Two mid-sized ships, ms Westerdam and ms Maasdam, to sail Asia from October 2018 until April 2019, featuring Explore4 early booking amenities including drinks package worth up to $1,000, speciality dining and more

Holland America Line has announced an enhanced Asia programme for winter 2018/19, with early bookers set to benefit from the popular Explore4 offer.

The recently refreshed ms Westerdam will offer sixteen 10-16 night Asia cruises for winter 2018/19, departing from exciting locations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Yokohama. Carrying 1,964 guests in classic style, the ship features spacious accommodation, with more than 65% of rooms benefitting from a private veranda. The luxurious suites were all also refreshed in summer 2017.

The itineraries feature adventurous days ashore in diverse destinations such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines, China, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, as well as overnight stays in cities such as Beijing, Seoul and Bangkok.

These new cruises are revealed as Holland America Line’s brings back its popular “Explore4” promotion. Benefits for early-bookers include a drinks package worth up to US$1,000 per stateroom (based on 12-night cruise), a speciality dining experience for two, reduced fares for 3rd/4th guests and 50% reduced deposit for those who book by 17 November 2017.  Suite guests will enjoy a further US$200 per stateroom onboard spend. More information here.

Guests will also enjoy enhanced destination experiences through Holland America Line’s new EXC (“Explorations Central”) programme, as well as regional culinary and culture demonstrations. On these in-depth EXC cruises, guests may choose the lens through which they’d like to experience these destinations – be it arts and culture, photography, nature and science, food, history or onshore adventure – then enjoy fascinating lectures, interactive workshops with local artisans and memorable shore experiences that bring this focus to life.

Holland America Line’s UK Managing Director, Lynn Narraway, says: “Having our Vista-class Westerdam in Asia means increased capacity (over 2017/18 season) of more than 500 extra beds per cruise and five decks of balcony accommodation, including beautifully enhanced suites. With a series of new enrichment opportunities for guests, Westerdam is the perfect way to explore Asia and experience exotic destinations in an inspiring and enthralling way. Furthermore, our intimate ms Maasdam will offer some incredibly immersive voyages – which we are calling “EXC In-Depth” as they are designed to really will ramp up the destination experience even more for guests!”

Example itineraries

Take for example the popular Far East Discovery, departing from Hong Kong, which visits Sanya (Hainan, China), Vietnam’s stunning Halong Bay, with its iconic limestone stacks, Da Nang, for the ancient city of Hue, Nha Trang, then Phu My, gateway to Ho Chi Minh City, then Kompong Som, Cambodia, and Laem Chabang (Bangkok) for an overnight stay, before sailing to the island of Ko Samui and ending in Singapore.  Fares for a 14-night cruise departing 12 November 2018 start from £1,999pp**, including Explore4 amenities.

A 14-night China, South Korea & Japan cruise departing Shanghai 18 February 2019 (after an overnight stay onboard) visits Qingdao, Tianjin – for an overnight stay in Beijing, then stays overnight in Incheon (South Korea), gateway to Seoul. There are full day calls into Jeju (Cheju), Fukuoka (Japan), Nagasaki before the cruise ends in Yokohama.  Fares start from £2,049pp**, including Explore4 amenities.

On the 1,258-guest ms Maasdam, guests may enjoy one of four immersive 20-21 night Asia and beyond cruises. A 20-night Indian Ocean Explorer roundtrip Singapore departing 27 January 2019 (after an overnight stay onboard) visits Malacca (Malaysia), Georgetown (Penang), Phuket (Thailand), Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), Hambantola, Male (Maldives), Uigamu, Colombo (Sri Lanka), Langkawi (Malaysia) and  Port Kelang (Kuala Lumpur). Cruise fares start from £2,499pp**.

The Westerdam’s Asia season starts and ends with a leisurely North Pacific crossing from Vancouver to Yokohama or reverse.

**Fly/cruise fares will be available approximately 11 months prior to sailing.

For further information visit www.hollandamerica.com or call 0344‐338‐8605.