Catch Holland America's MS Maasdam From Montreal Starting May 31, 2014

Living in Eastern Canada and don’t want to stray too far from home to experience a world class cruise ship? No problem. MS Maasdam of Holland America Line will spend from the end of May, 2014 to mid October, 2014 calling Montreal, Quebec its home port.

Currently, the lowest price to get on board MS Maasdam at Montreal is from $699.94 per person for a seven night cruise. This price applies to an inside stateroom on the May 31 sailing from Montreal to Boston, Massachusetts. This is the first sailing of the year out of Montreal.

The Cruise

 

The seven night Canada / New England cruise on Holland America’s MS Maasdam embarks from Montreal, Quebec at 4pm on Saturday, May 31, 2014. The ship arrives at Boston on Saturday, June 7 at 7am. Along the way, the ship makes five port calls, four in Canada and one in the United States.

The first stop is on day two at Quebec City. On Sunday, June 1 from 7am to 5pm, Maasdam is docked at one of Canada’s most historic cities. After a day leaving the St. Lawrence River and entering the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Maasdam arrives at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on Tuesday, June 3. She stays at the PEI capital from 8am to 5pm.

Next up is Sydney, Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island from 8am to 4pm on Wednesday, June 4. The following day, Maasdam heads down the Nova Scotia coast to the provincial capital of Halifax. She docks at Halifax from 8am to 4pm on Thursday, June 5.

The only U.S. port of call is visited on Friday, June 6. Maasdam is docked at the summer paradise of Bar Harbor, Maine from 8am to 5pm.

Why is this cruise so inexpensive? Normally, the same cruise runs anywhere from just over $1,000 per person to over $5,000 for just an inside stateroom. However, May 31 can still be a little unpredictable weather wise and the leaves may not even be out on the trees yet for some stretches of the journey. However, you would get a chance to visit five great ports just outside of the busy summer season.

The Price

This cruise can currently be had for as low as $699.94 per person for an inside stateroom. Government taxes and fees are a little steep at $240.08 per person. After all, Canada is still doing its best to be the highest taxed country in the world. Total for two, including taxes and fees, for an inside stateroom starts from $1,880.04.

Other rates include Ocean View staterooms starting at just $819.66 per person. The lowest priced suite on board the MS Maasdam starts from $1,901.90 per person.

The Ship

MS Maasdam and MS Statendam are the oldest active vessels in the Holland American Line fleet, both put in service in 1993. Maasdam is one of four Statendam Class ships, along with MS Ryndam and MS Veendam.

Built by Fincantieri in Italy, Maasdam is a small ship with a gross tonnage of just 55,575. The ship is 220 metres or 722 feet in length. There are nine passenger decks accessible to the capacity 1,258 guest. 580 crew members are on board to make things run smooth.

The Small Print

·Because of the nature of last minute deals, the pricing printed here is fleeting and could change at any time.

·Prices are in Canadian dollars.

·Most meals are included in a typical cruise price but DRINKS ARE NOT!

·Also not included are gratuities.

·Cruise pricing does not include air fare, ground transfers and hotel accommodations before and after the cruise.

That's Right! A Luxury Cruise Up The Amazon River

Think the Amazon can only be cruised by black smoke-sputtering, rusted out diesel ships with no air conditioning and pirates following close-by? Think again. In 2014, six different luxury cruise lines will make the journey from the Atlantic Ocean, up the Amazon River, to Manaus, Brazil, and back. These cruises are not cheap but Holland America Line is doing their best with a ‘Flash Rate’ on their cruise in March, 2014.

The Cruise

 

HAL’s ms Maasdam departs Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Sunday, March 2 on a 26 night repositioning cruise to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Along the way, Maasdam makes several port calls along the Brazilian coast and in the Caribbean. As well, she takes seven days to travel up the Amazon and back. This is considered a repositioning cruise but the Amazon River cruise is definitely the highlight.

After stopping at Buzios, Salvador and Fortaleza up the Atlantic Coast, Maasdam enters the Amazon River on Thursday, March 13. Before reaching Manaus, nearly 1,500 kilometres up the river in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, the ship makes two stops along the way. Maasdam stops at Santarem and Boca da Valeria before an overnight at Manaus.

On her way back to the Atlantic, the ship makes port calls at Parintins and Alter do Chao, along the Amazon. Maasdam returns to the Atlantic Ocean on Thusday, March 20.

Before arriving at Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on Friday, March 28, the ship makes stops at Bridgetown, Barbados; Roseau, Dominica and Philipsburg, Sint Maarten.

The Price

Typically, a cruise that involves the Amazon starts in price from no less than $8,000 per person. For a limited time, an inside stateroom on the ms Maasdam can be had for as low as $3,493.89 per person. Keep in mind, this is a 26 night cruise. Additional government fees and taxes of $441.06 per person need to be added to total. All-in, a inside stateroom for two can be had for $7,869.90.

This is ‘Flash Rate’ sale pricing. This means that you don’t have a lot of choice on the location of your inside stateroom and that room is not assigned until the time of checkin. This also means that the full amount is due at the time of booking.

The Ship

Ms Maasdam of Holland America Line has been in service since 1993. She is an S Class ship built by Fincantieri on the north shores of the Adriatic Sea in Italy. Maasdam is a small ship with a gross tonnage of just 55,575. She is 220 metres or 722 feet long and has nine decks accessible to passengers. The Capacity on board is for 1,258 guest and 580 crew members.

The Small Print

·Because of the nature of last minute deals, the pricing printed here is fleeting and could change at any time.

·Prices are in Canadian dollars.

·Most meals are included in a typical cruise price but DRINKS ARE NOT!

·Also not included are gratuities.

·Cruise pricing does not include air fare, ground transfers and hotel accommodations before and after the cruise.