2023 Alaska Cruise Season Kicks Off with Seattle, Vancouver Events

Holland America Line kicked off its 2023 Alaska cruise season on April 29 with the arrival of Eurodam at Port of Seattle. Known as “Seattle’s Hometown Cruise Line,” Holland America Line marked the day with a celebration at Pier 91. Festivities included a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Miss Washington Regan Gallo and Miss Alaska Jessica Reisinger, and lively music with the University of Washington Marching Band.

“As the pioneer and leader in Alaska cruising, Holland America Line is excited to start the season today celebrating our 150th Anniversary in our hometown,” said Beth Bodensteiner, Holland America Line’s chief commercial officer. “Not only is Holland America Line headquartered in Seattle, but it’s a key homeport for our brand. With two ships based here and four more in Vancouver through September, we’re ready for a robust Alaska season of cruising and cruisetours including land trips to Denali and Yukon.”

Honoring Our 150th Anniversary

For 150 years, Holland America Line has sailed the seas and brought communities together. It’s in that spirit we presented commemorative plaques to the Port of Seattle and Port of Vancouver during our celebratory events. We will also present commemorative plaques to ports in Juneau and Skagway this month.

As we kicked off our 2023 Alaska season, we also recognized local community programs through our On Deck for a Cause initiative. This program invites guests to participate in non-competitive 5k walks aboard our ships to give back to the community. As a result of the amazing generosity shared by our guests, we presented a donation to The Pastry Project in Seattle, which provides free baking and pastry training to individuals with barriers to education and employment in the industry. In Vancouver, we presented a donation to YWCA Crabtree Corner, a community resource center for women and families.

About Our Alaska Cruises

• Holland America Line will operate a full season out of Seattle on two ships with 48 departures and more than 97,000 guests. Offering more cruises to Alaska from Vancouver than any other cruise line, we’ll have four ships with 75 departures and more than 158,000 guests.
• Seven-day “Alaskan Explorer” cruises sail roundtrip from Seattle aboard Eurodam and Westerdam, and include calls at Victoria, British Columbia (evening stay); and Ketchikan, Juneau and Sitka, all in Alaska.
• Seven-day “Alaska Inside Passage” cruises sail roundtrip from Vancouver on Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam and Volendam. Ports include Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway.
• Seven-day “Glacier Discovery Northbound” and “Glacier Discovery Southbound” itineraries cruise between Whittier and Vancouver aboard Nieuw Amsterdam and Noordam. Ports include Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway.
• The 14-day “Great Alaska Explorer” itinerary offers an in-depth adventure. Roundtrip from Vancouver aboard Nieuw Amsterdam (May 7) and Noordam (Sept. 17), the cruise calls at the Alaskan ports of Kodiak, Anchorage, Valdez, Sitka, Skagway and Ketchikan, and features Glacier Bay.
• Every Alaska cruise includes a visit to one or more of Alaska’s iconic glacier destinations: Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier and the Twin Sawyer Glaciers of Tracy Arm.
• Holland America Line is the only cruise line with Alaska seafood that’s certified sustainable by the Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM). There’s also “Savor My Catch,” which allows guests to take a fishing shore excursion and the chefs onboard will then prepare the bounty for dinner.
• All ships cruising in Alaska feature “Alaska Up Close” expanded onboard programming. This includes the opportunity for guests to engage with an Alaska naturalist; learn from special EXC presentations that explore local topics such as Alaska’s bush pilots and the famous Iditarod race; enjoy tours that highlight the best of each destination; savor fine dining events that showcase the culinary traditions of the region; and enjoy cruises with Glacier Bay that take on a National Park Ranger and local Huna Tlingit guides.
• Holland America Line is also the only cruise company to weave must-see sites such as Denali National Park — the centerpiece of every cruisetour — with the unspoiled reaches of Canada’s Yukon Territory.

Alaska Adventures Await You

With over 75 years in Alaska and more Holland America Line sailings to Glacier Bay National Park than any other cruise line, there’s so much to enjoy from magnificent glaciers to beautiful wildlife. Learn more about an Alaska cruise and cruisetour to help you plan your next adventure.