HOLLAND AMERICA ABANDONS BERMUDA FOR 2018

For the past few years, Holland America Line has been a welcome presence on the summer circuit to Bermuda. Using the 50,000 ton, 1,350 passenger MS Veendam, first from New York and now this year from Boston, the line is the only one offering a smaller, more intimate style of voyage to and from the beautiful island between May and July each summer.

Key to it's appeal was that fact that the Veendam could snuggle up to a berth in the middle of the capital of Hamilton, thus allowing unrivalled access to the centre of everything on the island. And Veendam spends three full nights docked there; a distinct advantage over the two night stays of the big ships, docked up at Kings' Wharf.

Now that all looks to be coming to an end. No Bermuda cruises show up as listed for 2018 on the Holland America website at all. And details on any Veendam voyages are sketchy.

Why this, when the cruises were supposed to be selling very well? Veendam's seven night Bermuda cruises offer easily the best vacation package of any cruise line. Reviews were good, and everything seemed to be right on course for a mini revival of these older, traditional style cruises to the British accented island.

It may well be that Holland America is looking to sell the ship. Veendam is one of a class of four near identical sister ships, built for Holland America Line in the early to mid 1990's. Two of these ships-Statendam and Ryndam- have gone to P&O Australia, where they have been extensively remodelled and renamed.

With the line's new emphasis on larger ships- a new, 99,000 ton flagship, Koningsdam-entered service last spring- it might be that Holland America is also looking to dispose of it's last two smaller ships; Maasdam and, of course, Veendam.

These two ships should go on to successful enough second lives. Well maintained and almost immaculately clean, they would be good start up ships for any new line. But their departure means the almost certain end for the traditional Bermuda cruise of old.

There simply are not that many ships of that size left that would be available to make weekly Bermuda cruises any more. Those that are will much more likely be directed toward the opening market in Cuba.

My advice? If you really want to try this unique, intimate cruise experience, then do it this year, while you still can.