November 2012

Line to feature first-ever three-night Denali stay and “Sampler” tour options

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Silversea Cruises, the leading cruise operator renowned for its ultra-luxurious ships and exotic destinations, has unveiled an extensive line-up of worldwide voyages for 2014. Over 200 diverse sailings, visiting more than 500 destinations on seven continents, are now open for reservations.

Amongst the highlights are:

    Fare Guarantee Programme - Providing guests with the peace of mind in knowing that when they plan ahead and book early, not only will they enjoy the privilege of reserving their desired suite, but they can also benefit from any future reduction in the Silver Privilege fares for their voyage, upon request.

    10% Extended Voyage Savings - Available for a limited time on most 2014 voyages, guests can save an additional 10% on each voyage when combining two or more consecutive voyages.

Also noteworthy for 2014 are Silver Whisper’s 113-day World Cruise, three voyages that feature extended stays in Myanmar, and Silver Explorer’s first-ever expedition cruises through the legendary Northwest Passage, the Russian Far East, Japan, South Pacific and French Polynesia.

Plus, Silversea is offering 95 new ports of call, which include83 just for Silver Explorer. Collectively, the line’s other ships will offer 12 new destinations: Melilla and Almeria, Spain; Haugesund, Norway; Eskifjordur and Djupivogur, Iceland; Koror, Palau; Ponce, Puerto Rico; Sept-Îles and Trois-Rivières (Québec), Canada; Alotau, Papua New Guinea; Kavala, Greece; and Trujillo (Banana Coast), Honduras.

“2014 marks Silversea’s 20th anniversary, so we designed a voyage collection that would match the special sense of excitement and celebration that we’ll be sharing with our guests throughout the year,” said Mike Bonner, General Manager, Silversea - UK, Ireland & Middle East. “Our expansive programme offers fresh and intriguing journeys to all corners of the globe, including numerous overnight stays that provide plenty of time for guests to leisurely explore remarkable destinations.”

World Cruise 2014: This incomparable 113-day odyssey aboard Silver Whisper departs January 6 from Los Angeles, visiting 54 destinations in 29 countries, and featuring 12 overnight stays. Following a westward path across the Pacific, Silver Whisper will call on lush Polynesia and lands Down Under, including Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Australia and New Zealand. From there, she will sail up to the remote island of Koror and then head west to spend a month exploring fascinating Asian cultures—from China, Japan, and Vietnam to Thailand, Singapore, and India—including three days in Myanmar. Silver Whisper will conclude her global tour in Barcelona.

Mediterranean, Northern Europe & Baltic: From late March to mid-November, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit will offer 90 voyages revealing the great cities and old-world charm of the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Baltic. Highlights include:

• Diverse Mediterranean itineraries offering numerous opportunities to sail back-to-back cruises without repeating any ports.

• More than 120 overnight stays, the most Silversea has ever offered in the region, including several Baltic Sea voyages with three-day, two-night calls in St. Petersburg.

• Silver Spirit’s Voyage 5414 will spend the night of May 21 in Cannes, during the city’s iconic film festival, and also overnight in Monte Carlo on May 24 during the Grand Prix.

• Silver Cloud’s Voyage 1417 visits the Normandy coast on June 6, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

• The historic cities of the Black Sea will be featured on five sailings: Silver Cloud’s Voyage 1431, Silver Wind’s Voyage 2411, and Silver Spirit’s Voyage 5422, 5426 and 5431.

• Silver Cloud’s 10-day Voyage 1424 will sail round-trip from Reykjavik to explore the rugged beauty of southern Greenland.

• Four sailings offer the chance to explore the rich history of the Holy Land with calls in Ashdod and Haifa. These are Silver Spirit’s Voyage 5433, which overnights in Haifa, Silver Cloud’s Voyage 1433, Silver Wind’s Voyage 2433, andSilver Whisper’s Voyage 4406.

Asia, Africa & India: In addition to World Cruise 2014, Silversea will offer 20 sailings to some of the most exotic destinations in Asia, Africa and India, including Silver Wind’s three 10-day round-trip sailings from Cape Town, two cruises along the west coast of Africa, and an end-of-year Asia programme that includes a three-night stopover in Myanmar on Voyage 2438. Silver Shadow’s Asia schedule, which focuses on Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Thailand and Japan, also features a three-night stopover in Myanmar on Voyage 3404.

Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific: Not only will Silver Whisper’s World Cruise visit this magnificent corner of the globe, but Silver Shadow will open 2014 voyaging around New Zealand andAustralia, and then in the fall will feature four sailings to French Polynesia, including calls to Hawaii, Kiribati and Easter Island.

