Holland America Line cancels some European cruises and delays Rotterdam debut

Holland America Line has delayed the maiden cruise of its new cruise ship Rotterdam as part of a wider cancellation of select cruises in Europe aboard Nieuw Statendam and Volendam.

All cruises aboard Nieuw Statendam and Volendam that were scheduled to depart from September through November, along with the Collectors’ Voyages (combined cruises) associated with those departures, have been cancelled.

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The maiden voyage of Rotterdam has also been pushed back. While her delivery is still expected to take place July 30th, the ship will not enter service until her scheduled September 26th departure from Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Holland America Line added that plans for the ship’s christening and naming ceremony are ongoing and will be announced soon.

All guests already booked on Nieuw Statendam and Volendam for the cancelled dates will be automatically moved to a 2021 cruise on Eurodam in the Mediterranean. Eurodam is the first Holland America Line ship due to re-enter service since March last year.

Eurodam will begin her new cruise operations on August 15th sailing roundtrip from Piraeus (Athens) to the Greek Isles, and will cross the Atlantic on October 30th to sail roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean and Panama.

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Guests on the cancelled cruises will also receive $100 in onboard spending credit per person, but will have the additional option to move to an equivalent cruise in 2022 at the 2021 fare or receive a future cruise credit of 110 percent of any cash paid that will be placed in the guest’s loyalty account.

Guests booked on a cancelled Rotterdam voyage may select an equivalent sailing in 2022 at the 2021 fare paid, or they can choose to receive a future cruise credit of 110 percent of any cash paid.

Any guest on a cancelled voyage also can request a full refund of all money paid to Holland America Line.

Holland America Line’s 2022 and 2023 cruise plans feature cruises to Mexico from the US west coast, as well as voyages to Hawaii.

Koningsdam will cruise roundtrip from San Diego on 18-day cruises to Hawaii and five day cruises to the Mexican Riviera, with the alternating cruises combinable into a 24 day grand voyage. The cruises will run from October, 2022 until March, 2023.