Blog Post


MORE CRUISE SHIPS TO PULL OUT OF ALASKA IN 2011

Posted by: James Beard
December 10, 2009
Topic: Interesting Information

Holland America Lines and Princess Cruise Lines announced that they each intend to reroute another ship for the 2011 cruise season. Holland America Lines' 1,270 passenger Ryndam will sail in Europe in 2011, it typically sailed seven night cruises between Vancouver B.C. and Seward with stops in Southeast Alaska along the way. Princess Cruise Lines is removing the 710 passenger Royal Princess to cruise Europe in 2011. The Royal Princess was the only major cruise ship to regularly make calls in Kodiak. The end result of the removal of these vessels will result an estimated reduction in cruise visitors to Alaska of 19,500.

Previously announced cut backs for the 2010 cruise season had already hit the Alaska cruise industry hard with an estimated loss of 140,000 visitors. It is hoped that plans by Disney Cruise Line and Crystal Cruises to sail in Alaska in 2011 will help offset the loss of passenger visits. Nearly one million cruise passengers visit Alaska each summer, making the cruise industry very important to the Alaska economy. Carnival Cruise Lines has been critical of increased taxation and regulations imposed upon cruise lines by Alaska voters in 2006. The economy crunch of the last two years has also hit the cruise industry hard resulting in few passengers and cruise bargins for some travelers.

With one million passengers cruising to Alaska each year, there are always a number of serious passenger injuries. The number of these injuries is a closely guarded secret by the cruise industry. Passengers injured on Alaska cruises may be entitled to compensation under Federal maritime law. All injured passengers are urged to carefully read their cruise tickets to determine limitations and rights with respect to claiming damages for injuries. An experienced maritime lawyer should be consulted as soon as possible after a serious cruise line injury or accident.