holy land explorer

HOLY LAND EXPLORER
Holland America’s Elegant Explorer
• ms Prinsendam •
Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Turkey, Malta, Italy
October 19 - November 3, 2016 • 16 Days • All Meals
Escorted
Photo: Holland America
The Elegant Explorer - visiting many exciting ports of call!
The Elegant Explorer, ms Prinsendam, is an exceptional
cruise ship, offering a combination of wonderful public
rooms, comfortable cabins, excellent service and dining
plus, and this is the real plus, it offers a world of innovative
cruises that take you beyond the usual excellence you
have come to expect from Holland America Line. Cruises
on the ms Prinsendam are virtually always longer and offer
more unique and exciting ports of call.
The Prinsendam is large enough to provide full cruise
amenities, including multiple fine dining venues, pools,
theatres, bars and lounges and a diverse range of
entertainment programs. She is also small enough to
ensure very personalized service and the ability to reach
smaller more exotic ports that larger ships just can’t reach.
If you want the benefits of a luxury cruise ship without the
accompanying higher costs and larger crowds, then have a
look at the very special itineraries this ship has to offer.
For 2016 we have selected this exciting Holy Land
voyage to feature. Read on and give us a call to reserve
your cabin on your cruise of choice.
Gardens in Haifa, Israel
INCLUSIVE FEATURES
 14-night cruise on Holland America’s ms Prinsendam,
based on sharing a twin-bedded stateroom in the
category selected
 Baggage handling shipside
 All meals and entertainment while onboard
 All port taxes and fees
 Gratuities for all included services
 Services of our cruise escort and/or cruise director
Air Inclusive rates also include
 Round-trip economy airfare from Canadian cities listed
 Transfers between the airports, hotels and the ship
 Current taxes and fees
 Airport transfers in Canada or equivalent value
Street Bazaar, Naples, Italy
OUR CRUISE SHIP - ms Prinsendam
Within Holland America’s impressive fleet, the ms
Prinsendam is in a class all its own. Designed to explore
the remote corners of the world in elegance and style, the
ms Prinsendam is Holland America’s most intimate ship.
Originally built as the legendary Royal Viking Sun, the
ms Prinsendam has been lovingly restored and enhanced.
All staterooms have been refurbished while many of the
public areas have been fully upgraded or completely
rebuilt.
At 38,000 tons, the ms Prinsendam carries a maximum
of 835 passengers in spacious comfort. Five distinctly
different dining venues are available: the classic La
Fontaine Dining Room, the casual Lido, the open-air
Terraces, and the upscale Canaletto Restaurant and the
Pinnacle Grill (supplemental fee). Eight different lounges
are also available, providing delightful spaces to relax, to
have a quiet drink, or to be entertained by music or a lively
show. The Explorations Café, offers an extensive library,
internet café and coffee bar, as well as the beautiful new
Culinary Arts Centre, which provides cooking classes and
presentations. Other venues include a full-size theatre
offering first-run movies, a casino, a card room, and the
superb Greenhouse Spa and fitness centre.
Luxurious accommodations await us - staterooms
feature two lower beds (most of which can convert to a
king-size bed), plush pillow-top mattresses, fine
Egyptian cottons, terry-cloth robes, a private bathroom,
individually-controlled air conditioning, a telephone, and
ample closet space. Each stateroom also has a flat screen
television, a DVD player, and multi-channel music. Most
outside staterooms feature picture-window viewing and a
bathtub with shower. The Deluxe staterooms and suites
feature a private balcony, a personal mini-bar, a separate
sitting area with floor to ceiling windows, and much more.
