Here Are Holland America Line’s Homeports For 2023

MS Nieuw Amsterdam arriving in the port of Vancouver, Photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr)

With its entire fleet in service again, Holland America Line is planning an expansive global deployment in 2023.

In addition to strong programs from its traditional homeports in the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe, the company is also returning to its long-haul, intercontinental itineraries during the year.

Offering round-trip cruises from U.S. ports, Holland America is also returning to the Amazon, the South Pacific, Africa and more.

Other highlights of the year include a summer program in Canada and New England, as well as returns to South America, Asia, the Far East and more.

Here’s a look at the company’s planned homeports and their ships for 2023:

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Ships:

– Eurodam (January to April/October to December);
– Nieuw Amsterdam (January to April/October to December);
– Nieuw Statendam (January to April/November and December);
– Rotterdam (January to March/October to December);
– Volendam (January to April);
– Zaandam (January to April/October to December);
– Zuiderdam (January to May/October to December).

Seattle, Washington

Ships:

– Eurodam (April to September);
– Westerdam (May to October).

San Diego, California

Ships:

– Koningsdam (January to March);
– Volendam (October and November);
– Zaandam (January to April).
 

Whittier, Alaska

Ships:

– Nieuw Amsterdam (May to September);
– Noordam (May to September).

Boston, Massachusetts

Ships:

– Zaandam (May to September);
– Zuiderdam (August and September).

Canada

Ships:

– Koningsdam: Vancouver (April to October);
– Nieuw Amsterdam: Vancouver (April to September);
– Noordam: Vancouver (May to September);
– Volendam: Vancouver (May to September); 
– Zaandam: Montreal (April to September);
– Zuiderdam: Quebec City (September).

Europe

Ships:

– Nieuw Statendam: Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Copenhagen, Piraeus and more (April to October);
– Noordam: Barcelona, Lisbon, Trieste, Piraeus and more (April to October);
– Rotterdam: Amsterdam and Rotterdam (April to September);
– Zuiderdam: Rotterdam (May to July).

Australia and New Zealand

Ships:

– Noordam: Sydney and Auckland (January to April/October to December).

Asia and Pacific

Ships:

– Westerdam: Singapore, Yokohama and Hong Kong (January to April/October to December). 

South America

Ships:

– Oosterdam: San Antonio and Buenos Aires (January to March/November and December). 

Princess Ships Returning to the United States Ahead of Restarts

The Diamond Princess and the Sapphire Princess are returning to the United States. After several years of sailing in Asia and the Pacific, the vessels are currently sailing to Los Angeles ahead of their service restarts in North America.

Out of service since early 2020, the Diamond Princess will be the first to arrive, on August 4.

The 2004-built cruise ship welcomes guests back on September 1 for a series of San Diego-based sailings.

The program includes cruises to the California Coast, the Baja Peninsula, the Sea of Cortez and Hawaii, marking the first time the vessel sails from a U.S. port since 2013.

In November, the Diamond is also offering a 20-night cruise to Central America that features visits to Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Guatemala.

The Sapphire Princess, meanwhile, is set to arrive in Los Angeles on August 20. Completing the Princess Cruises restart, the ship is resuming service on September 24.

Also out of service since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2,600-guest ship is offering four- to 15-night cruises to Mexico, Hawaii and the California Coast from its Los Angeles homeport. The program marks the ship’s return to the U.S. after an eight-year gap.

In December, the Sapphire heads to South America for cruises to Patagonia, Antarctica and the Falklands.

After initially being laid up in Southeast Asia, both ships had been anchored off Cyprus since mid-2021. 

With the Diamond and the Sapphire resuming service, the entire Princess Cruises fleet will sail with guests again.

Following a 16-month operational pause, the premium brand first welcomed guests back in July 2021 for a shortened summer season in Alaska.

A few days later, the company also returned to the UK before relaunching service on the West Coast in September 2021 and the Panama Canal in October 2021.

Over the past months, 13 Princess cruise ships resumed service as well, bringing the company back to other areas such as Australia, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

American Queen Voyages Rolls Out Pacific Coast Sailings with Free Air

American Queen Voyages is launching its Pacific Coast sailing aboard the Ocean Victory from San Diego, California, to San José, Puerto Rico, and offers free air transportation from select getaways, according to a press release.

Guests will be eligible for the free air option if they complete their booking by August 31, 2022, according to the company.

American Queen Voyages also offers its guests the choice to pick between two shorter voyages ranging from eight to fifteen days, from San Diego, California to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to San José, Costa Rica, beginning on October 3, 2022.

Guided tours led by local experts and historians are available in each port, and the company has also introduced a series of premium tours developed by its shore excursions team, such as Turtles and Iguanas and Salsa and Margaritas.

“Guests have given Ocean Victory rave reviews on her inaugural Alaska season, and our Pacific Coast sailing provides a final opportunity to experience this unique vessel in 2022 before she returns to North America again next year,” said Isis Ruiz, chief commercial officer, American Queen Voyages. “This itinerary exploring the Western coastlines of Mexico and Costa Rica will provide spectacular vistas and a variety of experiences guests have come to cherish from American Queen Voyages, which combines science, history, wildlife and adventure.”

Voyage Options:

San Diego, California to San José, Costa Rica
Date: October 3, 2022
Duration: 15 days
Calls on: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; La Paz, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Manzanillo, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puerto Chiapas, Mexico; and Playas del Coco, Costa Rica
Fare: Starts from $5,099 per guest with free roundtrip airfare

San Diego, California to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Date: October 3, 2022
Duration: 8 days
Calls on: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and La Paz, Mexico
Fare: Starts from $2,499 per guest with a $300 onboard credit

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to San José, Costa Rica
Date: October 9, 2022
Duration: 9 days
Calls on: Manzanillo, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puerto Chiapas, Mexico; and Playas del Coco, Costa Rica
Fare: Starts from $2,799 per guest with a $300 onboard credit