Holland America Lines is preparing to return with a full summer season of Alaska cruises and Canada/New England sailings after the opening of Canadian ports following the relaxation of Covid restrictions.
The move came as the Canadian government on Monday (March 7) announced a public framework cruise ships must adhere to for the restart of sailings.
As a condition of sailing, cruise lines are required to follow a strict public health framework which includes the need for everyone on board to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 – with “very few” exceptions – and a testing and reporting requirement.
Transport Canada said: “The ability to welcome cruise ships back to our waters is possible because Canadians have stepped up, rolled up their sleeves, got vaccinated, and followed public health measures.
“The industry has made the safe return of cruise ships to Canadian waters possible by committing to a comprehensive set of enhanced safety protocols on board, including vaccinations, enhanced hygiene practices, and passenger screening based on the best available science.”
The publication of procedures for the safe resumption of cruises to Canadian ports has allowed HAL to sail itineraries as scheduled that include Canadian homeports and ports of call from late spring until late autumn.
Ships in Alaska use Vancouver as a homeport for roundtrip cruises and itineraries between Vancouver and Whittier, Alaska.
Cruises that sail roundtrip from Seattle to Alaska call at Victoria in Canada.
In Canada/New England, ships cruise between Montreal and Quebec City in Canada and Boston.
Itineraries range from six to 24 days and call at 13 Canadian ports in Quebec, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Labrador and Prince Edward Island.
HAL’s first ship to arrive in Canada is Koningsdam, which calls at Victoria April 9 on its way to arrive in Vancouver the following day.
On the eastern seaboard, Zaandam calls at Halifax, Nova Scotia on May 17 on a nine-day Atlantic Coast itinerary from Fort Lauderdale to Montreal.
HAL president Gus Antorcha said: “The completion of this guidance by Transport Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, Public Health Agency of Canada, and port officials will allow us to sail our Alaska and Canada/New England seasons as planned.
“This is a positive step for everyone who loves to travel to these regions and for all of the businesses in Canada that we support through tourism.
“Many of the protocols Canada is applying were successfully implemented in the United States after the restart of cruising, and they are working well.
“We are well-positioned to follow Canada’s direction and continue delivering memorable cruise vacations that include Canadian ports.”
The resumption comes as HAL prepares to mark 75 years of Alaska sailings in 2022.
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority chief executive Robin Silverster said: “We greatly value our longstanding partnership with Holland America Line, which was the first cruise line to call at the new Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver in 1986.
“We’re pleased to see the return of cruising in Canada, and we look forward to welcoming cruise lines, guests and crew back to Vancouver.”