Nov. 22 update: Fifth HAL ship resumes service, SeaDream back in the Caribbean, big ships at New OrleansNov. 22 update: Fifth HAL ship resumes service, SeaDream back in the Caribbean, big ships at New Orleans

Nieuw Statendam is back at Port Everglades

Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam sailed from Port Everglades Sunday on its first cruise since the pandemic shutdown. This marks the fifth HAL vessel to reenter service, joining Rotterdam, Koningsdam, Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony in the terminal opened embarkation, and crew greeted passengers with flag-waving fanfare as they boarded.

Nieuw Statendam is on a seven-day western Caribbean itinerary that includes Nassau, Ocho Rios and Port Royal, Jamaica; and private island Half Moon Cay.

The ship will operate Caribbean cruises of seven to 11 days, all round-trip Port Everglades, through April. Sailings may be combined for a 'Collectors’ Voyage.' Every itinerary includes Half Moon Cay.

Holland America has been homeporting at Port Everglades since the 1990s. Each ship visit contributes $364,000 directly to the local economy in provisioning, port taxes and spending, and the line works with nearly 100 South Florida vendors who supply goods and services.

Carnival Glory and Norwegian Breakaway at New Orleans Nov. 21

Oceangoing cruises return to New Orleans

Norwegian Breakaway's Sunday arrival at the Port of New Orleans signaled the start of a big comeback ocean ships. This follows the restarts of Carnival Glory and Carnival Valor in September and early November and the resumption of river cruises in March.

With Carnival Cruise Line, NCL and, slated for February, Disney Cruise Line, Port NOLA is forecasting 285 sailings during the 2022 calendar year and nearly 1m passenger movements.

All cruise lines operating from the port currently have vaccination, testing and mask requirements. 

'We are pleased oceangoing cruises are resuming and joining the successful restart of river cruises nine months ago,' said Brandy Christian, president and CEO Port NOLA. She called cruises 'critical to the state and regional economy' with passengers making up more than 300,000 hotel room nights and spending more than $125m locally.

Some 90% of cruisers travel from out-of-state, with 73% staying a day or two in New Orleans before or after their sailing. 

The SeaDream yachts are operating 41 Caribbean voyages

 SeaDream resumes Caribbean sailings

SeaDream Yacht Club’s twin mega-yachts are commencing their Caribbean season, with SeaDream II sailing from San Juan last Saturday and SeaDream I to embark at Bridgetown, Barbados, Nov. 26.

Forty-one voyages — most of them, seven days — feature traditional yachting favorites such as St. Barts and Jost Van Dyke, as well as lesser-known spots in the Dominican Republic, the Grenadines, St. Lucia and beyond.

Ports include Norman Island, BVI;  St. George's, Grenada;  Mayreau, the Grenadines; Iles De Saintes, Guadeloupe; Rodney Bay, St. Lucia;  Sandy Ground, Anguilla;  Culebra, Puerto Rico; Charlestown, Nevis; and Saba, among others.

Since resuming sailings in July, the SeaDream vessels have completed more than 30 voyages and  called at destinations in Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Norway, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine.