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In a huge blow to Alaska tourism, Princess Cruises and Holland America Line canceled most of their Alaska sailings this summer and all of their land-based products.
The two Carnival Corp. brands account for half of all cruise capacity in Alaska as well as extensive landside operations with lodges, motorcoach tours and train tours.
Holland America canceled its Alaska season on four of six ships this summer and will not operate the McKinley Chalet Resort, McKinley Explorer rail cars and motorcoach tours. Also canceled are its Land+Sea Journeys, which combine cruises with an overland tour to Denali and the Yukon.
The Maasdam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Volendam and Westerdam will not sail in Alaska this summer. Decisions on the Koningsdam and Eurodam have not yet been made.
“These are unprecedented times,” said Holland America Line CEO Orlando Ashford. “Having to delay summer cruising and cancel our land tours for the entire season is the responsible thing to do, yet also very disappointing and a first in our more than 70 years of taking guests to Alaska. We know this decision impacts our loyal guests, travel advisor partners, staff members and local businesses who rely on summer tourism for their economies. We look forward to better days and returning to a full summer cruising season in 2021.”
Princess canceled all of its Alaska Gulf cruises and cruise tours. Its five wilderness lodges, trains and buses in Alaska will not open this summer. Princess will continue roundtrip sailings from Seattle to Alaska on the Emerald Princess and Ruby Princess.
The capacity slash comes when Alaska was expecting a record year for cruising, before coronavirus struck.
Holland America, Princess and Seabourn Cruises extended their operations pause through the end of June, joining sister line Carnival.
Source: travelweekly.com