Holland America Line: The Full Cruise Information

Holland America Line’s present fleet contains 11 ships, that are largely midsize. They go to all seven continents, with stops within the Caribbean, Tahiti, the Mediterranean, Antarctica and extra. Its Alaska presence is very robust, and Holland America claims it has visited Glacier Bay Nationwide Park greater than some other cruise operator.

Holland America’s father or mother firm is Carnival Cruise Line, which acquired Holland America in 1989. However whereas Carnival touts choices just like the “first curler coaster at sea” on its flagship model, Holland America is for folk with — let’s name it — extra refined tastes.

Right here’s your information to Holland America, together with facilities, prices and the way you may lower your expenses in your subsequent crusing.

Is a Holland America cruise best for you?

Listed here are some kinds of individuals finest suited to Holland America:

Although open to vacationers of any age (infants have to be no less than six months previous to embark on most cruises), Holland America caters to the mature set.

Not like Disney Cruises or Royal Caribbean ships, that are laden with waterslides, flashy designs and high-energy reveals, Holland America is extra subdued. Its most full of life leisure features a on line casino, trivia nights and stay music. Kids or grownup vacationers searching for most stimulation is perhaps much less enthused.

However relaxed cruisers searching for peace may discover it right here.

Each Holland America ship has a fitness center, portrait studio, sports activities courts, a spa, salon and a number of swimming pools. On a brief three-night cruise, you could possibly eat three meals a day at a distinct restaurant and by no means hit all of them. The most important ship has 10 eating places, not together with snack spots just like the café and gelato store.

Nonetheless, Holland America ships are comparatively small. Whereas Royal Caribbean’s behemoth Icon of the Seas ship has greater than two dozen eating places and a capability for five,610 visitors, Holland America’s largest ship, Rotterdam, accommodates 2,668 visitors.

Holland America locations

Holland America covers nearly 100 international locations or territories and greater than 470 ports, together with stops within the Amazon and Antarctica.

For its 2025-26 cruise season, Holland America will function in 11 international locations in Asia alone. The first focus is Japan, the place it can dock in 24 ports across the nation.

Mexico and Panama Canal cruises are additionally large. The 2025-26 cruise season provides a brand new cease on the port of Acajutla, El Salvador, on most Panama sailings. In the meantime, two ships will supply Mexico itineraries with stops together with Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta.

The 2025-26 season brings an iconic Pacific Northwest itinerary that hasn’t been supplied in many years. Dubbed the “Nice Bear Rainforest,” the seven-day itinerary departs from Seattle and contains stops in Ketchikan, Alaska. Count on to see whales, eagles and probably bears.

Holland America ships

Right here’s a breakdown of all 11 Holland America ships, sorted by largest to smallest visitor capability:

The smallest, two-guest rooms are about 143 sq. ft, although suites are simply double that. The smallest suite, the Vista Suite, ranges from 260-356 sq. ft. For optimum house (and repair), guide the Pinnacle Suite, which fills roughly 1,290 sq. ft. Excessive-end suites embrace frills like whirlpool bathtubs, vanities, dressing rooms, decks and floor-to-ceiling home windows.

Holland America additionally caters to solo vacationers by providing single-person staterooms which can be as small as 127 sq. ft.

Whether or not you select a lavish suite or an inside stateroom, count on pretty upscale lodging.

Bigger ships have a dozen or extra eateries. Some eating places function on each ship, similar to Canaletto (an informal Italian restaurant) and Lido Market (which serves meals in an all-you-can-eat, cafeteria-style setting).

Most informal eating places are complimentary and all-you-can-eat, included in your cruise fare.

Whereas most eating places value further, the exception is The Eating Room. Its multicourse dinners characteristic rotating, elevated menu objects (similar to lamb loin). As a part of a partnership with Masaharu Morimoto, The Eating Room serves dishes much like these in Morimoto’s eating places.

Regardless of your cabin class, 24-hour room service is complimentary, delivering objects similar to salads and sandwiches.

With drinks, the free stuff is mostly restricted to the fundamentals like water, tea and occasional. Sodas, specialty coffees, mocktails and alcohol value further.

