5 HAL-Holland America Line ships and 1 Princess Cruises' liner are arriving this week and through the new year at Port San Diego CA, periodically docking at the B Street Cruise Terminal for food, supplies, fuel and services.
At this time, none of the vessels will be carrying passengers or conducting cruises. However, the visits are a part of the operations of the lines to reestablish the vessels in U.S. waters as well as meet the CDC Framework for Conditional Sailing order to resume sailings.
The first arrival schedule is as follows (ships and schedule are subject to change based on operational needs and cruise line plans):
- December 23 - ms Koningsdam
- December 24 - Emerald Princess
- December 28 - ms Westerdam
- December 30 - ms Nieuw Amsterdam
- January 8 - ms Zuiderdam
- January 11 - ms Noordam
Time ships docking time in San Diego will be limited. Each vessel is due to berth at B Street the morning of the scheduled arrival date and depart the same evening.
The HAL ships are scheduled to remain in the area of San Diego and may be visible off the coast, with some positioning in the outer anchorage outside of San Diego Bay off Coronado coast. Following their initial arrival, each ship is due to periodically return to B Street Cruise Terminal to refuel and resupply/receive services. Emerald Princess is scheduled to sail to Los Angeles CA after her December 24 visit.
The crew aboard the ships will not be allowed off unless as part of crew member changes with procedures and plans reviewed and approved by the Coast Guard, CDC, CBP, County HHS. All crew will be regularly COVID-tested. Health procedures will be followed in case of an infection.
The pandemic has had major impacts on the tourism industry in San Diego, including 119 canceled sailings since March 2020. This represents a loss of nearly US$200 million in regional economic activity, impacting government and local businesses. The cruise industry supports jobs in retail, restaurant, lodging, transportation, trucking, warehousing, ship agents, stevedoring, manpower, and security services.
Future sailings are pending approval by the Coast Guard, the CDC, CBP, County HHS.