A Humanitarian Crisis Response to Cruise Ships Stranded at Sea Tests Our Deepest Human Values By Orlando Ashford, President, Holland America Line The coronavirus (COVID-19) has run rampant through neighborhoods, businesses and nations, catching all us off guard. Stoked by fear of contagion, millions of people around the world are sheltering in place waiting out the storm. During a time ...

Due to the continued port closures and travel restrictions surrounding COVID-19 and in an abundance of caution, Holland America Line has made the decision to voluntarily pause global cruise operations of its 14 ships for 30 days, impacting sailings scheduled to depart through April 14, 2020. “These are unprecedented times, and while no guests or crew have tested positive for ...

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 ...

Holland America Line’s new EZpay makes it a breeze to budget for a dream cruise vacation and pay it off over time. EZpay spreads out the cruise balance into equal, interest-free monthly payments leading up to final payment. The plan gives guests the flexibility to pay for their cruise at their own pace, with the ability to opt out at ...

Are you a seasoned cruiser, eager to find new, immersive ways to explore our fascinating world? If you answered yes, then our EXC In-Depth Voyages were designed specifically with you in mind. These specially crafted itineraries offer an innovative and customized approach to cruising, allowing guests to explore the most fascinating corners of the globe through the prism of their ...

If you’re a fan of Holland America Line, and of documentaries, we have some news for you! Koningsdam will be the focal point of the first episode of season three of Mighty Cruise Ships: Koningsdam airing this Sunday, March 31, 7:00 p.m. (EDT) on the Canadian network Discovery Canada. After airing in Canada, the episode will also air in the United ...

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, ...

If you're thinking about cruising to Alaska in 2019, look no further than Holland America Line. Next season we will offer 133 cruises and 15 Land+Sea Journey options on eight ships with more visits to Glacier Bay than any other line, the introduction of soft-adventure EXC In-Depth Alaska cruising on Maasdam (stay tuned for a blog post exclusively on these ...

By Journalists Kathy M. Newbern and J.S. Fletcher For many choosing an Alaska cruise, the word Denali is at the heart of their anticipation – us included. Much like boarding the Belmond Hiram Bingham luxury train to Machu Picchu, stepping aboard Holland America Line’s McKinley Explorer train from Anchorage to just outside Denali National Park was a thrilling beginning to ...

Holland America Line announced that Prinsendam has been sold and will leave their fleet July 1, 2019, and transfer to the German cruise company Phoenix Reisen. Following the sale, the 37,983-ton, 835-guest Prinsendam is being chartered back to Holland America Line to continue sailing its planned voyages through July 1, 2019. Prinsendam’s itineraries from July 1, 2019, onward are scheduled ...

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 ...

Updated and republished February 12, 2026 As many cruisers know, Holland America Line combines personalized service and once-in-a-lifetime experiences with innovative and engaging onboard amenities. One of the amenities that best shows Holland America Line's unique ambiance is "The Retreat." Currently on board Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, and Eurdodam, The Retreat is an outdoor area that ...

Holland America Line is known for graceful mid-sized ships with a generous amount of personal space for guests as they cruise the world. Some cruisers might be surprised to learn that Holland America extends this roomy cruise experience to the promenade deck on five of our ships: Amsterdam, Maasdam, Rotterdam, Veendam and Volendam with our Lanai staterooms. Lanai Stateroom ...

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 ...

On a Holland America Line cruise, our goal is to provide our guests with an all-around memorable experience. From our destinations and dining to our staterooms and service, we go above and beyond to provide top quality in each and every aspect of your voyage. A major highlight of cruising with Holland America Line is our fantastic entertainment options. Whether ...

Pasta lovers, rejoice! You can now bring the delicious taste of America's Test Kitchen to your home with their master pasta dough recipe! Back in August, we shared ATK's recipe for Wild Mushroom Pasta Filling and Brown Butter & Pine Nut Sauce and now you can create the entire meal from scratch with help from the recipe below. Enjoy! SERVINGS: ...

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 ...

While the Alaska cruise season is coming to a close, we're sure you're already dreaming of booking your Alaska adventure for 2017. After all, Holland America Line is celebrating our 70th year in The Last Frontier next year so it's the perfect time to go. One of the highlights of every Alaska cruise is the wildlife. Not only can you ...

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 ...

All the buzz about Koningsdam's staterooms has been focused on the new Family and Single stateroom categories — both a first for Holland America Line! The Family Staterooms can accommodate up to five people, while the Single Staterooms are perfect for the solo traveler. However, the ship also has several other stateroom categories, ranging from modest insides to the grand ...

