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HAL returns Rotterdam, Volendam to Asia for 2014/15 season

HAL returns Rotterdam, Volendam to Asia for 2014/15 season
Holland America Line's Rotterdam and Volendam return to Asia for a second season, from winter 2014 through spring 2015. The 1,432-passenger Volendam will sail 14- to 17-day cruises and non-repeating itineraries, while the 1,404-passenger Rotterdam makes a 90-day 'Passage to the Far East.'

All of the cruises feature extended and overnight stays at key cities.

Volendam's new 14-day 'Asian Adventure' sails round-trip Singapore to ports in Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar with overnights at Singapore, Thilawa (for Yangon) and an extended stay at Port Klang (for Kuala Lumpur). Departures are Dec. 22, 2014, and Feb. 2 and March 6, 2015.

The ship also sails a 14-day 'Far East Discovery' route between Singapore and Hong Kong with calls at Koh Samui, Thailand; Sihanoukville, Cambodia (with a late departure); several ports in Vietnam including late departures from Nha Trang and Halong Bay; and an overnight at Laem Chabang (for Bangkok). Dates are Jan. 5 and 19, Feb. 16 and March 2 and 30.

The 'Asia Adventure' and 'Far East Discovery' cruises can be combined for a 28-day 'Collectors’ Voyage' departing Dec. 22, 2014, and Feb. 2 and March 16, 2015.

Volendam sails three non-repeating itineraries at the beginning and end of the season, starting Nov. 22, 2014, with a cruise from Sydney to Singapore. The 16-day 'Great Barrier Reef' voyage explores eastern Australia with calls at Hamilton Island and Port Douglas (Cairns), with an extensive Great Barrier Reef experience. Passengers can witness a sunrise at Lizard Island, sunset at Piper Island and sail around the Ribbon Reef and Far North regions and through the Torres Strait. The ship leaves Australia with a final call at Darwin before visiting Komodo Island, Bali and Java in Indonesia.

In the spring, Volendam sails a 14-day 'China and Japan' voyage departing Hong Kong April 13 and ending at Kobe, Japan. Calls include Shanghai and Xingang (for Beijing), both overnight stays; Jeju and Busan, South Korea; and Nagasaki, Japan.

 A 17-day trans-Pacific voyage sails from Kobe to Vancouver, BC.

Following an overnight at Yokohama (for Tokyo) and calls at Hakodate and Kushiro, Japan, the ship crosses the Pacific to Kodiak and Sitka, Alaska, with scenic cruising along the Inside Passage.

The 14-day 'China and Japan' itinerary can be combined with the 17-day trans-Pacific cruise for a 31-day 'Collectors’ Voyage.'

Rotterdam's 90-day odyssey, round-trip from its namesake city in the Netherlands, departs Jan. 7, 2015. Passengers can instead sail round-trip Southampton on Jan. 8 for an 88-day voyage.

he ship sails east with calls at Portugal, Morocco, Spain, Malta and Greece, before a daylight transit of the Suez Canal. Following sea days, Rotterdam arrives at Muscat, Oman, and Dubai, UAE, before reaching India. After several calls in that country, the ship continues to Thilawa (for Yangon) for an overnight visit.

The Far East is extensively explored with calls at Singapore, Jakarta, and Malaysia before Rotterdam sails back to Sri Lanka, India, Oman, Jordan and Egypt. Overnights are at Port Klang, Colombo, Mumbai, Bali and Singapore. Following a transit through the Suez Canal, the ship explores Italy and Spain before returning to Southampton and Rotterdam.

Segments ranging from 34 to 55 days are available between Rotterdam, Southampton and Singapore.