Holland America Line's guests and team members celebrated an important milestone recently, marking one full year of a return to sailing after the cruise industry pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nieuw Amsterdam was the line's first ship back, resuming cruising July 24, 2021, in Seattle, Washington. The ship reached the one-year mark while in port in Whitter, Alaska.
Over the past year, Holland America Line's 10 remaining ships restarted in a variety of destinations as ports opened to visitors. In addition to Alaska, the brand has resumed travel to Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mediterranean, Mexico, Northern Europe, Pacific Coast, Panama Canal and South Pacific. Before the end of the year, the ships will return to Australia/New Zealand and South America/Antarctica.
The highly anticipated 71-day Grand Africa Voyage sets sail in October 2022, while the 128-day Grand World and 74-day Grand South America and Antarctica voyages depart in January 2023; Asia itineraries will resume in February 2023.
Fun Facts and Figures Since the Return to Service in July 2021:
Cruises sailed: 242
Different ports visited: 169
Nautical miles sailed: 502,565 (577,950 miles), enough to travel to the moon and back two-and-a-half times
Glacier visits in Alaska: 122
Team members welcomed back on board to serve guests: 12,287 (98 different nationalities)
Unique shore excursions operated: more than 2,000
Funds raised for On Deck for a Cause: $210,000
Meals served: more than 6,500,000
Specialty coffee drinks served: 700,000
Beers consumed: 1,117,306
Soda, water and juice consumer: 3,235,855
Entertainment: more than 25,000 performances
Trivia questions asked: 76,000
Floral arrangements: more than 60,000 fleetwide on cruises
For more information about Holland America Line, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.