Cruise guide
The Holland America fleet and where it sails
Background on every ship in the Holland America Line fleet and every region the line cruises, with the itineraries, seasons and ports you are most likely to see. Each page links through to passenger reviews for that ship or destination.
Ships
Rotterdam
Pinnacle Class · 2021
The seventh Holland America ship to carry the Rotterdam name and the newest member of the Pinnacle Class. She combines the line's classic Dutch heritage with the contemporary music-venue layout introduced on Koningsdam.
Koningsdam
Pinnacle Class · 2016
The first Pinnacle Class ship, Koningsdam introduced a lighter, music-themed design to the fleet while keeping the mid-size feel Holland America passengers expect.
Nieuw Statendam
Pinnacle Class · 2018
Sister ship to Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam carries a design inspired by the fluid shapes of musical instruments and a fleet-leading art collection.
Eurodam
Signature Class · 2008
The first Signature Class ship, Eurodam is a comfortable mid-size vessel that spends much of the year on Alaska and Northern Europe itineraries.
Nieuw Amsterdam
Signature Class · 2010
Sister to Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam takes her design cues from the art deco New York of the early twentieth century and sails a broad mix of warm-weather routes.
Zuiderdam
Vista Class · 2002
The first Vista Class ship, Zuiderdam is a smaller, quieter vessel often used for Panama Canal and longer exotic voyages.
Oosterdam
Vista Class · 2003
A Vista Class ship that alternates between Alaska in the northern summer and Asia or the South Pacific in the cooler months.
Westerdam
Vista Class · 2004
Westerdam is a well-travelled Vista Class ship known for Alaska summers and long Asia seasons out of Asian homeports.
Noordam
Vista Class · 2006
The last of the Vista Class, Noordam spends her year between Mediterranean and Caribbean seasons and longer repositioning voyages.
Volendam
R Class · 1999
One of the two smallest ships in the fleet, Volendam has a flower-themed interior and a loyal following among passengers who prefer a smaller ship.
Zaandam
R Class · 2000
Sister to Volendam, Zaandam carries a music-themed art collection including a decorated Baroque-style pipe organ in her atrium.
Destinations and itineraries
Alaska
May through September
Holland America has sailed Alaska since 1947 and runs one of the largest Alaska programmes of any line, including cruisetours that combine a sailing with rail and lodge nights in Denali.
Caribbean
Year round, peaking November through April
Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean itineraries sail mostly from Fort Lauderdale, with longer voyages reaching the southern islands and the ABC islands.
Mexico
October through April
Mexican Riviera sailings run from San Diego and occasionally other West Coast ports, mixing beach days with colonial towns and Sea of Cortez scenery.
Panama Canal
October through April
Full transits cross between Fort Lauderdale and the West Coast, while partial transits enter Gatun Lake and return the same day. These are among the line's most popular long itineraries.
Hawaii & South Pacific
October through April
Hawaii sailings depart the West Coast with several sea days each way, and longer voyages continue to Tahiti, the Marquesas and the wider South Pacific.
Canada & New England
May through October, busiest in autumn
Coastal voyages between Boston, New York, Quebec and Montreal, popular in September and October for autumn colour along the St. Lawrence.
Northern Europe
May through September
Norwegian fjords, Baltic capitals, Iceland, Greenland and the British Isles, sailing mainly from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Copenhagen and Dover.
Mediterranean
April through November
Western and Eastern Mediterranean routes from Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Venice and Piraeus, with plenty of overnight port stays on longer voyages.
Transatlantic
April/May and October/November repositioning
Repositioning crossings between Fort Lauderdale and European homeports, often via the Azores, Madeira or the Canary Islands, with long stretches of sea days.
South America & Antarctica
December through March
Circle South America voyages and Antarctic scenic cruising past the peninsula, plus Amazon River itineraries in some seasons.
Asia
October through April
Japan, Southeast Asia and China coast itineraries from homeports including Yokohama, Hong Kong and Singapore, frequently with overnight stays.
Australia & New Zealand
October through March
Sailings from Sydney, Auckland and Melbourne taking in the New Zealand fjords, Tasmania and the Great Barrier Reef coastline.
Africa
Seasonal, mostly on Grand Voyage segments
African calls appear mainly on Grand Africa voyages and world cruise segments, combining West and East African coasts with island stops.
World Cruise
January departure, roughly four months
The Grand World Voyage circles the globe each January, and shorter Grand Voyages cover Africa, South America, Australia or Asia as segments that can be booked individually.
Other Itineraries
Varies
Short repositioning hops, charter sailings and one-off itineraries that do not fit the main seasonal regions. Reviews filed under this heading cover the rest of the fleet's calendar.
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