Pompeii, Italy
CRUISE ITINERARY
Oct 19, Wed
Oct 20, Thu
Oct 21, Fri
Oct 22, Sat
Oct 23, Sun
Oct 24, Mon
Oct 25, Tue
Oct 26, Wed
Oct 27, Thu
Oct 28, Fri
Oct 29, Sat
Oct 30, Sun
Oct 31, Mon
Nov 1, Tue
Nov 2, Wed
Nov 3, Thu
Depart Canada
Arrive Piraeus (Athens), Greece
Embark / Sail 7:00pm
At sea
Larnaca, Cyprus
Arrive 8:00am / Sail 4:00pm
Ashdod, (Jerusalem), Israel
Arrive 7:00am / Sail 9:00pm
Haifa (Tel Aviv), Israel
Arrive 8:00am / Sail 8:00pm
At sea
Mar maris, Turkey
Arrive 8:00am / Sail 4:00pm
Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey
Arrive 7:00am / Sail 6:00pm
Heraklion (Crete), Greece
Arrive 10:00am / Sail 6:00pm
At sea
Valetta, Malta
Arrive 8:00am / Overnight in port
Valetta, Malta
In port / Sail 8:00am
Mgarr (Victoria), Gozo, Malta *
Arrive 10:00am / Sail 6:00pm
Messina, Italy
Arrive 8:00am / Sail 5:00pm
Naples (Pompeii), Italy
Arrive 8:00am / Sail 6:00pm
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Arrive 7:00am / Disembark / Fly Home
*Tenders to Shore
PORTS OF CALL
Piraeus (Athens), Greece: The port of Piraeus is your
gateway to the wonders of Athens, including the Acropolis,
Constitution Square, Hadrian's Arch, the Olympic Stadium
and more.
Lamaca, Cyrprus: Larnaca, Cyprus, boasts an
uninterrupted history as a settlement dating back over
4,000 years. Famous for its beautiful sea front, Larnaka
sports clean sandy beaches with clear blue waters. The
'Phinikoudes,' a strip of cafés, bars, clubs and restaurants
on the beach front, is a prime tourist destination.
Ashdod (Jerusalem), Israel: The largest port in Israel,
Ashdod is a gateway to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the 5,000
year old walled city that is considered sacred to more than
a third of the people on Earth. Numerous sites exist
nearby, including the Jewish sacred Western Wall, the
Sacred Way, the old city bazaars and the Church of the
Holy Sepulchre, believed by many to be the site of Calvary.
Haifa (Nazareth), Israel: From this port under the slopes
of Mt. Carmel, we can travel inland to Nazareth, home of
the young Jesus, and visit the land of his miracles – the
Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, the Mount of the
Beatitudes and Tabgha.
Marmaris, Turkey: Sometimes referred to as the Turkish
Riviera, Marmaris lies where the Aegean and
Mediterranean Seas meet. Surrounded by lovely hills, it
has one of the largest natural harbours in the world.
Pamper yourself at a Turkish mud bath, or wander the
tangled streets in the Kaleici district or visit the small castle
museum overlooking the city.
Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey: Ephesus, another
wonderfully preserved city of the ancient world is located a
short drive inland from Kusadasi. In the first century B.C.,
it was one of the largest cities in the world. It's Great
Theater sat 24,000 people. Its Temple of Artemis was one
of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The Library of
Celsus was perhaps the finest in creation. Ephesus has
one of the largest collections of ruins in the eastern
Mediterranean. Walk down marble streets past magnificent
ruins gleaming white in the Hellenic sun.
Heraklion (Crete), Greece: If something seems familiar
about this island, it is because Crete's ancient capital is
nearly 10,000 years old and seems to have always been
Valleta, Malta
with us. If the names associated with this island are even
more familiar - Knossos, minotaur, labyrinth, Theseus,
Ariadne, Daedalus – it is because they draw from the
earliest associations of man and history. Empires come
and go, but these ancient walls, alleys and inscriptions date
from a bygone era.
Valetta, Malta: St. John's Co-Cathedral, with its elaborate
inlaid marble tombstones and Caravaggios, is here, as is
the magnificent Grand Master's Palace.
Mgarr (Cictoria), Gozo, Malta: Malta's tiny size belies its
strategic importance over the centuries. Claimants to the
Maltese archipelago included nearly everyone who was
anyone in Mediterranean history: Phoenicians, Greeks,
Romans, Arabs, Normans, French, British, and more. Even
Odysseus stopped here – detained seven years by the
nymph Calypso. The town of Victoria crowns the center of
Malta's island of Gozo. It is known locally as
"Rabat," ("suburb outside the fortress walls"). The fortress
in this case was founded during around 1500 BC and its
walls present a 360-degree view of the island. Cruise
visitors can explore the exquisite 17th century baroque
cathedral, stroll the gardens of Villa Rundle, and shop for
fine weaving, lace and silver filigree.