Alaska: Silver Shadow will showcase the breathtaking scenery and remarkable wildlife of the 49th state on 17 mostly seven-day voyages between Seward and Vancouver. New for 2014 are extended full-day calls in Juneau, allowing more time for onshore adventures.

South America: From majestic glaciers and thundering waterfalls to samba bands and tango dancers, South America is a continent of contrasting sights and sounds. In 2014, Silversea is dedicating four ships—Silver Cloud, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit—to reveal its many natural and cultural treasures on 12 different itineraries. Among the highlights is the opportunity to sail round-trip from Fort Lauderdale and completely circumnavigate South America by combining five Silver Spirit voyages (5401 - 5405) for a 66-day Grand Voyage. And Silver Whisper’s 17-day Voyage 4432 sails round-trip from Barbados to explore the Amazon, featuring a two-night stopover in Manaus.

Caribbean & Panama Canal: The turquoise waters, glistening beaches and easy-going lifestyle of the Caribbean will be the focus of 21 sailings offered aboard Silver Cloud, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit. Of special note is a series of four convenient round-trip cruises from San Juan aboard Silver Cloud in March. And Silver Whisper’s Voyage 4434 is a 17-day holiday cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles, highlighted by a crossing of the Panama Canal.

Canada & New England: Just in time for the region’s fall foliage spectacle, Silver Whisper will offer a collection of voyages exploring eastern Canada and coastal New England, including scenic cruises along Québec’s Saguenay River and New England’s Cape Cod Canal.

Transoceanic: For those who enjoy plenty of relaxing days at sea, a number of transoceanic voyages are available, such as Silver Spirit’s Voyage 5435, a 15-day transatlantic crossing from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, and Silver Shadow’s Voyage 3411, a 13-day sailing across the Pacific from Tokyo to Seward.

Expedition Cruises: In a first for Silversea, the luxury expedition ship Silver Explorer will sail the Northwest Passage, the famed shipping route that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Canadian Arctic. And complementing the ship’s ever-popular cruises to Antarctica, South and Central America, the British Isles and Arctic Norway are first-ever expedition voyages to the Russian Far East, Japan, South Pacific and French Polynesia.

The schedule and fares for Silver Galapagos will be available when the ship’s expedition cruises open for sale in the coming weeks.

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Celebrity Cruises is offering $1,000 per cabin discounts on 2013 cruises in Europe.

The line's new "Air Today, Relax Tomorrow" promotion — designed to offer customers relief from rising airfares to the region -- is available to those who book a balcony cabin or suite on any Celebrity sailing in Europe taking place between April and September.

The offer is available this week to members of Celebrity's frequent cruiser program, the Captain's Club, and becomes available to the general public on Nov. 8. The promotion will continue through Dec. 2.

To qualify for the discount, customers must provide Celebrity with proof of a reservation for flights to Europe from a North American gateway city. The flight does not have to be booked through the line.

Cruise executives have said rising airfares from North America to Europe over the past two years have left some customers on the fence about a voyage in the region, and a number of lines have responded with promotions that involved free or discounted airfare.

Celebrity will have six ships sailing in Europe in 2013 that collectively will visit 25 countries from seven departure ports. The season will include Celebrity's first visits to Liverpool, England; Waterford, Ireland; Torshavn, Faroe Islands; Varna, Bulgaria; Sevastopol and Odessa in Ukraine; and Kristiansand, Norway.

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The new South Pacific Culinary Discovery Tours are offered in the Bay of Islands and Tauranga, New Zealand on the 18-day South Pacific Paradise cruise. Departing Papeete, Tahiti on February 7, 2013, the cruise calls on 11 ports throughout French Polynesia, Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia before arriving in New Zealand.

“Oceania Cruises offers a unique culinary experience for epicureans through our Bon Appétit Culinary Center and the new Culinary Discovery Tours. We created these tours for our guests on Marina as she heads to the South Pacific as feedback on our experiential cuisine programs has far exceeded expectations,” said Kunal S. Kamlani, the line’s president.

“A Chef-Insider's Food & Wine Feast” Culinary Discovery Tour in the Bay of Islands visits Kerikeri, a horticultural center and home to Ake Ake winery for a tasting with the head vintner and a meal created from locally grown foods depending on what's fresh that day. Guests might expect a regional dish prepared with seafood from the Bay of Islands, such as Pan-Roasted Snapper with Capsicum Coulis.

The Culinary Discovery Tour in Tauranga, “Maori ‘Kai’ Cooking Demo and Kiwi Fruit,” explores a flourishing kiwi orchard followed by a trip to the lakes of Rotorua for a traditional Maori luncheon featuring native herbs and ingredients used by the indigenous people of New Zealand.

