Holland America is optimistic customers will enjoy their cruises to the Island despite not docking in St. George’s.

In December the company announced their 719-foot Veendam cruise ship could not safely navigate Town Cut and instead would anchor offshore and passengers would be brought in by smaller boats.

The news has disappointed some customers who have written on travel websites and to The Royal Gazette.

Passengers have been particularly irritated that the tender process will take 40 minutes each way and can only accommodate 700 people at a time.

Deborah Brunning of New York told this paper she would be cancelling her trip to Bermuda as a result of the decision.

“Holland America caters to an older crowd,” she said. “We don’t want to stand around in lines for a ferry.

“I would much rather see the Veendam dock in Hamilton for the duration of the cruise.

“We can take a cab or a bus to St. George’s and not have to worry about a ferry with 698 other sardines.

“It seems like Bermuda would want to welcome cruise ship tourists, not make it more difficult for us. That is what is being accomplished by this ferry idea.

“My husband and I are going to cancel our Bermuda vacation because of this. We will go spend it on a different cruise to another destination.”

Adem Levine also of New York said it made more sense to spend three days in Hamilton instead of two days in the city and one day anchored off St. George’s.

Speaking of the tendering process he said: “Forget about that nonsense.

“In addition to the actual travel time, how long do you think it will take to load and unload 700 passengers?

“What if the weather is bad? Then we will be stuck on board for the whole day.

“This option is totally unacceptable, especially for the older passengers that Holland America caters to.

“My family and I will be cancelling our reservation soon unless Holland America and the Government of Bermuda come up with a reasonable alternative to tendering.”

Holland America declined to say how many people have cancelled their trips as a result of the decision to anchor off St. George’s.

But a spokesman did say: “This operational change was made due to challenges with the Town Cut and the narrow entrance to St. George’s Harbour. We believe this will be a very efficient tender process for our guests who are sailing to experience Bermuda and Holland America Line.

“We expect that our guests will enjoy touring, dining and shopping as planned both in St. George’s and in Hamilton where the MS Veendam will dock downtown for two nights.”