Holland America Adapts Itinerary and Watches Irene

 

ms Veendam// (c) 2011 Holland America

Hurricane Irene's projected path northward has impacted several Holland America itineraries. The line said in a press statement late last night, "While we intend to stay as close as possible to the published schedules, there may be some changes to select itineraries."

Among them, Veendam's current cruise, which embarked in New York on Aug. 21, will depart Bermuda earlier than normal at 5 p.m. today, rather than on Friday. The ship will arrive in New York one day early on Saturday, ahead of the storm's anticipated arrival. Guests are welcome to disembark on Saturday or overnight until Sunday and enjoy New York. Guests onboard have been notified.

As for Veendam's Bermuda cruise departing from New York on Aug. 28, the line says there are no itinerary changes at this timeGuests will embark on Sunday, August 28 as planned and the ship is scheduled to sail at 4:45 p.m. Based on the storm’s progress and intensity, however, Holland America says the departure may be delayed but that decision will not be made until Saturday evening or Sunday. If there is a delay, it will be posted on ww.hollandamerica.com.
 
No changes are planned at this time for the Maasdam's  July 23 departure, a 35-day cruise roundtrip from Boston; this cruise is also, for some guests onboard, an 18-day cruise from Amsterdam to Boston, entitled "Voyage of the Midnight Sun." The ship is expected to arrive in Boston as scheduled on Saturday at 7 a.m.
 
As for the Maasdam's  August 27, seven-day "Canada/New England Cruise" between Boston and Montreal, Quebec, there are no itinerary changes right now. Guests are expected to embark in Boston on Saturday as planned and the ship is slated to sail at 5 p.m. Itinerary adjustments will be made if storm conditions require doing so but any changes should not impact the time of departure from Boston, according to Holland America Line.
 
The Holland America statement said, "We will continue to monitor the weather conditions closely and communicate any further changes if necessary to guests and travel agents as they are implemented." The line also said the safety of guests and crew is its top priority.
 
Updates will be posted by Holland America at 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time in the Travel Advisory section at www.hollandamerica.com.