World
World Academy on MS Volendam: 7 Continents in 135 Days
Program No. 25129RJ
Seven continents in one voyage — board Holland America’s MS Volendam for an unforgettable learning journey around the world!
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135 days
134 nights
396 meals
133B 131L 132D
1
Arrival, Welcome Dinner
Fort Lauderdale
2
Orientation, Transfer to ship, Embarkation
Fort Lauderdale
16
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil- The Best of Rio
Rio de Janeiro
At a Glance
Have you dreamed of exploring all seven continents? Board the MS Volendam for the voyage of a lifetime that begins and ends in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and continues around the globe! Set sail to South America and Antarctica — where you’ll enjoy a four-day expedition — before sailing west for Australia to explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Great Barrier Reef and the Sydney Opera House. Voyage onward in search of unique wildlife like the Komodo Dragons, the largest lizards in the world that make their home in Indonesia and immerse yourself in the culture of Singapore on an overnight in port. Continue your journey and enjoy a “taste” of France as you sample wine in Bordeaux. Throughout this incredible adventure, you’ll enjoy lectures and discussions led by our experts to help you discover the very best of each continent — and delight in this achievement that few explorers experience in their lifetimes!
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
I like to spend much of the day exploring. Whether walking through historic neighborhoods at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I prefer to keep my days full. Stairs don’t bother me, and I love to keep up with the group.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and the moai of Rapa Nui (Easter Island).
- Spend an overnight in port in Sydney Harbor and visit the renowned Sydney Opera House.
- Get up close to the remote landscapes and wildlife of Antarctica on a four-day expedition to this unique continent.
Suggested Reading List
(20 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
World Academy on MS Volendam: 7 Continents in 135 Days
Program Number: 25129
Culture Smart! Brazil
A concise, well-illustrated and practical guide to local customs, etiquette and culture.
The D-Day Atlas: Anatomy of the Normandy Campaign
Charles Messenger’s vivid study of the landings and subsequent campaign chronicles the gradual evolution of the invasion plan, encompassing the intelligence efforts, the Ango-US strategic debate over where the Allies should attack, and the elaborate deception put in place to fool the Germans about the true D-Day objective.
At the heart of this fascinating re-creation of the D-Day campaign are seventy-one maps in full color, which incorporate the latest computer technology. Many are in fact based on the very same maps used by the Allies in 1944. Specially commissioned reconstruction drawings and 82 contemporary photographs help bring the beaches of Normandy to life. 178 illustrations, including 71 color maps
Chile, A Traveler's Literary Companion
These choice stories introduce both the country and a host of contemporary writers.
Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939-1945
Despite Portugal's neutrality during WWII, the city of Lisbon endured untold amounts of pressure, propaganda and espionage from both the Allies and the Axis powers. Lochery's well-researched chronicle is sheathed in a cloak-and-dagger atmosphere as he uncovers sordid and fascinating accounts of the backstage role the Portuguese capital played in the conflict that raged on all sides.
Wildlife of Australia
This compact photo guide covers commonly encountered birds, mammals, reptiles and frogs across Australia, including 350 species of birds.
DK Eyewitness Top Ten Lisbon
A compact illustrated guide in the popular series, featuring favorite attractions.
What We Know About Climate Change
Australia, A Traveler's Literary Companion
Arranged geographically, this collection of works by mostly local writers, including Patrick White, Peter Carey and other luminaries, introduces the cultures, geography and mindset of Australia.
The Stories of Hans Christian Andersen
A newly refurbished collection of 22 tales, adroitly retranslated by Diana and Jeffrey Frank and with the original illustrations.
D-Day Through German Eyes: The Hidden Story of June 6, 1944
Almost all accounts of D Day are told from the Allied perspective. But what was it like to be a German soldier in the bunkers of the Normandy coast, facing the onslaught of the mightiest invasion in history? What motivated the German defenders, what were their thought processes - and how did they fight from one strong point to another, among the dunes and fields, on that first cataclysmic day? This book sheds fascinating light on these questions, bringing together statements made by German survivors after the war, when time had allowed them to reflect on their state of mind, their actions and their choices of June 6th.
The Heart of the Great Alone: Scott, Shackleton and Antarctic Photography
Here in one handsome book are hundreds of haunting photographs by Herbert George Ponting and Frank Hurley, drawn from the albums they created during the two most famous Antarctic explorations. The stunning images are accompanied by lively essays, maps, paintings and other ephemera from the Royal Collection.
Travels in a Thin Country, A Journey through Chile
British author Sara Wheeler deploys her wit, intelligence and powerful investigative skills on the Republic of Chile in this insightful travelogue.
Chasing Kangaroo
In this ode to the kangaroo, Flannery weaves his own coming of age as a scientist with tales of the strange marsupial, past and present.
Naturalists in Paradise, Wallace, Bates and Spruce in the Amazon
The story of the Alfred Russel Wallace, Henry Bates and Richard Spruce, three pioneers of biology who made amazing discoveries in Amazonia. Includes 70 black-and-white and color illustrations.
The Nordic Theory of Everything: In Search of a Better Life
In The Nordic Theory of Everything, Partanen compares and contrasts life in the United States with life in the Nordic region, focusing on four key relationships—parents and children, men and women, employees and employers, and government and citizens.
Full Steam Ahead, A Golden Age of Cruises
With photographs, archival reprints and firsthand accounts, this coffee table history of cruising focuses on the freedom and romance of cruise vessels in their golden age.
Eyewitness Guide Norway
This handsome, illustrated guide covers nature, culture, history and attractions.
Melting Away, Images of the Arctic and Antarctic
In her masterful series of 75 portraits and essays, Camille Seaman shows how climate change has wreaked havoc on both the North and South Poles.
The Brazilians
A clear, comprehensive and compelling introduction to Brazil, covering politics, history, economics, ecology, conservation and culture.
D-Day June 6, 1944, The Climactic Battle of World War II
Written by the best-selling historian Stephen Ambrose, this well researched book draws together interviews and government documents to tell the gripping tale of D-Day. This comprehensive account contains 32 pages of photos and eight maps.
Program No.
25129
Duration
135 days
Program Begins
Fort Lauderdale
Program Concludes
Fort Lauderdale
Activity Level
At a Glance
Have you dreamed of exploring all seven continents? Board the MS Volendam for the voyage of a lifetime that begins and ends in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and continues around the globe! Set sail to South America and Antarctica — where you’ll enjoy a four-day expedition — before sailing west for Australia to explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Great Barrier Reef and the Sydney Opera House. Voyage onward in search of unique wildlife like the Komodo Dragons, the largest lizards in the world that make their home in Indonesia and immerse yourself in the culture of Singapore on an overnight in port. Continue your journey and enjoy a “taste” of France as you sample wine in Bordeaux. Throughout this incredible adventure, you’ll enjoy lectures and discussions led by our experts to help you discover the very best of each continent — and delight in this achievement that few explorers experience in their lifetimes!
Best of all, you'll...
- Discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and the moai of Rapa Nui (Easter Island).
- Spend an overnight in port in Sydney Harbor and visit the renowned Sydney Opera House.
- Get up close to the remote landscapes and wildlife of Antarctica on a four-day expedition to this unique continent.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
I like to spend much of the day exploring. Whether walking through historic neighborhoods at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I prefer to keep my days full. Stairs don’t bother me, and I love to keep up with the group.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List: 20 Books
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
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Call
800-454-5768