Holland America Debuts Three Alaska Itineraries in 2008

Holland America Line will offer three cruising itineraries in Alaska in 2008 -- “Glacier Bay Inside Passage Cruises,” “Glacier Discovery” and “Alaskan Explorer Cruise.” In all, the premium line will offer 156 cruises on eight ships, including 59 sailings on three ships homeported in Seattle and 97 cruises on five ships based in Vancouver.

The “Alaskan Explorer” departs from Seattle May 3 through Sept. 21 on the 1,848-guest Oosterdam (Saturdays) and 1,916-guest Westerdam (Sundays). The seven-day Inside Passage cruises from Seattle are operated by the 1,380-guest Amsterdam (Fridays). The five ships based in Vancouver will offer a combination of Inside Passage roundtrips and one-way cruises between Vancouver and Seward from May 2 to Sept. 19, 2008.

The 1,258-passenger Ryndam, Statendam and Veendam, plus the 1,432-passenger Zaandam, will all feature a full day of cruising through Glacier Bay National Park and call at Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.

Two ships –the Zaandam and sister ship Volendam- will offer 36 seven-day, one-way cruises between Vancouver and Seward departing on Sundays May 11 through Sept. 14. The northbound “Glacier Bay Discovery” cruises call at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway and include scenic cruising of both Glacier Bay National Park and College Fjord before arriving in Seward.

Southbound, the itinerary is similar with a call at Haines instead of Skagway. The Veendam also offers seven-day, one-way “Hubbard Glacier Discovery” cruises between Vancouver and Seward departing Fridays from May 16 through Sept. 12. These sailings combine calls at Ketchikan, Haines (northbound) or Skagway (southbound), Juneau and Sitka with scenic cruising past Hubbard Glacier.