HAL will deploy Westerdam to Japan early next year off the back of a stint in Australia and New Zealand; the ship will start its Asia season on 3rd February after a January dry dock in Singapore.
Japan lifted its curbs on cruising last month. Westerdam will sail roundtrip from Yokohama or Singapore, or between the two destinations.
Cruises range from 11 to 14 days and can be combined to create non-repeating Collectors’ Voyages. Across five itineraries, guests will be able to visit Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, with overnight calls in Singapore, Kobe, Osaka and Phuket.
The season will conclude with a 14-day North Pacific Crossing from Yokohama to Seattle departing on 24th April when Westerdam redeploys for its Alaska season.
“We’re grateful for the work that the Japanese authorities have done to allow for a return to cruising,” said HAL president Gus Antorcha.
“Holland America Line’s guests love longer voyages to unique parts of the world, and we’ll be sailing to some incredible locations as our season in Japan and the rest of Asia begins.”
HAL will provide details of any specific health protocols for each departure in advance via its voyage lookup tool.
MS Nieuw Amsterdam arriving early morning into Vancouver, photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr)
Effective immediately, unvaccinated guests sailing on “standard protocol” voyages will no longer need a test prior to disembarkation.
Guests will also not have to provide evidence of vaccination unless they are required to do so by a destination.
“Our guests continue to show their excitement to return to cruising, and this is another step toward making it as easy as possible for them to safely explore the world in a way they love,” said Gus Antorcha, president of HAL.
“Standard protocol” voyages now also include Panama Canal transits up to 15 nights and guests on “enhanced protocol” voyages will be provided additional information about protocols based on ports visited.
Currently, five vessels are in service in North America, including the new Rotterdam.
The 2021-built ship debuted in October, sailing a transatlantic crossing before kicking off its inaugural season in the Caribbean.
The Eurodam, the Nieuw Amsterdam, the Nieuw Statendam and the Koningsdam are also presently operating, offering cruises to the Caribbean, the Bahamas and the West Coast from two different homeports.
Here are the details:
Eurodam Capacity at 100%: 2,104 Date: In service since August 15, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 7 to 10 nights Itinerary: Panama Canal, Southern and Eastern Caribbean
Koningsdam Capacity at 100%: 2,650 Date: In service since October 10, 2021 Region: West Coast Homeport: San Diego (United States) Length: 7 nights Itinerary: Mexican Riviera
Nieuw Amsterdam Capacity at 100%: 2,100 Date: In service since July 24, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 5 to 9 nights Itinerary: the Bahamas, Western and Eastern Caribbean
Nieuw Statendam Capacity at 100%: 2,650
Date: In service since November 21, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 7 nights Itinerary: Bahamas, Western, Eastern and Southern Caribbean
Rotterdam (VII) Capacity at 100%: 2,650 Date: In service since October 20, 2021 Region: Caribbean Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 10 and 11 nights Itinerary: Eastern and Southern Caribbean
Zuiderdam Returns in December; Balance of the Fleet in 2022
While the balance of the 11-ship fleet is set to return in the first half of 2022, the Zuiderdam is resuming service in December.
The 2002-built ship is set to offer additional itinerary choices in North America, with a series of West Coast, Panama Canal and the Caribbean.
Here are the currently planned service resumption dates for the remainder of the fleet:
Zuiderdam Capacity at 100%: 1,916
Date: December 23, 2021 Region: West Coast Homeport: San Diego (United States) Length: 10 nights Itinerary: Guaymas, Loreto, Topolobampo, La Paz, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas
Noordam Capacity at 100%: 1,918 Date: April 24, 2022 Region: Panama Canal Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) to San Diego (United States) Length: 17 nights Itinerary: Cartagena, Panama Canal, Panama City, Puerto Caldera, Corinto, Puerto Quetzal, Puerto Chiapas, Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Luas
Oosterdam Capacity at 100%: 1,916 Date: May 1, 2022 Region: Mediterranean Homeport: Civitavecchia (Italy) to Venice (Italy) Length: 7 nights Itinerary: Salerno, Messina, Corfu, Kotor and Zadar
Volendam Capacity at 100%: 1,432 Date: May 1, 2022 Region: Northern Europe Homeport: Rotterdam (Netherlands) Length: 14 nights Itinerary: Arhus, Warnemunde, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn and St. Petersburg
Westerdam Capacity at 100%: 1,916 Date: May 8, 2022 Region: Alaska Homeport: Seattle (United States) Length: 7 nights Itinerary: Victoria, Ketchikan, Juneau and Sitka
Zaandam Capacity at 100%: 1,432 Date: May 12, 2022 Region: Canada and New England Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) to Montreal (Canada) Length: 9 nights Itinerary: Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney and Quebec City
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