Marina also sails three additional South Pacific voyages with highlights that include overnight calls on Easter Island and Bora Bora, cruising the Tuamotu Archipelago and crossing the international dateline. Additional sailings include:

• Ancient Legends – 20-day holiday sailing between Valparaiso, Chile and Papeete, French Polynesia, visiting Robinson Crusoe Island, Hanga Roa, Chile, Adamstown, Pitcairn Islands, Fakarava, French Polynesia, Moorea, French Polynesia, and Bora Bora. Departure: December 27, 2012.
• Tahitian Breeze – 11 day voyage roundtrip from Papeete, French Polynesia with visits to Bora Bora and ports in the Marquesas Islands. Departures: January 16 and January 27, 2013.

With free air, two-for-one fares and bonus savings of up to $4,000 per stateroom, guests will find exploring the exotic South Pacific with Oceania Cruises an extraordinary value. Bonus savings are offered on bookings made through December 31, 2012.

Noted for its luxurious public rooms and accommodations, and warm and attentive service the 1,250-guest Marina, and sister ship Riviera, was purpose-built for epicureans with six open-seating, no-fee gourmet restaurants – including a French bistro by Master Chef Jacques Pépin. Interior design highlights include a Lalique-designed grand staircase, elegant public rooms, spacious accommodations and Owner’s Suites furnished exclusively in Ralph Lauren Home.

The Bon Appétit Culinary Center on Oceania Cruises’ Riviera and Marina features 24 fully equipped work stations. Induction cook tops and convection ovens afford participants the opportunity to gain a hands-on cooking experience. Classes cater to all levels of aptitude, from beginner to master-chef level.

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The upscale line says it is replacing two previously announced seven-night Alaska voyages scheduled for June with a single 14-night sailing to the state. The roundtrip voyage out of Seattle will take place on Oceania's 684-passenger Regatta and feature calls at Kodiak, Hoonah and Seward in Alaska as well as a stop at Alaska's Hubbard Glacier.

Oceania also has amended the Regatta's June 28 and July 5 sailings to Alaska to begin and end in Seattle. The June 28 trip originally was scheduled to begin in Seattle and end in Vancouver, B.C. The July 5 trip originally was scheduled to begin in Vancouver and end in Seattle.

Oceania says the changes were made based on feedback from customers and travel agents.

The line offered 14-night sailings to Alaska in 2011 -- its first year operating in the state -- but had eliminated such longer voyages to Alaska for 2013 as it shifted to shorter seven- to 10-night trips.

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New Stories Include Granting a Veteran's Last Wish, Saving a Marriage, and Bonding with a Birth Family

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P&O Cruises can trace its colourful history all the way back to 1837.

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Carnival Cruise Line has some very exciting news about a $155 million dollar makeover that will transform the Carnival Destiny into the Carnival Sunshine during a 49-day dry dock in Italy. Not only will the ship re-enter service in April 2013 with all of the dining, bar and entertainment elements of its groundbreaking Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement program, she'll have several exciting new features unique to the fleet.

Among those are a new racing-themed water park featuring Carnival's longest water slide ever, a sizzling, tropical-themed nightspot called Havana Bar, a full service Asian restaurant, and more.

Here's a quick peek at the unique features only available on Carnival Sunshine:

• Havana Bar, which by day serves as a casual gathering spot for relaxing with friends and enjoying Cuban coffee and Cuban finger foods such as pastelitos and croquetas, while at night transforms into a Cuban-inspired courtyard with a cool Latin vibe where guests can listen to live music, enjoy classic Cuban cocktails, and dance the night away.
• WaterWorks, an all-new water park where the young - and the young at heart - can zip down five different slides and have a splash-tastic time with 40 different interactive water features. Here, guests can race to the finish on Carnival's newest ride, Speedway Splash, with dual side-by-side 235-foot long slides with racers' times projected on a scoreboard and special lighting effects that add to the adventure…and that's just the beginning.
• A stunning full-service Asian restaurant that will feature delicious favorites from the Far East, enhanced by a serene décor of prayer rolls, wood-beamed ceilings and other design elements, with an open kitchen where guests can view master chefs artfully prepare a tantalizing menu.
• Shake Spot, the ideal place to "chill" where guests can enjoy delicious hand-crafted milkshakes while taking a break from all the fun in the sun. Shake Spot will offer classic milkshakes and floats, as well as tropical fruit shakes and "adult shakes and floats" made with Grand Marnier, Cointreau and other liqueurs.
• JavaBlue, the place to connect, meet up and savor sweet and frothy cappuccinos, lattes, espressos and other caffeinated favorites, as well as coffees made with liqueurs, along with decadent confections such as extra-large cinnamon buns, giant cupcakes and huge slices of red velvet cake.
• Pizzeria del Capitano is an expansion of our popular Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant and is perfect for guests who crave delicious, hand-stretched, artisanal-style pizza anytime of the day or night. The pizzeria will be open 24 hours a day and is free of charge.

