Holland America Line refuses to be affected by an apparent soft economy, and is already taking steps to make its 2009 cruise season successful. If cruise travelers will book by September 15, 2008, Holland America Line will offer Early Advantage savings on many of their cruises and CruiseTours. Holland America Mariners guests can save even more. If you plan on taking the family, select sailings will have special fares for third or fourth guests who share the same stateroom starting at just $99 per person.

With savings of up to $2,200 per person, the Early Advantage promotion encompasses an extensive selection of 2009 cruises sailing to more than 320 ports of call in destinations around the world: Alaska, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Canada/New England, Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama Canal, and South America/Antarctica.

Highlights of next year’s deployment include the first full year of itineraries aboard the new ms Eurodam; four distinctive Grand Voyages of 50 to 117-days aboard ms Rotterdam, ms Prinsendam and ms Amsterdam; full Panama Canal transits in fall and winter aboard ms Statendam; ms Oosterdam sailing in South America as the first Vista-class ship in the Southern Hemisphere; and more than 20 new ports introduced worldwide.

“Cruising is a popular vacation choice and a very good value today so we want to reward those who book early,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “Planning ahead means even greater savings plus more stateroom and departure options.”

For example, with these special advance fares, guests can book a 10-day Mediterranean cruise with fares starting as low as $1,449 per person, double occupancy, for an inside stateroom and $2,149 for a verandah - and third or fourth guests cost from only $299. A 16-day South America cruise starts at $1,899 for an inside or outside stateroom. A 14-day Australia/New Zealand cruise starts at $1,699 for an inside and $1,899 for an outside.

In other regions, a 7-day Caribbean cruise starts at $599 for inside staterooms and $899 for verandahs. A 15-day Circle Hawaii cruise starts at $1,499 with an optional upgrade to an outside stateroom for only $200. And a 14-day full transit of the Panama Canal begins at $1,499 for an inside or $1,799 for an outside.

The popular 7-day Alaskan Explorer cruise, roundtrip from Seattle, starts at $699 for inside staterooms or $1,149 for verandahs. Another option is an Alaska CruiseTour, varying in length from 11 to 20 days, starting at $1,249 for inside staterooms and $1,449 for outside staterooms.

For more information, call me 1-888-579-8706 or visit www.AVCTravel.com/GreggEppleman.