Holland America Line

Our take

Holland America Line is the oldest brand in the major-cruise-line set (founded 1873), and the one most clearly built around longer destination itineraries — Alaska, Northern Europe, world-cruise segments, the Panama Canal, and Caribbean shoulder seasons. Holland America operates 11 ships, all mid-sized; the line has consciously chosen not to chase the mega-ship arms race. The modern fleet is the Pinnacle-class — Koningsdam (2016), Nieuw Statendam (2018), and Rotterdam VII (2021) — three sister ships at 2,650 guests and 99,500 gross tons. The Vista-class (Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Zuiderdam, Noordam) and the older Signature-class ships (Volendam, Zaandam, Rotterdam VI) round out the fleet at the 1,400–2,100-guest range. Even the largest Holland America ship is meaningfully smaller than a Princess Royal-class — that smaller scale shows up in the daily rhythm: shorter elevator queues, less crowded buffet at peak, easier embarkation and disembarkation. The dining program is one of Holland America's strongest competitive arguments. The included main dining room (with a seasonal menu shaped by the Master Chef Rudi Sodamin partnership) consistently rates above Princess and Norwegian's main dining equivalents. The Pinnacle Grill specialty steakhouse is, sailing-for-sailing, the most consistently-rated specialty venue in the entire mass-premium category. Tamarind (pan-Asian) on the larger ships is similarly polished. The Have It All fare bundle (the line's standard pricing tier as of 2022) bundles beverage package, WiFi, gratuities, one shore-excursion credit per port, and a specialty-dining package into the headline fare — operationally equivalent to Princess Plus and structurally simpler than buying components piecemeal. Holland America's annual Grand Voyages (40+ night itineraries that segment-sell) are the brand's signature long-itinerary product; the 2026 Grand World Voyage is a 124-night around-the-world circumnavigation with 49 ports across 28 countries. Rotterdam VII typically anchors the World Voyage, with shorter Grand Africa and Grand Asia segments running in alternating years on Volendam and Zaandam. Best for: 65+ travelers wanting peers and a quiet rhythm, longer 14+ night destination itineraries, Alaska cruisers who don't need the Princess cruisetour land integration, culinary-led travelers, world-cruise segment buyers. Less good for: families with under-12s (the kids' club program is functional but not the brand's strength), travelers who want active onboard programming, anyone in their 40s who'd find the audience too old.