It’s never too early to begin planning where and when to make your great escape when winter next sweeps down from the Arctic Circle.  Among all of the venues to choose from, three of the most favored are the Caribbean, the Mexican waters and Hawaii and one premier cruise line that offers a large selection of different itineraries to all three of these locals is Holland America . Whether you are sailing from Florida, Southern California and even New York City, the possibilities Holland American offers are endless.

With Holland America you can tailor your cruise to fit your schedule for the cruises they offer range from seven days up to as many as twenty days.  For example, departing from San Diego, a 15 or a 19 day roundtrip cruise to  Kona, Hilo, Lahaina, Honolulu and Nawiiwilli will include excursion that will let you experience the rhythms of a Hawaiian war chant, hear the sizzle of molten lava as it is greeted by the sea at Kilauena, visit the tropical beauty of Waimea Canyon or take in the sights in Honolulu.  

From New York, Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa, the Eastern Caribbean and places like St. Thomas, Tortola, Barbados and San Juan, Puerto Rico beckon.   And if the window of opportunity to visit these warm and balmy places happens to be over the holidays, Holland America has attended to this as well.  On board are freshly cut decorated evergreen trees, wreaths, poinsettias and festive ornaments.  Traditional holiday meals with all of the timings are served. Each holiday cruise is replete with carols on the Promenade and sing-alongs.  Christmas Eve is enjoyed with performances by Holland America’s own international choir and for the kids there is a visit from none other then Old St. Nick.   Leaving no stone unturned, family reunion packages that include family photos, access to an elaborate soda fountain package and lunch in one of Holland America’ reservations-only restaurants, can be easily arranged.

For those seeking an adventure in the Western or Southern Caribbean, Holland America features 7, 8 and 9 day cruise itineraries that take you to the Yucatan, Curacao, Belize and Guatemala.  And for those who want to experience of the Panama Canal but who are limited by time, Holland America offers a 10-day cruise that takes you inside the Gatun Locks, with cruising on Gatun Lake prior to exiting the canal and heading north for a stop in Costa Rica.   Many of the Caribbean cruises include stopping at Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s own private island that features a crescent shaped beach, a wild bird reserve, horseback riding and parasailing.

  All seven and ten day Mexican Riviera cruises that depart from San Diego include stops at the ever popular ports of Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas.  On the longer cruises visits are also paid to places like Loreto in the Sea of Cortez or to Manzanillo and Acapulco.  By popular demand, a new (top rated) shore excursion has been added to the Sea of Cortez cruise.  It’s called the Ride the Rails into the Copper Canyon Adventure.  Several times larger than the Grand Canyon, Copper Canyon can be visited only by railroad.  It is a trip that begins at the shores of the Pacific Ocean and rises up into the pine covered alpine elevations of the Sierra Madre Mountains.  At stops along the edge of the Canyon you will see the Tarahumara Indians made famous by their running prowess (their non-stop running competitions can cover a hundred miles). Upon hearing the train whistle, like magic the Tarahumara Indians set up impromptu track side markets to sell their hand crafted baskets, jewelry and garments.  You will know who they are for they are wrapped in home spun fabrics that include every color of the rainbow. 

 During your days at sea you will be spoiled by the ambience of your luxury stateroom and the accompanying 24-hour room service.  You can join in an assortment of culinary opportunities that include both 5-star dining as well as gourmet cooking demonstrations presented by Food & Wine magazine in their Culinary Arts Center.  When it comes time to pamper yourself Holland America’s Greenhouse Spa & Salon offers an assortment of spa treatments including the tremendously popular warm stone massage. And for those who want to stay connected to the busy world or see what is going on back home, satellite based e-mail is but a click away.   Happy Traveling.