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Dive-In is the perfect spot to dine poolside on the best burgers at sea. Screening nightly in the movie theatre (on select ships) are recent-release films and perennially popular classics. And aboard Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam, watch your favorite stars light up the night on a giant outdoor LED movie screen by the Lido Pool. Your Holland America Line ship’s Casino offers a wide array of gaming options.

MS Nieuw Statendam (

Holland America to Debut New ‘Glacier Day’ in 2024 - Cruise Industry News

Holland America to Debut New ‘Glacier Day’ in 2024.

Posted: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 09:09:43 GMT [source]

You'll often find people up there reading a book, putting together a jigsaw puzzle or playing cards or board games. If you enjoyed this article you may also like our comparisons of MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises and Royal Caribbean ships. The smallest Holland America line ship is MS Volendam, which carries 1,432 passengers and is 237m in length. In this guide, we will cover all the different ships in the Holland America fleet and how they compare to each other. Alaska Airlines offers regular nonstop flights to Havana from Los Angeles (California USA). An 80-min ling JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) to Havana costs less than USD 100.

HAL-Holland America unveils Panama Canal and Hawaii cruises for 2025-2026 season

holland and america cruise ships

At around 87,000 tons, the Signature Class vessels are about 15% smaller than the Pinnacle Class ships, and they have a somewhat more intimate feel. If cruising in the most intimate environment possible is your goal, you'll want to look at the R Class, Holland America's oldest class of ships. Instead, Holland America usually takes an incremental approach to design changes for its new classes of ships. You'll find a lot in common between Holland America's Pinnacle Class and Signature Class of ships, for instance. And these two classes won't feel all that different from the earlier Vista Class.

MSC Cruises implements No-Smoking Zones in ship casinos fleetwide

The program was launched in December 2018 (on Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam) and available fleetwide since 2019. On other HAL ships, Club Orange Restaurant is designed as a dedicated section in MDRs (Main Dining Rooms) opened for breakfast and dinner. On Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam, "Culinary Arts Center" was renamed "Club Orange Restaurant". Nowadays, the company's main assets are the Westmark hotel chain (Alaska-Yukon region), Worldwide Shore Services (warehouses and logistics) and the Caribbean private island Little San Salvador Island (approx 160 km / 100 mi southeast of Nassau Bahamas).

Volendam

The company announced plans to add fleetwide pickleball courts (installed on every ship's top deck) by April 2023. Beginner lessons led by onboard instructors are offered complimentary. HAL also added Play Pickleball tutorial videos (on the interactive cabin TV programming) and started selling branded pickleball starter kits at the ships' retail shops. Play the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. with Holland America Line, the exclusive cruise line partner of the Professional Pickleball Association. All our cruise ships feature pickleball courts with amazing top-deck views. The equipment and courts are available for a match anytime, so long as the weather allows.

What is the average age of a Holland America cruise ship?

As the only one-chambered lock in the Canal, it provides a one-of-a-kind experience. This lock raises the ship another 31 feet, aligning it with the level of the Miraflores Lake. As you transition from the Pacific Ocean to Miraflores Lake, you’ll witness Pedro Miguel Lock’s unique operation, offering fascinating insight into the complexity and precision of this century-old engineering marvel. All HAL ships have a dark blue hull with white superstructure, with the company's logo featured prominently on the functional smoke stacks. A notable ship in the post-war era was the fifth Rotterdam, launched in 1959.

The Mariner Society, Holland America's loyalty program, allows frequent passengers to earn status over time if they sail with the line enough. Holland America offers the appropriately (albeit uninspiringly) named Kids Club on all of its ships. It accommodates children from ages 3-17 under the supervision of professionally trained youth staff. In keeping with Holland America's less-flashy style, you won't find much in the way of top-deck pastimes. There are no waterslides, go-kart tracks, surf simulators or rock climbing walls.

holland and america cruise ships

Due to this, the dining experience onboard the ships is of a more premium nature than some of the more mass-market cruise lines. MS Noordam sails 9 different 14-day itineraries around Japan, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia. The voyages feature late-night departures and overnight ports allowing extra time for sampling the local culture, cuisine, and nightlife of the region.

