"Wherever possible, we are avoiding long flights, as well
as expensive and complicated open-jaw air travel
arrangements," says HAL's David Giersdorf. "We're also
looking into increasing motorcoach and rail travel options to
and from our home ports."

Amsterdam: The flagship's 100-day World Voyage (Jan. 20-
April 30, 2002) has been re-routed to visit South Africa and
South America in place of the Middle East, Holy Land and
Mediterranean. Following the world voyage will be a new 18-
day Panama Canal cruise from NY/Ft. Lauderdale to Seattle,
which will homeport 19 new seven-day roundtrip Alaska
cruises. They will include calls in Victoria to comply with U.S.
maritime laws.

Prinsendam: After delivery to HAL on April 22, the ship will
operate its published schedule through Sept. 3, 2002. Then
she will offer a new 22-day West Africa cruise from Lisbon to
Cape Town, followed by a new 22-day cruise from Cape
Town to Mumbai in place of Med.

Rotterdam: Instead of spring Canal transits between Ft.
Lauderdale and Puerto Caldera, the ship will now sail on two
10-day Canal transits departing Jan. 6 and 16, followed by
eight new roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale sailings that will visit the
Panama Canal. In the fall, the ship will offer a series of Ft.
Lauderdale roundtrips (plus a repositioning from New York).

Noordam: A new program of European cruises eliminates all
cruises visiting eastern Med ports of call, replacing those
cruises with western Med itineraries.

Ryndam: The ship will become Holland's second to cruise
Mexico, offering a series of new seven-day cruses featuring
the Sea of Cortez and Mexican Riviera, sailing roundtrip from
San Diego in the fall.

Zaandam: She'll switch to a new program of eastern
Caribbean cruises from a new home port of Pt. Canaveral in
the fall, replacing a series of 10-day Southern Caribbean
cruises from Ft. Lauderdale.

On a conference call Friday, Giersdorf said: "Bookings from
all sources are now up to 60% of normal by comparison to the
same week of last year. We've conducted a survey on
currently booked passengers, and some 95% of those
booked on cruises with us in the next six months expect to
continue with their travel plans."

This will make Dambrosi very happy as I believe she has been calling for ships to homeport at Pt. Canaveral. No good for Canadians though, as there are no direct flights there, unless they fly to Orlando and I don't know if AC even goes there. Closest would be Tampa and then a long bus ride.

When asked about the insurance monies that were deposited, and if that would be returned too if I cancel. I was informed that, "No cruise line gives back money paid for insurance if a passenger cancels." Which is an outright falsehood as the American Classic Voyages' lines will refund ALL monies deposited if cancelation is made before final payment is due. I told the HAL representative that the Delta Queen Steamboat Co. will! "We aren't the Delta Queen," was the representatives retort.

I sympathize with you. My 16-day TransAtlantic cruise was cancelled on the Amsterdam.HAL offered me a 21-day cruise on the Noordam to/in Europe for the same price as my cancelled 16-day trip.I refused their offer(don't like the Noordam) and I have now had my original deposit moved on to the Amsterdam's Panama Canal cruise from Ft.Lauderdale to Seattle,May 02-18,2002.There is a slight variance in the price,due to higher port charges for the Canal etc.

Why don't you just change ships and still sail the Canal? Or maybe the dates are not convenient? BTW the full price ranges & itinerary are now posted on the HAL website.If you click on the regular "Find a Cruise" and go to "Panama Canal" you will find all the info needed.

Hope this is of some help,Frank.

Terri

I did change my booking to a 10 night trip to the southern Caribbean on the ZAANDAM next year. For my partner and myself the change in ships means over a $1000.00 savings in cruise fare alone, and now there will be savings too on the air and other charges.

Most of the air connections will be into Orlando. Some may be in Daytona. A remote possibility is JAX, which is north of me.

This port offers some interesting pre- and post- cruise sightseeing: the Space Center and all the parks in Orlando.