Holland America Line
A century and a half of seamanship, refined into mid-size ships where the music is live, the teak decks are real, and the itineraries go farther than the megaships dare.
150 Years of Going Farther
Holland America carried immigrants to the New World before it carried vacationers to glaciers — the line is over 150 years old and wears it beautifully. The fleet stays deliberately mid-size (1,900–2,700 guests), which unlocks ports the giants can’t touch and a pace built around the destination rather than the waterslide count. Evenings revolve around the Music Walk: dueling pianos, a Rolling Stone Rock Room, and B.B. King’s Blues Club with the best house band at sea. The cooking is destination-driven — fresh Alaska salmon programs in season — and the Alaska pedigree is real: HAL has sailed there since 1947 and pairs cruises with Yukon and Denali land tours nobody else replicates. Grand Voyages of 60+ nights remain the line’s crown jewels.
The Vibe
Unhurried and civilized — afternoon tea, world-class live music every night, art talks, and rail space actually designed for watching the world go by.
Signature Stuff
The Music Walk venues, America’s Test Kitchen at sea, Grand Voyages, Alaska + Yukon cruise-tours, and some of the best crew-to-guest ratios outside luxury lines.
Who Will Love It
Experienced travelers, music lovers, Alaska and long-itinerary devotees, and anyone who’d trade a go-kart track for a quiet teak deck chair and a really good band.
Destinations They Do Best
Ships in the Fleet
Guides to 11 Holland America Line ships across 4 classes, with the tonnage, guest capacity, service date and — where recorded — the most recent refurbishment for each hull, grouped by class.
Pinnacle Class
Rotterdam
Size 99,863 gross tons
Guests 2,668 at double occupancy
In service 2021
Ship guide ›Nieuw Statendam
Size 99,863 gross tons
Guests 2,666 at double occupancy
In service 2018
Ship guide ›Koningsdam
Size 99,863 gross tons
Guests 2,650 at double occupancy
In service 2016
Ship guide ›Signature Class
Nieuw Amsterdam
Size 86,700 gross tons
Guests 2,106 at double occupancy
In service 2010
Ship guide ›Eurodam
Size 86,273 gross tons
Guests 2,104 at double occupancy
In service 2008
Last refurbished 2023
Ship guide ›Vista Class
Noordam
Size 82,318 gross tons
Guests 1,916 at double occupancy
In service 2006
Ship guide ›Westerdam
Size 82,305 gross tons
Guests 1,964 at double occupancy
In service 2004
Last refurbished 2007
Ship guide ›Oosterdam
Size 82,305 gross tons
Guests 1,964 at double occupancy
In service 2003
Ship guide ›Zuiderdam
Size 82,305 gross tons
Guests 1,916 at double occupancy
In service 2002
Ship guide ›Rotterdam Class
The band is live. The decks are teak.
The itinerary is the entertainment.
Holland America FAQs
Is Holland America only for older cruisers?
It skews 55+, but what actually defines it is pace and priorities: live music over deck parties, destinations over waterslides. Alaska season pulls the average down noticeably, with families and younger couples aboard for the glacier itineraries. If that’s your speed at any age, you’ll love it.
What is the Music Walk?
Holland America’s nightly live-music circuit — several venues a few steps apart, so you can wander between them in one evening. Expect the Rolling Stone Rock Room or Rolling Stone Lounge for rock and R&B, plus Billboard Onboard’s duelling pianos. The line-up varies by ship: the Rolling Stone venues replaced B.B. King’s Blues Club across much of the fleet, so check your specific ship. It is widely considered the best live-music programme afloat, and it is included in every fare.
How good is Holland America in Alaska?
Elite. HAL has sailed Alaska since 1947, holds Glacier Bay permits, and runs land-tour combinations deep into the Yukon that no one else offers. Its cruise-tours go head-to-head with Princess — we’ll price both for your dates and tell you which wins.
What does the Have It All fare include?
Have It All bundles the Signature Beverage Package, Surf WiFi, a shore excursion credit and a set number of specialty dining nights, all scaled to the length of your voyage. The one thing it does not include is crew appreciation, which is charged separately per guest per day at a higher rate for suites — worth knowing when you compare it against other lines’ bundles. For most week-long itineraries it works out well ahead of buying the components individually.
What is the dress code on Holland America?
Smart casual is the standard throughout, with a number of Dressy Nights across a voyage. Holland America is refreshingly clear that jackets and ties are optional on those evenings — in their words, you will not be turned away without them — though collared shirts and slacks are expected in the dining room. It is one of the more relaxed policies among the traditional lines, which surprises people who assume classic cruising means black tie.
How do drinks packages work on Holland America?
Three options: the Signature package covering drinks up to a set price, the Elite package raising that ceiling for better wines and spirits, and Quench for non-alcoholic drinks. The detail that distinguishes Holland America is a daily cap of fifteen alcoholic drinks — generous for most people, but a genuine difference from lines that sell truly unlimited packages. Signature comes bundled with Have It All fares, and upgrading to Elite costs only the difference.
How does As You Wish dining work?
You choose your preference before you sail. Traditional dining gives you a set time and the same table and waiters each evening, which many of Holland America’s regulars prefer and actively look forward to. Open dining lets you come when you like within the service hours. You make the choice in your online account rather than onboard, so it is worth doing early — the popular traditional times fill first. We can set it for you at booking.
What is the Mariner Society?
Holland America’s loyalty programme, and it runs on stars — One-Star through to Five-Star Mariner, earned by days sailed rather than number of cruises. That structure rewards the longer voyages Holland America specialises in, so a single extended itinerary can move you up meaningfully. Benefits build from onboard discounts through to complimentary laundry and priority handling. Give us your Mariner number at booking so your days are credited properly.
Let's Plan Your Holland America Cruise
Tell us who’s sailing and when — your specialist knows Holland America’s fleet, fare sales, and cabin sweet spots, and the service is free.
Our planning costs you nothing — the cruise lines pay our commission, so your fare is the same as booking direct. A quote is yours to keep.
Weekend Bahamas run or 30-night grand voyage — same care.
Family reunions, weddings at sea, milestone birthdays — we love a full table.
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