Scandinavian Capitals and Russia

July 15th- 28th, 2008

Greetings from Brad Cilley and Northwest Travel!

I had many requests for a Northern European cruise later in the summer months. Since August is a busy time at home, and statistically, weather-wise to stay at home, I think this July departure will satisfy the most discerning of passengers.

I chose the Rotterdam for this itinerary because I believe that it provides the best of the cruise criteria that I have come to appreciate, especially on a longer sailing. The size of the ship, at 1316 passengers, allows for a variety of evening entertainment, a choice of shipboard activities on sea days, and a smoother platform than the ride offered on the smaller ships. I have always been very pleased with the quality of the cuisine coming from the kitchen aboard Holland America Vessels, and I believe their level of service compares favorably to lines with a much higher price tag. Having just come off the Noordam on a seven-night Alaska sailing, I can confirm that the quality of the dining room cuisine is every bit as good as I had hoped. The steaks in the Pinnacle Grill were amazing!

The Rotterdam offers a range of accommodation types, which should meet every budget and level of comfort. Ranging from inside cabins beginning at 182 square feet, on up to Penthouse Verandah accommodations at over 1100 square feet, this ship will suit the most demanding cruise passenger.

The pricing for this cruise is slightly discounted from the early-booking offers promoted by Holland America. Your cruise price includes your accommodations aboard ship, all meals aboard, scheduled entertainment and shows, all taxes. In addition to the group pricing, there are some amenities that are provided by Northwest Travel Service to all group participants. These include the following:

• Welcome Cocktail Reception
• Pinnacle Grill Experience
• Second private reception

I believe that I have answered just about every conceivable question in this publication. If I missed something please let me know. I encourage you to book early if you are planning to join us. The Baltic itineraries are very popular, and I would not be surprised to see this ship sell out before the end of October. I will update my website page as space becomes booked.

If you have questions for me regarding this tour, you can attempt to reach me at 425 313 1691, but you may have more success getting your question answered more quickly by emailing me at brad@nwtravel.com. Every time I announce a program like this, I get so busy answering calls, I cannot get the responses back out. By emailing me, I can respond to your question by email. Your questions will help me further describe the program on the web page.

If you are interested in receiving a Holland America Lines brochure and an informational DVD, please let me know by email as well. I will send the request to the cruise line and you should have this information in a few days.

Brad Cilley
Northwest Travel Service

Last Updated: Tuesday, April 29, 2008