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Zaandam’s Asia program features seven departures

Seattle, Wash., July 26, 2011 — Holland America Line will enhance ms Zaandam’s 2012 Asia itineraries by now offering five 14-Day Asia Explorer voyages. In addition, ms Zaandam will offer one unique 14-Day China and Korea voyage that will sail roundtrip Hong Kong with calls to Incheon (Seoul) and Jeju (Cheju) City, South Korea. The four unique itineraries offered on seven departures range from 14 to 28 days and give travelers ample time to discover the region’s historical and cultural landmarks, as well as explore its mystical allure.

“Asia continues to be a ‘must-see’ destination for our guests looking to explore a culture that is rich in tradition and mystery, combined with modern technology and intriguing architecture,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs, for Holland America Line. “Filled with unique sights, sounds and experiences, we’re thrilled to add South Korea to our diverse Asia itineraries.”

Zaandam’s five 14-day Asia Explorer voyages sail between Hong Kong and Singapore and feature port calls at Koh Samui and Bangkok, Thailand; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Phu My and Nha Trang, Vietnam. Departure dates are Jan. 8, Jan. 22, Feb. 5, March 4 and March 18.

The14-day China and Korea voyage departs Feb. 19 and sails roundtrip Hong Kong. Two full days at both Shanghai and Xingang (Beijing) allows ample time for guests to delve into the culture and take advantage of fantastic shore excursion opportunities including the Maglev Train Ride & New Shanghai and the Summer Palace & the Great Wall of China. Additional fascinating ports of call (and maiden calls for the Zaandam) include Incheon (Seoul) and Jeju (Cheju) City known for its idyllic beaches, pine forests and waterfalls.

28-Day Asia Explorer Collectors’ Voyage Combines Asia Explorer and China & Korea

Zaandam’s 28-day Asia Explorer Collectors’ Voyage from Singapore to Hong Kong departs Feb. 5 and combines back-to-back itineraries for a longer cruise at the best per day value. Guests have the opportunity to enjoy overnight calls at Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand, and Shanghai and Xingang (Beijing), China, as well as extended stays in many of the region’s favorite ports of call.

The 22-day Japan and Alaska voyage departs April 15 from Kobe (Osaka), featuring port calls at Jeju (Cheju) and Busan (Pusan), South Korea and Petropavlovsk (Kamchatka), Russia before crossing over the Northern Pacific Ocean to Vancouver, British Columbia, with stops at Kodiak, Sitka and Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska.

Cruise fares begin at $1,599 per person, double occupancy for the 14-day sailings; $2,099 for the 22-day Japan and Alaska sailing; and $3,399 for the 28-day Asia Explorer Collectors’ Voyage sailing.

Guest can maximize their experience in Asia by booking notable optional shore excursions, from history and culture to art and cuisine. The Zaandam is the perfect size for premium cruising in Asia. Sea days are an invitation to unwind and rejuvenate. Guests can fill their time with enriching activities such as cooking demonstrations at the Culinary Arts Center, pampering at the Greenhouse Spa & Salon or learning the latest online techniques in the Digital Workshop powered by Windows.

For more information on Holland America Line’s cruises and cruisetours, consult a professional travel seller, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.

Recent reports in the international media about drought in the Horn of Africa have caused concern to travellers who are anxious that this will affect their planned safari.

There has been severe drought for several years in the neighbouring countries to the north of Kenya and in the arid semi-desert along Kenya's remote north-eastern border with Somalia and Ethiopia, where the pastoral people dependent on livestock are facing problems and hardship as there is no grazing for their cattle, sheep and goats. However for some years now the Kenyan government and international agencies have been providing relief supplies for people in the area including those coming across the border into Kenya and seeking assistance. The Kenyan authorities are continuing to provide a concerted relief programme to alleviate the crisis and the tourism industry in Kenya is also contributing to the relief effort through donations to the Kenya Red Cross which is providing assistance to people affected by the drought along Kenya's north-eastern border.

However the north-east of Kenya is not an area visited by tourists and the severe drought there is not widespread across the rest of the country. Kenya is primarily an agricultural country (currently the world's biggest exporter of tea) and the drought in the northeast has not had the same impact in other parts of the country where the wildlife parks and reserves are located. Also it should be noted that the Western area of Kenya, which is the main farming region, has experienced good rains recently and farmers are reporting that a bumper crop of maize will be harvested this year.

It must be stressed that within Kenya there are different climatic zones and that much of the country has had plenty of rain recently so that maize and wheat harvests are projected to be at higher than normal levels. Kenya is a very different country from those afflicted by drought in the Horn of Africa as it has a highly productive agricultural sector but unfortunately the media reports do not always make clear that in Kenya the drought is confined to certain arid or semi-desert regions and does not affect the whole country.

Within the wildlife reserves, the wild animals are adapted to survive cyclical periods of drought, unlike domestic livestock. Many Kenyan pastoralists such as the Maasai now rely on income from tourism in the community-owned conservancies as an alternative to being wholly dependent on livestock, so visitors can be assured that by coming to Kenya they are helping to create an income and benefits for the local people which is appreciated especially during periods of drought. The Mara has had good rains in recent weeks and right now is green with good grazing in the Mara Reserve and the neighboring wildlife conservancies. The annual wildebeest migration is now underway in the Mara and visitors currently are experiencing exceptionally good game viewing!

