Story last updated at 10/30/2009 - 10:54 am
Holland America Line's Rotterdam, the flagship of its fleet, will begin visiting Juneau for the first time in 2010, the company announced Tuesday.
Juneau visitor officials say they already knew that the Rotterdam was coming, and won't change the expected decline in cruise ship visitors next summer.
"I think it's just redeploying assets, I don't think it makes any particular statement about Alaska," said Lorene Palmer with the Juneau Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
Cruise lines regularly move ships around, and some Holland America ships are leaving, while the Rotterdam is among those coming.
The only significant net loss in visitors, she said, will be by Holland America's decision to convert the Amsterdam from seven-day tours to 14-day tours, which will result in a decrease in stops in Juneau from 20 to 11 in 2010.
The Rotterdam will make seven-day voyages as part of the Seattle-based cruise line's Alaskan Explorer sailings. In addition to the Inside Passage, the Alaskan Explorer sailings also visit the tidewater Hubbard Glacier near Yakutat.
The Rotterdam has recently been the company's new "Signature of Excellence" package, which includes new lanai staterooms, the company's marketing officials said. The ship also has 23 new spa staterooms, and new public areas including The Retreat, a resort pool feature.
The Rotterdam will call at Sitka and Ketchikan as well as Juneau and Victoria, British Columbia.
Cruises will run from May 15 through Sept. 11.
• Contact reporter Pat Forgey at523-2250 or patrick.forgey@juneauempire.com.
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