<p>This holiday season Holland America Line  is providing the ultimate getaway gift for the entire family with 22  signature holiday cruises ranging from seven to 17 days.&nbsp; Whether  basking in a <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> sunset or  reveling in the ultimate Antarctic white Christmas, guests aboard the  premium line can leave the hustle and bustle behind and enjoy up to 50  percent savings, plus special reduced rates for third and fourth guests  sharing staterooms, on select sailings.</p>
<p>Special rates are geared toward families on several holiday cruises - with six dates offering free or <span class="xn-money">$199</span> rates for the third or fourth guest in a stateroom.&nbsp; Double-occupancy fares start at <span class="xn-money">$699</span> per person, plus tax, for a seven-day <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> holiday cruise.</p>
<p>"With cruise values starting at <span class="xn-money">$1,598</span> plus tax for a family of four sharing the same stateroom, 'tis the season to travel," said <span class="xn-person">Richard D. Meadows</span>,  CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs.&nbsp;  "Plus, holiday cruises allow guests to celebrate and relax in style with  five-star dining, award-winning service and their favorite traditions  observed with none of the hassle - letting guests truly enjoy their time  with their family."</p>
<p>On-board festivities  include holiday decorations, sumptuous traditional meals, seasonal  movies, culinary classes and demonstrations featuring tasty holiday  treats, a visit from Santa for the kids, activities and crafts,  strolling carolers, a tree-lighting ceremony, eggnog in the Atrium,  Christmas brunch, Santa's milk and cookie late-night snack, and a  holiday show by the crew on Christmas Eve.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Those sailing on any ship over <span class="xn-chron">Dec. 31</span> will enjoy a traditional <span class="xn-chron">New Year's Eve</span> Gala Ball with live music, dancing, festive attire and a midnight  toast. &nbsp;Select college bowl games also will be broadcast on board.&nbsp; Each  holiday voyage features clergy to conduct Catholic, Protestant and  Jewish services (for cruises during <span class="xn-chron">Hanukkah</span>).&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Sail the <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> on Seven- to 14-day Cruises</strong></p>
<p>Thirteen Caribbean holiday cruise options are available <span class="xn-chron">between Dec. 17 and Dec. 31</span> aboard seven ships - ms Westerdam, ms Maasdam, ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw  Amsterdam, ms Ryndam, ms Prinsendam and ms Noordam - departing from <span class="xn-location">Fort Lauderdale</span> or <span class="xn-location">Tampa, Fla.</span>, over one or both holidays.</p>
<p>Itineraries include a seven-day southern <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> cruise with stops at such exotic ports as <span class="xn-location">Aruba</span> and Curacao.&nbsp; Or try seven days exploring the rich waters of the eastern <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> and legendary ports of call such as <span class="xn-location">Nassau</span>, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.&nbsp; Finally, holiday cruisers can choose among western <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> options with stops that might include Belize,&nbsp;Georgetown, <span class="xn-location">Grand Cayman</span>; Costa Maya, <span class="xn-location">Mexico</span>, and <span class="xn-location">Key West, Fla.</span></p>
<p>Travelers with more time can opt for 10- to 14-day <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> cruises and usher in the New Year in St. Thomas or <span class="xn-location">St. George's</span> while sampling the ports of <span class="xn-location">Barbados</span> and Grand Turk.</p>
<p>Most  itineraries feature a visit to Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line's  award-winning exclusive private island experience with white sand  beaches, aqua waters and shore activities ranging from horseback riding  to a stingray adventure.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Sunny Mexican Riviera &amp; Panama Canal for a Festive Occasion</strong></p>
<p>Departing from <span class="xn-location">Fort Lauderdale</span>, <span class="xn-location">San Diego</span> or <span class="xn-location">Los Angeles, Calif.</span>, in mid to late December, five cruises feature distinct itineraries that visit different collections of warm-water ports along the Mexican Riviera, <span class="xn-location">Central America</span>, Panama Canal and <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span>.</p>
