Holland America Line’s Westerdam arrived at Sydney, Australia, the first ship from the cruise line to visit the city since prior to the industry pause more than two years ago. Westerdam will begin a series of Australia and New Zealand cruises following a journey that began Oct. 2 from Seattle. The full 36-day Pacific Ocean cruise included calls in Hawaii and the South Pacific, with guests disembarking in Sydney Nov. 8.

“We are excited to be sailing again Down Under to provide an immersive, premium cruise experience for guests from around the world,” said Gus Antorcha, president, Holland America Line. “Our return to cruise operations in the region also means a positive boost to the local economy with tour and hotel activities, provisioning and port operations.

Westerdam will homeport out of Sydney for part of the 2022-23 Australian and New Zealand wave season. Guests who want to explore the southern regions of the continent and New Zealand can embark on a cruise aboard Westerdam through early January, with 13- and 14-day voyages. A special Holiday Cruise departs Dec. 20 and spends Christmas and New Year’s in some of the most beautiful ports around New Zealand.

Westerdam will be joined in Australia by Noordam, which offers Holland America Line’s incredible Australia Circumnavigation. The ship will circle the continent on a 35-day voyage, with 14 calls around Australia, overnights at Fremantle (Perth) and Melbourne, and memorable scenic cruising in the famed Great Barrier Reef. The ship then sails between Sydney and Auckland, New Zealand, or roundtrip from Sydney on 12- to 16-day cruises that explore New Zealand.

This will be Westerdam’s first season in Australia and New Zealand, and the first time since 2016 that Holland America Line has positioned two ships cruising simultaneously around the region.

For travelers who want to head to Australia from a convenient North America homeport without the need for international air or a quick flight from Canada, the 2024 Grand Australia and New Zealand Voyage is back in 2024. The 94-day journey that’s been more than 10 years in the making departs Jan. 3, 2024, aboard Volendam, sailing round-trip from San Diego, California.