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HAL's New Signature & Medallion Collection Tours!
Hi Everyone,
I received this press release from Holland America and thought it would be of interest. If you have missed any of my news' postings, they are available on my web site. Best regards, Ray LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL 800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905 http://www.lighthousetravel.com European Shore Excursions Offer Value & Variety Now Book Online At www.hollandamerica.com Announcing New Signature and Medallion Collection Tours Seattle, June 4, 2004 European cruising aboard one of Holland America Line’s luxurious ships means greeting the day with an al fresco breakfast pool-side followed by a fascinating tour of Dubrovnik’s Dominican church, monastery and rich treasures. Another day may be spent exploring the wonders of Europe’s largest active volcano, Sicily’s majestic Mount Etna, before returning to the ship for an elegant evening of fine dining and dancing. This European season, as a feature of its Signature of Excellence initiative, the premium cruise line is outdoing itself by offering more Medallion Collection shore excursions and introducing Signature Collection touring. Cruise guests can now browse and purchase online from a multitude of shore excursions available at www.hollandamerica.com. With more than 500 shore excursions in Europe alone, the choices are as varied as the continent itself, offering a wealth of explorations and discoveries. In St. Petersburg, Russia, for example, 16 shore excursions range from daylong Moscow tours of the Kremlin and KGB to visiting the Russia’s only Vodka Museum, the famed Hermitage Museum, or Catherine the Great’s Pushkin Palace. Even on tiny Guernsey of the United Kingdom’s Channel Islands, four different shore excursions are available, including a trip to the car-less community of neighboring Sark Island. Shore excursions vary from brief orientation tours to full-day guided adventures that involve transfers via boat, bus, plane or train to and from the ship. “We work with carefully selected tour operators to deliver the finest land-based tours and activities to our guests,” remarked David A. Giersdorf, executive vice president, marketing and sales. “Our shore excursion programs are extensive and perfectly complement the accommodations, cuisine, service and activities found on our five-star ships. Together these add up to an unforgettable European vacation. “By expanding our exclusive Medallion Collection and adding our new Signature Collection we are really delivering what today’s traveler is asking for,” added Giersdorf. New for 2004: Signature Collection Touring - Providing the exclusive services of a private car/minivan, driver and English-speaking guide, Signature Collection tours cater to the most discerning travelers. Available in 47 European ports of call, for two to eight guests, in four- or eight-hour segments, the service includes unlimited mileage in the most luxurious vehicles ashore as well as all motorway tolls, parking fees and bottled water. Expanded Medallion Collection Tours Showcase Unique Adventures - For seasoned travelers seeking extraordinary adventures, Holland America’s Medallion Collection of shore excursions has expanded in 2004 offering even more unusual opportunities. The exclusive Medallion Collection shore excursions are capacity limited and deliver a unique perspective on a port of call’s history, culture and landscape. Medallion Collection tour sample: Tour Corfu’s Achillion Palace followed by a traditional Greek luncheon with locals providing music and dance. Then take a swim at the private villa pool boasting spectacular sea views. Fitted out with an apron, bowl and all-important ingredients, knead your way to the perfect loaf of Irish Brown Bread at a call in Cobh, County Cork. Next, learn to dance the Walls of Limerick and Siege of Ennis with energetic dance instructors, followed by a hearty lunch at a picturesque pub and an afternoon’s lesson on the traditional sport of road bowling. The day ends with a slice from your own brown bread loaf, slathered with the finest Irish butter. Arrive from Helsinki at a Lappish reindeer farm via a scenic flight and wooden riverboat ride into the heart of Lapland. An Arctic Circle ceremony, fireside luncheon with music and folk dancing and a lesson in Lappish lasso-throwing precede a visit to Santa Claus Village, meeting Santa and posting a card from the North Pole. “Mrs. Guthrie-James Requests the Pleasure…” of your company at a 19th-century greystone Scottish mansion on Duart Bay, Island of Mull, for a relaxing day of regional tastes and experiences at a Scottish estate boasting 120 years of family portraits and scrapbooks that reveal the flavor and traditions of a by-gone era. Shore Excursions Equal a Continent of Cultural Exploration - From north to south, highlights of Holland America’s European shore excursions include the following: Embark on a romantic Venetian “Gondola Serenade” or explore the “Islands of the Lagoon: Murano, Burano and Torcello,” each with its own unique character and history. Amsterdam, Holland, offers a “City & Van Gogh Museum Tour” or a visit to the 17th-century town of Delft, famous for its earthenware, including hands-on pottery painting. The world of master architect Antonio Gaudi comes alive in “Gaudi’s Barcelona,” a guided tour that visits the lovely Sagrada Familia Church, Guell Park and La Pedrera House. From Warnemünde, Germany, a transfer to Berlin via private train allows a fascinating “Jewish History of Berlin & the Sachsenhausen Memorial Tour,” as well as local attractions that include the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. Stretch your sea legs from Oslo, Norway on a walking tour to old town Christiania, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and Oslo’s Golden Centre, headquarters of the government. Holland America is renowned for the broad spectrum of destinations visited by the premium line. Offering approximately 1,400 shore excursions worldwide, the company leads the cruise industry in the number and choices of tours. Holland America Line’s European shore excursions range in price from US$25 to $529. Signature Collection tours range from US$300-$2,400 depending on group size, port of call, tour duration and vehicle selected. European cruise fares start at US$899 per person, double-occupancy, taxes additional. Low-cost airfare is available from numerous North American gateways and pre- or post-cruise hotels and packages can also be purchased through the line. About Holland America Line In 2004, Holland America's fleet of 13, five-star, premium ships will offer nearly 500 sailings from 15 North American home ports, including new departures from Norfolk, VA; Baltimore, MD; and Boston, Mass. Recent additions to the fleet include the 1,848-passenger Vista ships, ms Zuiderdam and ms Oosterdam. In April 2004, the third Vista sister, ms Westerdam joins the fleet. The fleet will visit all seven continents in 2004, while increasing the number of cruises to popular destinations such as Alaska (139 cruises scheduled), the Caribbean (191), Europe (58) and Canada/New England (26). Holland America excels in service, amenities and special programs. Known for consistent and attentive service, its ships have one of the highest staff-members-to-guest ratios. Spacious staterooms average 25 percent larger and verandahs twice as large as those on other lines' ships. Menus are among the most extensive at-sea. Dining choices include formal elegance, alternative specialty dining in the Pacific Northwest-themed Pinnacle Grill, casual fare and complimentary 24-hour room service. The winner of the 10th consecutive "Best Overall Cruise Value" award from the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society (WOCLS), the line offers the only trip cancellation program in the industry that provides cash back for canceling for any reason prior to 24 hours before departure. For more information, consult a professional travel agent. World's Leading Cruise Lines The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world in the 2003 Travel & Leisure magazine "World's Best" Awards, Holland America is a member of the exclusive World's Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line, Costa Cruises and Windstar Cruises. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, the member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. The World's Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations. Conde Nast Traveler magazine readers also ranked Holland America Line as the top premium cruise line in the world in the much-anticipated 2003 Readers' Choice Awards. |
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