Canada cruising is back. On Saturday, Holland America Line’s Koningsdam called at Victoria, B.C., before continuing on to Vancouver, where it will home port for the summer, operating voyages to Alaska. It had been 905 days since any cruise ship had called at Victoria. In total for 2022, Holland America Line will operate 141 cruises on eight ships along both of Canada's coasts.
According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Canada's decision to reopen "allows the tourism sector to start rebuilding the 30,000 jobs and more than $4 billion in economic activity that were generated by the cruise industry across Canada prior to 2020, while strengthening connections to neighboring regions."
Separately, last week Canada announced stricter environmental measures that will be enforced this summer for cruise ships, mostly regarding the recycling of greywater and blackwater.
On the product side, MSC Cruises introduced new "Stay & Cruise” packages this summer for its eastern Mediterranean voyages. They’ll also be available to guests who sail in late summer this year from either Miami or Port Canaveral/Orlando with New York added in summer 2023.
More Cruise Happenings
Separately, MSC Group's new luxury brand, Explora Journeys, announced it will partner with Travelife for Tour Operators on a sustainability program, as reported in our sister publication, Luxury Travel Advisor. Goals of the program include maximizing social and economic benefits for the local communities its ships will visit, as well as reducing environmental impact.
Hurtigruten Expeditions announced its 2023-2024 season, which includes visits to five continents, while Windstar Cruises hired a new Northeast regional sales manager, Meg Daly, who most recently worked at Crystal Cruises. Luxury boutique brand, Paul Gauguin Cruises, appointed Susan Robison as general manager, sales and marketing for North America. Liz Coleman was promoted by the line to vice president of sales.
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