Complimentary / Included Restaurants
Holland America has dining that will suit any cruiser. Theres the traditional dining room, which has flexible dining times, as well as multiple specialty restaurants that will delight food lovers aboard.
Holland America is also the only cruise line that is certified for serving sustainable Alaska seafood. Its important for travelers to be conscious of their impact on the destinations theyre visiting and Holland America is helping do its part with the food they serve.
I also want to note that using the HAL Navigator app is extremely useful while onboard. It helps you find whats happening each day as well as the hours for each of the restaurants. Plus, you can order food and some of the restaurants in advance via the app. Be sure to install it before or once onboard.
Holland America Line Sees Interest Grow As Alaska Season Ends
As Holland America Line concludes its 75th season in Alaska, it sees interest for one of its 121 cruises in 2023 increase.
Holland America Line concluded its 75th season in Alaska today, October 8, as two of the lines cruise ships arrive in their homeports to debark their guests in Seattle and Vancouver.
The cruise line is the most experienced Alaska cruise operator, sailing and operating 107 cruises and cruise tours onboard six ships.
Holland America Line celebrated its 75th Anniversary in Alaska this year with several highlights that celebrated the states culture, food, and natural beauty. Over the years, the cruise line has seen interest growing, with Alaska now being a bucket-list destination for thousands of visitors.
To 19 Night Holland America Alaska Cruise Tours
Travel to Denali National Park on the luxurious McKinley Explorer, taking in the views through your glass-domed railcar. Stay in Holland America’s exclusive McKinley Chalet Resort, with new Denali Square. Venture back to the rollicking days of the Klondike Gold Rush and into some of Earth’s most pristinely beautiful wilderness on the ultimate Great Land vacation. Land and Sea Journeys include up to three days in Denali National Park, with a comprehensive tour. Explore this regions wild terrain with Holland America.
Recommended Reading: How Much Is An All Inclusive Cruise
Denali To Anchorage Via Mckinley Explorer
The Mckinley Explorer train is one of the best ways to see Alaska. The train takes you from Denali to Anchorage, and the trip takes just under eight hours. The scenery is incredible, and you get to see some of the most beautiful parts of Alaska.
The train has two levels, and the dome-shaped upper level has big windows so you can really take in the views. The lower level has a dining car, where you can get breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Holland America Vs Princess In Alaska
Holland America Line and Princess Cruises have been sailing Alaska longer than any other cruise lines and are the undisputed leaders in this market. Both claim deep roots in the region, have contacts with local companies other cruise lines don’t have and operate their own accommodations throughout the state to best serve their cruise tour passengers. They also have the most ships in the region of any of the major cruise lines.
Holland America Line first began sailing Alaska in the 1960s and launched its land operations there in 1970 when it partially acquired local tour company Westours, which had been operating in the state since the 1940s.
Princess Cruises’ first Alaska season was in 1969, and the line began running its land-based tours in 1972.
To help you decide which cruise line is the best choice for your Alaska cruise or cruise-and-land tour, Cruise Critic has compared Holland America versus Princess in regards to the Alaska-specific onboard experience, cruise itineraries and prices, and cruise tour itineraries and prices.
Recommended Reading: Royal Caribbean Cruise With Confidence Policy
What To Pack On An Alaska Cruise
I have a full post about what to pack for your Alaskan cruise, including an Alaska cruise packing list. So be sure to read it! But a few things to make sure you bring:
- Layers of clothes it can get cool but warm in the sun so pack plenty of layers, i.e. long sleeve tops, base layers, fleece jackets, and warm coats.
- Rain gear the forecast said wed have rain but we lucked out most days, be sure to bring a rain jacket and a small umbrella.
- Waterproof gear depending on which excursions you choose, you might want to make sure you pack a thick waterproof coat and pants. Some excursions provide them, but always best to be prepared if youre not sure.
- Boots depending on which excursions you choose you might want to bring a good pair of warm boots that are waterproof and good for glaciers, water, and rain.
