Ryndam to Europe, not Alaska, in 2011

[jleq]

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=620003189.blog

[IRL_Joanie]

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=620003189.blog

 

Most likely due to the Taxes on Cruise Lines that have increased dramatically in the last couple of years.

 

I remember a thread months ago stating this would probably happen:(

 

Joanie

[Modern_Viking]

According to the article, HAL is sending 3 vistas, 1 S-class and 3 R-class ships to Alaska in 2011 vs. the 2010 lineup of 2 vistas, 2 S-class, and 4 R-class.

 

Thus, the swap of Westerdam for Rotterdam will mean a net reduction of only about 700 cabins per week in Alaska vs. losing the entire 1,200 cabin capacity of the Ryndam.

 

Still, it is a reduction. And plans could always change again.

 

From the HAL web site:

Holland America’s 2011 Alaska season will feature a total of 50 cruises from Seattle. The ms Amsterdam will again sail 14-day Alaskan Adventurer cruises roundtrip from Seattle – a new itinerary that debuts in summer 2010. The ms Westerdam and ms Oosterdam will also sail roundtrip from Seattle on Saturdays and Sundays, offering seven-day roundtrip cruises of the Inside Passage.

 

The ms Volendam and ms Zuiderdam will sail roundtrip from Vancouver, offering a total of 38 cruises. The ms Zaandam will also sail one roundtrip cruise from Vancouver in addition to its main itinerary of seven-day, one-way cruises between Vancouver and Seward. The ms Statendam joins the Zaandam in featuring this itinerary, each sailing 18 cruises through the Inside Passage and Alaskan Gulf.

 

Many of the cruises are highlighted by scenic cruising of tidewater glaciers in either Glacier Bay National Park or Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay. Holland America will begin taking 2011 Alaska cruise bookings in April, 2010.

[JLC@SD]

As a cruiser that prefers the European itineraries, I hope HAL will put together some interesting trips for the smaller Ryndam. She is a good size to visit some of the smaller unique ports. We have sailed on her and enjoyed her and would sail again with the right itinerary.....:)

[Modern_Viking]

Some more info on the change in Alaska cruises by Princess. (In 2011, they are pulling their smallest ship from the market.)

 

 

Royal Princess to Leave Princess Cruises Fleet and Join British Sister Line P&O Cruises

Small Ship Will Transfer in May 2011; Spring Deployment Changed

 

Santa Clarita, CA (December 9, 2009) -- One of the small ships of Princess Cruises, the 710-passenger Royal Princess, will depart the line's fleet in spring 2011, transferring to sister company P&O Cruises in the U.K. The ship will be renamed Adonia.

 

As a result, five sailings in April and May will be cancelled, and in place of these a 26-day South Pacific and Andes Explorer cruise will be offered prior to the transfer.

 

The ship's 2010 cruise program includes sailings to the Amazon, Caribbean, Panama Canal, Alaska, Hawaii and French Polynesia.

 

With the transfer of Royal Princess there will be one less Princess ship in Alaska for the 2011 season, though full details are not yet available. During summer 2010, the ship will sail on a 14-day roundtrip "Connoisseur" cruises from Seattle to Alaska.

 

The following 2011 sailings are being cancelled:

April 6, 2011 10-day Tahiti & Polynesia

April 16, 2011 10-day Tahiti & Polynesia

April 26, 2011 12-day Hawaii & Tahiti

May 8, 2011 10-day Hawaiian Islands

May 18, 2011 1-day coastal

 

 

The new 26-day cruise that replaces these sailings will depart April 6, 2011 and travel between Papeete, Tahiti and Fort Lauderdale. Ports of call will include Bora Bora, Moorea, Pitcairn Island (for scenic cruising), Easter Island, Pisco (San Martin), Lima (Callao for Machu Picchu overland excursion), Quito (Manta), Panama Canal Transit, San Blas, and Limón. Fares begin at $4,145 per person, double occupancy.

 

The ship will then go into a drydock in the Bahamas to change its livery prior to joining the P&O Cruises fleet in May 2011.

Royal Princess joined the Princess fleet in 2007, having originally been built in 2001.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Holland America Line Announces Europe and Alaska Cruises for Summer 2011

 

 

 

 

Seattle, December 9, 2009 — Holland America Line is announcing its Europe and Alaska cruise schedule for summer 2011, which increases sailings from the homeports of Dover, England and Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

"We’ll offer more sailings in Europe in 2011 to meet the increase in demand for European itineraries,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales, and guest programs. “Our guests are finding a cruise to be the best value for their money in Europe, and interest in Mediterranean and Northern European itineraries continues to grow.”

Europe cruises

In 2011 Holland America Line will feature seven ships cruising the Mediterranean, Baltic and Northern Europe from Civitavecchia (Rome), Venice, Barcelona, Dover (London), Rotterdam, Copenhagen, Athens and Amsterdam. Both ms Nieuw Amsterdam and ms Noordam will sail the Mediterranean all season. The Nieuw Amsterdam, which debuts on July 4, 2010, will offer 12-day sailings while the Noordam will feature seven- and 10-day cruises.

The ms Ryndam will sail a series of Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruises ranging from seven to 21 days. The ms Rotterdam will also sail Northern Europe and Mediterranean itineraries of seven to 12 days, including some that feature the Black Sea and the Holy Land. The Rotterdam will also sail two nine-day historic transatlantic cruises mid-season.

The ms Eurodam begins her 2011 season with two seven-day Mediterranean sailings and then offers ten- and 12-day cruises in the Baltic. Both the ms Prinsendam and ms Maasdam will also feature Europe cruises, the Maasdam again sailing its traditional transatlantic roundtrip itinerary from Boston that visits Greenland and Iceland.

Many of the above cruises can be combined into Collectors’ Voyages ranging from 17 to 39 days. Holland America will begin accepting 2011 Europe cruise bookings late January 2010.

Alaska Cruises

Holland America’s 2011 Alaska season will feature a total of 50 cruises from Seattle. The ms Amsterdam will again sail 14-day Alaskan Adventurer cruises roundtrip from Seattle – a new itinerary that debuts in summer 2010. The ms Westerdam and ms Oosterdam will also sail roundtrip from Seattle on Saturdays and Sundays, offering seven-day roundtrip cruises of the Inside Passage.

The ms Volendam and ms Zuiderdam will sail roundtrip from Vancouver, offering a total of 38 cruises. The ms Zaandam will also sail one roundtrip cruise from Vancouver in addition to its main itinerary of seven-day, one-way cruises between Vancouver and Seward. The ms Statendam joins the Zaandam in featuring this itinerary, each sailing 18 cruises through the Inside Passage and Alaskan Gulf.

Many of the cruises are highlighted by scenic cruising of tidewater glaciers in either Glacier Bay National Park or Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay. Holland America will begin taking 2011 Alaska cruise bookings in April, 2010.

For additional information, consult a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com.