Zuiderdam Resumes Service from Port of San Diego; Second Ship from California and Sixth Back to Cruising
Seattle, Wash., Dec 23, 2021 — Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam returned to service today from Port of San Diego in California, the second Holland America ship to resume service in San Diego since the industrywide pause.
Zuiderdam’s crew celebrated the return in holiday spirit with sleighbells ringing and Santa and his elves on hand to open embarkation and welcome guests back on on board. Zuiderdam joins Koningsdam, which resumed service in San Diego Oct. 10. Holland America Line now has six ships cruising again in the Caribbean, Mexico and along the Pacific Coast of the United States.
Zuiderdam Hotel General Manager Colin Jacob (left with scissors) helps 7-year-old Levi Stengel cut the ribbon to welcome the first guests aboard Zuiderdam, as the ship resumes cruising after a several-month pause. Catherine Stengel, Levi’s mother, stands behind him, and Captain Frank van der Hoeven is to the right of Levi.
“San Diego is an important homeport for us, and we are excited to have two ships back in full-time operation here with the restart of Zuiderdam today,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “We are proud to be part of the San Diego community, which has continued to show us tremendous support throughout our restart. There’s no better way to kick off Zuiderdam’s season than with a holiday cruise full of joyful guests and our grateful crew who are happy to have them back on board.”
Zuiderdam’s first cruise is a 10-day “Mexico and Sea of Cortez” that will be followed by Panama Canal departures and a grand 35-day South Pacific sojourn and Pacific cruise. Koningsdam sails a series of seven-day cruises to the California Coast or Mexico and two longer Hawaii voyages that run through April 3, 2022. Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam each make one call at San Diego in spring 2022.
Earlier in the week on Dec. 19, while remaining alongside at San Diego’s B-Street Cruise Terminal, Zuiderdam took part in the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights with an illuminated “Ho Ho Ho” on the ship’s side to show community support.
About Holland America Line in San Diego:
Holland America Line has been homeporting from the Port of San Diego since the 1990s. For the upcoming 2021-22 season, the cruise line will bring more than 81,000 guests to the city, which will result in more than $35 million in direct spending.
Operationally, each ship visit directly contributes $364,000 to the local economy in provisioning (fuel, food, flowers, piano tuning, supplies), port taxes, and spending. When Koningsdam and Zuiderdam call at San Diego, both ships will connect to shore power, reducing the ships’ carbon footprint.
Throughout the years, Holland America Line has been actively involved with more than 30 nonprofits in San Diego County through giving, shipboard lunches and cruise donations, including La Jolla Playhouse, San Ysidro Health and Girl Scouts San Diego.
For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.
December 25, 2021 at 12:38 am
Captain van der Hoeven was the Master of the Volendam during my last Christmas/New Year’s Cruise in 2019. I remember his comments at the end of the Christmas Eve program with all of the crew choirs–Dutch, Indonesian, Filipino–participating late at night. Most appropriate for the occasion and a truly excellent way to end that evening’s Christmas Eve’s celebration.
December 26, 2021 at 5:08 am
Had a great time on the Koningsdam down to Mexico last month, so I’m sad to see the covid outbreak. I thought protocols were fantastic so it just goes to show how contagious this thing can be. Staff and crew were excellent, looking forward to more cruises next year. And to you being back on board the fleet.
January 9, 2022 at 9:27 am
Good to see you are back again, Captain. I was on the ROTTERDAM for Christmas and New Year and had a wonderful time, as usual.
When can we expect your list of current captains and their ships ? Looking forward to it. Happy new year !
January 12, 2022 at 8:43 pm
Thank you for your comment.
The new “koppenlijst” came in yesterday so the schedules have been updated for this month.
Best regards
Capt. Albert