HAL-Holland America Line canceled two Transatlantic voyages on ms Nieuw Statendam, originally scheduled for October 2026.
Affected are the 29-day cruise departing from Rotterdam (Holland) on October 17th, and the 15-day voyage departing on October 31st. HAL has not provided specific reasons for the cancellations.
The canceled itineraries featured calls at various ports, including Zeebrugge (Belgium), Portsmouth (England), Cherbourg and Brest (France), and Falmouth (England). The 29-day voyage also included additional stops in Norway, such as Alesund, Trondheim, Tromso, Gravdal, Alta, Andalsnes, Bergen, and a visit to Lerwick in the Shetland Isles.
Despite these cancellations, other voyages aboard ms Nieuw Statendam remain unaffected. Notably, the 14-night "Arctic Journey Northern Lights With History Channel", also departing on October 17th (roundtrip from Rotterdam) is still scheduled as planned.
Speculation among passengers regarding the reasons for these cancellations includes the possibility of the vessel being allocated for a charter operation or undergoing scheduled maintenance during this period.
Passengers affected by the cancellations have reported receiving notifications via email and have expressed concerns over the compensation offered. Reports indicate that a US$50 per person credit has been proposed for rebooking, leading to dissatisfaction among some guests.
Holland America Line has not yet released an official statement detailing the reasons behind the cancellations or addressing the concerns raised by affected passengers.