MIAMI – July 18, 2011 – It’s official: Celebrity Cruises today took ownership of the sleek new Celebrity Silhouette in a celebratory handoff ceremony with colleagues from shipbuilder

Meyer Werft. Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of Celebrity’s parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and Celebrity’s President and CEO Dan Hanrahan participated in the event, which marks the transfer of ownership of the vessel from the shipyard to Celebrity.

Following a formal, invitation-only naming ceremony and cruise July 21-23, Celebrity Silhouette will set sail from Hamburg, Germany, on July 23 on a seven-night cruise to Civitavecchia (for Rome), where the ship will present roundtrip 12-night Mediterranean/Holy Land sailings until November, when the vessel will be the first Solstice Class ship to offer cruises from the New York/New Jersey market.

Celebrity Silhouette will enhance guests’ precious vacation time with a host of industry-first venues and experiences within The Lawn Club, including the interactive “Lawn Club Grill,” where guests can select and grill their own meats side-by-side with Celebrity’s expert chefs, or have them cooked to order; the relaxing, private, wi-fi-equipped cabanas called “The Alcoves”; “The Porch,” a breezy, casual dining spot offering sandwiches, coffees and captivating views of the sea and the ship’s lush lawn, and “The Art Studio,” where vacationers can bring out their inner artist. The ship also will present another entirely new venue, “The Hideaway,” an intimate, quiet space reminiscent of a childhood tree house, and a new twist on Celebrity’s “Michael’s Club,” with a selection of more than 50 beers from around the world, including craft beers.

Celebrity Cruises’ iconic “X” is the mark of the world’s top-rated premium cruise line, with spacious, stylish interiors; dining experiences elevated to an art form; personalized service, with a guest-to-staff ratio of nearly 2:1; unexpected, trendsetting onboard activities, all designed to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers’ precious time. Celebrity sails to Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Bermuda, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal, South America, and year-round in the Galapagos Islands. Celebrity also offers immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. One of the fastest-growing major cruise lines, Celebrity’s fleet currently consists of nine ships, with two additional Solstice Class ships scheduled to join the fleet: Celebrity Silhouette in July 2011, and Celebrity Reflection in Fall 2012. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111 or visit www.celebritycruises.com.

We know choosing from our variety of exceptional restaurants onboard can be difficult. That’s why we offer our Wine & Dine packages - so you can enjoy them all. And better yet, at a savings of up to 29%. We make it easy to experience all of our innovative and award-winning restaurants, in some cases more than once. Choose from several packages that feature great wines. Or if you prefer, choose options without wine.

WINE & DINE PACKAGES

Savor Package
Includes three dining reservations per couple and three bottles of wine.
Package Price: Starting from $259* per couple (Standard Retail: $283 per couple) Savings up to 9% or $24 per couple

Gourmand Package
Includes five dining reservations per couple and three bottles of wine.
Package Price: Starting from $319* Per Couple (Standard Retail $393 per couple) Savings up to 23% or $74 per couple

Bacchus Package
Includes five dining reservations per couple and five bottles of wine.
Package Price: Starting from $369* Per Couple (Standard Retail $462 per couple) Savings up to 25% or $93 per couple

INDIVIDUAL DINING PACKAGES

Three Dinner Package
Includes three dining reservations per person.
Package Price: Starting from $79* per person (Standard Retail: $90 per person) Savings up to 13% or $11 per person

Five Dinner Package
Includes five dining reservations per person.
Package Price: Starting from $115* per person (Standard Retail is $145 per person) Savings up to 25% or $30 per person

WINE LIST
Wine selections included in the Wine & Dine packages are pre-selected by our team of wine experts to offer wines from a vast array of international varietals and styles.

WHITE WINES
Sauvignon Blanc, Brancott, Marlborough, New Zealand
Riesling, J&H Selbach, Fish Label, Mosel, Germany
Pinot Grigio, Bollini, Trentino, Italy
Pinot Blanc, Erath, Willamette Valley, Oregon
S.A Prum Essence, Mosel, Germany
Albarino, Paco and Lola, Rias Baxias, Spain
Chardonnay, Bramito Castello de la Sala Antinory, Italy
Sancerre, Michel Redde, Les Tuilières, Loire, France
Pouilly-Fumé, Michel Redde, La Moynerie, Loire, France
Chardonnay, Sequoia Grove, Carneros, California
Chardonnay, Freemark Abbey, Napa Valley, California

RED WINES
Pinot Noir La Crema,Sonoma, California
Marques de la Concordia,Tempranillo, Spain
Valpolicella Classico, Allegrini, Veneto, Italy
Renacer Malbec, Punto Finale, Mendoza, Argentina
Chianti Classico, Tenuta Nozzole, Tuscany, Italy
Super Tuscan, Tenuta di Arceno, Prima Voce, Tuscany, Italy
Cabernet Sauvignon, Château Grand Bireau, Bordeaux, France
Cabernet Sauvignon, Benziger, Sonoma, California
Merlot, Calina, Chile
Merlot, St. Francis, Sonoma, California
Pinot Noir, Byron, Santa Maria Valley, California

*Prices are quoted in U.S. dollars and subject to change. Packages cannot be shared, are non-transferable, are valid for only the voyage for which it was purchased, cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotional programs and cannot be used as credit towards any other purchases—including selections that are not included in the packages. Reservations are based on availability. Packages cannot be altered. Wine & Dine packages include a 15% wine service charge. Wine selection is subject to change. Not all wine selections are available on all sailings. Alternate selections of equal value may be substituted at Celebrity’s discretion. ©2011 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships’ registry: Malta & Ecuador. 11024491 •