Holland America
Cruises
Holland America is one of the world's oldest cruise companies. Beginning in 1873, it was originally in the passenger trade and freight trade, but it moved into the luxury cruise industry in the 1970s. Today, as part of the Carnival Corporation, Holland America has itineraries that visit 280 ports of call on all seven continents. Some of their most popular cruises, however, remain in the West and North hemispheres.
Alaska
Holland America was one of the first lines to offer cruises to Alaska, and its expertise in this area shows. The cruise line offers four different seven-day cruise options. The options take you through different parts of the sea and past glaciers, with one sailing through Glacier Bay's Inside Passage. Most of these cruises begin in either Seattle or Vancouver and travel up the coast of Canada to Alaska.
Caribbean
Always a favorite for cruising passengers, Holland America offers three different cruises in the Caribbean. Mostly departing from Fort Lauderdale and Tampa, the line runs out to the eastern (St. Thomas and St. Maarten), western (Belize, Cozumel and Grand Cayman Island) and southern (Aruba, Barbados and Grenada) regions of the Caribbean. Holland America also has its own private Caribbean island, Half Moon Cay.
Mexico
The Mexican Riviera is a newer destination, but Holland America offers several cruises there. Mostly leaving from San Diego, these cruises travel down the Baja California peninsula and along Mexico's west coast to stop in such ports of call as Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerta Vallarta.
Hawaii
The cruise line offers several trips to Hawaii throughout the year. Beginning and ending in San Diego, these cruises are generally 15-day cruises because of the distance to the islands. However, there are also 19-, 33- and 63-day options. The ports of call are all usually in Hawaii, so travelers get a good sense of what that state has to offer.
Europe
Evoking images of Old World transoceanic liners, Holland America offers several options for travelling to Europe. Many of these cruises begin and end in Europe with destinations to Northern Europe, the French Riviera and along the Mediterranean Sea. Holland America also offers a transatlantic cruise. Beginning or ending in New York, Fort Lauderdale, or Boston, these cruises generally can last anywhere from 16 to 30 days and combine an ocean voyage with a good variety of European ports of call.
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