Ocean Cruising · Premium
Holland America
One of the oldest names in cruising, and it shows in the pace.
Overview
Sailing with Holland America
Holland America has been sailing since 1873, older than most of its competitors by a century or more. It runs quieter and more traditional than the mega-ship lines, with a genuinely older, more relaxed crowd.
Good to know
- Skews older and quieter
- Strong Panama Canal itineraries
- Traditional dining options available
What Makes Them Different
What sets Holland America apart
Sailing since 1873
Founded in the Netherlands more than a century before most modern cruise lines existed.
A real, curated art collection
Each ship carries an actual art collection instead of generic hotel decor.
Deep Alaska and world cruise programs
Long-standing Alaska itineraries plus some of the longest world cruises in the industry, built for travelers who have the time to use them.
The Fleet
Holland America ship classes
Pinnacle Class
Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, and Rotterdam, the newest and largest ships in the fleet, launched between 2016 and 2021. Each carries around 3,200 guests, big for Holland America but still modest next to the mainstream lines.
- Music Walk links three live venues, B.B. King’s Blues Club, Billboard Onboard dueling pianos, and the Rolling Stone Rock Room, that you can wander between in one night
- World Stage wraps a 270-degree LED screen around the main theater for shows nothing else in the fleet can match
- The newest and largest Holland America ships, with the most polish in the lineup
Signature Class
Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam, an enhanced version of the Vista design with an extra deck of staterooms and venues like Tamarind worked in.
- An extra deck of staterooms and venues like Tamarind give these ships more room and variety than the standard Vista design
- A refined step up if you have sailed Vista Class before and want a bit more
- Enhanced dining options are a real draw for food-focused travelers
Vista Class
Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, and Noordam, launched in the early 2000s and still forming the core of the mid-size fleet.
- A three-story atrium with a central sculpture anchors each ship, the kind of grand entrance most guests photograph on embarkation day
- Forms the core of the mid-size fleet, so there is strong availability across HAL’s most popular itineraries
- Early-2000s ships that are dependable, easy to navigate, and comfortably familiar
R Class
Volendam and Zaandam, the oldest ships still sailing under the Holland America name, smaller and quieter, and closest to the line’s traditional roots.
- The smallest and most intimate ships in the fleet, able to reach quieter, off-the-beaten-path ports the bigger ships skip
- Zaandam’s music-themed decor includes guitars signed by Eric Clapton, Iggy Pop, and the Rolling Stones, a fun detail most guests do not expect
- Closest in feel to Holland America’s traditional, old-world roots
Next Step
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