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Spring is a wonderful season for a cruise, and what could be better than a trip that begins in Tampa Bay, takes you from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific by way of the Panama Canal, and winds up in beautiful British Columbia! Sail away with us for a voyage on the ms Ryndam of the highly regarded Holland America Cruise Line.
We will embark at the Port of Tampa and visit a number of interesting ports along the way. Among them are the Cayman Islands; Santa Marta, Colombia; the San Blas Islands off the east coast of Panama; Fuente Amador, Panama; Puerto Caldera in Costa Rica; several ports in Mexico; and San Diego, California. As a grand finale we will visit Victoria, BC, where you might go to the famous Butchart Gardens, stroll though the city with its lovely shops, or indulge in afternoon tea at the elegant Empress Hotel. We disembark the next morning in Vancouver. All this and more is in store for you on this cruise of a lifetime.
The Ryndam was dedicated in 1994 and re-launched in 2004 following an extensive upgrade of the cabins and public rooms. Designed to provide more space for maximum comfort, it is a medium-sized ship carrying up to 1,270 passengers and a crew of 580 – almost one crewmember for every two passengers.
Holland America ships are well known for their extensive art collections, and the Ryndam’s décor features a Dutch worldwide exploration theme. A muzzle-loading canon from the 17th Century found on the floor of the North Sea is one of the more unusual artifacts on board the ship. Other pieces of note include Lebigre and Roger’s unique fountain showing fanciful dolphins and sea creatures, two murals by famed Dutch artist Gerti Bierenbroodsport which were inspired by global exploration, and treasures such as the display of a quill pen, ink well, and portable writing desk dating back to 1595. Once on board, you will be able to take a self-guided tour of all the art works as you tour the ship.
In addition to enjoying the scenery while cruising or taking one of the numerous shore excursions which are offered, passengers can enjoy the numerous daily activities on board or just sit in one of the deck chairs poolside or on the Promenade Deck. A highlight of the cruise will be the transition through the Panama Canal from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. You can stay on deck and watch as the ship is raised 84 feet in the locks to the level of Gatun Lake. Once on Panama’s west coast, the ship will be lowered to the Pacific Ocean level.
Outside cabins are available starting at $3,365 (based on double occupancy), which includes air transportation back to Tampa, transfers to the pier in Tampa, and upon return a transfer from the Tampa airport to the college, as well as full insurance coverage, baggage handling, and all taxes and fees. Shore excursions and other items of a personal nature while on board the ship are not included. Airfare from other than Tampa can be arranged. OLLI will be having meetings and classes for the group. A deposit of $650 is required at the time of booking.
For further information or if you have any questions, please contact Roy Duttweiler at Rwdutt@gmail.com
727-866-2776 or
Patricia Brown at Pbrown9@gmail.com
727-906-0820.
Note: Holland America reserves the right to impose a fuel surcharge if the price of oil exceeds a certain amount, and this is payable even if the cruise has been paid in full.
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