This Blog is for New to Cruise and the well Traveled , on this site we will publish information about Cruise and Holiday information, with some insider stories in the travel press.
Holland America's next ship to be called Nieuw Statendam
Nieuw Koningsdam
Holland America Line said its next ship due in 2018 will be named Nieuw Statendam.
HAL officials made the disclosure at the Rotterdam christening ceremony of its latest ship, Koningsdam. Nieuw Statendam will be a sister ship to the 2,650-passenger Koningsdam.
Last year, the 1,258-passenger Statendam was transferred to the fleet of P&O Cruises Australia and renamed the Pacific Eden.
Five previous ships in HAL history have carried the name.
With 192 cruises scheduled out of Seattle this year, a scene similar to what I saw recently at Pier 91 repeats almost daily throughout the summer.
Cruise ship baker Allan Isuela and his crew were rushing to make hundreds of bread rolls down in the galleys and casino manager Stoyan Stefanov was taking a final walk through the slot machines on deck eight. Earlier in the morning, 1,200 passengers had disembarked from the Statendam cruise ship, and, just hours later, a new load of passengers were boarding for another two-week journey to Alaska and back.
My whirlwind sketching tour of this Holland America boat took me through piano bars, swimming pools and multiple theaters. What surprised me the most, though, was that 95 percent of the 571 crew are from other countries. Isuela, a 23-year veteran with the cruise line, lives in the Philippines and Stefanov, who has held his job for 12 years, is from Bulgaria.
Despite being away from home for months at a time, Stefanov said the job is fun and rewarding. “People are on vacation … they are always happy.”
Seattle Sketcher Gabriel Campanario: 206.464.8795 orgcampanario@seattletimes.com; on Twitter: @seattlesketcher. Gabriel Campanario illustrates life in the Puget Sound region. He has been living and drawing in Seattle since 2006. He's a Seattle Times artist, founder of Urban Sketchers nonprofit, Spaniard, husband and father.
‘Like No Place on Earth’ is how P&O Cruises Australia will promote its fleet which will grow to five ships in November next year with the addition of Holland America Line’s Ryndam and Statendam to be renamed Pacific Eden and Pacific Aria.
Snr vp Tammy Marshall said the heavenly, otherworldly theme captures the essence of sea holidays where passengers are whisked away to another world.
Marshall said company research shows consumers want to know there will be plenty of choice on their holiday.
‘We think this new direction achieves that,’ she said. ‘It is sophisticated, a little sassy and conjures feelings of escape, freedom and space with an element of luxury.’
She said while the latest cruise industry statistics show Australians and New Zealanders are leading the world in terms of cruise passenger growth, there are still many people who haven’t cruised.
‘With this fresh, contemporary repositioning, we’re looking to remind our existing loyal customers how wonderful a holiday at sea is, whilst also attracting new cruise guests,’ she said.
‘The wealth of choice on a P&O Cruises’ holiday means you can experience modern cuisine, exciting entertainment and unparalleled destinations -- it really is like no place on earth.’
Two Holland America ships will move to P&O Australia
By Tom Stieghorst
Carnival Corp. said it will transfer two of Holland America Line's ships, the Ryndam and Statendam, to its P&O Australia subsidiary to capitalize on growth prospects in that country.
The ships will depart the HAL fleet in November 2015.
HAL is scheduled to take delivery of a 2,600-passenger newbuild in 2016, and that will more than replace the capacity of the two smaller, older ships.
Statendam and Ryndam, delivered in 1993 and 1994, respectively, each carry 1,260 passengers at double occupancy.
After the move and the delivery of the newbuild in 2016, HAL would have 14 ships in its fleet, and P&O Australia would have five.
The move fits a trend towards replacing a number of smaller ships with fewer, larger ones. Seabourn, a Carnival Corp.-owned luxury line, last year sold three of its 212 passenger ships to Windstar and is taking delivery of a 604-passenger ship in 2016.
Cruise industry capacity has been expanding rapidly in Australia. For Carnival Corp., growth has gone from two P&O ships 10 years ago to six full-time ships, including three from P&O, two from Princess Cruises and one from Carnival Cruise Lines.
