Seattle, WA, Oct. 29, 2007 — Prinsendam, Holland America Line’s most intimate ship carrying just 793 guests, will sail two Grand Voyages in 2009 enveloping a third of the year from Jan. through April. Guests will cruise around the Latin lands of South America and discover mysteries and wonders of Antarctica on the Grand South America and Antarctic Voyage, as well as explore European favorites and uncover lesser-visited ports on the Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea Voyage.

Grand South America and Antarctic VoyageFor those seeking a true journey of exploration, the ship first departs Jan. 2, 2009, on a 68-day South America and Antarctica cruise round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. During the circumnavigation of the continent, Prinsendam will journey more than 17,700 nautical miles and visit 32 ports of call in 14 countries, including overnight stays in Manaus and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Callao (Lima), Peru, and Fuerte Amador, Panama. Prinsendam visits an impressive total of 13 different ports in Brazil, including maiden calls at Maceio, Ilhabela (Sao Sabastiao) and Itajai.

Prinsendam will sail from the tip to toe of South America and spend seven days exploring the Amazon River, cruising all the way to Manaus — the farthest upriver navigable point for ocean-going vessels. On the other end of the continent, the ship calls at Ushuaia, the southernmost town in the world. Scenic cruising features the infamous Darwin and Beagle channels, Chilean fjords, Strait of Magellan and Cape Horn. Spectacular landscapes and colossal glaciers greet guests as the ship sails farther south to spend three days cruising in Antarctica, a rare journey for most travelers.

Additional highlights of the Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage include daylight passage through the Panama Canal, a call at the mysterious Devil’s Island and four Equator crossings. For those with less time, shorter cruise segments of 11 to 57 days are available between Fort Lauderdale, Buenos Aires and Callao.

Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea VoyageFor guests who always have wanted to explore Europe without flying, Prinsendam departs Fort Lauderdale March 11, 2009, for a 50-day round-trip cruise to the Mediterranean and Black Sea. After calls at unique Caribbean ports, the ship sails eastbound across the Atlantic where 25 centuries of history, art and culture await. During the voyage, Prinsendam will sail more than 14,400 nautical miles and visit 25 ports of call in 15 countries, including favorites such as Spain, Italy and France, as well as the more unusual ports of call in Bulgaria and Ukraine.

After sailing westward back across the Atlantic, the ship calls at Bermuda before ending in either New York or Fort Lauderdale. Overnight stays in Barcelona, Spain, and Istanbul, Turkey, as well as late-night departures in Arrecife, Canary Islands; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Kusadasi, Turkey; Santorini, Greece, and Lisbon, Portugal, allow ample time for shopping and exploration of some of the world’s most interesting and historic ports.  

Reservations are now available for 2009 Prinsendam Grand VoyagesReservations are now available for Prinsendam’s 2009 Grand Voyages. Early-booking bonus amenities for full-cruise guests include airfare, prepaid hotel service charges, shipboard credit, luggage delivery service and limousine transfers when booking select stateroom categories; amenities vary by cruise and booking date.

The two Grand Voyages are available to book for the full cruise or in segments as short as 11 days. Cruise fares are per person, double occupancy and rates start at $13,599 for the 68-day Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage departing Jan. 2, 2009, and $8,749 for the Grand Mediterranean and Black Sea Voyage departing March 11, 2009.

For those with more time, the back-to back 2009 Prinsendam Grand Voyages can be combined for an epic 118-day adventure sailing round-trip from Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 2, returning April 30, 2009 with additional savings available.