Night Pacific Northwest CruiseDetails

Well-behaved kids who enjoy learning and visiting new places will still have a great time. Our Northern Europe cruises mix seldom-explored locales with famed ports and overnights in alluring cities, such as Copenhagen, Reykjavík, and more. Glide through Norway’s fjords, explore Iceland’s lava fields or tour England’s storied castles on a British Isles cruise. Choose between convenient roundtrip voyages and longer expeditions and experience all that Northern Europe has to offer. As mentioned above, Pinnacle-class ships have the most venues of any Holland America ship, including all of the line's signature entertainment venues. With the additional space across 13 decks, existing venues like Rudi’s Sel de Mer restaurant have been expanded.

In general, Holland America's biggest and most amenity-packed ships are its newest ships. If you're looking for a Holland America cruise experience with the most possible onboard activities and venues, you'll want to steer toward the vessels in its new Pinnacle Class. Holland America has downsized its fleet considerably over the past three years with the removal of four vessels. However, it's still one of the seven big lines that account for the majority of cruises taken by North Americans.

There’s so much to see and do on Koningsdam, the first of the cruise ships in our Pinnacle Class. Holland America's older ships are as much as 39% smaller than the biggest Holland America ships and lack some features found on the bigger ships. While Pinnacle-class ships can hold 2,650 passengers at double occupancy, the line's two oldest vessels (known as the R Class) are only designed to carry 1,432 passengers at double occupancy. Regardless of size, the Vista Class still offers its guests ample Holland America amenities.

If you choose set seating, you will dine at one of two set dining times with assigned tablemates at the same table and with the same waiters each night. Holland America's Signature Class, comprising Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam, represents the line's midsize offerings, with each vessel accommodating about 2,100 people. Like Pinnacle Class ships, those in this class are home to Pan-Asian restaurant Tamarind, in addition to the free options and for-fee Italian restaurant and steakhouse found on the line's smaller vessels. However, the largest ones still accommodate fewer than half of the number of passengers carried by the world's largest ships — a nod to the fact that many of the line's most loyal customers prefer a more intimate experience. Tied to the cruise line's rich backstory is a focus on quality and upholding high standards of service. The line's ships generally offer excellent food, tastefully designed decor and an impressive variety of music as entertainment.

Join friends in a friendly game of Pickleball at Sea with the ocean as your backdrop. Compare dining, activities and other amenities across our fleet with the Ships at a Glance Chart (pdf), and view all Deck Plans (pdf). Experience one of the wonders of the modern world on Holland America Line’s Panama Canal cruises. Our Panama cruise itineraries depart from both east and west coasts for loads of convenient options.

During the summer and holiday periods, the average age onboard comes down as families, particularly multigenerational groups that include the grandparents and grandkids, take to the ships. This is particularly true of the line's Alaska and Canada/New England itineraries. HAL is among the few companies that offer partial Panama Canal cruises (ships Eurodam and Volendam) that combine popular Caribbean islands with Panama's Gatun Lake.

Some that you might enjoy include Elemis toiletries, bathrobes, shoeshine service, fresh fruit, signature pillow-top mattresses and complimentary 24/7 room service. Designed with lone travelers in mind, they feature full-size beds in lieu of queens, and they're available in the outside category only, ranging from 127 to 172 square feet of space. But it was with Pinnacle Class ships that Holland America truly began to overhaul its offerings in terms of both dining and entertainment. Koningsdam, which debuted in 2016, brought with it the Grand Dutch Cafe (where you'll find the best grilled cheese at sea, along with delicious split pea soup) and Rudi's Sel de Mer, a seafood restaurant developed by chef and food artist Rudi Sodamin. It also boasts the Music Walk concept, a central thoroughfare that houses several performance spaces focusing on different genres of music.

Every dish is exquisitely prepared, beautifully plated and complemented by a vast collection of award-winning wines. Here, your meal is an event unto itself, a celebration of fine dining and a triumph of flavor. Personalize your cruise experience once you’re on the ship with our free mobile-friendly tool. Plan your daily activities, browse and purchase shore excursions, view restaurant menus, make dining reservations, check your account balance and more. There are also special perks and priority benefits for passengers who pay for Club Orange access.

Holland America Line Ships by Size, Age and Class 2022

holland and america cruise ships

The itinerary's "Panama Canal" segment features passing through the Gatun Locks and sailing in the Gatun Lake. Ms Noordam (deployment September 2024-April 2025) offers overnights in Yokohama, Kobe-Osaka, Laem Chabang-Bangkok, and Da Nang. HAL's Caribbean program is based mainly on ex-Florida roundtrips (7- to 21 days) and 6 ships - all leaving from homeport Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale Florida. From April to November (2025), 3 ships (Oosterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam) have a full European season, while ms Zuiderdam sails the popular 35-day "Voyage of the Vikings". The itineraries range from 7 to 42 days, prioritizing destinations in Northern Europe/Baltic, British Isles, Canary Islands, and the Mediterranean. Volendam offers 10- and 11-day itineraries between Boston and Montreal during the summer and fall.

