GLOBAL ODYSSEY 2010 BLOG #15: HOLLAND AMERICA GRAND WORLD VOYAGES

With a day at sea, and a bit worn out on the food side, we’d like to say something about the recent composition of the Line’s Grand World Voyages – not an exhaustive survey, but a sort of summary of the past five years, the current trip, and what’s already being planned. That way, if you have any interest in trying yourself, you won’t have to start from scratch.

First, the trip’s always start at the same time of year – early to late January, although more recently there’s been emphasis on the earlier dates. This is good insofar as you get away for the cold winter months, but Christmas or other plans need to be factored in, as they have the potential of disrupting your preparations. The Holland America vessels employed tend to vary, but have included the Prisendam (2005-06), the Amsterdam (2007-08, 2010-11), and the Rotterdam (2009). Information on 2011 is currently available, which suggests if you really want to plan ahead, you can have at least a year to do so.

While Los Angeles was the port of embarkation in 2005, all the other recent trips have departed from Fort Lauderdale. In some cases, a complete circuit is made; in others, you are dropped on the west coast – usually in Seattle or Los Angeles. (East Coast passengers may also be able to disembark in New York.) All trips tend to end sometime in late April, having a general duration of slightly over 100 days, or a bit more than three months.

The only major rule on ports is that nothing remains stationary. In order to encourage repeat business, the Line varies its itinerary, and when possible throws in new ports of call. This year, for example, the Amsterdam is paying a maiden call to Isla Robinson Crusoe, Chile, while next year will feature first-time stops in Oban, New Zealand and Palau. If one itinerary doesn’t seem attractive, wait a year and something else will pop up.

We were particularly taken by the opportunity to round both Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope, as well as transiting the Panama Canal. Next year, the Amsterdam will miss both of the Capes, but will add the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean. Over the years, there have been other changes in emphasis.

In 2005, for example, the Prinsendam made stops in Hawaii, Kiribati, Western Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles, Mauritius, Reunion, South Africa, Namibia, St. Helena, Ascension Island, Brazil, Barbados, and the Bahamas.

2006 saw visits to Barbados, Devil’s Island, multiple stops in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha, South Africa, Madagascar, the Comoros, Tanzania, Kenya, the Seychelles, India, Oman, the Suez Canal, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Malta, Italy, France, Spain, and Madeira.

The Amsterdam's 2007 Cruise did the Panama Canal before stopping in Ecuador, Peru, Easter Island, Tahiti, American Samoa, Fiji, New Caledonia, Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Dubai, Oman, the Suez Canal and Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Monaco, Spain, Gibraltar, and Portugal.

The following year it was the Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, a transit of the Panama Canal and Panama, the Marquesas, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, India, Oman, Egypt, and the Suez Canal, Turkey, Russia, the Ukraine, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Malta, Gibraltar, Portugal and Madeira, and __ (Ireland Isle).

Last year, the Rotterdam hit Columbia, the Panama Canal, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Los Angeles and Hawaii, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Shanghai, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India, Dubai, Oman, the Seychelles, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia, St. Helena, Ascension, Devil’s Island, Trinidad, Barbados, and St. Bartholomew.

This year we’re going where we’re going – follow this blog and you’ll eventually find out! In 2011, however, the Amsterdam hits Grand Cayman, Costa Rica, transits the Panama Canal, stops in Ecuador, Peru, Easter Island, Tahiti, Bora Bora, the Cook Islands, Niue, makes multiple stops in New Zealand and Australia and touches at Papua, New Guinea, Palau, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, India, Dubai, Oman, Jordan, the Suez Canal, and Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain and Madeira!

There’s no dull moment, even for repeat cruisers, and if you don’t like the itinerary one year, just wait until the next comes around!