We are excited to announce a new way to cruise with Holland America Line. Introducing "Have It All" — a premium package that allows travelers to get everything they want in one simple fare. Guests who book with “Have It All” receive four popular amenities included in their cruise: shore excursions, beverages, specialty dining and Wi-Fi. Available year-round on all ...

You’ve been counting down the days until your Holland America Line cruise and the day has finally arrived! Filled with overwhelming excitement and anticipation, you may be wondering ... “What should I do first?” The first day of your cruise is one of the most important, as it sets the tone for the rest of your vacation. We’ve compiled a ...

Did you tune in to Holland America Line Brand Ambassador Seth Wayne’s “Ramping Up to Rotterdam” update last week on our Facebook page? For the March edition, he spoke with Tal Danai from ArtLink, who is curating much of the ship's art. Here are some photos of some of the pieces that will be displayed on board, plus some of ...

Paul Thornton, author of “The Joy of Cruising”, has a new book out called “Cruising Interrupted”, and in it he features Holland America Line guest Kandes Bregman. Paul and Kandes have granted us permission to share an excerpt of Kandes' chapter to give a glimpse into her passion for cruising and Holland America Line. Enjoy the segment, and then be ...

International Women's Day is a day to celebrate the achievements of women. It's also a day to rally for women's equality. Did you know, National Women's Day began in 1908 and the first gathering for International Women's Day occurred in 1911? Campaign themes over the years have included: #EachforEqual, #BalanceforBetter, #PressforProgress, #BeBoldforChange, #PledgeforParity, #MakeItHappen, #TheGenderAgenda and more. The campaign theme ...

Did you tune in to Holland America Line Brand Ambassador Seth Wayne’s “Ramping Up to Rotterdam” update last week on our Facebook page? Once again he spoke with Stan Kuppens, new builds projects, hotel, who offered insight into where the ship is at in the building process. Here are some photos shared by Stan and Seth, plus a few more ...

Valentine's Day is the holiday for romance, and it goes hand-in-hand with the romance of cruising. To celebrate, we asked our Facebook fans to share some of their most romantic moments on a Holland America Line cruise, and we received some beautiful stories. From milestone celebrations to weddings to meeting the love of your life, all things are possible on ...

Holland America Line has a history that spans nearly 150 years, and with that comes a depth of talented crew who will be aboard Rotterdam when the ship is delivered in July. The cruise line has appointed Staff Captain Kevin Beirnaert, Hotel Director Wessel van Oorschot, Chief Engineer Peter Massolt, Staff Chief Engineer Wim Akkerman and Environmental Officer Michael Brown ...

Holland America Line has named Werner Timmers, a captain with nearly 40 years sailing for the cruise line, to take the helm of Rotterdam when the ship enters service in July 2021. Captain Timmers joined Holland America Line in 1984 and has worked on all classes of ship within the brand, most recently as master of Koningsdam. Captain Timmers will ...

Today is National Plan for Vacation Day, and if you're dreaming of getting back to travel, we have you covered. Holland America Line has opened bookings for a wide selection of cruises in 2022 and even 2023, so you can stop dreaming and start planning your next cruise vacation. But where to go? If you're still undecided, here are some ...

As we prepare to say farewell to Maasdam, we asked fans on our Facebook page to share photos and memories of the ship that has been part of the Holland America Line fleet since 1993. Many of you replied, sharing your stories and photos with us. Enjoy a selection that truly shows how beloved Maasdam is to so many guests ...

We invite you on a whirlwind tour of the sundrenched ABC Islands. Part of the Leeward Antilles in the southern Caribbean, islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao feature diverse natural habitats that call for adventure. The stories below show the importance of these special surroundings to the people who live there and offer a glimpse of how you can experience ...

Holland America Line is adding “Top Chef” season 10 winner and acclaimed restaurateur Kristen Kish to its award-winning Culinary Council — a collection of elite, international celebrity chefs who bring global influence to dining experiences across the fleet. Kish’s playful yet refined cuisine will be featured on the menus in the Dining Room, showcasing French and Italian traditions with a ...

It's Bacon Lovers Day, and there's no other way to celebrate than by making Culinary Council Member Chef David Burke's famous Clothesline Candied Bacon that we serve in Pinnacle Grill. From the moment you smell the aroma of the bacon and see the delicious candied strips hanging from the clothesline, you'll know you're in bacon heaven! Don't worry if you ...

Midnight check-in in Anchorage: The world is quiet, yet I’m filled with anticipation for the start of my Alaska Land+Sea Journey. All I want is a good night’s sleep, and I get that before I head downstairs for the bus to whisk me and the other Holland America Line guests away to meet the McKinley Explorer. It’s early morning; still, ...

Half Moon Cay is Holland America Line’s award-winning private island in the Bahamas. Know for its pristine beaches, abundance of family-friendly activities, private villas and cabanas, and unparalleled beauty, there’s a reason why it’s our most popular port in the Caribbean. This series of “Fact & Lore” blog posts about Half Moon Cay takes you deeper into the island’s history, ...

