Holland America Line Debuts Down Under

CRUISING TO AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND PLUS ASIA & THE SOUTH PACIFIC

Seattle, March 21, 2005 – From the Great Barrier Reef and cosmopolitan Sydney to pastoral New Zealand and the exotic Orient, Holland America Line now offers intriguing escapes throughout the Pacific Rim aboard the 1,258-guest, five-star ms Statendam. Cruises visit Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, Japan, China, Korea and Russia from November 2005 through May 2006 and from September through December 2006.

 
“Our new Pacific and Asia cruises arc the Pacific Rim from Peru to Russia featuring extended sailing on a series of Australia/New Zealand and China/Japan cruises,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, senior vice president, marketing and sales. “At Holland America Line, we are experts at exploring the world’s most exotic destinations in the timeless style afforded by the luxurious life aboard ship.”

35-day South America/South Pacific Repositioning Cruise. An extraordinary 35-day itinerary from San Diego combines ports in Mexico and South America with dreamy South Sea isles. Port visits to Manta (Quito), Ecuador and an overnight in Callao (Lima), Peru offer colonial history, while mystery pervades a stop at Easter Island off Chile. Statendam then sails past Pitcairn Island of Mutiny fame calling on Tahiti, Bora Bora and Tonga followed by Bay of Islands in New Zealand. Guests set sail from San Diego on November 17, 2005 and arrive in Auckland, New Zealand on December 22, 2005.

Ten Cruises Explore Australia and New Zealand. Ten cruises in 2005-06 feature the lands of kiwis and kangaroos. Guests will enjoy New Zealand on eight ports of call featuring Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Captain Cook’s Ship Cove, Picton, Christchurch (Tranz Alpine Express tour option), Dunedin (Queenstown tour option), and Milford Sound as well as scenic cruising of Mercury, Aldermen, and White Islands and a full day in Fjordland National Park sailing Dusky, Doubtful and Milford sounds. In Australia three ports of call are featured including Burnie in Tasmania, Melbourne and Sydney.

Kicking off in 2005, a 16-day holiday celebration cruise departs Auckland, New Zealand on December 22, after ringing in the New Year; guests have an overnight in cosmopolitan Sydney. Four 14-day options are then available on Jan 7 and 21; Feb 4 and 18, 2006. The ship repeats the itinerary in the fall of 2006 on five departure dates: Oct 27, Nov 10 and 24, and Dec 8 and 22, 2006.

16-day Australia, Orient & China Cruise. A myriad of sights and sounds await in Brisbane, Australia; unique cultures in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia; and lush palm-fringed Philippine lush palm-fringed shores create an exotic tapestry. Guests embark in legendary Sydney on March 4 and sail for 16 days to the skyscrapers, sampans and duty-free shopping of Hong Kong arriving March 20, 2006.

Three Cruises and Three Overnight Stays on 14-day China/Japan Voyages. Three adventurous cruises through the meditative Orient sail between the bustling world ports of Hong Kong and Osaka on March 20, April 3 and 17, 2006. In depth exploration invites with overnight stays in both Shanghai and Xingang (Beijing), People’s Republic of China and in Osaka, Japan. Cruisers will also visit Dalian, China; Pusan, South Korea; Nagasaki, Japan and enjoy scenic cruising on the Inland Sea of Japan.

North Pacific 18-day Sailing Visits Russia. On May 1, 2006, the Statendam makes a one-of-a kind 18-day voyage from Japan to Russia, crossing the International Date Line en route to the Aleutian Islands and Alaska. Highlights include an overnight in Tokyo, scenic cruising of the Kuril Islands, a visit to Petropavlovsk, Kamchatha, Russia, and unusual calls at Alaska’s Dutch Harbor and Kodiak Island.

Customized South Pacific Crossing from 18- to 28-days. After summering in Alaska the Statendam returns to Australia/New Zealand with a Pacific crossing. Embarkation options include Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Honolulu. The voyage visits Christmas Island, crosses the Equator and the International Date Line, and calls at Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji. Departures are on Sept 29, Oct 2, 3 and 9.

Asia/Pacific 2005-2006 fares start at US$1,999 per person, double occupancy for a 14-day cruise. Guests will enjoy all Signature of Excellence™ amenities including the Greenhouse Spa, Culinary Arts Center and the Explorations Café – powered by The New York Times. For more information on Holland America Line’s voyages to this extraordinary part of the world, consult a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]

In 2005, Holland America Line’s fleet of 12, five-star, premium ships are offering nearly 500 cruises from 27 home ports — 17 in North America. Itineraries range in length from two to 116 days, visit all seven continents and offer the most extensive selection of ports the line has ever visited on cruises to the Caribbean and Panama Canal (175), Alaska (134), Canada/New England (18), and longer, exotic voyages to Europe (45) and Transatlantic (8), Mexico (43), Hawaii/Asia/Pacific (20), South America (17) as well as one Grand World Voyage.

World’s Leading Cruise Lines

The highest-rated premium cruise line in the world, Holland America Line is a member of the exclusive World’s Leading Cruise Lines alliance, which also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Seabourn Cruise Line, Costa Cruises and Windstar Cruises. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, these lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. The World’s Leading Cruise Lines offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world’s most desirable destinations.