Holland America Line has rerouted a 2025 world cruise affecting the last 43 days of the 124-day voyage to avoid the Red Sea on safety grounds.
The updated Zuiderdam itinerary will visit one more port than originally planned, calling at 49 points in 34 countries and territories, spanning six continents, concluding as planned on May 9, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale.
The updated $24,999 itinerary, departing from the Florida port on January 4 next year, includes portions to replace the previously planned route through the Red Sea, while adding new ports in Africa and Europe as well as a call in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The changes have been made “in order to prioritise safety and give travellers adequate time to plan,” the line said.
HAL is one of a series of cruise lines forced to switch extended itineraries away from the Red Sea following attacks on commercial shipping by Yemen-based Houthi rebels and retalitory air strikes by US and UK forces.
Parent company Carnival Corporation announced in January that itineraries for 12 ships across seven of its brands would be rerouted to avoid transits through the Red Sea up until May.
The unchanged elements of the voyage cover the Panama Canal, a crossing of the Pacific to Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Seychelles.
HAL chief commercial officer Beth Bodensteiner said: “The safety of our guests and crew is of the utmost importance, and we have made the decision to avoid the Red Sea after close consultation with global security experts and government authorities.
“Making this change now allows us to provide certainty for our guests in preparing for this 124-day trip around the world.
“The new itinerary was built with guest experience top of mind and maintains exciting European and African destinations with even more ports to explore in the Mediterranean.”
Following an originally planned visit to Cape Town, South Africa, the new itinerary has been updated to include a call to Walvis Bay, Namibia, before heading north to Cape Verde – the first time the line has called in more than three years – followed by Tenerife and Madeira.
The ship will then enter the Mediterranean, calling as originally scheduled in Gibraltar, Alexandria, Athens, Rome, Naples and Barcelona.
Newly added ports include Valletta, Tangier, Alicante, Cartagena, Olbia and Kusadasi, “pending final confirmation from relevant ports”.
Bodensteiner added: ”Guests joining us for our 2025 grand world voyage will be able to immerse themselves in exciting destinations across the globe.
“Not only will added calls to destinations like Kusadasi grant access to the wonders of Ephesus, but originally scheduled destinations such as Alexandria will allow guests to take in the sights of both the Pyramids of Giza and Sakkara, as well as give them a chance to answer the riddle of the Sphinx.”