Holland America Honored in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards

For the third consecutive year, Condé Nast Traveler readers have recognized Holland America among the best cruise lines at sea, earning honors in both the Mid-Size and Large-Size Ship categories, exemplifying our perfectly sized ships. Readers rate their experiences on factors including service, design, food, and amenities, making the recognition a reflection of the details — big and small — that shape a journey. At Holland America, those details are woven throughout the voyage. There’s the attentive service made possible by a 1:2 crew-to-guest ratio, the Daelmans Stroopwafel turndown service on Dutch Day, and the simple pleasure of finding a quiet spot on deck to watch the world unfold.

It’s fitting that the honors span two size categories. Holland America’s ships offer the variety of a larger ship while keeping a more intimate sense of place, and a day aboard has room for both. Start the morning with a latte and views of Glacier Bay on an Alaska sailing. Linger over a multi-course Farewell Dinner complete with classical string music as the sun slips below the horizon. Then the evening is yours to enjoy: a Broadway-style show on the World Stage, a set of live blues, or cocktails under the stars.

In between, there’s plenty to do on board: pickleball with 360-degree views, a dip in the adults-only Sea View pool, or a retreat to the spa. You don’t need to fill every hour. Make them your own.

Ship size also shapes where a ship can go. Holland America’s fleet pairs spaciousness and variety with the ability to reach ports and waterways beyond the largest ships. That might mean exploring an iconic destination with a full range of dining and entertainment close at hand or sailing into a smaller port for a more intimate connection to the place itself.

Holland America’s fleet offers different ways to experience the world, from the expansive spaces of our Pinnacle Class ships to the more intimate atmosphere of our mid-size fleet.

Pinnacle Class: Koningsdam · Nieuw Statendam · Rotterdam
Signature Class: Eurodam · Nieuw Amsterdam
Vista Class: Noordam · Oosterdam · Westerdam · Zuiderdam
R Class: Volendam · Zaandam

There’s more to explore onboard. The expansive Pinnacle Class ships are built for travelers who want more places to gather, dine, and be entertained. The Grand Dutch Café is a favorite spot to settle in. Aboard Nieuw Amsterdam, you’ll find the fleet’s only stand-alone Morimoto by Sea Specialty Dining restaurant. On select sailings, Nieuw Statendam offers the chance to watch a solar eclipse from the deck of a strategically positioned ship.

For going farther in, smaller ships can take you places larger ones can’t. Volendam‘s more compact size allows her to reach Montréal by passing beneath a series of bridges along the St. Lawrence River, a reminder that sometimes the right ship is the one that takes you deeper into a destination.

There isn’t one way to cruise, and there isn’t one definition of the right ship. For some, it means more restaurants, more entertainment, and more places to gather. For others, it means a vessel that can slip beneath bridges and into scenic waterways bigger ships can’t reach. Wherever you want to go, there’s a Holland America ship to make the journey feel just right.

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