Carnival Sunshine will also offer all of the exciting elements that make up our $500 million dollar Fun Ship 2.0 enhancement program including Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, BlueIguana Tequila Bar, RedFrog Rum Bar, EA Sports Bar, and the Alchemy Bar. The ship will also feature Hasbro, The Game Show, and Playlist Productions as family entertainment options.

Catch Carnival Sunshine in its debut on a 14-day Mediterranean voyage from Venice to Barcelona on April 12-26, 2013, followed by nine- and 12-day Mediterranean cruises either round-trip from Barcelona or sailings between Barcelona and Venice through October 20, 2013. Carnival Sunshine will then sail on a 16-day Transatlantic crossing from Barcelona to New Orleans November 1-17, 2013, positioning itself for year-round seven-day departures from the Big Easy.

Watch for more information to come on this exciting transformation!

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To honor and give thanks to the courageous men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, Princess Cruises is launching our first fundraising sailing which is expected to generate $1 million for two charities committed to U.S. veterans

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FREE Airfare*
2 for 1 Cruise Fares*
Bonus Savings up to $5,000 per stateroom*
2 for 1 Deposits*

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Balcony for the Same Fare as an Oceanview! Experience Cunard's White Star Service 7 Days | Westbound Transatlantic    Sail from Southampton to New York         Inside   Oceanview   Balcony   Grill         QUEEN MARY 2 2012: Nov 20 $499 $599 $599 $2,149         QUEEN MARY 2 2013: Apr 26 $895 $1,345 $1,345 $2,899   5 Days | Spring Getaway    Sail roundtrip from Southampton         Inside   Oceanview   Balcony   Grill         QUEEN VICTORIA 2013: Apr 26 $999 $1,349 $1,349 $2,799   14 Days | Atlantic Isles Discovery    Sail roundtrip from Southampton         Inside   Oceanview   Balcony   Grill         QUEEN VICTORIA 2013: May 1 $2,499 $3,499 $3,499 $7,699   *FARES ARE CRUISE ONLY, NON-AIR, PER PERSON, BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY, SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY, CAPACITY CONTROLLED AND INCLUDE NON-COMMISSIONABLE FARE. OFFER EXCLUDES SELECT CATEGORIES. Balcony Upgrade offer refers to reserving a Premium Balcony stateroom (category B5 - sheltered) for the price of an Oceanview stateroom (category C4) on the listed voyages only. Balcony stateroom on QUEEN MARY 2 or Oceanview stateroom on QUEEN VICTORIA or QUEEN ELIZABETH may have an obstructed view. Additional stateroom categories may be available at higher fares. This offer applies to lower berth passengers only. Offer may not be combinable with other discounts, promotions, or shipboard credits, and is available to residents of Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States of America only. Call Cunard Line for applicable air add-on program. Commission is based on new promotional fare. Please refer to the applicable brochure for Government Fees and Taxes which are additional and subject to change. Cunard reserves the right to impose a fuel supplement of up to $9 per person per day on all passengers if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel, even if fares have been paid in full. Transfers to/from ship/hotel are not included in fares. Please refer to the applicable Cunard Line brochure or cunard.com for terms, conditions and definitions which apply to the booking. Fares are quoted in U.S. Dollars. These fares may not be advertised on the Internet. Offer is not transferable and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Fares are only available by calling Cunard reservations at 1-800-7-CUNARD. Certain restrictions apply. Ships' registry: Bermuda ? Cunard 2012.

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Must book by Decenber 28 before fares increase.

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Passengers Can Save Up to $1,000 Per Person and Get Up to $100 Cash Back

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Several thousand readers cast their ballots, voting in a variety of cruise categories in the annual awards poll. The full list of winners can be found on the magazine’s website www.porthole.com and is featured in the December 2012 issue of Porthole Cruise Magazine.

The award recognizes The Gauguin’s year-round itineraries. “With a singular luxury ship specifically built to sail into the smaller hidden ports of the South Pacific, Paul Gauguin Cruises offers some of the most beautiful and pristine itineraries any cruise ship guest can experience,” says Bill Panoff, Porthole Cruise Magazine’s publisher and editor-in-chief. “Our readers are discerning travelers who have come to expect only the highest standards of quality, product, and service from cruise lines and destinations. To have received their seal of approval is truly an honor for the winners and a fitting tribute to the hard work and commitment that characterizes the international cruise industry.”