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 ...

During a Holland America Line cruise to Alaska, the sights and sounds of the Last Frontier are front and center during the seven-day voyage. From interesting ports like Haines, Juneau and Ketchikan to the spectacular scenery of Glacier Bay, the Inside Passage and Tracy Arm Fjord, guests marvels at the beauty of the region. In 2016, Nieuw Amsterdam makes its ...

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. ...

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 ...

When it comes to ancient ruins, there's more to explore than just Europe and South America. Mexico boasts some of the most incredible and significant ruins in the world. The Mayan civilization spanned more than 2500 years, and hundreds of ruins in Mexico have been documented. In fact, there are so many sites that it's believed that more than 4,000 ...

For those not familiar with a “repositioning cruise,” it’s moving a ship from one sailing region to another, like moving from a season in Alaska to a season in Australia. The cruise that takes the ship from Alaska to Australia is a repositioning. …

With the array of culinary options, exciting activities, spectacular shows and entertainment at your fingertips, it can be relatively easy to forget to relax on your cruise. …

The wait is over! Holland America Line ships are back in Alaska for a full season of cruising to some of the most beautiful and remote parts of the state. …

In 2015, Holland America Line is returning to the pink sands and pastel-colored skyline of Bermuda on seven-day cruises aboard ms Veendam. …

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 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. …

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 ...

In our latest video, Elizabeth Falkner, new Culinary Council chef and Top Chef judge, prepares her delectable recipe for shrimp, andouille, and grits. For Chef Falkner, sweet shrimp, spicy andouille sausage and cheesy grits are beloved comfort foods. She offers this recipe so you can share her enjoyment. YIELD: Serves 2 INGREDIENTS: 1 piquillo or poblano chile pepper or red ...

Swimming with dolphins is just one of the many exciting shore excursion adventures passengers can experience on their Holland America Cruise Line. Thanks to Liz Day for sharing her tour while at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. What a great shore excursion in Cabo San Lucas. It was a great way to spend a day with "Aqua," one of the dolphins ...

HAL fans, if you’re thinking about taking one of of popular Alaska CruiseTours, we wanted to share with you that we rebranded them and they are now called Land+Sea Journeys! This change reflects substantial program updates designed to appeal to the desires of today’s travelers. Now our guests will have more opportunities than ever to explore and personalize Great Land ...

Holland America Line’s Director of Public Relations Erik Elvejord recently participated in the land-portion of a CruiseTour that visits Denali National Park in Alaska and sent us these cool photos. On Sunday, July 24, I headed out for an early morning paddle rafting trip on the Nenana River, one of the optional tours offered on CruiseTours that include Denali National ...

Amsterdam’s arrival Saturday, October 31 at about 7:30 a.m. was a bit cloudy, but it was a great day. Coming into the harbor is always very special and seeing the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Syndey Opera House from the water is fantastic. …

Merabella is a new fine jewelry shop just installed on Veendam during the Signature of Excellence Phase 2 dry-dock. Shop manager Matt Gibson explained that the Merabella experience is about finding a unique piece of jewelry and that the intimate space can be used for private showings and guests can join him over champagne and caviar to look at the ...

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 ...

Staying active on vacation should feel effortless, especially when you are sailing across stunning coastlines and enjoying the fresh ocean breeze. Holland America offers a variety of wellness experiences designed for every activity level, from gentle stretching and mindful movement to energizing sports and small group workouts. Here are six fun and unexpected ways to stay active on your ...

A cruise to Asia offers contrasting landscapes and experiences — from modern metropolises to tranquil natural landscapes. On a Japan voyage, for example, one could hurry across Tokyo’s Shibuya, the busiest intersection in the world, and venture to Kushiro to watch graceful, red-crowned cranes forage in wetlands. Our list unveils six can’t-miss wonders, created by Mother Nature, from Japan’s ...

“We are all the authors of our own story in this lifetime, and it’s up to us to decide how our story goes.” - Lindsay Cordero, United States Air Force veteran and artist As part of Holland America’s partnership with Crane Stationery to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, we’re proud to showcase an exclusive collection of handcrafted stationery designed ...

Alaska's vast wilderness offers something extraordinary every month of the year, from the midnight sun illuminating glacier-carved fjords to the aurora borealis dancing across winter skies. The best time to visit Alaska ultimately depends on what you want to experience — whether that's wildlife encounters, outdoor adventures, or cultural exploration. Understanding Alaska's distinct seasons helps you plan the perfect ...