Holland America Line (HAL) is to complete preparations for a full season of Alaska trips and Canada/New England sailings, following the latest guidance from the Canadian Government, the cruise operator said.
HAL confirmed that it will sail itineraries as scheduled, including utilising Canadian homeports and ports of call from late spring through autumn.
“The completion of this guidance by Transport Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, Public Health Agency of Canada, and port officials will allow us to sail our Alaska and Canada/New England seasons as planned,” said Gus Antorcha, HAL President (pictured). “This is a positive step for everyone who loves to travel to these regions and for all of the businesses in Canada that we support through tourism.
“Many of the protocols Canada is applying were successfully implemented in the US after the restart of cruising, and they are working well. We are well-positioned to follow Canada’s direction and continue delivering memorable cruise vacations that include Canadian ports,” he added.
This year, HAL celebrates 75 years of cruising in Alaska. Ships bound for Alaska use Vancouver (BC) as a homeport for round voyages and itineraries between Vancouver and Whittier, Alaska. Cruise ships that sail roundtrips from Seattle (Wash) to Alaska call at Victoria (BC).
In Canada/New England, HAL ships cruise between Montreal and Quebec City, Canada, and Boston (Mass). Itineraries range from six to 24 days and calls are made at 13 Canadian ports in Quebec, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Labrador and Prince Edward Island.
“We greatly value our long standing partnership with Holland America Line, which was the first cruise line to call at the new Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver in 1986,” said Robin Silvester, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority President and CEO. “We’re pleased to see the return of cruising in Canada, and we look forward to welcoming cruise lines, guests and crew back to Vancouver.”
“As people return to travel this summer, we know some will choose to stay a little closer to home,” Antorcha added. “Our Alaska land and sea packages and our Canada/New England sailings are great ways to resume exploring the world without travelling a great distance.”
HAL’s first ship to arrive in Canada will be ‘Koningsdam’, which is due to call at Victoria (BC) on 9th April en route to Vancouver for a 10th April arrival.
On the eastern seaboard, ‘Zaandam’ will call at Halifax (NS) on 17th May, while on a nine-day Atlantic Coast cruise sailing between Fort Lauderdale (Fla) to Montreal.