What's the difference between newer and older Holland America ships?

Pacific Coast, Mexico, Hawaii, and Panama Canal sailings are operated by 6 ships (39 departures), and are either San Diego roundtrips or begin/end in the port. Due to the COVID pandemic, HAL suspended its entire fleet's passenger shipping operations (all 14 liners) canceling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 13, 2020, through June 30, 2021. Best Price Guarantee applies only to publicly available and advertised with pricing tour deals.

B.B. KING'S BLUES CLUB

Some vessel names have been reused (some of them several times) with the old ship's retirement. This practice of renewing ship names allows the company to emotionally connect its glorious past with its amazing business growth in our times. In 2023, HAL conducted 5 wet-dock refurbishments to expand the casino space on its vessels in the PINNACLE-class (Nieuw Rotterdam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam) and Signature-class (Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam). Each of the enlarged gambling facilities now has 140 of the gaming industry's newest slot and video poker machines. In addition, a separate non-smoking area was added in the casinos of Nieuw Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam.

The Holland America fleet

With many flavors to choose from and ingredients like Sicilian pistachios and amarena cherries, each frozen spoonful transports you to Italy. Enjoy breakfast in bed or an early dinner on your verandah — entrées and more are available whenever you wish. Rudi’s Sel de Mer restaurant is available on Rotterdam, Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam, but on other ships, the Rudi’s Sel de Mer menu is available on select evenings in Pinnacle Grill. Praised by Condé Nast Traveler for cuisine “that rivals the top restaurants on land,” Tamarind is the perfect place to explore the culinary traditions of Southeast Asia, China and Japan.

Booked passengers are notified within 2 days of submission if the tour/excursion meets the "Best Price Guarantee" requirements. If eligible, booked passengers receive a non-refundable OBC to be used during the voyage. HAL's "Flight Ease" air booking program offers up-to-the-minute flight schedules and selection of 2 competitive pricing on flights with arrival/departure dates same as the booked cruise itinerary. All flight cruise deals booked through HAL's Flight Ease program feature 24-hour assistance and "Next Port Protection". The latter guarantees that in case of flight delays or cancelations, Holland America Line takes care of the flight changes in order to join the cruise ship at the next port of call along the booked itinerary. Club Orange is also available for a limited number of non-suite staterooms per voyage.

Standby Cruising: A New Option for Bargain Seekers - The New York Times

Standby Cruising: A New Option for Bargain Seekers.

Posted: Fri, 05 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Rounding out the offerings are a safe, a minifridge, a variety of outlets and USB ports and a private bathroom. An in-room TV provides a handful of channels, ship-sponsored content and complimentary movies. There are only two R Class ships on the roster — Volendam and Zaandam, which are the line's two oldest and smallest vessels, each with room for about 1,400 passengers.

holland and america cruise ships

Many Caribbean itineraries can be extended/combined into B2Bs (Collectors Voyages) and booked as discount-priced B2Bs/back-to-backs ranging between days. MS Volendam's 25-day "Canada, New England, Greenland, and Iceland" Legendary Voyage departs from Boston MA on July 12, featuring stops in Iceland, Greenland, Maine, and Canada, including a new port in Eastport, Maine. (Volendam) 12-day "Historic Baja & Sea of Cortez" voyage departs on December 10th, 2023, and explores Baha Peninsula. To book the unique itineraries customers were required to contact HAL's World Cruise Reservations Desk or a travel agent, starting from April 20th. Customers with a deposited Future Cruise Request get priority booking confirmation before these voyages officially open to the public on May 24th, 2023.

KIDS CLUB

Holland America Line's Legendary Voyages are extended journeys lasting from 25 to 59 days, combining the elegance of a Grand Voyage with itineraries that feature an extensive selection of ports to enhance the experience in each destination. Most of these Legendary Voyages sail roundtrip or to/from a North American homeport, allowing travelers the convenience of seeing the world from their doorstep with a domestic flight and easy embarkation. Zuiderdam's 124-day "Grand World Voyage 2025" departs on January 4th (2025) and visits 46 ports (32 countries/6 continents). Follows a Suez Canal transit to Europe/Mediterranean and a Transatlantic crossing back to the USA. The first offer is rebooking with 125% refund in FCC (future cruise credit) plus USD 250 pp in OBC (onboard credit) on any itinerary through Dec. 31, 2022. The second offer is canceling with a full (100% monetary) refund including on prepurchased through HAL packages and services.