Messina, Italy: Gateway to Taormina and its views of
snowcapped Mt. Etna. The small museum here shows
works by Caravaggio.
Naples, Italy: There is the docile bay; the peaceful cypress
-tufted islands of Ischia, Procida and Capri; and the
muscular city of Naples itself. Over it all there looms Mount
Vesuvius: the volcano and national park. View the only
active volcano on the European mainland, which blew in
79A.D. and buried the city of Pompeii. Naples itself is mere
enduring greatness. Designated a World Heritage Site,
highlights in Naples include Castel dell'Ovo, Castelnuovo
and national museums dedicated to art and archaeology.
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy: One of the world’s greatest
cities - highlights include St Peter’s Basilica, The Vatican
Museums, The Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum plus other
sites too numerous to mention.
A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARES
Airfares shown are based on estimates made November
2015 and are to be used as a guideline. Domestic fares,
taxes, and fuel surcharges are subject to change until
ticketing. Should you have specific flight preferences
please advise Craig Travel at time of initial booking.
CT RATING 1.5 - Easy: This cruise is suitable for all
passengers who meet the basic criteria for group travel.
Optional excursions are not covered by this rating and
may involve considerable walking, sometimes over rough
surfaces.
Shore Excursions are not included in your cruise cost,
allowing you the freedom to choose from several optional
tours that will be offered in each port. Excursions will be
available for purchase through the Holland America Line
website or after embarkation.
EFF11NOV15
Naples with Mount Vesuvius in the distance
Cruise Cost in Canadian Dollars (per person)
Category / Description / Deck
Sharing Twin
K Inside Twin (Lower Promenade & Promenade) $4,215
I Inside Twin (Upper Promenade)............................. $ 4,275
E Outside Twin (Main & Lower Promenade) ........... $ 4,565
D Outside Twin (Dolphin) ........................................ $ 4,615
C Outside Twin (Main) ............................................. $ 4,675
A Vista Suite (Upper Promenade) ........................... $ 6,515
Rates are per person based on sharing the category
chosen and include all of the applicable Inclusive Features.
See Deck Plan for full details on various categories
available.
Sample air add-ons from cities across Canada:
Toronto .................................................................... $ 1,345
Montreal / Ottawa ..................................................... $ 1,445
Halifax ...................................................................... $ 1,595
Winnipeg .................................................................. $ 1,595
Regina / Saskatoon / St. John’s / Victoria ................ $ 1,745
Calgary / Edmonton / Vancouver ............................ $ 1,695
Airfares from other gateways are available on request.
Airfares and air carriers are subject to change and will be
confirmed prior to final payment. Refer to inclusive features
for details.
Cruise price is based on sharing a twin-bedded stateroom
with private bathroom. Prices are based on rates, taxes
and fees effective October, 2015. Prices are subject to
change due to factors beyond our control. This cruise will
operate with a minimum of two members as listed - an
escort will accompany the group with a minimum of 20
travelling.
The prices above DO NOT include the cost of
comprehensive insurance which is available on an optional
basis and is highly recommended. Insurance premiums
vary with the cost and length of the trip as well as the age
of the passenger. For passengers up to and including 74
years on departure date, premiums will range from $283 to
$458pp. Cost supplements will apply for members aged 75
- 85 from $200 to $422pp. Clients 86 years and older and/
or residing outside Ontario - please contact our staff for
procedures. This insurance is effective from the date of
confirmation and carries limitations on pre-existing medical
conditions. Please discuss your insurance coverage prior
to booking. Check our website for most current information.
Refer to enrollment form for general information and
conditions. Final payment will be due July 18, 2016
Deposit will be $800 per person
To reserve your spot on this tour, simply complete the
enclosed enrollment form, indicating the tour you wish to
join and your home city, and forward it with your deposit to:
CRAIG CANADIAN GROUP TRAVEL LTD
1092 Mount Pleasant Road Toronto ON M4P 2M6
Tel: 416-484-0926 or 1-800-387-8890 / Fax: 416-484-8143
Email: cruises@craigtravel.com / www.craigtravel.com