Holland America Offers Longer Cruise Itineraries, Enhanced Onboard Activities Program for All Ships
Holland America Line’s MS Noordam visits the Hawaiian Islands.
Holland American Line continues to evolve, pushing to make its impressive portfolio of cruises around the world more enriching and entertaining.
As part of this effort, HAL is adding a full-time art and craft instructor and a sports director to each ship.
In addition to these new positions, Holland America Line is adding new art studios, sports facilities, game rooms and libraries throughout the fleet over the next few years.
“Activity experts have been a highlight of our long-cruise programming for years,” said Michael Smith, senior vice president guest experience and product development for Holland America Line. “As we look to enhance the guest experience on every cruise no matter the length, we’re excited to expand many of those programs to all ships, all the time.”
Cruisers play pickleball on MS Koningsdam.
Sports directors will offer Holland America Line’s “Tai-Chi for Everyone” sessions each morning at sea. Also, as part of the line’s partnership with the Professional Pickleball Association, sports directors will host tournaments and provide instruction for beginners who want to learn the hugely popular and fast-growing sport of pickleball.
Instructors lead exercise classes on Holland America ships.
Cruisers will be able to participate in a range of games and tournaments, for sports and games like basketball, ping-pong and cornhole. Classic cruise games, such as ladder ball and shuffleboard, will play an important part of the program, too.
The art and craft instructor, supported by expert content creators, will lead painting, drawing and coloring sessions in a new art studio. The expanded program also will feature brand-new classed for crafting and needlework and the addition of a “Yarn Wall.”
Accompanying the new sports and art facilities, updated libraries are being added throughout the fleet in 2023 and 2024. A curated collection of more than 250 titles covering a range of contemporary popular fiction, mystery, young adult and short stories will be part of the more than 1,500-book collection on each Holland America cruise ship. Board and card game rooms are being expanded to include an unparalleled selection of games and puzzles.
The “Amazon Explorer” Legendary Voyage itinerary.
Legendary Voyages from Holland America Line
Holland America also is introducing extended Legendary Voyages. These lengthier cruises, which range from 25 to 59 days, combine the grandeur of HAL’s Grand Voyages with itineraries that feature a comprehensive collection of especially enriching ports.
Most of Holland America Line’s Legendary Voyages sail roundtrip or to/from a North American homeport, allowing travelers to see the world from their doorstep with a convenient domestic flight and easy embarkation. The itineraries are offered on a variety of the line’s perfectly sized ships, bringing you to places like Australia and New Zealand, the Amazon and South America, South Pacific and Hawaii, Greenland and Iceland, Asia, Alaska and the Arctic Circle.
“As the leader in long itineraries, Holland America Line is excited to continue to connect our deployment and onboard programming to further enrich the guest experience,” said Kacy Cole, Holland America’s vice president of marketing and e-commerce. “The destination-rich itineraries found on Legendary Voyages are carefully crafted to allow guests to linger longer and enjoy the journey as well as the destination.”
New Itineraries Among the Legendary Voyages
These three Legendary Voyages are new cruise itineraries for Holland America Line:
A 28-day “Arctic Circle Solstice” cruise that heads north to the Arctic Circle and features 11 calls in Alaska, including lesser-visited ports like Nome and Homer.
The 53-day “Majestic Japan” journey with 21 total ports, 13 calls throughout Japan and overnights at Yokohama (Tokyo) and Kobe.
A 28-Day “Coral Triangle, Volcanoes and The Great Barrier Reef” voyage that explores 10 ports in five countries, with scenic cruising in the famed Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait, and past the Kumba and Krakatau volcanoes.
Destination-rich itineraries focus on a singular region, visiting some of the most unique ports while offering a chance for in-depth exploration.
Onboard programs further enhance each Legendary Voyage with experiences like theme parties sailaway festivities and classic cruise activities.
Shipboard programming is specially curated to share insights into the history and culture of the regions visited.
Cruisers will have more time in port to experience the nightlife with overnight stays in exotic ports including Anchorage, Alaska; Hobart, Tasmania; Honolulu, Hawaii; Manaus, Brazil; Moorea, French Polynesia; Papeete, Tahiti; Reykjavík, Iceland; and Yokohama (Tokyo) and Kobe, Japan.
An Impressive Menu of Long Cruises
The 56-Day or 51-day “Tales of the South Pacific” cruise departing Sept. 27 or Oct. 2, 2023, respectively, aboard Volendam. The 56-day is from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to San Diego, California; the 51-day is roundtrip from San Diego.
The 34-Day “South Pacific Crossing” departing Oct. 8, 2023, aboard Noordam. From San Diego to Sydney, Australia.
The 28-Day “Amazon Explorer” voyage departing Feb. 17, 2024, aboard Zaandam. Roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The 35-Day “Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas” cruise departing Feb. 17, 2024, aboard Koningsdam. Roundtrip from San Diego.
The 25-Day “South Pacific Crossing” departing April 6, 2024, aboard Noordam. From Sydney to Vancouver.
The 28-Day “Arctic Circle Solstice” expedition departing June 9, 2024, aboard Westerdam. Roundtrip from Seattle, Washington.
The 35-Day “Voyage of the Vikings” cruise departing July 20, 2024, aboard Zuiderdam. Roundtrip from Boston, Massachusetts.
The 53- or 52-Day “Majestic Japan” program departing Sept. 1 or 2, 2024, aboard Westerdam. The 53-day is roundtrip from Seattle; the 52-day is Vancouver to Seattle.
The 56- or 51-Day “Tales of the South Pacific” cruise departing Sept. 25 or 30, 2024, aboard Zaandam. The 56-day is from Vancouver to San Diego; the 51-day is roundtrip from San Diego.
The 35-Day “Australia Circumnavigation” departing Nov. 17, 2024, aboard Westerdam. Roundtrip from Sydney.
The 28-Day “Coral Triangle, Volcanoes and The Great Barrier Reef” sailing departing Jan. 5, 2025, aboard Noordam. Roundtrip from Singapore.
The 27-Day “Amazon Explorer” cruise departing Feb. 8, 2025, aboard Zaandam. Roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale.
The 35-Day “Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas” voyage departing Feb. 15, 2025, aboard Koningsdam. Roundtrip from San Diego.
The 29-Day “South Pacific Crossing” departing March 30, 2025, aboard Westerdam. From Sydney to Vancouver.
They all look fantastic!
You better free up some time for one of these huh?
Thanks for reading,
JR