Five things to know before boarding a Holland America cruise ship
Holland America Line (HAL) started life in 1873 as the Dutch-American Steamship Company, a shipping and passenger line that plied the Atlantic. Today, HAL offers more than 500 sailings a year, visiting all seven continents, though it is best known for its Alaska itineraries; the line has been sailing to the Last Frontier since before it became an American state in 1959.
HAL’s 11 ships are mid-size, meaning that they never feel too crowded and can visit ports that the vast liners can’t. In each destination, the line offers a range of shore excursions tailored to passengers’ interests, be it wellness, wildlife, culture, cuisine, sightseeing or adventure. For £55 per day, you can upgrade your holiday to include complimentary shore excursions (as well as WiFi, a drinks package and specialty dining).
On board, there’s plenty to keep guests busy, with pickleball, yoga or tai chi practised out on deck and evening entertainment at the popular BB King’s Blues Club or the Rolling Stone Lounge.
Every sailing features an Orange Party in homage to HAL’s Dutch heritage. Wear whatever you want so long as it’s tangerine-hued and join the officers and crew for a Dutch-inspired evening of drinks and entertainment.
1. Where does HAL cruise?
HAL ships have been visiting Alaska for more than 75 years, which is longer than any other cruise line. Carefully crafted itineraries range from seven to 28 days and include the famed Inside Passage and guaranteed glacier viewing – including the awe-inspiring Unesco World Heritage-listed Glacier Bay National Park, where HAL is an authorised concessioner.
Passengers can opt to combine their Alaska cruise with a scenic train ride aboard the luxurious McKinley Explorer to experience the wildlife-rich Denali National Park. Here, days can be spent spotting Alaska’s “Big Five” – bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and wolves – while evenings are about swapping stories at Denali Square, the focal point of the luxurious lodge guests will call home for up to three nights.
Alaska aside, popular HAL itineraries include cruises to the Caribbean (many of which feature a call at Half Moon Cay, the line’s private island in the Bahamas), the Panama Canal, Canada, South America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Northern Europe, Hawaii, the Mediterranean and more.
Throughout the summer of 2025 and 2026, the line will operate a selection of round-trip sailings from Dover onboard Nieuw Statendam – putting the likes of the Canary Islands, British Isles, Arctic Circle, North Cape, Baltic states, Norwegian fjords and the rest of Scandinavia within easy reach, without having to step on a plane.
HAL is also famed for its longer sailings including world cruises, legendary voyages – 25 to 59-day itineraries that focus on a specific region – and repositioning cruises (when ships relocate from one part of the world to another for the start of a new season).
2. Who it appeals to
Passengers on HAL ships tend to be couples aged 50 and over who look for a premium but traditional cruise experience – think afternoon tea, formal nights (dresses and suits are required) and live entertainment shows – at a reasonable price.
The Seattle-based line is also well-suited to solo travellers: three of HAL’s ships (Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam) offer solo cabins with no single supplement, while parties for solo travellers take place on each sailing.
While the cruise line isn’t an obvious choice for families – it lacks the waterslides, race tracks and rock walls that Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and co all have – HAL does operate a daily kids’ club programme for children and teens.
Elsewhere, destination experts are on hand in HAL’s on-board Explorations Central educational centres. Here, lectures shine the spotlight on each respective port city’s art, architecture, history and politics.
3. The HAL fleet
11 ships are divided into four classes; R Class, Vista Class, Signature Class and Pinnacle Class.
Pinnacle class
Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam (2,650 passengers)
HAL’s Pinnacle Class ships are both younger and bigger than any other vessel in its fleet. But, with capacity for 2,650 passengers, they are still considerably smaller than other cruise lines’ largest ships.
Interiors are the brainchild of designer Adam D Tihany, the man behind many of the Mandarin Oriental and Four Seasons groups’ hotels, and they centre on art and music. Subsequently, walls are adorned with the works of up-and-coming artists, while in each ship’s atrium, there’s a spectacular 7.5-ton stainless steel sculpture inspired by the strings of a harp.
HAL’s Pinnacle-class ships ​​also boast more on-board venues – be it the five speciality restaurants (Asian-fusion Tamarind, Italian-inspired Canaletto, seafood joint Rudi’s Sel de Mer, Pinnacle Grill steakhouse and Japanese Nami Sushi) or string of entertainment spaces – than its other vessels.
Sails to: The Caribbean, Scandinavia, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Hawaii, Mexico, Alaska, the US and Canada.
Signature class
Nieuw Amsterdam and Eurodam (2,100 passengers)
Signature ships are around 15 per cent smaller than HAL’s Pinnacle-class ships and consequently have a more intimate feel. However, you’ll still find plenty of dining venues including three of the same speciality restaurants – the Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind and Canaletto.
Live music entertainment options abound too: a BB King’s Blues Club, Billboard Onboard and Rolling Stone Lounge keep guests entertained until the early hours.
Sails to: The Caribbean, Central America and the Panama Canal, Alaska, Mexico, the US and Canada.
Vista class
Noordam (1,924 passengers), Westerdam (1,916 passengers), Oosterdam (1,964 passengers) and Zuiderdam (1,964 passengers)
Vista Class ships are only 5 per cent smaller than Signature ships but carry approximately 9 per cent fewer people at double occupancy – and subsequently are less crowded.
Because of their slightly smaller size, HAL’s four Vista Class vessels don’t have all the bells and whistles of the Pinnacle Class and Signature Class ships: there are just two speciality restaurants, although entertainment venues mirror the Signature Class ships.
Sails to: Alaska, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania and the South Pacific, the Mediterranean, South America, the US and Canada.
R class
Zaandam and Volendam (1,432 passengers)
Approximately 25 per cent smaller than the rest of HAL’s fleet, R-class ships have a more intimate feel. As such they appeal to passengers who are more interested in making the most of port stays than they are about spending time onboard. Little wonder then that Zaandam and Volendam are often deployed on HAL’s world cruises.
Both vessels feature two speciality dining venues (Pinnacle Grill and Canaletto) while nightlife revolves around a piano bar and the World Stage theatre.
Sails to: Central America and the Panama Canal, Alaska, Mexico, South America, the US and Canada, the Caribbean.
4. Loyalty scheme
Returning passengers can earn perks with HAL’s multi-tiered Mariner Society Rewards Program. Onboard purchases and cruise days accrue points that unlock rewards such as priority check-in, discounts in speciality restaurants and so on.
5. Accessibility onboard
HAL says that it has “specifically designed staterooms for guests who require mobility assistive features”. Fully accessible rooms are designed for use by guests with highly limited or no mobility who require regular use of a wheelchair, scooter or other similar devices.
