Holland America Line has returned to Australia after a two-year absence. Holland America Line’s first ship back in the region, the Westerdam, arrived in Cairns, Australia on Thursday, November 3. The Westerdam set sail from Seattle, Washington on October 2 and stopped in Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii, Nawiliwili (Kauai), Hawaii, Kailua Kona, Hawaii, Apia, Western Samoa, Suva, Fiji, Dravuni, Fiji, Lautoka, Fiji, Lifou, New Caledonia, Noumea, New Caledonia, and Alotau, Papua New Guinea before.

“We are excited to be back in this beautiful part of the world after being away for far too long,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “Despite the fact that we only opened sales for Westerdam in Australia seven months ago, we’re already seeing full cruises in the region.” Thank you to everyone who greeted our guests in Cairns today and welcomed our return with open arms.”

Before continuing on to New Zealand, the ship will make a few more stops in Australia, including Airlie Beach on November 4, Moreton Island on November 6, and Sydney on November 8. On November 23, the Westerdam will arrive in Sydney, Australia. The Noordam will be joined in Australia by the Westerdam, which will circle the Australian continent on its South Pacific and Australia Circumnavigation Collector voyage, arriving in Sydney on November 5.

According to a statement, this will be the first time Holland America Line has had two of its ships cruising around the region at the same time since 2016. The Noordam will stop in Gladstone, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Darwin, Broome, Port Lincoln, Exmouth, Geraldton, Fremantle, Albany, Adelaide, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, and Melbourne during its Australian tour. A special 14-day Holiday Cruise will leave Auckland, New Zealand, on December 20 and arrive in Sydney, Australia, on January 3.