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HAL nudges early bookings with 'Explore 4' offers

Holland America Line
Offers apply to select itineraries, includng Europe sailings. Pictured: Eurodam in Ålesund, Norway
Holland America Line brought back its 'Explore 4' savings program with four offers on select 2015 and 2016 sailings and added an incentive for travel agents, a sweepstakes to win a cruise.

'Explore 4' benefits include a free Signature Beverage Package and free Pinnacle Grill dinner for passengers booking an ocean-view or higher category stateroom, free or reduced cruise fares for third and fourth guests in the same stateroom on select sailings and 50% reduced deposits.

Suite bookings also receive a $300 on-board credit per stateroom ($150 per person) and a free Canaletto dinner in addition to the other four offers. Passengers may receive all of the offers when booking a qualified itinerary.

This year's ‘Explore 4’ promotion is the best HAL has offered and is intended to reward passengers who book early, according to Rick Meadows, evp marketing, sales and guest programs.

Passengers can choose select itineraries to nearly all the line's global destinations, including Alaska and Alaska/Yukon Land+Sea Journeys, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Bermuda, Canada/New England, Caribbean, Europe, Mexico/Hawaii, Panama Canal and South America/Antarctica.

Those who book an ocean-view or higher category stateroom receive a free Signature Beverage Package valued at $100 per stateroom ($50 per person), per day that includes wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, sodas and coffee. The beverage offer is only applicable on the cruise portion of Alaska Land+Sea Journeys.

With free or reduced cruise fare for third and fourth travelers on select sailings, prices in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexico for seven-day cruises start at $799 for the first and second guests in an ocean-view stateroom, and the third and fourth guests sail free. A seven-day European cruise starts at $1,199 for an ocean-view stateroom for the first and second guests, and the third and fourth guests sail free.

Agents who make bookings between July 26 and Oct. 31

will automatically be entered into a drawing for the chance to win a seven-day cruise for two in a suite to Europe, Alaska, Canada/New England, Bermuda or the Caribbean. Every booking deposit made is another entry and increases the chance of winning. Agents may also enter the sweepstakes by mail.

'Explore 4' marketing tools are available in HAL's Travel Agent Headquarters.