- Hat & Gloves it can be cold on the water, so be sure to bring a knit cap and a pair of gloves that allow mobility for your phone use.
- Ball cap & sunglasses
Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice Cruise
Of special interest is a unique, new-to-the-line 28-night Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice cruise aboard the Vista-class Westerdam. The roundtrip voyage from Seattle departs June 9, 2024, and includes 13 ports of call, with an extended overnight call to Anchorage.
The ship will also visit many of Alaskas scenic highlights, including the phenomenal Inside Passage, Hubbard Glacier, Prince William Sound, College Fjord, Glacier Bay, and Tracy Arm, ensuring guests outstanding sightings of the regions majestic glaciers as well as ample opportunity for spotting whales, seals, seabirds, moose, bears, and other wildlife.
One of the most memorable days of the itinerary is sure to be June 20, 2024 the summer solstice when the ship will cross the Arctic Circle, a truly once-in-a-lifetime event for many travelers.
Westerdam can welcome 1,916 guests , and reservations for this outstanding itinerary are sure to sell out quickly.
Also Check: Viking River Cruises Europe 2022
Activities On Holland America
Fill your days on a Holland America Cruise with an array of entertainment, enrichment activities, and nightlife. Holland has teamed up with America’s Test Kitchen to offer onboard cooking shows and hands-on workshops where you can learn cooking techniques and delicious recipes to make back on land. There is also the Greenhouse Spa & Salon, where you can kick back and relax while getting a massage, manicure or pedicure, facial, or other wellness treatment.
Holland has plenty of activities designed to stretch your brain, like Digital Workshop classes sponsored by Windows, and BBC Earth Natural History activities including concerts, films and shows. You can easily stay active in the fitness center, which is stocked with cardio and weight machines, or outside on the basketball or volleyball courts. For art lovers, there is a gallery walk hosting collections of art and antiques.
Other cruise ships staples like a casino, library, and theater are available onboard too. Enjoy classical music at Lincoln Center Stage, jazz at the B.B. King Blues Club, or live pop music and trivia at Billboard Onboard. The ships have several bars & lounges throughout too sip a cocktail in the Gallery Bar, drink wine before a stunning view in the Crow’s Nest, or get your groove on in the Northern Lights Nightclub.
Holland America Alaska Cruises Win The 2020 Afar Award
The 2020 AFAR Travelers Awards are voted on by AFAR readers. All of the winners are featured in the January/February 2021 print edition of AFAR magazine.
The readers of AFAR are some of the most discerning travelers in the world, and to be awarded best in Alaska is a tremendous honor that validates all of the expertise that goes into crafting the perfect Alaska experience for our guests, said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. We provide an immersive Alaska cruise and overland tour, so guests leave us with memories they will never forget and a desire to return. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this win.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Time To Cruise The Panama Canal
Highlights For Holland America Lines 2024 Alaska Cruises:
- The cruise line will offer a new 28-day Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice itinerary aboard Westerdam, scheduled to depart June 9, 2024, and sailing roundtrip from Seattle to the Bering Sea. Alaskan ports include Anchorage, Dutch Harbor, Haines , Homer, Juneau, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Nome, Seward, Sitka, Valdez, and Wrangell.
- The 14-day Great Alaskan Explorer itinerary will depart roundtrip from Vancouver and call on eight Alaskan ports.
- Nieuw Amsterdam, on May 5, begins calling on Anchorage, Homer, Juneau, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Skagway, Valdez, Wrangell, and Endicott Arm/Dawes Glacier.
- Noordam, starting September 15, visits Anchorage, Homer, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Prince Rupert, Skagway, Sitka, Valdez, and Glacier Bay.
- The Northbound Glacier Discovery and Southbound Glacier Discovery week-long voyages sail between Whittier and Vancouver aboard Nieuw Amsterdam and Noordam.
- The 7-day Alaska Inside Passage will sail roundtrip from Vancouver on Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, and Zaandam.
