taj Mahal on an overland adventure during the 114-day around-the-world journey aboard the Amsterdam in 2008. Among the easiest wonders to reach by cruise ship, Rome’s Colosseum can be visited during more than 11 departures this fall or 35 cruises next summer and fall 2008. Civitavecchia is the cruise gateway to Rome. Alexandria serves as the portal to the lone remaining ancient wonder, the Pyramids of Giza. This year, Alexandria appears on four European and Mediterranean cruises and next year on six. It also is a port of call for the 73-day Grand Africa Voyage sailing aboard the Prinsendam in March.
Learn More about these cruises and cruise destinations by calling 800-925-8572 or visiting http://www.hollandamerica.net
Comments
One Response to “Holland America Ships Call on Seven New Wonders”
Tell us what you think about this information:
I wonder how they chose the new “wonders”. I know it was an Internet poll, but would love to have seen some of the other contenders - like maybe the great fishin’ hole down the road. Just a thought…