<p>The Sunfarer Caribbean Holiday cruise is a 10-day trip from <span class="xn-location">Fort Lauderdale</span> on <span class="xn-chron">Dec. 23</span> aboard ms Zuiderdam in the southern <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> with <span class="xn-chron">Christmas Eve</span> at Half Moon Cay, a partial transit of the Panama Canal and <span class="xn-chron">New Year's Eve</span> at sea, returning <span class="xn-chron">Jan. 2, 2011</span>.</p>
<p>Two more cruises visit the Panama Canal beginning with a 14-day cruise that departs <span class="xn-location">Los Angeles</span> <span class="xn-chron">Dec. 22</span> aboard ms <span class="xn-location">Amsterdam</span> in time for <span class="xn-chron">Christmas Day</span> at sea and stops in <span class="xn-location">Mexico</span>, <span class="xn-location">Guatemala</span> and <span class="xn-location">Costa Rica</span> before traversing the Canal en route to Fort Lauderdale.&nbsp; Or guests can  opt for the 14-day Panama Canal Holiday Cruise on ms Statendam  departing <span class="xn-location">San Diego</span> on Christmas Eve.&nbsp; Stops in <span class="xn-location">Mexico</span> include <span class="xn-location">Puerto Vallarta</span> and <span class="xn-person">Puerto Chiapas</span> before crossing the canal to reach Fort Lauderdale.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Christmas and <span class="xn-chron">New Years</span> holidays along the Mexican Riviera can be particularly memorable on an eight-day cruise from <span class="xn-location">San Diego</span> aboard ms Oosterdam departing <span class="xn-chron">Dec. 18</span>, or a seven-day sailing <span class="xn-chron">Dec. 26</span> that visits <span class="xn-location">Puerto Vallarta</span>, <span class="xn-location">Mazatlan</span> and <span class="xn-location">Cabo San Lucas, Mexico</span>. Or guests can opt for a 12-day cruise departing <span class="xn-chron">Dec. 22</span> on ms <span class="xn-location">Rotterdam</span> that features <span class="xn-chron">Christmas Eve</span> in <span class="xn-location">Cabo San Lucas</span>, <span class="xn-chron">Christmas Day</span> at sea and <span class="xn-chron">New Year's Eve</span> in <span class="xn-location">Mazatlan</span>.</p>
<p><strong>Longer Voyages</strong><strong> Sail the Pacific </strong></p>
<p>The  warm waters of the far Pacific offer memorable holiday adventures as  well.&nbsp; A 14-day Circle Hawaii sailing aboard ms Zaandam departs <span class="xn-location">San Diego</span> <span class="xn-chron">Dec. 19</span> with <span class="xn-chron">Christmas Eve</span> in <span class="xn-location">Hilo</span>, <span class="xn-chron">Christmas Day</span> in Nawiliwili and <span class="xn-chron">New Year's Day</span> in <span class="xn-location">Ensenada</span>, Mexico.&nbsp; Departing <span class="xn-chron">Dec. 17</span> and with limited space, the 16-day Australia&ndash;New Zealand Holiday Cruise aboard ms Volendam explores the southern coast of <span class="xn-location">Australia</span> from <span class="xn-location">Sydney</span> before an extensive tour of <span class="xn-location">New Zealand</span> ports such as Milford Sound and <span class="xn-location">Auckland</span>, and celebrating <span class="xn-chron">Christmas Eve</span> in <span class="xn-location">Wellington</span>.</p>
<p><strong>White Christmas in the Antarctic</strong></p>
<p>Guests who want their holidays adorned with snow and ice will see a white Christmas on the 17-day South America and Antarctica Explorer journey.&nbsp; Departing Valparaiso (<span class="xn-location">Santiago</span>), <span class="xn-location">Chile</span>, <span class="xn-chron">Dec. 20</span>, ms Veendam steers south amid the glaciers to spend <span class="xn-chron">Christmas Eve</span> cruising <span class="xn-person">Darwin Channel</span> and the Chilean Fjords, <span class="xn-chron">Christmas Day</span> sailing Amalia Glacier Canal and <span class="xn-chron">New Year's Eve</span> in the Antarctic Sound.</p>
<p><strong>Onboard Activities</strong><strong> for Everyone </strong></p>
<p>When choosing a Holland America cruise for a family vacation,  there's always something for everyone - from kids to grandparents &nbsp;-  &nbsp;with a wide variety of exciting activities and venues for the entire  family to enjoy the cruise vacation of their dreams.&nbsp; Younger children  3-7 can play games, enjoy arts and crafts and join other supervised  activities in Club HAL. &nbsp;Tweens 8-12 have an area featuring arcade  games, air hockey, foosball and Sony PlayStations. Older kids 13-17 can  often be found at The Loft, a teen-only venue, enjoying karaoke, video  games, movies and a teen disco or hanging out at The Oasis, a teens-only  sun deck. And daily menus feature kid-friendly choices.</p>
<p>While  the kids are busy, adults can enjoy diverse activities and facilities  from the Greenhouse Spa &amp; Salon to a lively shipboard casino, wine  tasting, cooking classes, afternoon tea, an internet caf&eacute;/library,  party-planning classes and complimentary interactive Digital Workshops powered by Windows to learn more about using digital media.</p>