Holland America Line Celebrates 80 Years in Alaska with Heritage Tours Honoring Generations of Exploration
Collection showcases the iconic experiences that have shaped the Holland America Line Alaska journey for nearly eight decades
Seattle, Wash., Oct. 21, 2026 — As Holland America Line prepares to celebrate 80 years of exploring Alaska in 2027, the cruise line is unveiling Alaska Heritage Tours, a collection of iconic experiences that connect today’s guests with the earliest days of Holland America in the Great Land. Select tours trace their roots back 80 years, giving guests the opportunity to experience many of the same places and traditions travelers did generations ago. While the experiences have been thoughtfully modernized over the decades to reflect evolving guest interests and expectations, they remain true to their heritage, offering an authentic connection to Alaska’s history, culture and communities.
Available on select cruises and Cruisetours, Alaska Heritage Tours highlights some of the experiences that have become enduring favorites among Holland America Line guests. From the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, which traces a route first forged during the Klondike Gold Rush, to the Riverboat Discovery, where travelers have long explored Alaska’s interior by river, the collection showcases experiences that remain as relevant and inspiring today as they were when Holland America Line first began exploring Alaska nearly 80 years ago.
“One of the most remarkable things about Alaska is that many of the experiences travelers seek out today are the very same ones that first inspired visitors decades ago,” said Carole Biencourt, vice president, onboard revenue, Holland America Line. “As we approach our 80th season in the region, we’re proud that the experiences featured in our Alaska Heritage Tours collection have been part of the Holland America Line journey since our earliest explorations of Alaska in the 1940s. While these tours have evolved over the years, they continue to offer guests an authentic connection to Alaska’s landscapes, wildlife and communities, which is what has made them enduring favorites for so long.”
The Alaska Heritage Tours collection spans the many ways travelers have explored Alaska throughout Holland America Line’s history in the region. With more than three dozen tours to choose from, the collection highlights experiences that connect guests with Alaska’s railways, glaciers, wildlife, wilderness and national parks, reflecting the landscapes and adventures that have defined the destination for generations.
Featured Alaska Heritage Tours include:
McKinley Explorer Railroad – Journey through Alaska’s interior aboard the glass-domed train that connects guests with some of the state’s most spectacular scenery.
White Pass Summit Scenic Railroad – Follow the historic route of the Klondike Gold Rush through the mountains above Skagway.
Mendenhall Glacier Explorer – Experience one of Alaska’s most iconic glaciers from the heart of Juneau.
Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise – Cruise among tidewater glaciers while searching for whales, sea otters and other marine wildlife.
Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour – Venture deep into Denali National Park for opportunities to spot Alaska’s iconic wildlife and sweeping tundra landscapes.
Guests can read more about the full collection of Alaska Heritage Tours here.
Celebrating 80 years of exploring Alaska
For 80 years, Holland America Line has helped guests experience Alaska through immersive itineraries and enriching experiences that connect them more deeply with the destination. Eight decades in Alaska have led to a collection of experiences designed to bring guests closer to the wildlife, wilderness, glaciers and cultures of the Great Land. Today, that legacy includes:
More than 200 shore excursions ranging from whale watching and bear viewing to glacier discoveries, cultural encounters and wilderness adventures.
Expert insight throughout the journey from National Park Service rangers, Alaska Up Close presentations, onboard experts, and local and Native voices who share perspectives on the region’s history, wildlife and cultures.
Iconic glacier experiences featuring destinations such as Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier, Tracy Arm and College Fjord, including the cruise line’s Alaska Glacier Guarantee™.
Destination Dining™ inspired by the region with fresh Alaska seafood, the Alaska Brunch, Alaska Seafood Boil, and other dishes and beverages that showcase local flavors.
Exclusive inland exploration opportunities, including a private wilderness lodge and overnight journeys into Dawson City, Yukon, offering deeper connections to Alaska and the North.
Itinerary highlights
Guests can experience Heritage Tours on a variety of Alaska cruises and Cruisetours, including:
Alaska Cruisetours, including Denali and Yukon itineraries: Offering the most extensive access to the Alaska Heritage Tours collection, all Cruisetours include a journey aboard the glass-domed McKinley Explorer as well as either the Denali Natural History Tour or Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour. Select itineraries expand those experiences with Heritage Tour options in Seward or Fairbanks. Yukon Cruisetours further showcase Alaska’s transportation heritage with a ride aboard the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, pairing two of the collection’s signature rail experiences in a single journey.
Alaska Explorer and Inside Passage itineraries: With calls in Juneau, guests can choose from several ways to experience Mendenhall Glacier, one of Alaska’s most-visited natural attractions.
28-Day Legendary Alaska Arctic Circle: Offering access to a broad range of Alaska Heritage Tours, this extended voyage features calls in Haines, Valdez and Anchorage.
Glacier Discovery itineraries: Voyages that begin or end in Whittier provide access to Heritage Tours that highlight the natural beauty of Southcentral Alaska.
The Alaska Heritage Tours collection is now open for booking on select 2027 Alaska cruises and Cruisetours.
For more information about Holland America Line’s shore excursions or to book a cruise, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.