HAL Adds Host, Tours for Hispanic Market

Apr 28, 2011

Agents serving the large and very fast-growing Spanish-speaking market will welcome Holland America Line’s (HAL) move to add a Spanish-speaking host and Spanish-language guided tours on 12 of the Ryndam’s fall Mediterranean cruises sailing roundtrip from Barcelona, Spain.

The U.S. Hispanic market is enough to make agencies sit up and look, with a predicted $1.2 trillion in buying power, according to the Selig Center for Economic Growth.

HAL’s hosts will assist Spanish-speaking guests to make arrangements both onboard and onshore. Additionally, the popular City Highlights shore excursion in each port will be offered in Spanish.

The following cruises are included:

• The Oct. 9, seven-day Spanish Serenade, calling in Malaga, Cadiz (Seville) and Ibiza, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco, with scenic cruising through the Strait of Gibraltar; the Oct. 16, seven-day Mediterranean Glamour, visiting Monte Carlo, Monaco; Santa Margherita, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Trapani, Italy, and La Goulette (Tunis), Tunisia

• The 10-day Cultural Mosaic, departing Sept. 8 and 29, calling in

• Messina, Brindisi, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy; Argostoli, Greece; Kotor, Montenegro, and Marseille (Provence), France

• The 11-day Ancient Discoveries, departing Aug. 28 and Sept. 18, 2011. Ports of call include Trapani, Naples and Cagliari, Italy; Valletta, Malta; Katakolon, Kerkira (Corfu), Greece; Dubrovnik, Croatia, and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; the October 23, 11-day Canary Island Explorer, visiting Malaga, Santa Cruz (Tenerife) and Cadiz (Seville), Spain; Funchal (Madeira), Portugal; Arrecife, Canary Islands, and Agadir and Casablanca, Morocco

• The 14-Day Eastern Mediterranean Circle, departing Oct. 9, for Malaga, Ibiza and Cadiz (Seville), Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; scenic cruising Strait of Gibraltar; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Santa Margherita, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Trapani, Italy, and La Goulette (Tunis), Tunisia.

• The Oct. 16 departure of the 18-Day Islands and Empires, calling in Monte Carlo, Monaco; Santa Margherita, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Trapani, Italy; La Goulette (Tunis), Tunisia; Malaga, Cadiz (Seville) and Santa Cruz (Tenerife), Spain; Funchal (Madeira), Portugal; Arrecife, Canary Islands, and Agadir and Casablanca, Morocco.

• The 21-Day Mediterranean Treasures, departing Sept.18 calling in Trapani, Naples, Messina, Cagliari, Brindisi, Civitavecchia (Rome) and Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy; Valletta, Malta; Katakolon, Argostoli and Kerkira (Corfu), Greece; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Kotor, Montenegro, and Marseille (Provence), France.

Prices for the seven-day Spanish Serenade start at $899 per person.