- The week-long Alaskan Explorer will sail roundtrip from Seattle aboard Eurodam and Westerdam, including calls at Victoria, Ketchikan, Juneau, and Sitka.
Each Alaska cruise will include a visit to at least one of the following glacier destinations: Glacier Bay National Park, College Fjord, Dawes Glacier, Hubbard Glacier, and the Twin Sawyer Glaciers of Tracy Arm.
Accessibility On Holland America Cruises
Holland America seeks to provide a quality cruise experience for all guests. Safe, easy and accessible accommodations can be expected on every ship, and additional modifications are always being made to ensure the best trip for every guest. All public rooms and elevators onboard Holland America ships are wheelchair accessible, as are designated public restrooms. Specially designated wheelchair-accessible staterooms are available, and are equipped with roll-in showers with hand-held shower nozzles, shower seats, and heavy-duty handrails. These rooms also have wider doors to accommodate most wheelchairs and scooters. Let your Cruise Specialist know as soon as possible if you would like to stay in an accessible stateroom or if you have any questions regarding accessibility onboard a Holland America ship.
Also Check: What Cruises Go Out Of Jacksonville Fl
Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter & Guided Walk
You probably already knew that you can see A LOT of glaciers in Alaska, but did you know that you could actually walk on one? Yep, its true! Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Alaska. With a length of 21.9 km and a width of about 2.4 km, plus reaching elevations of up to almost 5,200 feet, it is definitely a sight to behold for any traveler.
There are quite a few Holland America cruise excursions that will take you from downtown Juneau to Mendenhall Glacier by helicopter, which is located just outside of Juneau. We did the standard guided walk where our copter flew us around the glacier for a birds-eye view, then landed on the ice. We hopped out to WALK ON THE GLACIER!! There was even the option to drink glacier water, which I did!
Ships Sailing In Alaska 2024
In total, Holland America Line will have six ships in Alaska in 2024. In addition to Westerdam, the small, Rotterdam-class Zaandam, as well as both of the cruise lines Signature-class vessels, Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam, will offer Alaska sailings throughout the season.
Sister ship to Westerdam, also in the Vista class, Noordam will also be sailing 2024 Alaska itineraries, as well as the Pinnacle-class Koningsdam, one of the largest vessels in Holland America Lines fleet.
Also Check: What Cruise Ships Depart From Mobile Al
Holland Americas Alaskan Cruise Fairbanks To Vancouver: The Ship + Best Tours & Excursions
The Holland America 11-Day Double Denali cruise and land tour is the perfect way to see Alaska. The itinerary includes stops in Fairbanks, Glacier Bay National Park, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, as well as a three-day land tour of Denali National Park.
In Fairbanks, travelers can take the Riverboat Discovery Tour or visit the very chilly ice museum. Glacier Bay National Park is one of the most beautiful places in Alaska and is home to glaciers, mountains, and wildlife. Juneau is the capital of Alaska and offers more than just stunning views visitors can go whale watching, visit the Alaska State Museum, or take a ride on the Mount Roberts Tramway. Skagway is a quaint town with a rich Gold Rush history. And finally, Ketchikan is known as the Salmon Capital of the World and is home to Creek Street, a historic boardwalk lined with shops and restaurants.
Holland America Offers More Than A Cruise
With the experience and knowledge that Holland America has of the area, a cruise to Alaska onboard a Holland America Line cruise ship is no longer just a cruise.
Over the years, the cruise line has developed an immersive program highlighting each spectacular aspect of the state.
Gus Antorcha:No other cruise line can deliver Alaska like Holland America Line, and this season we focused all of our expertise and passion on giving guests a memorable Alaska experience that touched all elements of their vacation, from enrichment to culinary to shoreside tours.
Over the last season, the cruise line celebrated with a Love Letters to Alaska contest, new Alaska Up Close shipboard programming, a We Love Alaska marketing campaign, and two new partnerships that celebrate the brands commitment to serving sustainable Alaskan seafood.
