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Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
There is an abundance of things to see and do in the Ft. Lauderdale area: visit the newly redesigned Ft. Lauderdale Beach and cafes, stroll the historic Riverwalk, shop the luxurious stores on Las Olas Boulevard or adventure to the Everglades for an intriguing air boat excursion.

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
When was the last time you whiled away the day on a private Caribbean island? Here's your chance. The island is ours; the day is yours to sun, swim, and sail. Enjoy!

Oranjestad, Aruba
A Dutch jewel with a tropical touch. In Oranjestad, Aruba's capital, explore the colorful floating market and Nassaustraat, brimming with quaint shops. Head for the beach where water sports abound: snorkeling, rides on glass bottom boats and submarines. Or venture into the countryside to see the haunts of the huge green parakeet, the unique rock gardens of Casi Bari, the curious divi divi tree, forever bending in the tradewind breezes.

Willemstad, Curacao
An isle of Dutch treats with the climate of coastal Venezuela? It's none other than Curacao, with Amsterdam-style gabled storybook houses in the Punda section, duty-free Delftware always on sale, and the famous Curacao orange-flavored liqueur that now also comes in blue (surely a sign of the times!).

Scenic cruising the Panama Canal
Spend a full day cruising the Panama Canal, viewing spectacular scenery and the workings of a true engineering marvel. Note that the canal does not in fact run latitudinally, but is actually north-south oriented.

Gatun Lake
Essential to controlling the water level for the locks of the Panama Canal, Gatun Lake was created at the time the canal was built. It's held in place by a massive earthen dam, and is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world at 23.5 miles long.

Colon, Panama
Wonder no more what it would be like to swim in the Panama Canal. At Colon's Gatun Yacht Club, on the Caribbean end, take a dip in the mythical waters before visiting the massive Gatun Locks to learn about "panamax" ships.

Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
Surrounded by nearly half of all the animal species on earth and 8,000 species of plants, marvel as you take the chance to tour tropical flower farms or ride a Mawamba boat through the jungle canals near Puerto Limon. Explore the capital city of San Jose, where museums beckon and markets burst with luscious local tastes—mangoes, bananas, pineapples, papayas.

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MS Volendam

The beautiful garden theme of the MS Volendam includes an artful floral motif throughout the ship's spacious public rooms and elegant staterooms (149 of which have private verandahs). "Flowers" can be found in abundance on her public decks and in unexpected places in the forms of floral fabrics and tapestries, as well as huge vases of tropical floral arrangements and chrysanthemums. This beautiful ship accommodates 1,440 guests.

In addition to fresh flowers throughout the ship, Holland America Line has drawn on its stores of incredible artwork to enhance the interior of this beautiful ship's public spaces. Everything from pre-Columbian fetishes and sculptures to Renaissance-era fountains imported from Italy are included in its hallway galleries. At the heart of the ship an elegant sculpture by Luciano Vistosi, inspired by the myriad of moods and colors of a kaleidoscope, greets visitors in a soaring three-story atrium. The MS Volendam completed all Signature of Excellence enhancements to her public rooms and staterooms in Fall 2005.

Signature features include:

    * The two-tier Rotterdam Dining Room features impeccable service and an extensive wine list and offers five-course menus, from continental cuisine to vegetarian and low-carb options
    * The intimate reservations-only Pinnacle Grill offers an elegant, sophisticated dining experience and features premium hand-selected cuts of Sterling Silver beef, inspired seafood dishes and many select wines rated "Excellent" by Wine Spectator - as well as distinctive Bvlgari china, Riedel stemware and Frette linens
    * The Lido Restaurant offers a relaxed ambiance for all three meals and features a variety of fresh, cooked-to-order specialties
    * The Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine magazine, is the setting for gourmet cooking demonstrations and interactive classes
    * Explorations Café, powered by The New York Times, features the largest library at sea, as well as comfortable music listening stations and Internet access
    * The Greenhouse Spa & Salon features thermal suites, a hydrotherapy and thalassotherapy pool, heated ceramic lounges and more
    * The Frans Hals Show Lounge features Las Vegas-style productions, talented vocalists, illusionists, comedians and variety acts
    * The Crow's Nest, where sweeping views make this observation lounge a top choice for relaxing during the day, and in the evening transforms into a hip, fashionable nightclub features top-notch DJs and live bands
    * Club HAL, dedicated youth facilities and activities for kids ages 3 to 12
    * The Loft and The Oasis, designed exclusively for teens to have fun, socialize and hang out with people their own age

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