HAL's Newest Ship - ms Nieuw Amsterdam - Highlights 2011 Europe Season

[Krazy Kruizers]

Holland America Line's Newest Ship — ms Nieuw Amsterdam — Highlights 2011 Europe Season

 

 

Seven ships to sail 100 departures to 162 ports of call

 

 

Seattle, Wash., Jan. 25, 2010 — Holland America Line’s 2011 Europe season will feature the newest Signature-class ship, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, on popular Mediterranean sailings and more round-trip and seven-day itineraries than ever before.

Seven ships — Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Eurodam, ms Noordam, ms Rotterdam, ms Prinsendam, ms Maasdam and ms Ryndam — will be based in the region with the first voyage departing April 3 on the Nieuw Amsterdam and the final trans-Atlantic sailing departing Nov. 7 on the ms Prinsendam.

“In 2011, we are catering to a broader range of interests as the appeal of cruising Europe continues to grow,” said Rick Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “By expanding our cruise opportunities — both in new ports and varied itineraries — we expect to entice both first-time and seasoned cruisers.”

The 2011 season has something for everyone. Featuring 15 maiden calls and offering overnight visits at 16 diverse ports, it marks the debut of several new European itineraries including two commemorative nine-day historical trans-Atlantic crossings aboard Rotterdam in July.

Two Signature-class ships, Nieuw Amsterdam and Eurodam, will both sail European itineraries during the 2011 season. Eurodam, the line’s first Signature-class ship, will start the Europe season with two seven-day Mediterranean sailings before continuing a series of mostly northern Europe itineraries. Nieuw Amsterdam, the newest ship, will sail the popular 12-day Mediterranean Romance, 12-day Tapestry and 12-day Empires itineraries as well as two seven-day Mediterranean cruises mid-season.

Additional round-trip itineraries, which allow time to explore a departure city before or after the cruise, depart from nine European cities — Tilbury and Dover (London), U.K.; Rome and Venice, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Athens, Greece; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Additionally, the line will offer a round-trip sailing to the continent from Boston, Massachusetts, aboard the Maasdam in July. For those short on time, 18 seven-day sailings provide an array of cruises exploring the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords or the Baltic.

The season also will feature three new itineraries aboard the Ryndam. A 21-day Mediterranean Adventure offers a comprehensive tour of fascinating Mediterranean ports as well as the less-visited Sète, France, and Sardinia, Italy. The 14-day North Cape cruise features a crossing of the Arctic Circle and a sail by the North Cape and Norwegian ports. And an 11-day Canary Island Explorer sailing round-trip Rotterdam visits the Canary Islands, Morocco and Spain.

More ambitious cruisers looking to expand their port collections can combine itineraries for a Collectors’ Voyage, which range from 14 to 45 days and are perfect for true explorers who seek an in-depth experience at an exceptional value.

Fares start at $999 per person, double occupancy, for a seven-day voyage. For guests booking before June 1, 2010, there is an Early Booking Bonus of dinner for two in the Pinnacle Grill, the line’s award-winning alternative restaurant featuring Pacific Northwest cuisine.

For more information or to book a 2011 Europe cruise, contact a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

Editor’s note: Photos available. Please contact JPrimeau@HollandAmerica.com.

 

- www.hollandamerica.com -

[Roz]

KK,

 

Thank you for posting this. It's interesting that even though the press release says to go to the HAL website and/or contact your TA, the itineraries aren't yet posted on the website.

 

Roz

[DutchByAssociation]

KK,

 

Thank you for posting this. It's interesting that even though the press release says to go to the HAL website and/or contact your TA, the itineraries aren't yet posted on the website.

 

Roz

 

Because in the meantime you can still post a refundable deposit on a Future Cruise Request. (Reservations can give you more info on this)

[parrotfeathers]

So, after all the threads about how unwise it is to go on a ship that has just come out of drydock, or taking a maiden voyage--who is going to be brave enough to try the Amsterdam right away?

[kalliekae]

So, after all the threads about how unwise it is to go on a ship that has just come out of drydock, or taking a maiden voyage--who is going to be brave enough to try the Amsterdam right away?

 

 

We're booked on the Nieuw Amsterdam's Nov. 7 Inaugural Caribbean cruise. By that time, she should have all the kinks worked out. I prefer a newer ship after the terrible experience we had on the old Noordam right before they sold her so I am not worried.:)

[FeeFeeCat]

Just checked to see if these 2011 itineraries were posted on HAL's Web site yet and they are! Missed out on a great Northern Europe itinerary on Eurodam July '09 and am hoping to find a similar one for 2011.

[CruiserBruce]

So, after all the threads about how unwise it is to go on a ship that has just come out of drydock, or taking a maiden voyage--who is going to be brave enough to try the Amsterdam right away?

 

The NA is sailing this summer- July 7th I think. So in 2011 it will only be HAL's newest ship, not a new ship.

[scottjeanne]

We are on the inaugural voyage on July 7th this year RT Venice. I will let you know how it goes. We were on the first post dry dock cruise of the Veendam last May. There were lots of kinks to be worked out, but we go with the flow.

 

The staff was not a fluid unit yet. Service was very poor. It did not help that we were under code red, whcih added tremendously to the service the staff had to offer.

 

They could not find alot of the food and serving pieces. One day we had no orange juice, the next day we had orange juice but not tomato. There was a shortage of glasses at all times. This was due to the fact that the dry dock was not on schedule so when they arrived in FLL for passengers, the crew just stored everything everywhere, not in the designated homes. It took them awhile to find things.

 

The new computer/gaming tables in the Mix had some bugs. For one thing it was programed in Italian since the programers were Italian. It is hard to play scrabble that way!

 

The aft pool/retreat area was not complete until the cruise docked in San Diego (14 days into a 19 day cruise).

 

All that being said, it did not upset our trip. One must accept the glitches in a new ship and crew. We are very excited about the inaugural cruise.