Holland America's Touring Explorer Coach To Visit Sebring

SEBRING - A press release described it as "a moving piece of art - fun, unique and educational."

Linda Moore says it is a "luxury motorcoach." Moore, vice president and owner of Travel and Cruise World in Winter Haven, quickly noted something else.

"This isn't a bus," she said.

Holland America Line's Touring Explorer Coach will be making its first visit to Sebring this week to promote the company's 2008 cruise tours to Alaska and the Yukon. The coach will be in Sebring on Feb. 9 at the Quality Inn, located at 6525 U.S. 27 N.

There will be four interactive seminars lasting 30 minutes each. They will run from 10:15 - 10:45 a.m., 11 - 11:30, 12:30 p.m. - 1 and 1:15 p.m. - 1:45.

Moore said the company retrofitted the coach, reducing the number of seats from 56 to 46.

The coach is equipped with leather seats, a mini-galley offering cold snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. It is handicap accessible.

It has six new LCD monitors and every seat is equipped with with a headset and eight-channel audio.

A battery charging station for those traveling with electronic equipment is located in the galley.

Moore said Holland America, which is celebrating its 60th year of being involved in Alaska travel this year, approached her company about the motorcoach tours.

According to the press release, the first Holland American Line Explorer Coach tour, then called the "Moose Mobile," toured 27 states between January and April 2005. The motorcoach was driven across the United States by a native Alaskan husband and wife team who conducted seminars and travel agent events along the way.

"It helps agencies to showcase a product," Moore said. "It has been beneficial to us."

Tours of the coach, which is one of three touring the United States this year, will be available to the public.

"We are thrilled to be able to have it for Sebring," Moore said.