Cruise Europe with Holland on five ships in 2007

Big plans are afoot for Holland America 2007 Europe cruises, committing five ships to a nine-month season from March through November. This increases the number of sailings by one third over 2006, with 46 different itineraries calling at 136 ports of call, of which 13 are new stops for Holland.

Cruising is, by far, the best way to experience what Europe has to offer. You can visit many of the most spectacular cities by cruise ship, cruising from Venice to Barcelona, since major cities hisotircally grew up around ports during the ocean-trading heyday.

"Our guests look forward to more time in port including late departures and overnights, fascinating excursions and the 'best overall cruise value' according to the World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society," added Richard Meadows, Holland's senior vice president of marketing and sales.

Cruise to the Baltic and European Atlantic regions, or sail to the Mediterranean, on Holland America in 2007 starting at $1,478 per person as of today.

The five ships are: 1,848-passenger Westerdam, 1,316-passenger Rotterdam, 1,258-passenger Veendam and Maasdam, and the more intimate 793-passenger Prinsendam designed for longer cruises. All ships are top-rated for "best overall service" by Porthole magazine's Readers' Choice Awards and have earned the International Five Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences.