A few weeks ago, the Canadian Transport minister announced extension of Canada’s ban on cruise ships for another year to at least February 2022. This effectively cancelled my Alaska cruise booked for September 2021. I waited a few weeks to see if Holland America or the Canadian government might blink, but no such luck, so I have booked the same Alaska cruise itinerary for May/June of 2022. Hopefully this will give enough time for COVID-19 vaccinations to lessen the travel restrictions that have kept me home for the last year.
This sailing is aboard Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam, which is a bit bigger and newer than the Noordam, which I was previously booked on. This 14-day package involves flying to the Yukon Territory, then onward to Denali, Alaska, and taking a train to Whittier to board the ship for a 7-day cruise to Vancouver. This classic Alaska cruise shows us glaciers both while aboard ship and from land and air, along with the interesting Alaskan towns of Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan. While in Skagway, I will take the historic White Pass & Yukon railway to experience the Gold Rush route to the Yukon.
Holland America were very accommodating to rebook my cruise. They moved both my cruise credit and deposit over, gave me the same extras (prepaid gratuities, beverage package and premium dining) as before, and refunded the excursions I had previously booked. So now I wait to see if the Canadian government screws up my travel plans again, or I manage to actually experience this beautiful trip next year!