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The Independent
28-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Holland America Line returns to the UK after 10 years – here's everything to know
Holland America Line is offering cruises from the UK for the first time in 10 years. The premium cruise line launched its UK season from Dover last week with a 14-night sailing aboard Nieuw Statendam to the Canary Islands, Morocco and Portugal. To mark the occasion, Holland America Line donated 200 Lindt Easter bunnies to local children's charity, Dover SmART Project. The 2,666 capacity vessel will make 10 roundtrip departures from Dover this year until September and passengers have plenty to choose from, with sailings ranging from 14 to 42 days to the British Isles, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Iberia and the eastern Mediterranean. Itineraries include a 14-day Arctic Circle Crossing where you can sail to the top of the world. This sailing includes port stops in Norway where you can see the clapboard houses of Molde and take in the postcard views of Honningsvag en route to a day sailing through the North Cape before reaching the gateway to the Arctic – Tromsø. There may even be a chance to see the northern lights. The cruise departs on 14 June with prices from £1,299 per person – book now Sun seekers can enjoy the Med and also take in the history and heat of Egypt and Turkey on a 28-day Iberia and Eastern Mediterranean cruise. Ports include popular Spanish stops in Bilbao and Malaga as well as visits to Porto and Valetta. There are overnight stops in Cairo and Istanbul, giving you plenty of time to explore. This sailing departs on 6 September, with prices from £3,349 per person – book now Nieuw Statendam will also return to Dover from April to October 2026. Its schedule includes a 15-day Wild British Isles cruise where passengers can watch seabirds dive from Lerwick's rugged cliffs, see The Beatles' music memorabilia in Liverpool and gaze at the grand buildings and pubs of Cork. This cruise departs on 30 April, with prices from £2,099 per person – book now Karen Farndell, UK director of sales and marketing at Holland America Line, said: 'Returning to the famous white cliffs marks an exciting new chapter for us, and reflects the growing demand we're seeing from guests to set sail from the UK. We're thrilled to offer a rich variety of itineraries on our doorstep over both 2025 and 2026, as part of a wider, long-term investment in the local market.' The news marks a busy period for the Port of Dover which has expanded its mooring facilities to make way for bigger ships. The port also welcomed new ship Viking Vela for its inaugural UK call last month.
The Independent
04-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Port of Dover £6m upgrade makes room for world's largest cruise ships
The Port of Dover has completed an upgrade costing more than £6m in order to welcome larger cruise ships to Kent. Mooring facilities on two of its dedicated cruise berths have been expanded to make room for ships of up to 350 metres length overall for the first time. The berths previously had a length of up to 300m and 320m, respectively. Southampton may be the UK 's largest and best-known cruise terminal but Dover already welcomes more than 20 cruise lines a year, bringing up to 8,000 passengers into the region on its busiest weekend to visit landmarks, such as the White Cliffs of Dover. It is a popular departure point for well-known brands such as Carnival Fred Olsen, Holland America Line, Saga and Windstar. The port also welcomed new ship Viking Vela for its inaugural UK call last month. Four Viking Ocean cruise ships – Viking Jupiter, Viking Saturn, Viking Sky and Viking Vela – will sail to Dover this year for a total of 19 calls as part of its London to Bergen and British Isles sailings. A statement from the Port of Dover following the upgrade said that it can now welcome 'some of the largest cruise ships in the world' and would have room for bigger ships from brands such as Disney, MSC, Norwegian and Princess. Peter Wright, head of cruise at the Port of Dover, said: 'Our 2025 season is in full swing, and we already see a diverse range of cruise ships bringing in thousands of guests each week during high season. Our vision for cruise will ensure that Dover remains at the forefront of the sector, whilst delivering economic benefits across the region.' Sonia Limbrick, head of business development for cruise at the port, added: 'Dover, and the surrounding areas, have a huge appeal to cruise visitors from all over the world with iconic heritage and culture, in addition to being a convenient turnaround hub with exceptional customer service. 'We are thrilled to embark on this journey alongside our cruise lines.'