Apart from The Eating Room, waiter-service eating places value further. Some function an à la carte mannequin, similar to Nami Sushi. There, entrees value about $15, whereas sushi rolls run about $5 every.

Others cost mounted costs. For instance, dinner at Pinnacle Grill, a steakhouse, prices a further $46 per individual. Sure objects even have a further cost (caviar prices an additional $50).

Although the extra expenses is perhaps annoying, they are often thought-about a deal relative to eating at a steakhouse on land.

Along with fancy eating places, some informal eating choices (together with the cafés and gelato store) incur an additional charge.

For drinks past the fundamentals, purchase them individually or via a drink bundle.

The soda-only bundle entails limitless fountain drinks for $eight per individual, per day.

The Quench bundle prices $17.95 per individual, per day and contains sodas, premium espresso (like lattes), juice, mocktails and bottled water. It’s technically not limitless, however there’s a lot to go round with a 15-drink each day restrict.

For packages with alcohol, you’ll owe no less than $55 per individual, per day (premium spirits value extra). Once more, there’s a 15-drink each day cap.

Meals high quality varies. Lido Market is your run-of-the-mill buffet however different eating places are typically glorious (simply observe the surcharge).

For instance, dinner at Canaletto prices $25 further per individual and contains pasta and gelato — each made contemporary on board.

Holland America additionally has some meals choices from well-known cooks. The primary Morimoto By Sea opened aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam, bringing the award-winning restaurant chain to sea.

Holland America actions are fairly tame, similar to stay music and wine tasting.

Each ship options World Stage, a theater internet hosting leisure like skilled lecturer talks and dance performances. Ships even have no less than one lounge or membership, similar to Rolling Stone Rock Room or B.B. King’s Blues Membership.

Each ship has a on line casino, spa, health heart and outside sport courts, together with pickleball courts. In any case, Holland America is the unique cruise line associate of the Skilled Pickleball Affiliation.

Most cruises supply a youngsters membership with crafts, video video games and scavenger hunts.

Child-friendly choices are extraordinarily restricted (particularly in contrast with rivals like Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line) so don’t count on many youngsters onboard. Many cruisers take into account the dearth of youngsters one in every of Holland America’s finest options.

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As a result of facilities are so related on each ship, it’s laborious to choose one finest ship. However listed below are some components to contemplate:

• If you need probably the most choices: Rotterdam is the biggest (and has probably the most eating places).

• If you need the latest ship: The Rotterdam can also be the latest ship, which first set sail in 2021. Newer ships typically (although not all the time) imply higher layouts and up-to-date fixtures.

• In the event you prioritize smaller ships: Volendam and Zaandam are the smallest.

• If you wish to stay on a ship: Two ships, Volendam and Zuiderdam, perform the Grand Voyages and World Cruises, which sail around the globe for months. Zuiderdam is barely bigger than Volendam — providing extra visitor rooms and leisure venues.

Holland America: How a lot does it value?

Based on a NerdWallet evaluation of greater than 100 Holland America cruise itineraries via 2024, the typical seven-night, inside stateroom begins at $646 per individual. That determine assumes double occupancy (so a pair sharing a room would owe about $1,300), however doesn’t account for further charges, together with taxes and gratuities, or non-obligatory add-ons like drinks or Wi-Fi.

Suites can simply value double that (or much more). For instance, the typical Vista Suite (the bottom class of suites), averaged $1,322 per individual for a seven-night journey. The fanciest of the suites, the Neptune Suite, averaged $2,766 per individual.

Costs can even range broadly by area. Right here have been the typical costs per individual for seven-night journeys (assuming inside staterooms with double occupancy), damaged down by main areas:

• California coast: $349.

• Alaska: $413.

• Caribbean: $609.

• Mediterranean: $909.

• Northern Europe: $972.

That’s the bottom fare, however anticipate different bills, together with:

• Taxes, charges and port bills: Holland America passes on charges and taxes imposed by governments or port operators. Count on a number of hundred {dollars} added to your base charge. 

• Gratuity/tip: An computerized $17 ‘Crew Appreciation’ cost is added per stateroom visitor, per day. For visitors in suites, it’s $19. Although routinely added, you’ll be able to regulate the determine upon settling your invoice at checkout.

