The world of cruises is recovering rapidly after the corona pandemic. At the time of the pandemic ships were the symbol of fear, now shipowners are setting records. As a result, Holland America Line, among others, is expanding the number of departures in the Netherlands, reports De Telegraaf. The shipping company sails from the Netherlands to the northern regions, especially in summer. The number of bed places will increase from 57,000 to 63,000,” says CEO Nico Bleichrodt.
The cruise world is taking full advantage of expensive airline tickets and the fear of a new chaos at airports. Last year, Holland-America Line – part of mega cruise line Carnival – noted that the flagship Rotterdam VII was overbooked. Airline tickets are now so expensive that consumers are more likely to choose a departure from a nearby port. “Flying is a question mark for many, that ship is just around the corner,” says Bleichrodt. For this reason, a cruise to the Canary Islands will leave next April, as a counterpart to the traditional May sun holiday.
MSC Cruises, the third largest shipping company in the world, is also growing strongly. According to CEO Gianni Onorato, MSC Cruises ships carried 2.7 million people in 2019. This year, 4.2 million are expected. The company has commissioned five new ships since 2021. Last week, Euribia called in Amsterdam as part of a unique sustainable cruise.