Cruise Lines · Holland America Line
Holland America Line Cruises, Booked by Travel Consultants Who Know the Fleet
What Holland America feels like
A Holland America cruise is calm and unhurried. The pools are for relaxing, without thumping music. Days fill with enrichment lectures, cooking demonstrations and a well-stocked library, and evenings with live music.
The line leans toward a more mature traveler who values good service and a quieter ship. Holland America is part of Carnival Corporation.
What our clients tell us
We share the good and the not-so-good, based on the feedback we receive, so you can make the right decision for you.
What they love: the relaxed, refined, quieter atmosphere. Staff and service are consistently praised as highly professional, attentive and helpful. Holland America still offers 24-hour room service, which fewer cruise lines do today. For upbeat nights, the B.B. King’s Blues Club and the dueling-piano-style Billboard Onboard are favorites, and the food has a strong reputation.
What they flag: on some of the older ships, the decor feels dated, with worn carpets and a musty smell in certain areas. Food quality is well regarded but can be inconsistent. And as across the industry, more of what used to be included in the fare now costs extra.
Music, lectures and quiet time
On many ships, the Music Walk brings live music to one stretch of the ship: the B.B. King’s Blues Club, Billboard Onboard with two grand pianos and pianists who take requests, and Lincoln Center Stage for classical performances. By day, enrichment lectures, cooking demonstrations and the library set a gentler pace.
The pools are made for reading and relaxing in the sun, and that suits Holland America guests well.
Alaska: where Holland America shines
Holland America is well regarded for Alaska. On Glacier Day, the crew opens the bow so guests can get up close to the ice, with expert commentary, viewing stations and Dutch pea soup on deck. In Glacier Bay National Park, park rangers come aboard to talk about what you are seeing.
Why your stateroom choice matters
Book online or call the cruise line and you get whatever stateroom the system offers. We look at where it sits on the ship, away from late-night venues and busy corridors, with less motion, and close to what matters to you. With a fleet that ranges from 1999 to 2021, we also steer you toward the ships and staterooms that feel freshest.
Dining and drinks
The main dining room is classic, with white tablecloths and attentive service, and room service runs around the clock. Specialty restaurants, such as the Pinnacle Grill steakhouse, carry an added charge.
Sailing from Florida
Holland America sails the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, about three hours from Orlando, with select sailings from Miami. For the 2026–27 season, seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises sail on Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Nieuw Statendam and Zuiderdam, with longer 10- to 12-day voyages too. Nearly every Caribbean itinerary calls at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, the line’s private island in the Bahamas.
Every Holland America cruise we book includes Shore Secrets, our port guide with offline maps for each stop.
What’s included in a Holland America fare, and what isn’t
Included
- Main dining room, Lido Market and 24-hour room service (some items extra)
- Water, coffee and tea
- Live music, shows, enrichment lectures and cooking demonstrations
- Pools, the library and the fitness center
- Glacier Day on Alaska cruises
Extra, or in the Have It All package
- Drinks package and Wi-Fi (Have It All)
- Specialty dining (some nights in Have It All)
- Daily crew appreciation charge, per person
- Spa treatments and most shore excursions
Have It All bundles a drinks package, Wi-Fi, a shore excursion credit and specialty dining on one or more nights, depending on cruise length. As with other lines, perks once in the fare are now often extras, and the real cost is buried in the fine print. Our Voyage Journal shows how to compare cruise costs side by side: Not Another Cruise Cost Comparison, Stop Comparing Cruise Prices and Everything That’s Included. And Everything That Isn’t. Or let us do it for you: that is part of why we are here.
Inclusions, packages and service charges are set by Holland America Line and can change. We confirm the current terms for your sailing before you book.
Who Holland America suits
- Mature travelers and couples who want a relaxed, refined, quieter ship.
- Lifelong learners who enjoy lectures, cooking demonstrations and a good library.
- Live music lovers who would rather hear the blues or a piano bar than a pool party.
- Alaska travelers who want Glacier Day, an open bow and park rangers aboard.
Not sure which cruise line fits this trip?
The Holland America fleet at a glance
| Class | Ships | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Pinnacle | Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Koningsdam | Newest, built 2016 to 2021. The freshest feel in the fleet. |
| Signature | Nieuw Amsterdam, Eurodam | Mid-size, from 2008 and 2010. Regulars in the Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale. |
| Vista | Noordam, Westerdam, Oosterdam, Zuiderdam | Built 2002 to 2006. We point you to the best staterooms aboard. |
| R-class | Volendam, Zaandam | The oldest and smallest, from 1999 and 2000. Intimate, with longer, port-intensive voyages. |
Holland America questions we hear
Is Holland America good for older travelers?
Yes. Holland America focuses on a more mature traveler, with a relaxed, quieter atmosphere, enrichment lectures, live music and highly praised service. Families sail too, but the pace is calm.
Does Holland America still offer free 24-hour room service?
Yes. Room service runs around the clock and is included in your fare, though select items carry an added charge.
What is Glacier Day on Holland America?
On Alaska cruises, Glacier Day brings the crew’s commentary, viewing stations and an open bow so guests can get up close to the ice. In Glacier Bay National Park, park rangers come aboard to talk with guests.
Are Holland America ships dated?
Some are. The fleet ranges from 1999 to 2021, and some clients report dated decor, worn carpets and a musty smell on certain older ships. The Pinnacle-class ships, Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam, are the newest. We help you choose the ship and stateroom that fit.
Is the Have It All package worth it?
It depends on how you travel. If you plan to enjoy drinks, Wi-Fi and a specialty dinner, and will use the shore excursion credit, it can cost less than paying for each separately. We price your sailing with and without it, so you can decide.
Does it cost more to book Holland America through a travel consultant?
No. You pay the same fare as booking direct with Holland America Line. Through us you also get a stateroom chosen for how you travel, planning before you sail, and Shore Secrets port guides for every stop.
Plan your Holland America cruise with travel consultants who know the fleet
Tell us how you like to travel, and your Aurévia travel consultant will reply within one business day with ship, stateroom and fare options. Let us hold your cabin.