Six Holland America Line ships will sail along the Panama Canal between autumn 2013 and spring 2014, to coincide with the canal’s 100th anniversary.
The six ships will sail 28 full and partial transits of the canal, ranging in length from 10 to 22 days. Holland America Line have planned extensive itinerary options, with the intention of providing guests with more ways to experience the Panama Canal than any other cruise company.
Speaking of the plan, Richard Meadows, Holland America Line’s executive vice president of sales, marketing and guest programs said:
“The Panama Canal is a ‘must see’ for many travellers because of the historic technology and beautiful scenery,” said . “The Panama Canal changed travel by enabling easy travel between oceans, and it’s exciting for us to make several canal cruises in the season celebrating its 100th year.”
Here’s a run down of the ships making fulll transits in celebration of the 100th Anniversary:
ms Veendam: this ship will make four full transits of the Panama Canal during the season, and will include one new departure from Boston.
She will make two transits in Feb 2014, which can be combined for a grand 29-day Panama Canal Collectors’ Voyage.
ms Zaandam: this ship will sail two voyages 15- and 18-days long in September 2013. The first is from Vancouver, British Columbia and the second is from San Diego, California, both to Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
Then Zaandam will sail from Vancouver, British Columbia or San Diego, California to Fort Lauderdale in Florida on either a 20- or 17-day transit (depending on embarkation port.)
ms Zuiderdam: this ship will sail back to the West Coast in April 2014 from Fort Lauderdale in Florida. She’ll complete an 18- and a 22-day transit to San Diego and Vancouver.
The ship will also sail a shorter 14-day journey from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale on Oct 19th 2013. This itinerary can also be combined with a seven-day roundtrip making it a 21-day Collectors’ Voyage.
ms Westerdam: this ship will return to the West Coast early April 2014, and offer one 14- and one 18-day transit from Fort Lauderdale to either San Diego or Seattle.
ms Statendam: this ship will sail from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean early January 2014 on a 15-day cruise from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale. The ship then immediately makes a return journey departing on Jan. 30th.
ms Amsterdam: Amsterdam will sail from Fort Lauderdale to San Diego, Seattle or Vancouver on 15-, 19- and 20-day voyages respectively.
Roundtrip Panama Canal Cruises from Florida:
ms Zuiderdam will also offer 10- and 11-day Panama Canal Sunfairer itineraries, that sail roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale and explore the Southern Caribbean with a partial transit of the canal.
