The Holland America Line today announced it will more than double its previously announced Bermuda cruises in 2010 from 11 to 24.

Sailing roundtrip from New York aboard MS Veendam, the cruises will visit both Hamilton and St. George's, beginning on April 25, 2010.

“This is a wonderful development for Holland America Line and Bermuda,” said Richard D. Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programmes. “We are thrilled to homeport a ship in New York City to sail to Bermuda and our extended season to the islands will be very exciting to our guests.”

When the 1,350-guest MS Veendam sails in April on the first of 24 seven-day roundtrips to the Island, it will mark Holland America Line’s return to New York City as a home port and to Bermuda as a destination.

The itinerary calls for approximately two-and-half days in each port. The season lasts until October 10, 2010.

“Veendam is ideal for this itinerary,” Mr. Meadows added. “She is a premium mid-size ship, the perfect size to navigate the narrow entrances to the harbors in Hamilton and St. George’s. Veendam’s guests are able to step off the ship right in the center of each town. Ships larger than Veendam must tie up at the Dockyard facility a considerable distance from both towns.”

Holland America Line worked closely with the Bermudian Government to form the partnership that takes Holland America Line back to the Island that it first visited more than 70 years ago. In 1926, Veendam II, with a guest capacity of approximately 500, left New York on the company’s first Caribbean cruise. During the summers of 1930 and 1931, Veendam II sailed on five-day roundtrip cruises between New York and Bermuda.

* Full story in tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.