HAL's 2015 'Grand Voyages' delve into S. America, Med

More overnight visits and more ports characterize these longer voyages, the most in-depth HAL has ever offered, according to Rick Meadows, evp marketing, sales and guest programs.

Prinsendam returns to South America, Antarctica and the Amazon on a 68-day roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale that begins with a Panama Canal transit before circumnavigating South America. The ship will call at 31 ports in 11 countries, including spending seven full days cruising the Amazon River and three days of scenic cruising in Antarctica.

The itinerary also features overnights at Valparaíso, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Manaus, plus two nights at Callao (for Lima). The voyage includes scenic cruising past the Romanche and Alemania glaciers in Chile, Drake Passage, Cape Horn and Argentina’s Glacier Alley. Segments of 31 and 37 days between Fort Lauderdale and Buenos Aires are available.

Immediately following, Prinsendam departs March 12 on a 55-day 'Grand Mediterranean Voyage' that sails from Fort Lauderdale to Civitavecchia (Rome), visiting 32 ports in 12 countries. The cruise features many 'boutique' destinations in the Mediterranean and the Balkan Peninsula.

The ship visits the Caribbean before crossing to the Canary Islands and spending the night alongside at Tenerife. Prinsendam then explores Spain with five calls, including overnights at Cadiz (for Seville) and Barcelona. Following an overnight at Valletta, Malta, the ship heads to Crete, Greece and Israel.

Prinsendam continues exploring the eastern Mediterranean with stops throughout Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Greece and Italy. Overnights at Istanbul and Piraeus (for Athens) are included.

A 17-day segment, Istanbul to Civitavecchia, 24-day segment from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona, 31-day segment from Barcelona to Civitavecchia and a 38-day segment Fort Lauderdale to Istanbul are available.

The 'Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage' can be combined with the 'Grand Mediterranean Voyage' for an extended 123-day exploration.