In general, Volendam appeals to cruisers looking for a more intimate cruise experience. It also draws cruisers who care more about the destinations they visit on a cruise than onboard attractions. Notably, in addition to a main restaurant and casual buffet, the three Pinnacle Class ships have five separate specialty dining venues — everything from a pan-Asian eatery and an Italian restaurant to a steakhouse. Other relatively new Holland America ships include the 2,650-passenger Nieuw Statendam and the 2,650-passenger Koningsdam, which are sister ships to Rotterdam.

The top decks of the Pinnacle-class ships have main pool areas that can be covered by a retractable glass magrodome during inclement weather. This makes these ships a good choice when booking a cruise in a destination where the weather can be iffy. Specifically, on Pinnacle-class ships, you'll find one of the line's signature Music Walk live entertainment areas with a B.B. King's Blues Club (for Memphis-style rhythm and blues), Billboard Onboard (for chart-topping hits played by a live pianist) and Rolling Stone Rock Room (for a live band playing classic rock). The largest ship class in the Holland America fleet, Vista ships are well-liked for their space-to-passenger ratio. Despite being 20 percent smaller than the Pinnacle-class vessels, they also carry just 72 percent of those ships’ passengers.

HAL's 2024 Canada and New England program groups 29 voyages (ranging from 7-day getaways to longer itineraries) and is based on homeporting in Boston (Massachusetts USA). An extended roundtrip-Boston itinerary visits destinations in Iceland and Greenland. Daily gratuity is an automatic service charge (applied to both adults and kids) that is added to the passenger's onboard account each day.

In general, Holland America's newest ships are bigger and more amenity-packed than the oldest Holland America ships. But they're not as big as the biggest ships operated by such competitors as Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises. Among the seven big cruise lines that account for the majority of cruises taken by North Americans, Holland America is known for smaller and more intimate vessels. Drop us an anchor below to share your experiences sailing on Holland America Line. While their size makes them ideal for managing remote locations and smaller harbors, the R Class ships still feature two pools; the Pinnacle Grill and Canaletto; the World Stage main theater, live music and more. Despite their age, Holland America ships have been thoroughly renovated over the decades to include new and updated spaces and amenities in addition to routine refurbishments to carpets, soft furnishings and other cosmetic features.

Some of these offerings include branded live music venues; two pools including a main pool covered by a retractable glass magrodrome; the Greenhouse Spa & Salon; and a fitness center. Asia Collectors' Voyages offer an ideal option for enthusiastic adventurers who desire a more extensive cruise experience, ranging from 27 to 42 days. These voyages are tailored for guests who want to explore various destinations without repeating itineraries, providing excellent value per day. Late-night stops in Loreto and Topolobampo provide opportunities for exploration and scenic appreciation. The itineraries are thoughtfully curated to include both popular and lesser-visited ports, showcasing the natural beauty, cultural diversity, and rich history of each region. In December 2022, HAL became PPA's exclusive cruise line (Professional Pickleball Association).

Ships in the Holland America fleet — formerly the Nederlandsche-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Maatschappij (Dutch-American Steamship Company) — carried immigrants from Europe to North America at regular intervals. As such, the line often attracts older cruisers and genealogy buffs looking to experience sea travel much like their grandparents, great-grandparents and even great-great grandparents did (albeit with more modern comforts). And veterans who found themselves on Holland America ships used as military transport during World War II often sail on the line's modern vessels as a way to reminisce. Newer Holland America cruise ships generally are bigger than older Holland America ships — sometimes much bigger. As a result, they have room for more onboard venues and attractions than the line's older vessels.

The other itinerary (7-day "Inside Passage") is roundtrip from Vancouver Canada. Passengers who violate the company's ship' smoking policy will be fined a cleaning fee USD 250 per day. Restricted Fares include cancelation fees and require full payment for the flight reservation at booking time. In August 2015, Holland America added enhanced features to its flight booking program "Flight Ease". HAL's website allows travelers to choose flights (departure and return) separately, also to compare real-time airfares, plus detailed schedules.

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