Holland America Line Newsroom

This holiday, Santa can expect more than milk and cookies aboard Holland America Line ships. From a special Nutcracker Teatime to feasts with all the trimmings, guests are in for festive bites and beverages that make the season merry and bright.

As Holland America Line prepares to celebrate 80 years of exploring Alaska, the cruise line is unveiling its 2027 Cruisetour season with fresh enhancements. Travelers can pair an iconic Alaska cruise with an unforgettable journey into Denali National Park and Canada’s Yukon, featuring an expanded Denali Lodge and a new inclusive dining package — free for guests booking with the Have It All Early Booking Bonus — that delivers local flavors, multiple dining venues and added value. Guests can choose between 19 itineraries, each offering access to more of Alaska’s splendor, including glaciers, wildlife and wilderness tours. 

When guests embark on Holland America Line’s 2026 Grand Voyages, they’ll receive a special tote bag— a signature of the journey, now with an innovative twist. This year’s bags are crafted entirely from upcycled ship textiles, marking the successful completion of the cruise line’s first fabric circularity project, the first of its kind for the industry. The two-year initiative transforms retired soft goods into functional keepsakes, reducing landfill waste and turning sustainability into style.

Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam is back in service with a fresh look and new features following a two-week dry dock in the Bahamas. Guests embarked the Vista-class ship in Miami on Dec. 6, 2025, for a 17-day Eastern & Southern Caribbean cruise, showcasing upgrades like a redesigned Crow’s Nest, added ocean view staterooms and updates throughout public areas and staterooms, such as refreshed carpeting and finishes.

Holland America Line celebrated the grand opening of four pickleball courts that were added to Relax Away, Half Moon Cay, the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas. The new courts are part of an island enhancement that also includes refurbished amenities and new experiences throughout the pristine oasis.

‘Tis the season for giving and getaways, and Holland America Line is celebrating with its second annual “Great HALiday Giveaway.” The 12-day online event runs from Dec. 5-16, 2025, and participants who visit The Great HALiday Giveaway website can enter daily for a chance win one of the prizes, including 2026 cruises to Alaska, Europe and beyond, a family holiday cruise, gift cards and the grand prize of a full 2026 or 2027 Grand World Voyage.  

Holland America Line has once again received Cruise Critic’s award for “Best Service” (Ocean Category), the first cruise line to win the award four years in a row. Cruise Critic’s Best in Cruise Awards are selected by the site’s team of cruise experts and based on ratings and reviews from travelers.

It was smooth sailing as Holland America Line’s float cruised through the streets of New York this morning in the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®. The Alaska-themed showstopper featured multi-platinum singer-songwriter Jewel — an Alaska native — who performed her hit “You Were Meant For Me” during the television broadcast in front of iconic Macy’s Herald Square flagship.

With longer cruises and new overnight stays in Australia and Fiji, Holland America Line launched its 2027-2028 Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific season. These itineraries, ranging from 14 to 35 days, promise deep immersion in the region’s wonders, from vibrant coral reefs to dramatic volcanoes and bucket-list destinations like Bora Bora and New Zealand’s Bay of Islands.