Travelers looking to plan ahead and book their future Holland America Line cruise vacation can take advantage of the Ready Set Sail promotion featuring pre-paid gratuities, reduced deposits and exceptional rates on nearly all of the cruise line’s worldwide itineraries. Guests who book a Holland America Line cruise by June 14, 2018, will be eligible to receive the offer, and ...

No matter where you go on a cruise, food is an important part of the onboard experience, and it's also a gateway to the cultures we visit. Today, more people are traveling with dietary restrictions, and we don't want that to deter anyone from enjoying their vacation! Onboard all of our ships, we have plenty of options to make sure ...

Holland America Line dominated Porthole Cruise Magazine’s 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards with eight honors. Readers from Porthole, one of the world’s leading consumer cruise travel publications, recognized Holland America Line in areas that covered everything from destinations to onboard and shoreside experiences. The awards include Best Canada/New England and Northern Europe Itineraries; Best Shore Excursions; Best Spa Facilities; Most Eco-Friendly ...

Holland America Line guests are seekers, doers and wanderers. From trying new activities and learning new things to spending time doing a favorite hobby, we know our guests want to be enriched as well as inspired during their cruise. With that in mind, every day aboard a Holland America Line cruise brings a wealth of onboard events, along with the ...

Holland America Line cruises travel all over the world, and some of the most unique and exciting shore excursions are the many wildlife tours highlighting native species unique to an area. If you’re cruising to South America or Australia and New Zealand, keep your eyes peeled for an adorable little bird unique to the South Pole. With their tuxedo-like coloring, ...

You've booked a Holland America Line cruise to the South Pacific ... or you're thinking about it. You've read the itineraries pronouncing the tropical island names as you imagine yourself sunbathing in a tiki hut over sparkling waters and drinking from a coconut. With more than 20,000 islands, 35 million inhabitants and 28 official languages, each of Oceania's islands is ...

Travelers new to cruising might not know that the Caribbean presents itself in very different ways. There are several common options -- from the ease of the eastern Caribbean to the adventure of the western and exotic charm of the southern Caribbean, each itinerary has its own characteristics. Comparing and contrasting these destinations can give you an idea of what ...

Guests can now make bookings for the highly anticipated Premiere Voyage and Premiere Sailings of Holland America’s Line’s ms Koningsdam, due for delivery in February 2016. Open for reservations today, Dec. 1, the first sailings of the line’s new flagship will be one seven-day cruise followed by a series of six 12-day itineraries throughout the Mediterranean.   “Since Holland America ...

Food is a passion for many people, and a cruise presents an array of opportunities to dine on some of the finest cuisine in the world. …

Alaska is a land of possibilities when it comes to sightseeing. There’s something for history buffs, nature lovers, photo enthusiaists, thrill-seekers and those who simply want to have a look around town. …

Grand Turk is a beautiful island that is relatively new to cruise ships. The port facility was completed in 2006 and it is one of the newest and most impressive anywhere in the Caribbean. A small island in the British West Indies, it is a part of the commonwealth that is known as the Turks and Caicos. Only 7 by ...

We asked Holland America Line Facebook fans to share their “must-haves” when they go on a cruise. Here are the Top 10 responses, along with some other great ideas and unusual suggestions. Is there something not on these lists that you always bring with you? Let us know in the comments below! Family and friends are tops when it ...

We left off the last post when it was decided that Panama would serve as the location of the canal. Frenchman Bunau-Varilla then went to Washington, D.C. He got there before the official delegates of the new Republic of Panama arrived and negotiated a treaty between the U.S. and Panama allowing the U.S. to build a canal. The treaty provided ...

Looking for a fun and unique holiday gift for the HAL fan in your family? From the luxurious bedding featured in our staterooms to the Ravenscroft Crystal in our dining room, or perhaps even a gift basket for the Mariner in your life, head over to HAL's online shop HERE.

The Westerdam crossed the equator at 10:08 a.m. (one hour past GMT) and commemorated the special event with a “Crossing the Line” ceremony. To a completely packed Lido aft deck, the Westerdam ‘troop’ translated the event in German for our guests and made this a very festive and playful occasion for all! It was a hit! ‘Pirates’ and ‘doctors’ all ...

Marine navigation lights are simply coloured electric lights fixed on ships and used to indicate the size of the ship, the direction in which the ship is travelling and the angle where they should be visible. They must be exhibited by law between sunset and sunrise and in poor visibility. The location (on the ship), the range (distance at sea ...

Ketchikan provided an opportunity to take the afternoon excursion on the Aleutian Ballad from the Bering Sea. We had a gorgeous day today, really a gorgeous week in Alaska, and off we sailed from our dock. The boat is owned by Dave with Steve and Kiwi giving him a hand in the workings of the tour. The boat was originally ...

Global Pilotage Most ports in the world require pilotage, the practice where a pilot comes on board near the entrance of the port and then assists the ship's captain with bringing the ship into port, and docking or anchoring in the designated anchorage. The pilot also helps provide safe passage when the ship departs. The role of a pilot is ...