Holland America Cruise Line

The Holland America Cruise Line Fleet

The majority of the Holland America fleet is comprised of smaller, intimate vessels that coordinate well with the line's generally older passengers and offer a gracious experience for any cruiser. With just over a dozen ships, the line offers a wide variety of itineraries though ships switch voyages frequently throughout the year. The more modern Vista class ships are subtly brighter and vaguely resemble other lines’ megaships while retaining their classic elegance. In recent years, Holland America has sought to increase the numbers of younger cruisers and families, but the line still caters primarily to a more sedate, experienced passenger manifest.

Size

The smallest ships in the Holland America fleet, the Statendam class, can easily accommodate 1,200 passengers, while the largest ships, the Vista class’s Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, and Noordam carry over 1,800 passengers on each voyage. In late 2005, the entire fleet completed renovations to upgrade dining options, staterooms, and other facilities without compromising on open public areas and easy-to-follow layouts.

Departure Ports

Because Holland America offers a wide variety of itineraries, potential passengers have a wide selection of departure ports available all over the world. In Florida, Holland America ships depart from Fort Lauderdale and Tampa. Boston and New York are convenient departure ports for northeastern cruisers, while San Diego is the line’s principle departure port in California. Roundtrip Alaskan voyages depart from both Seattle and Vancouver, while one-way voyages may start in Anchorage as well. A variety of international departure ports are available for European, Mediterranean, transatlantic, and other exotic itineraries.

Décor

On most Holland America ships, the décor is a muted blend of classic wood trim and soothing tones, while the larger Vista class vessels tend to incorporate brighter color palettes. Public areas are tastefully punctuated with flowers symbolizing Holland’s connection to the floral industry as well as Indonesian accents representing the country’s former colony. Throughout the fleet, seafaring memorabilia – including exquisite paintings of former Holland America ships – adds nautical touches and pays homage to the line’s lengthy cruising history. Distinctive touches pervade each ship, such as the Flemish clock in the Rotterdam’s atrium and baroque pipe organ aboard the Zaandam.

Itineraries

Because many Holland America passengers are repeat cruisers, the line offers a wide selection of itineraries. The line’s specialty is Alaskan voyages, with many seven-day cruises investigating the scenic Inside Passage, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Glacier Bay during the summer and fall months. Other itineraries range from a limited number of Hawaiian and Mexican voyages to scenic New England cruises, exotic Caribbean destinations, Panama Canal adventures, and other unique venues such as South America, Antarctica, the south Pacific, Australia, and transatlantic voyages. The majority of Holland America’s cruises are seven days or longer, with many voyages ranging from ten to twenty-one days. The most extensive voyage is the epic 105- to 108-day Grand World Voyage that visits over thirty ports on four continents.

Onboard Activities

Most of Holland America Cruise Line’s passengers are older, though more young couples and families are beginning to choose the line, particularly the more modern Vista class vessels. Because of this, many activities are more sedentary than on glitzier lines such as sister line Carnival, but there is still a wide variety to suit every passenger.

Dining

Enjoy fresh fruit in your cabin.

Dining is a pleasure with Holland America Line, beginning with a complimentary bowl of fresh fruit in every cabin. For more substantial meals, the main dining rooms focus on traditional gourmet favorites as well as light and healthy selections and a full vegetarian menu to meet alternative diet plans. Children’s menus are also offered with stand-by selections such as pizza, burgers, and chicken fingers. The Pinnacle Grill, an alternative restaurant aboard every vessel, offers Pacific-northwest cuisine in keeping with the line’s emphasis on Alaskan voyages, though a per-person cover charge is required as are early reservations.

Holland America’s casual dining options include expertly designed buffet-style restaurants that minimize crowding during open-seating dinners as well as other meals. The noble cruise ambience pervades even this laid-back option with background piano music and wait staff providing drinks. Throughout the day, other dining options include a Lido grill and nearby taco bar, round-the-clock room service, afternoon teas, and specialty coffees. Once per voyage, the midnight Dessert Extravaganza is not to be missed as mountains of elegant treats are on display to please the eye as well as the taste buds.

Entertainment

Like most mainstream lines, Holland America’s entertainment includes Vegas-style shows and live musicians with jazz, classical, and pop repertoires. Recent movies are shown in the ships’ cinemas, with free popcorn to all visitors to create a true movie atmosphere. Crew talent shows, passenger-participation lip sync shows, and evening discos round out the onboard entertainment options.

Spas and Fitness

Holland America’s fitness facilities are among the best at sea, with state-of-the-art cardio equipment and weight machines available in spacious, well-equipped gyms. Sports equipment includes basketball and volleyball courts, golf simulators, aerobics rooms, ping-pong tables, and other accessories. Floor-to-ceiling windows in many ships’ gyms offer stunning views, or for a taste of sea air, walkers and joggers can utilize the wraparound teak Promenade deck.

Spa treatments include all the typical luxuries: massages, mud treatments, facials, hairstyling, and more, and the newer vessels also offer heat therapy rooms and hydrotherapy pools for soothing relaxation. Couples’ treatments are available as well for an intimate and romantic experience.

Gambling

For eager risk-takers, each ship is equipped with an upscale casino with a variety of table games, slot machines, and other gambling ventures. Gaming lessons are frequently offered by the casino staff to introduce new players to the basics of different games as well as to help experienced patrons refine their strategies.

Games, Contests, and Activities

Compared to other mainstream cruise lines, Holland America’s activities tend to be more low-key in keeping with the older cruise clientele, but there is no lack of options. Ballroom dance lessons, photography classes, trivia games, ship tours – including an educational guided tour of art collections – wine tastings, and spa seminars are frequently offered. More intense activities may include a water ballet contest or Fabulous Fifties sock hop. A favorite event is the junk-collection ship building contest, where hopeful engineers can use only materials found around the ship and each vessel is tested in a hot tub for sea worthiness and durability.

Children’s Programs

Children’s programs are somewhat new to the Holland America line, but Club HAL is gradually expanding to include a greater range of activities for younger cruisers. Every evening, children are presented with the next day’s options to help build excitement and anticipation for the various tournaments, videos, scavenger hunts, games, and other fun events. Newer ships have dedicated children’s areas and older ships are being renovated to incorporate similar venues. Because more children sail during the summer months and school holiday breaks, children’s programming is more extensive during that time. Children’s programs are also offered when ships visit the line’s private island, Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.

Extras

One quaint feature offered on longer Holland America cruises is the presence of gentlemen hosts to accompany single women as dining and dance companions. Other unique extras include the complimentary lemonade and iced tea served on deck in the afternoons and personal concierge service for penthouse and deluxe suites. For passengers interested in truly experiencing Alaska, Holland America offers the industry’s largest selection of pre- and post-cruise tours, often extending voyages several days to allow guests to visit many of the area’s magnificent wonders.

Cons About Holland America Cruise Line

For passengers interested in vibrant, non-stop activities during a cruise vacation, Holland America is not the best line. Because of the line’s older clientele, nightlife is limited and far less boisterous than on other mainstream ships. Young couples may feel out of place with the older crowd, particularly if they have not cruised previously, since many of Holland America’s passengers have taken multiple cruises.

For a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere steeped in nautical tradition and traditional standards of excellence, Holland America is the perfect choice for a cruise vacation. Specializing in longer, more exotic itineraries and a sedate, luxurious lifestyle, the line offers a tremendous selection of sights and activities that blend cruising traditions with modern conveniences and amenities to bring passengers only the best of the ocean-going lifestyle.