Holland America Line’s present fleet consists of 11 ships, that are principally 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 every other cruise operator.
Holland America’s dad or mum 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 people with — let’s name it — extra refined tastes.
Right here’s your information to Holland America, together with facilities, prices and the way you would possibly lower your expenses in your subsequent crusing.
Is a Holland America cruise best for you?
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Many ships function a library. (Photograph by Sally French)
Listed below are some forms of folks greatest fitted to Holland America:
Vacationers prepared for rest slightly than partying
Although open to vacationers of any age (infants should be not 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 vigorous leisure features a on line casino, trivia nights and dwell music. Youngsters or grownup vacationers searching for most stimulation may be much less enthused.
However relaxed cruisers searching for peace would possibly discover it right here.
Cruisers preferring a ship that’s not too large but not too small
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The salon. (Photograph by Sally French)
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 possibly can eat three meals a day at a special restaurant and by no means hit all of them. The biggest 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 virtually 100 nations 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 nations in Asia alone. The first focus is Japan, the place it’ll 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.
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(Photograph courtesy of Holland America)
The 2025-26 season brings an iconic Pacific Northwest itinerary that hasn’t been provided in many years. Dubbed the “Nice Bear Rainforest,” the seven-day itinerary departs from Seattle and consists of stops in Ketchikan, Alaska. Count on to see whales, eagles and probably bears.
Right here’s a breakdown of all 11 Holland America ships, sorted by largest to smallest visitor capability:
Staterooms
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Suites function whirlpool bathtubs. (Photograph by Sally French)
The smallest, two-guest rooms are about 143 sq. toes, although suites are simply double that. The smallest suite, the Vista Suite, ranges from 260-356 sq. toes. For max area (and repair), guide the Pinnacle Suite, which fills roughly 1,290 sq. toes. Excessive-end suites embrace frills like whirlpool bathtubs, vanities, dressing rooms, decks and floor-to-ceiling home windows.
Holland America additionally caters to solo travelers by providing single-person staterooms which are as small as 127 sq. toes.
Whether or not you select a lavish suite or an inside stateroom, anticipate pretty upscale lodging.
Holland America meals
Bigger ships have a dozen or extra eateries. Some eating places function on each ship, comparable to Canaletto (an informal Italian restaurant) and Lido Market (which serves meals in an all-you-can-eat, cafeteria-style setting).
All you’ll be able to eat
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Meals at The Eating Room are included along with your cruise fare — a uncommon exception for wonderful eating eating places on Holland America. (Photograph by Sally French)
Most informal eating places are complimentary and all-you-can-eat, included in your cruise fare.
Whereas most eating places price further, the exception is The Eating Room. Its multicourse dinners function rotating, elevated menu gadgets (comparable 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 gadgets comparable 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 price further.
What meals prices further?
Apart from The Eating Room, waiter-service eating places price further. Some function an à la carte mannequin, comparable to Nami Sushi. There, entrees price 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 particular person. Sure gadgets even have a further cost (caviar prices an additional $50).
Although the extra fees may be annoying, they are often thought of 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.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Totally free ice cream, head to Lido Market, the place you’ll be able to DIY dessert on the ice cream station.
Holland America drink packages
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On Holland America, you may must buy a drink package deal to sip from these soda machines. (Photograph by Sally French)
For drinks past the fundamentals, purchase them individually or by a drink package deal.
The soda-only package deal entails limitless fountain drinks for $8 per particular person, per day.
The Quench package deal prices $17.95 per particular person, per day and consists of sodas, premium espresso (like lattes), juice, mocktails and bottled water. It’s technically not limitless, however there’s lots to go round with a 15-drink each day restrict.
For packages with alcohol, you’ll owe not less than $55 per particular person, per day (premium spirits price extra). Once more, there’s a 15-drink each day cap.
Is the meals any good?
Meals high quality varies. Lido Market is your run-of-the-mill buffet however different eating places are usually wonderful (simply word the surcharge).
For instance, dinner at Canaletto prices $25 further per particular person and consists of pasta and gelato — each made recent 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.
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A variety of things served at a Morimoto pop-up restaurant on the Koningsdam. (Photograph by Sally French)
Holland America actions
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The artwork gallery on the Koningsdam. (Photograph by Sally French)
Holland America actions are fairly tame, comparable to dwell music and wine tasting.
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A music venue. (Photograph by Sally French)
Each ship options World Stage, a theater internet hosting leisure like knowledgeable lecturer talks and dance performances. Ships even have not less than one lounge or membership, comparable to Rolling Stone Rock Room or B.B. King’s Blues Membership.
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A shuffleboard court docket on the Koningsdam. (Photograph by Sally French)
Each ship has a on line casino, spa, health middle and out of doors sport courts, together with pickleball courts. In spite of everything, Holland America is the unique cruise line companion of the Skilled Pickleball Affiliation.
Holland America Youngsters Membership
Most cruises supply a youngsters membership with crafts, video video games and scavenger hunts.
Child-friendly choices are extraordinarily restricted (particularly in contrast with opponents like Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line) so don’t anticipate many youngsters onboard. Many cruisers contemplate the dearth of youngsters one in all Holland America’s greatest options.
Which Holland America ship is greatest?
As a result of facilities are so related on each ship, it’s arduous to choose one greatest ship. However listed below are some components to contemplate:
If you would like probably the most choices: Rotterdam is the biggest (and has probably the most eating places).
If you would like the most recent ship: The Rotterdam can also be the most recent ship, which first set sail in 2021. Newer ships usually (although not all the time) imply higher layouts and up-to-date fixtures.
In case you prioritize smaller ships: Volendam and Zaandam are the smallest.