Holland America now only serves fresh, certified sustainable, and traceable wild Alaska seafood. The cruise line also partnered with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute to highlight the lines leadership and commitment to sustainably sourced local seafood.
Holland America will return to Alaska in April next year, sailing a record 121 cruises onboard six ships through September 2023: Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam, Volendam, and Koningsdam. Guests can combine a cruise with an inland exploration of Denali National Park & the Yukon before or after the cruise.
Recommended Reading: Where Is Best To Cruise In September
Holland America Line Shares Details Of 2024 Alaska Season
Holland America Line announced today that it is debuting a new 28-day Arctic Circle itinerary that includes 12 Alaska ports, longer 14-day voyages and 117 weeklong journeys
Holland America Line announced today that it is debuting a new 28-day Arctic Circle itinerary that includes 12 Alaska ports, longer 14-day voyages and 117 weeklong journeys, enhancing its position as the leader in Alaska cruising in 2024.
With more sailings to Glacier Bay National Park than any other cruise line, the only cruise line to include the unspoiled riches of the Yukon plus Denali on overland Cruisetours and more than 75 years of Alaska exploration longer than any other cruise line Holland America Line weaves decades of expertise into every nuance of the experience.
Holland America Line is proud of our rich history of bringing the best service at sea to Alaska, and were excited to reveal details of our 2024 season including a new monthlong Arctic Circle itinerary that is the most immersive weve ever offered in this region, said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer of Holland America Line.
Chilkoot Trail Hike & Float
If youre looking for an adventure that will take you through some of the most beautiful scenery in Alaska, the Chilkoot Trail Hike & Rafting Float is definitely for you.
The Chilkoot Trail was once a vital access route used to get through the Coast Mountains into the Yukon goldfields back in the late 1890s. Today, travelers can experience and walk the same path the prospectors and packers used back in the day. You can arrange the full 33-mile hike, but the Holland America cruise excursion only covers a 2-mile portion.
The hike itself is a bit challenging but incredibly rewarding, and the float down the river is the perfect way to relax after a long day on the trail. Plus, you might get to see some fascinating wildlife along the way.
Also Check: Do Cruise Ships Have Single Cabins
Holland America Alaska Itineraries 2023
Sailing from either Seattle or Vancouver, Holland Americas 2023 Alaska cruises are between seven and 14 nights long and run between late April and early September. There are six ships for you to choose from, including the beautiful MS Nieuw Amsterdam. No matter which voyage you choose, you will be taken on an unforgettable journey past stunning mountain ranges and towering glaciers while cruising through the deepest blue waters.
Voyage Schedule By Ship:
Seabourns seven-ship fleet will offer the following itineraries in 2024:
Seabourn Sojourn 2024
Seabourn will start its 2024 schedule with a 145-day World Cruise aboard Seabourn Sojourn. Sailing from Athens to Los Angeles, the itinerary visits 28 countries and calls at 72 ports across the Pacific Islands, Australasia, Indonesia, North Africa and the Mediterranean. However, if you cannot commit to the complete World Cruise but still wish to enjoy an extended period of exploration, Seabourn offers a choice of eight Grand Voyages ranging from 33 to 73 nights.
Seabourn Encore 2024
Seabourn Encore will begin the year in Asia with itineraries to Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Cruise for 14-nights between Hong Kong and Singapore or take an extended sailing that includes Arabia and Indonesia.
Seabourn Odyssey 2024
Those looking to discover Australia and New Zealand should choose Seabourn Odyssey for their 2024 cruise. The 450-guest vessel will offer a choice of 15-30 day itineraries in the region between January and late February. The ship will then sail to Asia for voyages in Japan and China, beginning the spring in position for the Alaska season.
Seabourn Ovation 2024
Seabourn Ovations itinerary schedule will see the ship spending the first part of 2024 in the Caribbean. There are seven and 14-night itineraries available, with each voyage calling to a curated selection of the regions best-loved islands, including St Lucia, Barbados, St Maarten, and Martinique.
Also Check: Alaska Cruise From San Francisco 2022