Once in a lifetime grand voyages

In 1958 Holland America Line embarked on its first Grand World Voyage, circumnavigating the globe on the beloved ss Statendam IV. Fifty years later, in 2008, four Grand Voyages will commemorate the premium line's golden anniversary of worldwide cruising, with two sailings each aboard the flagship ms Amsterdam and the intimate ms Prinsendam.

The popularity of longer, enriching cruise voyages is growing and Holland America Line will now provide customers with four extensive itineraries within its Grand Voyage programme. It will boast a total of 320 days of cruising, 118 ports of call and 74 countries, and will sail more than 95,000 nautical miles.

The most extraordinary of the four voyages entails a 73-night Africa adventure taking in the continent in all its colours and contrasts, covering more than 20,500 nautical miles on the ms Prinsendam. Guests begin their voyage on March 11, 2008, from Fort Lauderdale, first visiting the unique Caribbean port of Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands before crossing the Atlantic to the remote Madeira Islands.

The ship continues on to the northwestern tip of Africa before setting a southerly course toward South Africa to visit Cape Town, Durban and Richards Bay. Then it's on to Mombasa, Kenya, gateway to some of the world's most beautiful beaches, awe-inspiring scenery and amazing wildlife.

The voyage includes overnight stays in Cape Town and three full days in Mombasa plus late night departures in Funchal, Madeira; Durban ; Victoria, Seychelles; Safaga, Egypt, and Malaga, Spain, allowing ample time for shopping and exploration of some of the world's most interesting ports.

Highlights of this carefully woven itinerary include a full day exploring Walvis Bay, Namibia, known for its huge natural lagoon and abundance of seabirds; two days in Cape Town with an optional African safari; a full day and late-night departure from Alexandria, Egypt, which offers plenty of time to discover the ambience, culture and heritage of the city known as the "Pearl of the Mediterranean."

This one-of-a-kind 74-night fly/cruise costs from £6,499pp (including scheduled flights from London and pre-cruise hotel night in Florida) and is also offered as a shorter trip, 35-Night Fly Cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Cape Town from £2,749pp.

Other exciting Grand Voyage cruises include a World Voyage, South America and Antarctica Voyage and an Asia and Australia Voyage.

To order a 2008 Worldwide Cruises brochure from Holland America Line, visit Hollandamerica.co.uk.