The Zuiderdam, a cruise ship belonging to the Holland America Line company, cancels its inaugural stopover, scheduled for this Saturday, November 2, in Pointe-à-Pitre. The cause, according to the shipowner: insecurity, the social conflict currently affecting the territory as well as the difficulties for shore excursions. This stopover was to launch the 2024-2025 cruise season in Guadeloupe.
The MS Zuiderdam was expected this Saturday, November 2, at the cruise terminal of the seaport of Pointe-à-Pitre, in Guadeloupe. The inaugural stopover of this 286 meter long cruise liner, belonging to the Holland America Line company, was quite simply canceled by the shipowner. However, this stopover was symbolic in more than one way; it coincided with the launch of the 2024-2025 cruise season in the territory.
However, the managers of the Holland America Line company judged that the conditions were not met to ensure the safety of the approximately 2,500 passengers on board: an elderly, even very elderly clientele.
The American shipowner believes, in fact, that the continuation of the conflict at EDF PEI could generate a potential new blackout, generating additional urban violence and, consequently, possible disruptions to activities and transport. An analysis, which for the moment, is not corroborated by the facts. But the company does not want to take any risks. American customers are, in fact, quick to take legal action at the slightest incident, with the hope of receiving significant damages.
When contacted, the Grand Maritime Port of Guadeloupe and the Tourism Committee of the Islands of Guadeloupe (CTIG) did not respond to our request for an interview. Failing that, several maritime sources indicate that the other cruise lines have, for the moment, not modified their schedule of stopovers planned in the Guadeloupean archipelago.
Related News :