Worried about getting stuck overseas on your next trip? This cruise line thinks it has the answer
Are you looking for a way to travel overseas without risking a COVID-19 quarantine at the end of your trip? Holland America thinks it has the answer.
The Seattle-based cruise line is doubling down on long-haul itineraries from U.S. ports that will let you get as far away as Europe, Africa and South America without ever getting on an overseas flight — and thus not run the risk of being quarantined overseas due to a positive COVID-19 test.
The U.S. government requires travelers to test negative for COVID-19 just before flying back to the U.S. after a trip. If they test positive, they must quarantine until they test negative. But it doesn't make the same requirement for travelers returning to the country by cruise ship.
"We've added more of the long once-in-a-lifetime-type voyages [from U.S. ports]," Holland America president Gus Antorcha told TPG in an exclusive interview. "We're adding more, and we're pushing the team to [develop] more. You'll see us go longer in the Caribbean. You'll see us add more of the unique 14-plus-day [trips to] Europe."
Speaking one-on-one with TPG recently during Seatrade Cruise Global, the cruise industry's annual meetup in Miami, Antorcha noted that Holland America already offered more long-haul cruises from the U.S. than any other cruise brand.
The company this year is offering a 71-day voyage to Africa out of Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades, for instance, and a 35-day sailing to northern Europe out of Boston. It also is selling a 50-day voyage to the South Pacific out of San Diego. It has a 35-day Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas voyage scheduled out of San Diego for early 2023.
In all, Holland America ships offer round-trip departures out of U.S. ports to 225 different ports in 91 countries — more than any other cruise brand.
"Holland America is uniquely positioned in this segment more than any other cruise line," Antorcha said. "The team knew this. I knew it, I guess. But ... we've never talked about [it as] a product and marketed [it] as a product."
With Americans newly hesitant to travel overseas due to the risk of a COVID-19 quarantine, "you're going to see a lot of that marketing [of the long-haul sailings] start to come out. We'll talk about it."
Related: Many Americans won't fly overseas due to quarantine worries
Antorcha said Holland America had seen surging interest in its long-haul itineraries from U.S. ports since cruising restarted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"On a relative basis [compared to other types of itineraries], they are selling better, significantly better," Antorcha said.
He added that some of the company's highest-occupancy voyages of the year had been its 30-plus-day sailings to Tahiti out of San Diego.
"I'm watching the data [for Tahiti bookings] and [am] like, 'whaaaat is going on here?'" he said.
Antorcha noted Holland America recently added an epic 94-day Australia and New Zealand voyage, sailing round-trip from San Diego, to its schedule, and it was already selling very well. The trip will take place in early 2024.
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Holland America ship
The company also has increased the size of the ship that it uses for its annual around-the-world cruise out of Fort Lauderdale. Two around-the-world voyages planned for 2023 and 2024, respectively, will take place on the line's 1,964-passenger Zuiderdam. The ship holds about 37% more passengers than the 1,432-passenger Zaandam, which used to operate such world cruises.
Both of the around-the-world sailings will be 128 days in length and take in dozens of far-flung ports around the world.
To be clear, passengers on Holland America cruises from the U.S. to an overseas destination still could face quarantine on the ship if they tested positive for COVID-19 during the voyage. But they wouldn't face the prospect of being unable to immediately return to the U.S. from a trip overseas due to a positive test.
Antorcha said it wasn't just the risk of being unable to fly home on schedule that was giving travelers pause over flying to overseas destination. It also is the hassle of all the COVID-19-related forms that they must fill out when flying to some countries.
He said his own parents had chosen to book a Holland America cruise to Europe this year that departed out of Boston instead of another type of trip to Europe to avoid it all.
Related: The 4 classes of Holland America ships, explained
"They needed a form and a separate entry requirement to Spain, [and] another one to Italy, and it's just a little overwhelming," he said. "The rules are all different. All of this over time I'm sure we'll get sorted, but right now [avoiding flying is] just easier."
Antorcha noted it wasn't just truly far-off places such as Europe and Africa that were less of a hassle to reach right now by ship than by airplane. It's also the Caribbean, which is relatively close to the U.S.
In response to demand, Holland America is adding more long sailings to the Caribbean out of Fort Lauderdale that allow vacationers to get deep into the Caribbean without getting on an international flight. These include voyages to Southern Caribbean islands such as Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, and trips to the Panama Canal, as well as sailings that include stops along the northern coast of South America.
Holland America currently has more than 100 Caribbean cruises on its schedule of 11 nights or longer.
"We offer more 11-day (Caribbean voyages) than anyone else," Antorcha said. He added that 11-night voyages to the Caribbean offer a much different experience than the typical three- to seven-day Caribbean voyages offered out of U.S. ports by most lines.
"What's interesting is these also are booking really well," he said. "On a relative basis, these book better than our other product."
Antorcha said he hoped the U.S. government would drop its COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers returning from overseas soon. But even if it did, Antorcha said he expected that Holland America would stick with offering more longer Caribbean sailings. He said he saw it as a competitive advantage and point of differentiation.
"I think it'll stay for us, because the shorter [cruise] market is crowded," he said. "Seven days south Florida (to the) Caribbean, that's crowded."
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for your first cruise
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees