Holland America Line has announced it is extending its pause of cruise operations to now include all June 2021 roundtrip sailings to Alaska from Seattle, Washington. This includes six cruises on Eurodam and Oosterdam with a call at Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. At this time, Alaska cruises sailing roundtrip from Seattle departing in July and onward have not been canceled. ...

While Holland America Line continues to work with government and port authorities to develop its plans to return to cruising, the company is extending its pause of European cruise operations to include departures through June 30, 2021. The pause will impact cruises departing in May and June on Nieuw Statendam, Volendam and Westerdam, along with the Collectors’ Voyages associated with ...

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 ...

March 3 is designated World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora. On any Holland America Line cruise, shore excursions showcase regional wildlife and flora in a variety of ways. From a natural encounter in the wild to visiting a sanctuary for rescued animals, guests seeking interactions can cuddle koala or hike thorough ...

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 ...

On Yukon+Denali Land+Sea Journeys to Alaska, Holland America Line guests become immersed in the cultures of The Last Frontier and Canada's Yukon. The overland exploration includes Dawson City and Whitehorse in the Yukon, where guests can learn more about local customs and the history of the region and its people. If you're not on a Land+Sea Journey overland tour, you ...

As Holland America Line continues to review and assess its plans around the Canadian Transport Ministry’s Interim Order that closed Canadian ports and waters to passenger vessels, the company is extending its pause of cruise operations to now include all sailings that depart from or conclude in a Canadian port in 2021. This will include several Alaska, three Canada/New England ...

It's National Drink Wine Day, and that means red, white and rose are in the spotlight today! Holland America Line Wine Curator James Suckling gave us a few tips when selecting wines for a fish dish and a casual burger. A classic combination with something like Dover sole in Rudi's Sel de Mer would be a Chardonnay or Chablis, but ...

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 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 ...

Did you tune in to Holland America Line Brand Ambassador Seth Wayne’s “Ramping Up to Rotterdam” update this 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. The yard was back in full swing on Jan. 11 after Three Kings ...

As Holland America Line continues to prepare and develop its plans to meet the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the company is extending its pause of cruise operations for all departures through April 30, 2021. This includes Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Pacific Coast, Caribbean, Mediterranean and Canada/New England departures. The ...

Every year, people around the world make New Year's Resolutions to start fresh. Did you know that many resolutions can be fulfilled through travel on a Holland America Line cruise? Are any of these resolutions on your list? 1. TRAVEL MORE Holland America Line is a global cruise line with itineraries all over the world. We call at more than ...

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 ...

Holland America Line is proudly headquartered in Seattle, and we have many partners that come from our hometown. One of our local culinary partners is Beecher's Cheese, located in heart of Seattle's historic Pike Place Market. Recently, Brand Ambassador Seth Wayne visited Beecher's Cheese and spoke with founder Kurt Beecher, who gave him key tips on how to make the ...

SALMON PREP 101 The foundation of any salmon dish is, of course, the salmon itself. In order to create the perfect salmon dinner, you must take care to prep your cut of fish properly. Remove Pinbones When a fish is filleted, the flesh is removed from the backbone and ribs, but the relatively soft, thin, needle-like pin bones, also known ...

What do I need to pack for my Alaska cruise? Do I need visas for my trip? Can I bring my own wine on board? These are questions you might have before embarking on your Holland America Line cruise. Did you know that on HollandAmerica.com there is a "Frequently Asked Questions" page that has the answers to our most commonly ...

As experienced cruisers with hundreds of days on water, we often encounter want-to-be cruisers who ask where they should go. Alaska is our go-to answer. Though we’ve explored Alaska several times, every visit reveals something new. Before our voyage last year on the Westerdam, friends and colleagues offered some well-heeled advice: take a flight and go dog sledding. We were ...

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, ...

Reminiscing about a past cruise? One of the easiest ways to relive a Holland America Line vacation is by recreating a meal from your cruise that will awaken your taste buds and spark memories from a recent getaway. With Holland America Line's America's Test Kitchen partnership, it's even easier to create a culinary staycation in your own home. During ATK's ...

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 can now experience America’s Test Kitchen’s enticing selection of live onboard cooking shows and hands-on workshops where guests learn proven techniques for making delectable dishes with confidence. For more than 20 years, America’s Test Kitchen has inspired home cooks with their unique, science-based approach to creating delicious, foolproof recipes, and now our guests can learn from ...

When Holland America Line’s ms Westerdam emerged from a 12-day dry dock at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Palermo, Italy, in late April, the ship debuted major renovations that added many new public spaces and amenities, including two firsts for the fleet: Explorations Central, or EXC, in the Crow’s Nest and Rijksmuseum at Sea. Westerdam also received the popular Music Walk venues ...

Holland America Line asked Guest Roland if he would send in an article about his recent Journeys Ashore experience in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on his recent Westerdam cruise, and he was more than happy to oblige! Roland took the "Cabo San Lucas Ziplining Adventure" and it certainly is a great option for guests who like an adrenaline rush in ...

Holland America Line offers thousands of Journeys Ashore appealing to a wide variety of interests. Whether you seek active and adventurous or cultural and calm, we showcase some of the best sites and activities at each port. While there can be much to see on land, a tour that takes you below the surface without getting wet makes for a ...

Holland America Line is turning its culinary programming up a notch with the introduction of dynamic shipboard cooking shows produced in partnership with the long-running public television show America’s Test Kitchen, the most popular how-to-cook show on TV. Holland America Line is a sponsor of America’s Test Kitchen on public television, and is proud to make this experience possible at ...

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 ...

Call all horse-lovers and those who just seek an adventure! Saddle up for a gallop across the globe! From the warm beaches of the Caribbean to breathtaking mountains of Iceland, Holland America Line offers many shore excursions for cruisers to go horseback riding. Whether you’re a cowboy, cowgirl or just someone looking for a little excitment, “tack up” and hold ...

At Holland America Line we believe cruising is better together, and a group cruise is the perfect way to elevate your time onboard. Whether it’s a group of friends, family or coworkers, and whether you call them your crew, your squad or your entourage, there are plenty of perks to traveling with them … and you can start to enjoy ...

Holland America Line President Orlando Ashford has spent his working life leading human resources teams for various companies, so it’s not surprising to hear him say, “People are our most important asset.” How Ashford intends to leverage employees’ strengths to propel Holland America Line into the future is the topic of an interview he conducted recently with Seatrade Cruise News. ...

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 ...

Alaska is scenic, full of history, offers plenty of nature adventures and once-in-a-lifetime experiences … making it the perfect cruise destination for a family vacation. …

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. …

During a Holland America Line cruise to Alaska, the sights and sounds of the Frontier State are front and center during the seven-day voyage. …

Some of Hollywood's most legendary films were shot on location on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Guests looking to explore those sites and feel like they are in the movie themselves can take the "Hollywood Hawaii: Movies & Waterfalls" tour. This special excursion is ideal for movie buffs, as well as those who simply want to experience the beauty ...

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 ...

With so much to see and do, a trip to Australia and New Zealand is made all the more exciting by taking part in one — or several — of our exciting shore excursions. Each tour is carefully crafted to offer the most fulfilling experience possible, and our reputable tour operators ensure that our guests are well taken care of ...

Photo courtesy of Controller Yono Sudarto. Alaska: the last frontier. The untouched quality of Alaskan wilderness lends itself to a sense of adventure and exciting natural occasions. Alaska Inside Passage cruises offer guests incredible views of one of the most exciting natural attractions in the state, glacier calving. Glacier calving is a natural event that occurs when large ...

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 ...

Hallo HALbloggers, Today, April 30, is marking the Netherlands' national holiday Konninginen dag (Queen's day). Today we celebrate the birthday of Queen Beatrix. It's not Her Majesty's official birthday, she was born on January 31, 1938. April 30 was the birthday of Her Majesty's mother, Queen Juliana. When Queen Juliana abdicated, Her Majesty ordered that April 30 stays Queen's Day ...

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 ...

Having left the country charm of Beaver Creek behind we find ourselves in Fairbanks, Alaska. Fairbanks is a moderately large city and has all the trappings of modern life. That being said, it’s a nice break from the countryside as it offers us a chance to stop for supplies and things we need for the trip. The Westmark Fairbanks towers ...

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 ...