Holland America Line (HAL) is the latest Carnival Corporation subsidiary to pull the plug on Aussie cruises for this year.
The company said it would be cancelling all 2021 cruises to Australia, New Zealand, Asia and South America, along with Collectors’ Voyages associated with those departures.
This affects itineraries on Noordam (Asia), Oosterdam (Australia) and Westerdam (South America). In addition, fall sailings through the end of 2021 on Volendam and Zaandam also are cancelled.
“We know our guests have a strong wish to cruise again in local waters with Holland America Line and we regret that circumstances have lead us to have had to make these changes,” said Tony Archbold, HAL’s senior director of sales and marketing for Australia and New Zealand.
“We also empathise with our trade partners who have been so patiently waiting for our local season to recommence and we remain so very thankful for their support over this period.
“We sincerely acknowledge the impact this change has on their businesses.”
HAL revealed the cancellations on Tuesday after announcing an expanded season out of the Port of Sandiego.
The cruise line has expanded the season with the addition of six new cruise departures for Zuiderdam and two new cruises on Koningsdam, offering a total of 40 cruises from San Diego from September 2021 through April 2022.
On Thursday, both Cunard and Seabourn, who are also owned by Carnival, cancelled their Aussie seasons after Health Minister Greg Hunt extended the human biosecurity emergency period further three months, with its new potential end date falling on 17 September.
