BELLEVUE, Wash., Jan. 31, 2008 -- AAA Washington and Holland America Line again offer the Wines of Washington (WOW) cruise on board the ms Oosterdam. Departing San Diego on April 26 and arriving in Vancouver on April 30, the WOW cruise offers oenophiles exclusive wine tastings, winemaker lunches and dinners, and optional themed discussions throughout the cruise up the coast.

Leading experts in Washington wine have been chosen to provide insights into the burgeoning wine industry, now the second largest wine producing region in the nation with 350 vineyards and over 500 wineries statewide. Local culinary experts complement the group with their knowledge of pairing wine with different types of cuisine.

The WOW Coastal Cruise, which offers two days at sea and one day in Seattle before arriving in Vancouver, will kick-off with an exclusive Wines of Washington cocktail party, featuring select Washington wines. Highlighting the cruise is a stop in Seattle for an optional tour of Chateau Ste. Michelle -- the largest winery in the state -- to sample its award-winning wines.

Guests on the WOW cruise will enjoy educational presentations along with social events. Holland America Line has brought together an exceptional group of Washington food and wine experts to make sure the cruise is entertaining, educational and truly exceptional:

-- Tom Hedges, Hedges Family Estates
-- Juan Munoz Oca, Columbia Crest
-- Eric Dunham, Dunham Cellars
-- John Sarich, executive chef, Chateau Ste Michelle
-- Armandino Batali, Salumi Artisan Cured Meats

Throughout the cruise, WOW guests will be treated to lively discussions covering nearly everything there is to know about Washington wine and more.

The delicious relationship between wine and food takes center stage during demonstrations and tastings in the Oosterdam's state-of-the-art Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine magazine, as well as in the five-star Pinnacle Grill restaurant, which unites Northwest-inspired cuisine with such international touches as Frette linens, Bulgari china and Riedel stemware.

Cruise guests also have the option of partaking in one of the wine-maker three-course lunches for $45 or four-course dinners for $95 in the Pinnacle Grill hosted by a wine or culinary expert. Exceptional Washington wine will highlight each meal, selected to match the award-winning cuisine for a genuinely sublime dining experience on the high seas.

The cruise itinerary allows ample time to enjoy Oosterdam's many luxurious amenities and activities including a soothing hydrotherapy session and hot-stone massage at the Greenhouse Spa & Fitness Center.

Packages for the Wines of Washington Coastal Cruise are $399 for an interior stateroom and $449 for an outside stateroom. Pricing is per person, based on double occupancy, in US dollars. For more information or to book the WOW Coastal Cruise, contact your local AAA office, call 1-800-430-9001, or visit http://www.aaa.com/.