The Gauguin’s voyages in French Polynesia and the South Pacific feature a host of exquisite islands with white-sand beaches, aqua lagoons, mist-laden mountains, and warm Polynesian culture. Itineraries in 2013 include: 7-night Tahiti & the Society Islands; 10-night Society Islands & Tuamotus; 11-night Cook Islands & Society Islands; 11-night Australs & Society Islands; and 14-night Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands.

Paul Gauguin Cruises offers extraordinary value with savings of 50% off all-inclusive standard cruise fares on all 2013 voyages, plus included airfare from Los Angeles on French Polynesia itineraries.

For rates or more information on Paul Gauguin Cruises, please contact a Travel Professional.

About Paul Gauguin Cruises
Owned by Pacific Beachcomber S.C., French Polynesia’s leading luxury hotel and cruise operator, Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the 5+-star cruise ship m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a deluxe cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific. The Gauguin was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. The ship, 513 feet long and 71 feet wide, has a draft of 16.9 feet, and can accommodate 332 guests with a staff of 217. It is one of the top Exclusive Charter and Incentive Group venues in the industry and has completed more than 570 South Pacific cruises, serving more than 176,250 guests, including more than 15,000 honeymooners, since its inaugural sail in 1998. The Gauguin has undergone more than $25 million in enhancements, with an additional $7 million completed in January 2012. The Gauguin received second place for small-ship cruise lines in Travel + Leisure’s “2012 World’s Best Awards” and was recognized as one of the “Top 20 Small Cruise Ships” by readers of Condé Nast Traveler for the 14th year in 2012.

The cruise line’s second ship, the m/v Tere Moana, will begin sailing under the Paul Gauguin Cruises banner in December 2012 after completing a multifaceted renovation. The ship, which will sail Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America, is 330 feet long and 46 feet wide, has a draft of 11.5 feet, and can accommodate 90 guests with a staff of 60.

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To launch the planting of the new tulip, which will be harvested next spring, Jan Pennings will hand over the first bulbs to Holland America Line Captain Edward van Zaane; Nico Bleichrodt, Senior Director of Sales, North and Central Europe; and Martin Schröder, loyal Mariner and member of the Holland America Dutch advisory board. The event took place on Nov. 16, 2012 by a windmill that was donated to Keukenhof Gardens by Holland America Line in 1957. The tulips are scheduled to bloom in spring, 2013. An official christening and naming of the new tulip will be held in April, 2013 at Keukenhof.

Known as the Garden of Europe, Keukenhof is the world's largest flower gardens, situated near Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Approximately seven million flower bulbs of 1,600 varieties are planted annually at the park. The Keukenhof is only open for two months per year, from March 21 through May 20, and attracts more than 800,000 visitors from around the world. For more information visit: http://www.keukenhof.nl.

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European Itineraries Feature Marquis Performances from the Music Center of Los Angeles

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Norwegian Jewel to sail from Houston to the Western Caribbean in 2014/2015

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Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth Named Best Luxury Cruise Ship
for Entertainment and for Atrium Design in Travel Weekly Magellan Awards

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Holland America Line is partnering with the world-famous Keukenhof Spring gardens in the Netherlands to develop an exclusive tulip for Holland America Line in celebration of their 140th anniversary in 2013. Master grower Jan Pennings, exhibitor at Keukenhof Gardens, chose a white-petaled variety to honor the company that was originally founded in Rotterdam on April 18, 1873, as a trans-Atlantic cargo and passenger company.

To launch the planting of the new tulip, which will be harvested next spring, Jan Pennings will hand over the first bulbs to Holland America Line Captain Edward van Zaane; Nico Bleichrodt, Senior Director of Sales, North and Central Europe; and Martin Schröder, loyal Mariner and member of the Holland America Dutch advisory board. The event took place on Nov. 16, 2012 by a windmill that was donated to Keukenhof Gardens by Holland America Line in 1957. The tulips are scheduled to bloom in spring, 2013. An official christening and naming of the new tulip will be held in April, 2013 at Keukenhof.

Known as the Garden of Europe, Keukenhof is the world's largest flower gardens, situated near Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Approximately seven million flower bulbs of 1,600 varieties are planted annually at the park. The Keukenhof is only open for two months per year, from March 21 through May 20, and attracts more than 800,000 visitors from around the world. For more information visit: http://www.keukenhof.nl.

For more information on Holland America Line’s cruises and cruisetours, consult a professional travel seller

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