During the winter of next year and the spring of 2013, Holland America will send two cruise ships – ms Volendam and ms Oosterdam – to the Southern Hemisphere for a number of cruises visiting New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific.

In the process the ships will dock at no less than 50 ports allowing guests to explore cosmopolitan cities, such as Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney, and visit the exotic landscapes of Fiji and Vanuatu in the South Pacific.

It will be the first time ms Oosterdam cruises in this region. The sailings will range between 10 and 58 days.

The addition of ms Oosterdam increases Holland America’s capacity in the Australia/South Pacific region by nearly 25%.

The executive vice president of guest programs, sales and marketing for Holland America, Richard Meadows, said “Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands are among the top travel destinations in the world and we have developed our itineraries to showcase the best of what they offer.”

He added that the new cruises would highlight the incredible wildlife of the region – both on sea and on land. This includes visiting the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef and the Australian Outback, and witnessing a solar eclipse while on board a cruise ship.

New Zealand itineraries will give passengers the opportunity to experience some of the most unique scenery in the world, including the Bay of Plenty and the Fiordland National Park. Both the South and North Islands of New Zealand will also be on the menu. Other ports of call include Napier, Wellington and Tauranga.