Holland America Line has announced that it is canceling the November 21 sailing of the ms Amsterdam. All other Holland America Line and ms Amsterdam sailings will operate as scheduled. The November 21st sailing has been canceled in order to break the person-to-person cycle of a common gastrointestinal ailment called Norwalk Like Virus (NLV) and to provide peace of mind to future guests on the ms Amsterdam.

NLV is currently circulating in North America and Europe. Often referred to as the stomach flu although it is not flu, it typically runs its course in 24 to 48 hours. Only the common cold is reported more frequently.

It is most likely that the virus came aboard ship in the form of an infected passenger, who in turn passed it to other passengers and crewmembers. The Company's considerable efforts to combat the virus have included removing passengers and crew with NLV symptoms from the ship coupled with vigorous cleaning and disinfecting protocols.

According to David A. Giersdorf, senior vice president, marketing and sales, Holland America Line, In concert with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, the company has taken extraordinary measures to minimize the effect of the virus on our guests, which has limited the number of affected guests and crew on the current sailing.

Our commitment is to ensuring the comfort and safety of ms Amsterdam guests, continued Giersdorf.

Holland America Line has been very proactive in dealing with this unfortunate virus, said Lieutenant Commander Jon Schoor, assistant deputy chief, vessel sanitation program, CDC. Holland America has gone above and beyond the call of duty and we applaud their decision to pull the ship from service for one sailing.

The ms Amsterdam will be back in service for the December 1 sailing, Giersdorf continued.

Passengers scheduled to sail on the November 21 sailings are being notified in advance of travel and are being offered a number of attractive cruise alternatives, or a full cash refund and a future cruise savings credit. Travel agent commissions will be protected.