Holland America Line aims to complete the return to service of all its fleet in a month’s time.
Oosterdam became the ninth ship to resume sailing on Sunday as it took on passengers in Trieste, Italy, for the first time since the industrywide pause began in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ship departed on a 12-day itinerary including an overnight at Haifa, Israel, and additional ports in Israel and Greece.
HAL plans to complete the restart of the remaining ships in its fleet with Zaandam on May 12 from Fort Lauderdale and Westerdam on June 12 from Seattle.
Since the line restarted cruising in July 2021, Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Noordam, Rotterdam and Zuiderdam have returned to service with cruises in Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico, California Coast and South Pacific.
Volendam is under charter by the government of the Netherlands in Rotterdam accommodating Ukrainian refuges.
Oosterdam will spend the summer in the Mediterranean, offering seven- to 19-day itineraries from Trieste, before repositioning to run a winter season of sailings in South America and Antarctica.
HAL president Gus Antorcha said: “Our teams work incredibly hard getting the ships ready for a return to service, and the smiles when they see our guests walking up the gangway that first time are so heartfelt and sincere.
“Each ship back to cruising means more team members back to sea, and we look forward to the restart being complete next month.”