Holland American Cruise Lines

Holland America Cruise Lines, often referred to as Holland American Cruise Lines, has been in business since 1873. It was founded by the Netherlands-American Steamship Company. The name was changed to Holland America because it specializes in cruises from Holland to the Americas. The company has carried more than 10 million passengers since its founding. Today it is considered an American line because its headquarters is in Seattle, Washington.

Holland American cruises in the Artic region.

Holland America has 15 ships in its fleet. The vessels are considered mid-size and have the following features:

• Teak decks and paneling
• Dining rooms
• Salons
• Spas
• Libraries
• Bars/lounges
• Casinos
• Playroom for kids

Each ship has four types of staterooms, inclduing:

• Interior rooms: These rooms, which are usually the least expensive, are located below deck and have no windows. They feature two single beds or one queen bed and a bathroom with a shower. Standard dimensions are between 170 and 200 square feet.

• Oceanview rooms: These rooms feature a window that looks out on the water. They have one queen bed and a bathroom with both a tub and a shower. This cabin is approximately 185 square feet.

• Verandah rooms: These rooms have a private outdoor deck on the side of the ship. They also have a sitting area inside the room and floor to ceiling windows. These staterooms are approximately 254 square feet. Each room has one queen bed.

• Verandah suites: These rooms have two beds that convert to either a queen bed or a king bed. Their bathrooms have dual sinks, a whirlpool tub and a separate shower. In addition, there is a sofa bed to accommodate one or more extra guests. Room sizes vary, with the largest at approximately 1,150 square feet.

The international cruise line visits more than 300 ports of call on all seven continents, including:

• Alaska
• Europe
• The Caribbean
• Hawaii
• Mexico
• The Pacific Coast
• New England
• Panama Canal
• South America
• Australia and New Zealand
• Canada
• Bermuda

Its shortest cruises last for two days and its longest cruises last for 108 days.

Holland America offers special packages in Alaska and Northern Canada that it refers to as CruiseTours. These tours take guests to the interior of the continent by bus or train or to the Arctic by plane. The company also owns hotels in this region under the moniker Westmark Hotels.

People who wish to book a trip on Holland American Cruise Lines can make their reservations through a travel agent or through Holland America's website. Booking through the website requires the following steps:

1. Click on the "Find Cruises" tab.
2. Use the drop down menus to specify a destination, date, cruise length, departure port and ship.
3. Click on the cruise details button.
4. Review the details and click on "Book This Cruise."
5. Create an account by entering a first name, last name, email address and password.
6. Type in passenger information and payment information.

After you book a cruise you can check-in online to make the ship boarding process easier. You will need to provide your:

• Birth date
• Passport number
• Address
• Phone number
• Credit card number
• Return trip information
• Phone number of an emergency contact.

You can also book shore excursions ahead of time to ensure you get a spot.

Although Holland America is considered an American cruise line, its cruises depart from ports all over the world. Americans looking to take a Holland America cruise should remember to incorporate flight costs into their cruising budgets as needed.

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