If you wish to dwell on a ship: Two ships, Volendam and Zuiderdam, perform the Grand Voyages and World Cruises, which sail world wide for months. Zuiderdam is barely bigger than Volendam — providing extra visitor rooms and leisure venues.
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The Crow’s Nest gives a lounge for stress-free and panoramic views. (Photograph by Sally French)
Holland America: How a lot does it price?
In accordance with a NerdWallet evaluation of greater than 100 Holland America cruise itineraries by 2024, the common seven-night, inside stateroom begins at $646 per particular person. 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 elective add-ons like drinks or Wi-Fi.
Suites can simply price double that (or way more). For instance, the common Vista Suite (the bottom class of suites), averaged $1,322 per particular person for a seven-night journey. The fanciest of the suites, the Neptune Suite, averaged $2,766 per particular person.
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An inside stateroom on the Koningsdam. (Photograph by Sally French)
Costs may also fluctuate broadly by area. Right here have been the common costs per particular person for seven-night journeys (assuming inside staterooms with double occupancy), damaged down by main areas:
Different prices
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The dessert unfold on the Morimoto pop-up restaurant on the Koningsdam. (Photograph by Sally French)
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 just a few hundred {dollars} added to your base fee.
Gratuity/tip: An automated $17 ‘Crew Appreciation’ cost is added per stateroom visitor, per day. For visitors in suites, it’s $19. Although robotically 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 companies incur an 18% service cost.
Potential to decide on your stateroom: For many who wish to sleep closest to the best deck on a cruise ship, there’s a further charge to pick your particular stateroom, although costs fluctuate by cruise.
Some actions: Sure actions incur further prices, comparable to spa remedies.
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 price greater than $100 per particular person. Costs fluctuate 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 by third events, beware. Advantages of reserving by 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 (comparable to streaming capabilities) prices greater than $30 per day.
Specialty eating and drinks: Specialty eating places — in addition to most drinks past fundamentals comparable to espresso, tea and water — price further.
Is the Have It All premium cruise package deal price it?
For the latter three gadgets — shore excursions, Wi-Fi, speciality eating and drinks — the Have It All premium cruise package deal could also be price it.
Packages fluctuate 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 knowledge level in NerdWallet’s evaluation, the Have It All package deal ended up cheaper than shopping for all of these issues a la carte. However contemplate what you actually need. In case you solely drink one alcoholic beverage per day, the $55 beverage package deal in all probability isn’t price it.
The right way to save on a Holland America cruise
Cruise last-minute: The Last Minute Cruise Deals page lists discounted sailings inside the subsequent 60-90 days. Nonetheless, don’t overlook different prices comparable to potentially-expensive, last-minute airfare.
Scout out promotions: Holland America’s general deals page is the spot for Black Friday cruise offers or different seasonal promotions.
Refer a pal: Holland America usually runs a referral program the place you would possibly get a cruise credit score in case your pal 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 on room kind 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 based mostly on the cruise credit score alone.
Must you buy journey insurance coverage for a Holland America cruise?
Holland America sells a cancellation safety plan, which lets you cancel your cruise for any cause. It’s referred to as the Holland America Line Cancellation Safety Plan (CPP). Not like conventional insurance coverage that require proof (e.g., a physician’s word confirming sickness) or have tons of wonderful print round causes the insurer doesn’t must pay out, CPP is handy as a result of it helps you to cancel for really any cause.
Plans begin at $79, however can run larger relying on protection and journey size.
The most cost effective plan, Normal, requires you cancel not less than 24 hours earlier than departure. The Platinum Plan helps 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 whole price, and Platinum refunds as much as 90%.
The Platinum Plan additionally covers potential prices comparable to emergency medical and dental care, protection for misplaced or delayed luggage and journey delay insurance coverage.
Is the Holland America bank card price it?
The Holland America Line Rewards Visa® Card has a $0 annual charge, so it’s arduous to knock it. It earns 2 factors per $1 spent on Holland America purchases and 1 level per $1 spent in all places else. There are additionally no overseas transaction charges.
Rewards earn fee
• 10 factors per $1 on Chase Eating, resort stays and automotive leases bought by Chase.
• 5 factors per $1 on air journey bought by Chase.
• 3 factors per $1 on different journey and eating not booked with Chase.
• 1 level per $1 on different purchases.
• 5 factors per $1 on pay as you go motels and automotive leases booked immediately within the Altitude Rewards Heart.
• 3 factors per $1 on eligible journey purchases and cellular pockets spending on Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
• 1 level per $1 on all different purchases.
• 1.5 factors per $1 spent.
• 10 ThankYou® factors per $1 spent on motels, automotive leases and points of interest booked by the Citi Journey website.
• 3 factors per $1 on air journey and different resort purchases.
• 3 factors per $1 on supermarkets.
• 3 factors per $1 on fuel stations and EV charging stations.
• 3 factors per $1 on eating places.
• 1 level per $1 on all different purchases.
Journey credit score profit
$100 in airline incidental assertion credit.
This card doesn’t supply a journey credit score profit.
Is cruising with Holland America price it?
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The on line casino. (Photograph by Sally French)
Holland America gives a standard and stylish cruise expertise. The emphasis on high-quality eating makes it good for foodies — simply word that the perfect eating places price further. Crowds are mature, which is a professional or a con relying on the extent of leisure, nightlife and power you search.
Households or folks searching for excessive stimulation and fixed leisure ought to skip it. Moreover, price range vacationers would possibly discover the extra fees aggravating (although extra fees are frequent throughout just about any cruise line).
Briefly, cruisers who worth refined service, scrumptious meals, and exploration could love Holland America.
(Prime picture courtesy of Holland America)