The return of the Sun Princess full-time to Australia next year and the two additional P&O ships will increase that number to nine.
Other companies have made similar moves.
The number of Australians taking a cruise has grown 130% in five years, Carnival said. The total of 800,000 last year is projected to grow to 1 million by 2016.
“Our ability to work among our brands to make strategic deployment decisions is a great example of our focus on leveraging our scale and increased collaboration,” commented Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald. "This is an exciting development on many levels."
Holland America Line’s (HAL) Statendam and Veendam will sail roundtrip from San Diego to Mexico, Hawaii and French Polynesia during the 2013-2014 season on newly expanded itineraries offering extended port stays, overnight calls and visits to picturesque locations.
“These cruises make it easy for travelers to visit extraordinary locales without the need for international air travel,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs. “Each sailing features varied port calls including some overnights and enriching onboard activities that give our guests a very exciting and comprehensive Holland America Line vacation experience.”
The seven- and 12-day cruises to Mexico sail in November, December and March. Six weeklong Mexican Riviera itineraries onboard the Veendam call at Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, along with scenic cruising along Magdalena Bay, noted for its seasonal migration of California gray whales. Departure dates are Nov. 9, Dec. 21 and 28 (two holiday sailings) and March 9, 16 and 23.
A 12-day cruise onboard Statendam sails Dec. 4 and visits Cabo San Lucas, Pichilingue (La Paz), Loreto, Guaymas, Topolobampo and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Guests have extra time onshore in Puerto Vallarta with an overnight call, during which they can sample local cuisine, learn more about the country’s history or check out the area’s nightlife. This departure also includes scenic cruising in Magdalena Bay.
In Hawaii, the 17- to 35-day Circle Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas itineraries have departures this October and next February and April. Veendam offers four roundtrip San Diego itineraries, adding Kona as a port of call. These sailings have a leisurely pace that combines interesting ports with plenty of sea days to enjoy the amenities found onboard. The 17-day itinerary departs Nov. 16 and Jan. 4, and calls at Hilo, Honolulu, Nawiliwili, Lahaina and Kona. The 18-day cruises depart Dec. 3 and Jan. 21 and add an overnight in Honolulu.
Statendam’s three Circle Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas itineraries range in length from 29 to 35 days. Four calls in Hawaii, Maui and Oahu include an overnight in Honolulu and late departure from Lahaina. In French Polynesia, the ship visits Bora Bora, Raiatea, Tahiti, Moorea, Rangiroa and Nuku Hiva — the largest of the Marquesas Islands — with overnight stays in Bora Bora and Tahiti.
Departures from San Diego are scheduled on Oct. 4 and Dec. 16 for a 30-day special holiday cruise. Guests can also join the cruise in San Francisco on Oct. 2 or in Vancouver on Sept. 29 for 32-day and 35-day sailings, respectively. In 2014, the ship departs San Diego on Feb. 14 for a 29-day roundtrip itinerary, as well as April 15 on a 29-day roundtrip cruise. A 33-day itinerary that ends in Vancouver is also available for booking.
HAL is using the days at sea to enrich the cruising experience and prepare guests for the cultures they will encounter through lectures, classes, demonstrations and performances. For example, with the new On Location program, guests on cruises to Hawaii might learn how to hula, make a fresh flower lei or get a ukulele lesson from a local, while cruisers on sailings to Mexico are entertained by an authentic mariachi band during a Mexican fiesta on deck.
HAL’s Explore4 early booking promotion features a free Signature Beverage Package or beverage card, a free specialty restaurant dinner, free or reduced fares for third and fourth guests in the same stateroom and 50 percent reduced deposits for bookings on select 2014 cruises made before Oct. 15, 2013. Guests may receive all four offers when booking a qualified itinerary.
Cruise fares for Mexico itineraries start at $899 for a seven-day sailing and include Explore4 early booking promotion offers. Fares for Hawaii begin at $1,599 for a 17-day Circle Hawaii itinerary with Explore4 early booking promotions. Circle Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas cruises start at $3,699 per person.
