REG-Carnival PLC: Holland America Line to Restart Cruising from Greece

CarnivalAnnouncement

05/05/2021 18:25

Holland America Line to Restart Cruising from Greece in August 2021

 
Click to tweet: .@HALcruises to start cruising out of Greece with seven-day
itineraries roundtrip from Piraeus (Athens) aboard Eurodam in August 2021.
#ReadySetSail

Seattle, Wash., May 5, 2021 — 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.

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 (https://greecehealthfirst.gr/).  

Additional preventive health measures under Holland America Line’s “Travel
Well
(https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/news/coronavirus-travel-advisory/traveling-and-staying-healthy.html)”
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 ?ltration with upgraded HVAC systems and
ultraviolet technology. HEPA ?lters 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
(http://www.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
(https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/book-with-confidence.html)” when
booked by June 30, 2021, for sailings through Dec. 31, 2021. The cruise
line’s Cancellation Protection Plan
(https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/pre-post-travel-cruise/cancellation-protection-plan.html)
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 (about:blank).

Editor’s note: Photos are available at
https://www.cruiseimagelibrary.com/c/lwmol0gs.

— # # # —

Find Holland America Line on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/HALcruises),
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Holland-America-Line/42926793405) and
the Holland America Blog (http://www.hollandamerica.com/blog).  Access all
social media outlets via the home page at hollandamerica.com
(http://www.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
(https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/news/impacted-cruises.html), Health &
Safety Protocols
(https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/news/coronavirus-travel-advisory/traveling-and-staying-healthy.html) and CDC
Travel Advisories
(https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/news/coronavirus-travel-advisory.html).

RTSGreesce21

 CONTACT:  Erik Elvejord               
 PHONE:    800-637-5029, 206-626-9890  
 EMAIL:    pr@hollandamerica.com       



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