Holland America to Resume Full Summer Season of Alaska and Canada Sailings

Holland America Line is gearing up for a full summer season of Alaska cruises and Canada/New England sailings, after the relaxing of Covid restrictions and the opening of Canadian ports.

The action occurred after the Canadian government outlined a public framework for cruise ships to follow in order to resume sailings on Monday (March 7).

Cruise lines are expected to follow a tight public health framework as a condition of sailing, which includes requiring everyone on board to be completely vaccinated against Covid-19 – with “extremely few” exclusions – as well as testing and reporting.

According to Transport Canada, “The ability to welcome cruise ships back to our waters is possible because Canadians have stepped up, rolled up their sleeves, got vaccinated, and followed public health measures.

“The industry has made the safe return of cruise ships to Canadian waters possible by committing to a comprehensive set of enhanced safety protocols on board, including vaccinations, enhanced hygiene practices, and passenger screening based on the best available science.”

HAL has been able to sail itineraries that include Canadian homeports and ports of call as scheduled since the publication of rules for the safe resumption of cruises to Canadian ports.

For roundtrip voyages and itineraries between Vancouver and Whittier, Alaska, ships utilize Vancouver as a homeport.

Round-trip cruises from Seattle to Alaska stop in Victoria, Canada.

Ships travel between Montreal and Quebec City in Canada and Boston in New England.

Itineraries run from six to twenty-four days in length and include stops in Quebec, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.

HAL’s first ship to dock in Canada is the Koningsdam, which docks in Victoria on April 9 before sailing to Vancouver the next day.

On a nine-day Atlantic Coast route from Fort Lauderdale to Montreal, Zaandam makes a stop at Halifax, Nova Scotia on May 17.

Gus Antorcha, president of HAL, said: “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.

“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 United States 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.”

The resumption coincides with HAL’s 75th anniversary of Alaska sailings in 2022.

Robin Silverster, CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, said: “We greatly value our longstanding 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.

“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.”