SEATTLE, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ -- Working in close
coordination with the government of Greece, Holland America Line has received
approval to restart cruising from Piraeus (Athens) in August with four departures aboard
Eurodam. Bookings for these cruises will open
May 6.
"Holland America Line to restart cruising in August aboard
Eurodam. Bookings for these cruises will open May 6."
Departing Aug. 15 and 29, the
"Idyllic Greek Isles" itinerary features Kotor, Montenegro, plus the Greek isles of Kékira
(Corfu), Thíra (Santorini) and Mykonos. "Ancient Wonders" departs
Aug. 22 to explore Haifa, Israel, as well as Náfplion, Mykonos
and Rhodes in Greece. Both options
can be combined to form a longer, back-to-back 14-day Collectors'
Voyage.
A seven-day "Adriatic Allure" itinerary departing Sept. 5 will sail from Piraeus to Venice, Italy, with calls at Mykonos,
Katakolon (Olympia) and
Crete (Chania), Greece, and Sarandë, Albania. Additional Mediterranean cruises
aboard Eurodam through the fall will be announced in the
coming weeks and include ports in Italy and Greece. Eurodam returns to the United States to begin sailing its
published Caribbean cruises in
mid-November.
"Everyone at Holland America Line has been preparing for our
return to service, and we are grateful to the government of
Greece for allowing us to show
that we can safely operate our cruises," said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line.
"The beautiful islands of Greece
have been a highlight of our Mediterranean itineraries for decades,
and we are honored to be able to restart out of Athens and give our guests a memorable
vacation after all this time without cruise travel."
"The Greek Islands have been welcoming Holland America Line
ships for many years, and we are proud to work together to welcome
the cruise line back this summer," said Harry Theoharis, Minister of Tourism of
Greece. "We are sure that all
visitors to Greece will once again
have unique experiences to our beautiful destinations and fully
enjoy the rich history, culture and gastronomy of our
nation.''
On board, Holland America Line will continue to offer the
amenities that are a hallmark of the brand. Dining will be
available in all restaurants and specialty venues, as well as room
service. Entertainment will be in full swing in the main show
lounge, and live music will be featured in Lincoln Center Stage,
B.B. King's Blues Club, Billboard Onboard and Rolling Stone Rock
Room. Port-to-Table culinary demonstrations, EXC Talks and more
will bring Greece and its culture
on board through engaging activities. To accommodate physical
distancing, additional performances may be added to the
schedule.
Cruise and Stay Healthy with 'Travel Well'
Protocols
Holland America
Line cruises from Greece
are available for guests who have received their final dose of an
approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning
of the cruise and have proof of vaccination.
Holland America Line guests will
be required to comply with all health and safety protocols in place
at the time of departure for travel to and from the ship, as well
as all onboard protocols and procedures for visiting ports. Guests
can find information about Greece
traveler health requirements on the Visit Greece website.
Additional preventive health measures under Holland America
Line's "Travel Well" program will be in place, including health
screenings, face mask requirements, physical distancing and
capacity controls. The ships now feature enhanced environmental
sanitation and air filtration with upgraded HVAC systems and
ultraviolet technology. HEPA filters will be used in key areas as a
further safeguard. In addition, medical centers will be equipped
with COVID-19 testing and treatment capabilities.
Holland America Line's protocols
are subject to change as work continues in collaboration with
medical experts and government bodies to ensure the practices
evolve in line with the latest advice.
Full details, including cruise fares and information on shore
excursions, are being finalized and will be shared in the coming
weeks at hollandamerica.com. Attractive airfares from several
domestic and international gateways will be available through
Holland America Line's FlightEase program. Flexible cancellation
terms, including our Covid-19 Protections, are offered through
"Book with Confidence" when booked by June
30, 2021, for sailings through Dec.
31, 2021. The cruise line's Cancellation Protection
Plan also allows cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
To accommodate the new Greece
sailings, guests sailing on Eurodam's published Seattle roundtrip Alaska cruises will be moved to similar
accommodations on sister ship Nieuw Amsterdam, which is
scheduled to sail on the same departure dates. In addition,
European cruises departing from July 1
through July 25 on Volendam and July 1 through Aug. 31 on Westerdam will
be canceled. Guests who were booked on impacted cruises
and their travel advisors are being notified.
Fares for Eurodam's seven-day Greece cruises begin at a "Have it All"
premium package fare of $1,999 per
person that includes one shore excursion, a beverage package,
specialty dining and Wi-Fi. Cruise-only fares start at $1,649 per person, double occupancy. Taxes, fees
and port expenses are additional.
For more information about Holland America Line, consult a
travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit
hollandamerica.com.
Editor's note: Photos are available at
https://www.cruiseimagelibrary.com/c/lwmol0gs.
Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland
America Blog. Access all social media outlets via the home
page at hollandamerica.com.
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival
Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]
Holland
America Line has been exploring the
world since 1873 and was the first cruise line to offer adventures
to Alaska and the Yukon more than 70 years ago. Its fleet of
premium ships visits more than 470 ports in 98 countries around the
world, offering an ideal mid-sized ship experience. A third
Pinnacle-class ship, Rotterdam, is under construction and will
join the fleet in July 2021.
The leader in premium cruising, Holland America Line's ships
feature innovative initiatives and a diverse range of enriching
experiences focused on destination exploration and personalized
travel. The best live music at sea fills each evening at Music
Walk, and dining venues feature exclusive selections from Holland
America Line's esteemed Culinary Council, comprising world-famous
chefs.
In light of COVID-19, Holland America Line is currently
enhancing health and safety protocols and how they may impact
future cruises. Our actual offerings may vary from what is
displayed or described in marketing materials. Review our
current Cruise Updates, Health & Safety
Protocols and CDC Travel Advisories.
Click to tweet: .@HALcruises to start cruising out of
Greece with seven-day itineraries
roundtrip from Piraeus (Athens)
aboard Eurodam in August 2021.
#ReadySetSail
CONTACT:
|
Erik
Elvejord
|
PHONE:
|
800-637-5029,
206-626-9890
|
EMAIL:
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pr@hollandamerica.com
|
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SOURCE Holland America Line