• Service cost: Add-ons like drinks, speciality meals and spa providers incur an 18% service cost.

• Means to decide on your stateroom: For many who wish to sleep closest to the finest deck on a cruise ship, there’s a further charge to pick out your particular stateroom, although costs range by cruise.

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• Some actions: Sure actions incur further prices, similar to spa therapies. 

• Shore excursions: Upon docking, you’re free to exit the ship and roam round by yourself, however Holland America sells curated shore excursions, too, that simply value greater than $100 per individual. Costs range by tour. In Maui, you’ll be able to tour a pineapple plantation for $190, whereas a behind-the-scenes tour of the Maui Ocean Heart prices $560. Though you’ll be able to guide excursions via third events, beware. Advantages of reserving via Holland America embrace early departure and a assured return.

• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi begins at roughly $22 per day relying on cruise size. Extra strong Wi-Fi (similar to streaming capabilities) prices greater than $30 per day.

• Specialty eating and drinks: Specialty eating places — in addition to most drinks past fundamentals similar to espresso, tea and water — value further.

For the latter three objects — shore excursions, Wi-Fi, speciality eating and drinks — the Have It All premium cruise bundle could also be price it.

Packages range relying on the cruise size. Right here’s what’s included:

NerdWallet analyzed dozens of Holland America cruise fares. On common, right here’s how a lot cash you’ll save, relying on the cruise size:

In each information level in NerdWallet’s evaluation, the Have It All bundle ended up cheaper than shopping for all of these issues a la carte. However take into account what you really want. In the event you solely drink one alcoholic beverage per day, the $55 beverage bundle most likely isn’t price it.

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Cruise last-minute: The Final Minute Cruise Offers web page lists discounted sailings inside the subsequent 60-90 days. Nonetheless, don’t overlook different prices similar to potentially-expensive, last-minute airfare.

Scout out promotions: Holland America’s basic offers web page is the spot for Black Friday cruise offers or different seasonal promotions.

Refer a good friend: Holland America recurrently runs a referral program the place you may get a cruise credit score in case your good friend enters your title within the referral kind.

Develop into an AARP member: AARP members can earn as much as $200 in stateroom credit. Precise quantities rely upon room sort and cruise size. Contemplating AARP membership prices $16 yearly (and probably much less when you decide to multiple 12 months), becoming a member of pays for itself primarily based on the cruise credit score alone.

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Holland America sells a cancellation safety plan, which lets you cancel your cruise for any motive. It’s referred to as the Holland America Line Cancellation Safety Plan (CPP). Not like conventional insurance coverage that require proof (e.g., a health care provider’s observe confirming sickness) or have tons of nice print round causes the insurer doesn’t should pay out, CPP is handy as a result of it allows you to cancel for actually any motive.

Plans begin at $79, however can run increased relying on protection and journey size.

The most cost effective plan, Normal, requires you cancel no less than 24 hours earlier than departure. The Platinum Plan allows you to cancel any time as much as departure. Neither will get you a full refund although. The Normal Plan refunds as much as 80% of your complete value, and Platinum refunds as much as 90%.

The Platinum Plan additionally covers potential prices similar to emergency medical and dental care, protection for misplaced or delayed luggage and journey delay insurance coverage.

The Holland America Line Rewards Visa® Card has a $0 annual charge, so it’s laborious to knock it. It earns 2 factors per $1 spent on Holland America purchases and 1 level per $1 spent in every single place else. There are additionally no overseas transaction charges.

Is cruising with Holland America price it?

Holland America affords a conventional and stylish cruise expertise. The emphasis on high-quality eating makes it good for foodies — simply observe that the very best eating places value further. Crowds are mature, which is a professional or a con relying on the extent of leisure, nightlife and vitality you search.

Households or individuals searching for excessive stimulation and fixed leisure ought to skip it. Moreover, price range vacationers may discover the extra expenses aggravating (although further expenses are widespread throughout just about any cruise line).

In brief, cruisers who worth subtle service, scrumptious meals, and exploration could love Holland America.

(High photograph courtesy of Holland America)