HAL-Holland America’s ship ms Westerdam arrived in Sydney (NSW Australia) on November 7 and became HAL's first vessel to visit Sydney Harbour after the industry's halt 2+ years ago due to the COVID crisis.
MS Westerdam will commence a series of Australia and New Zealand voyages following the Transpacific relocation itinerary (RepositionCruises.com) out of Seattle WA USA on October 2nd. The full 36-day voyage included calls in Hawaii and South Pacific Islands, with passengers disembarking in Sydney NSW on November 8.
MS Westerdam will homeport out of Sydney NSW for part of the 2022-2023 Australian & New Zealand wave season. Passengers who wish to explore the continent's southern regions and New Zealand can embark on a voyage aboard ms Westerdam through early January, with 13- and 14-day sailings. A special Holiday Cruise departs on December 20 and spends Christmas & New Year’s in some of the most beautiful New Zealand ports.
MS Westerdam is to be joined in Australia by ms Noordam, which offers Holland America’s Australia Circumnavigation. The liner will circle the continent on a 35-day cruise, with 14 calls around Australia, overnights at Perth-Fremantle and Melbourne, and scenic cruising in the Great Barrier Reef. Noordam then sails between Sydney and Auckland NZ or roundtrip from Sydney NSW on 12- to 16-day voyages exploring New Zealand.
This will be the first season of ms Westerdam in Australia & New Zealand, and the first time since 2016 that Holland America has positioned 2 ships sailing simultaneously around the region.
For passengers who want to head to Australia from a convenient North American homeport without the need for international air/quick flight from Canada, the 2024 Grand Australia & New Zealand Voyage is back in 2024. This 94-day journey that has been 10+ years in the making departs on January 3, 2024, aboard ms Volendam, sailing roundtrip from San Diego California.