Holland America plans first circumnavigation of Australia

[mercedes]

Thinking of visiting Australia by cruise ship this year? If you're a Holland America fan you might want to hold off until 2010 when the line offers its first circumnavigation of the continent.

The 34-day voyage out of Sydney will take place aboard the 1,432-passenger Volendam and include visits to 18 ports. It also will include two days of cruising the scenic Great Barrier Reef coastline during daylight hours -- something Holland America says no other premium line offers.

The around-Australia cruise will begin March 14, 2010 and includes overnight stays in Hobart, Perth and Sydney. Other ports of call are Melbourne, Adelaide, Albany, Exmouth, Darwin, Cairns, Whitsunday Island and Brisbane, Australia.

In addition, the line says passengers can sign up for an optional add-on tour to Komodo National Park in Indonesia to go searching for one of the fewer than 300 Komodo dragons that live in the region.

Holland America also plans a series of 14-day cruises out of Sydney to New Zealand and the South Pacific. Prices for those trips start at $1,599 per person, double occupancy.

[JoeyandDavid]

how exciting