Holland America Line has canceled the Nieuw Amsterdam’s seven-day
Caribbean cruise departing Feb. 1 in order to replace one of its two Azipod
propulsion systems.
The ship will go to the Grand Bahama Shipyard for the repairs.
Holland America said there is no change to the Nieuw Amsterdam cruise departing
Feb. 8 from Fort Lauderdale.
The cruise line canceled a sailing on the same ship in
December for the same issue.
Holland America called the situation “a
very rare occurrence,” however it is not the first cruise line to be dogged by
Azipod issues. The Carnival Vista underwent a 17-day Azipod thruster repair
last summer, shortly after the Oasis of the Seas went out of service abruptly
for an Azipod repair.
The line is working to accommodate passengers on other
sailings or move them to any other 2020 winter or spring seven-day Caribbean or
Mexico cruise in the equivalent cabin category and receive a future cruise
credit equal to 100% of the cruise fare paid to use on another future voyage.
The line also said that if another destination is preferred,
the passengers can apply the cruise fare paid to the new booking and will
receive a future cruise credit of 50% of the cruise fare paid.