Setting Sail with Holland America: Top Five Things You Should Know Before Boarding
Holland America Line (HAL) was established in 1873 as the Dutch-American Steamship Company, serving as both a cargo and passenger fleet across the Atlantic. Today, HAL operates over 500 cruises annually across all seven continents, with a heightened reputation for its Alaska voyages, having navigated these routes since before Alaska’s statehood in 1959.
HAL’s fleet comprises 11 mid-sized ships, providing a spacious yet intimate experience, and access to smaller ports inaccessible to larger cruise ships. At each stop, HAL presents a variety of shore excursions tailored to different interests including wellness, wildlife, culture, food, sightseeing, or adventure. For an additional £55 per day, guests can enhance their cruise to include complimentary shore excursions, along with WiFi, a beverage package, and specialty dining.
The on-board experience is rich with activities like pickleball, yoga, or tai chi available on deck. Evenings can be spent enjoying live performances at BB King’s Blues Club or the Rolling Stone Lounge.
Every cruise includes the celebratory Orange Party, a nod to HAL’s Dutch origins. Guests are encouraged to dress in orange and enjoy a night filled with Dutch-inspired drinks and entertainment along with the ship’s officers and crew.
HAL ships have been frequenting Alaska for more than 75 years, longer than any other cruise line. Their carefully designed trips range from seven to 28 days and cover the famous Inside Passage with guaranteed glacier sightings – including the stunning UNESCO World Heritage-listed Glacier Bay National Park, where HAL is a certified concessioner.
Travelers have the option to enhance their Alaska cruise with a picturesque train journey on the luxurious McKinley Explorer, venturing into the wildlife-laden Denali National Park. Here, guests can spend their days observing Alaska’s “Big Five” – bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and wolves. Evenings are spent sharing stories at Denali Square, the central hub of the plush lodge where guests may stay for as long as three nights.
Beyond Alaska, HAL offers popular itineraries that include trips to the Caribbean, many of which stop at Half Moon Cay, HAL’s private island in the Bahamas, the Panama Canal, Canada, South America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Northern Europe, Hawaii, the Mediterranean and more.
Over the summer of 2025 and 2026, the line will conduct a series of round-trip voyages from Dover onboard the Nieuw Statendam, which will make destinations like the Canary Islands, British Isles, Arctic Circle, North Cape, Baltic states, Norwegian fjords, and the rest of Scandinavia accessible without the need for air travel.
HAL is renowned for its extended voyages including world cruises, which are long-standing voyages that last between 25 to 59 days and concentrate on exploring specific regions, as well as repositioning cruises that involve relocating ships from one part of the globe to another for a new season.
The typical passengers on HAL ships are couples over 50 years old who prefer a premium yet traditional cruising experience. This includes activities like afternoon tea, formal nights where dresses and suits are mandatory, and live entertainment shows, all available at a reasonable cost.
The Seattle-based cruise line is also accommodating for solo travelers. Three of HAL’s ships, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, and Rotterdam, offer dedicated solo cabins without a single supplement fee and host parties for solo travelers on each voyage.
Although HAL might not be the first option for families due to the absence of features like waterslides, race tracks, and rock walls found on other lines like Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line, it does provide a daily kids’ club program for children and teenagers.
On HAL’s cruise ships, Explorations Central educational centers provide expertise on locations visited. These centers offer lectures that highlight the cultural, architectural, historical, and political facets of each destination.
The fleet is organized into four categories: R Class, Vista Class, Signature Class, and Pinnacle Class.
Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, and Koningsdam (2,650 passengers)
The Pinnacle Class ships, including Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, and Koningsdam, are the newest and largest in the HAL fleet. However, they hold 2,650 passengers each, making them smaller than the massive ships operated by other cruise lines.
Interiors are masterfully crafted by designer Adam D Tihany, noted for his work with prominent hotel groups such as Mandarin Oriental and Four Seasons. The design highlights art and music, featuring walls adorned with artworks by emerging artists, and each ship’s atrium showcases a magnificent 7.5-ton stainless steel sculpture resembling the strings of a harp.
The Pinnacle-class ships of HAL enhance the on-board experience with more venues, including five specialty restaurants—Asian-fusion Tamarind, Italian-themed Canaletto, seafood haven Rudi’s Sel de Mer, Pinnacle Grill steakhouse, and Japanese Nami Sushi—and various entertainment spaces, surpassing the offerings of its other ships.
Sails to: The Caribbean, Scandinavia, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Hawaii, Mexico, Alaska, the US and Canada.
Nieuw Amsterdam and Eurodam (2,100 passengers)
Signature class vessels are approximately 15% smaller than the Pinnacle-class ships, providing a more personal ambiance. Nevertheless, these ships boast a variety of dining options, including three popular specialty restaurants: the Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind, and Canaletto.
Entertainment is rich with live music venues such as BB King’s Blues Club, Billboard Onboard, and Rolling Stone Lounge, ensuring lively evenings for all guests.
Sails to: The Caribbean, Central America and the Panama Canal, Alaska, Mexico, the US and Canada.
Noordam (1,924 passengers), Westerdam (1,916 passengers), Oosterdam (1,964 passengers), and Zuiderdam (1,964 passengers)
Vista Class ships are marginally smaller than Signature ships, with a 5% size reduction, yet they have about 9% fewer passengers at double occupancy, making them less crowded.
Due to their reduced size compared to Pinnacle and Signature Class ships, the four HAL Vista Class ships offer fewer speciality dining options, with just two available, although their entertainment offerings are comparable to those on Signature Class vessels.
Sails to: Alaska, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania and the South Pacific, the Mediterranean, South America, the US and Canada.
Zaandam and Volendam (1,432 passengers)
Being approximately 25 per cent smaller than the other ships in HAL’s fleet, the R-class ships offer a more personal experience. They cater to travelers who prefer to focus on exploring the destinations rather than the onboard amenities. It is no surprise that Zaandam and Volendam are frequently chosen for HAL’s global voyages.
Each of these ships houses two exclusive dining options, Pinnacle Grill and Canaletto, with evenings often spent at the piano bar or enjoying performances at the World Stage theatre.
Sails to: Central America and the Panama Canal, Alaska, Mexico, South America, the US and Canada, the Caribbean.
Loyal guests benefit from HAL’s Mariner Society Rewards Program. With every onboard purchase and cruise day, passengers accumulate points, which can be used for various perks including priority check-in and speciality dining discounts.
HAL states that it offers “specially designed staterooms for guests needing mobility assistive features.” Rooms fully accessible are designed for guests with highly limited or no mobility, who frequently require the use of a wheelchair, scooter, or similar mobility devices.
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