Holland America Line: The Complete Cruise Guide – NerdWallet

Holland America Line’s present fleet contains 11 ships, that are largely midsize. They go to all seven continents, with stops within the Caribbean, Tahiti, the Mediterranean, Antarctica and extra. Its Alaska presence is particularly sturdy, and Holland America claims it has visited Glacier Bay Nationwide Park greater than some other cruise operator.

Holland America’s dad or mum firm is Carnival Cruise Line, which acquired Holland America in 1989. However whereas Carnival touts choices just like the “first curler coaster at sea” on its flagship model, Holland America is for people with — let’s name it — extra refined tastes.

Right here’s your information to Holland America, together with facilities, prices and the way you may get monetary savings in your subsequent crusing.

Is a Holland America cruise best for you?

Listed below are some varieties of individuals finest fitted to Holland America:

Although open to vacationers of any age (infants should be at the very least six months previous to embark on most cruises), Holland America caters to the mature set.

Not like Disney Cruises or Royal Caribbean ships, that are laden with waterslides, flashy designs and high-energy exhibits, Holland America is extra subdued. Its most full of life leisure features a on line casino, trivia nights and reside music. Youngsters or grownup vacationers looking for most stimulation is perhaps much less enthused.

However relaxed cruisers looking for peace may discover it right here.

Each Holland America ship has a health club, portrait studio, sports activities courts, a spa, salon and a number of swimming pools. On a brief three-night cruise, you can eat three meals a day at a special restaurant and by no means hit all of them. The biggest ship has 10 eating places, not together with snack spots just like the café and gelato store.

Nonetheless, Holland America ships are comparatively small. Whereas Royal Caribbean’s behemoth Icon of the Seas ship has greater than two dozen eating places and a capability for five,610 company, Holland America’s largest ship, Rotterdam, accommodates 2,668 company.

Holland America locations

Holland America covers virtually 100 international locations or territories and greater than 470 ports, together with stops within the Amazon and Antarctica.

For its 2025-26 cruise season, Holland America will function in 11 international locations in Asia alone. The first focus is Japan, the place it would dock in 24 ports across the nation.

Mexico and Panama Canal cruises are additionally large. The 2025-26 cruise season provides a brand new cease on the port of Acajutla, El Salvador, on most Panama sailings. In the meantime, two ships will provide Mexico itineraries with stops together with Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta.

The 2025-26 season brings an iconic Pacific Northwest itinerary that hasn’t been provided in a long time. Dubbed the “Nice Bear Rainforest,” the seven-day itinerary departs from Seattle and contains stops in Ketchikan, Alaska. Anticipate to see whales, eagles and doubtlessly bears.

Right here’s a breakdown of all 11 Holland America ships, sorted by largest to smallest visitor capability:

The smallest, two-guest rooms are about 143 sq. toes, although suites are simply double that. The smallest suite, the Vista Suite, ranges from 260-356 sq. toes. For optimum area (and repair), guide the Pinnacle Suite, which fills roughly 1,290 sq. toes. Excessive-end suites embody frills like whirlpool bathtubs, vanities, dressing rooms, decks and floor-to-ceiling home windows.

Holland America additionally caters to solo vacationers by providing single-person staterooms which are as small as 127 sq. toes.

Whether or not you select a lavish suite or an inside stateroom, anticipate pretty upscale lodging.

Bigger ships have a dozen or extra eateries. Some eating places function on each ship, reminiscent of Canaletto (an off-the-cuff Italian restaurant) and Lido Market (which serves meals in an all-you-can-eat, cafeteria-style setting).

Most informal eating places are complimentary and all-you-can-eat, included in your cruise fare.

Whereas most eating places price further, the exception is The Eating Room. Its multicourse dinners function rotating, elevated menu gadgets (reminiscent of lamb loin). As a part of a partnership with Masaharu Morimoto, The Eating Room serves dishes much like these in Morimoto’s eating places.

Irrespective of your cabin class, 24-hour room service is complimentary, delivering gadgets reminiscent of salads and sandwiches.

With drinks, the free stuff is usually restricted to the fundamentals like water, tea and low. Sodas, specialty coffees, mocktails and alcohol price further.

Other than The Eating Room, waiter-service eating places price further. Some function an à la carte mannequin, reminiscent of Nami Sushi. There, entrees price about $15, whereas sushi rolls run about $5 every.

Others cost mounted costs. For instance, dinner at Pinnacle Grill, a steakhouse, prices an extra $46 per individual. Sure gadgets even have an extra cost (caviar prices an additional $50).

Although the extra expenses is perhaps annoying, they are often thought-about a deal relative to eating at a steakhouse on land.

Along with fancy eating places, some informal eating choices (together with the cafés and gelato store) incur an additional charge.

For drinks past the fundamentals, purchase them individually or by way of a drink bundle.

The soda-only bundle entails limitless fountain drinks for $8 per individual, per day.

The Quench bundle prices $17.95 per individual, per day and contains sodas, premium espresso (like lattes), juice, mocktails and bottled water. It’s technically not limitless, however there’s lots to go round with a 15-drink each day restrict.

For packages with alcohol, you’ll owe at the very least $55 per individual, per day (premium spirits price extra). Once more, there’s a 15-drink each day cap.

Meals high quality varies. Lido Market is your run-of-the-mill buffet however different eating places are usually glorious (simply word the surcharge).

For instance, dinner at Canaletto prices $25 further per individual and contains pasta and gelato — each made recent on board.

Holland America additionally has some meals choices from well-known cooks. The primary Morimoto By Sea opened aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam, bringing the award-winning restaurant chain to sea.

Holland America actions are fairly tame, reminiscent of reside music and wine tasting.

Each ship options World Stage, a theater internet hosting leisure like knowledgeable lecturer talks and dance performances. Ships even have at the very least one lounge or membership, reminiscent of Rolling Stone Rock Room or B.B. King’s Blues Membership.

Each ship has a on line casino, spa, health heart and outside sport courts, together with pickleball courts. In any case, Holland America is the unique cruise line companion of the Skilled Pickleball Affiliation.

Most cruises provide a youngsters membership with crafts, video video games and scavenger hunts.

Child-friendly choices are extraordinarily restricted (particularly in contrast with rivals like Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line) so don’t anticipate many youngsters onboard. Many cruisers think about the shortage of children one in every of Holland America’s finest options.

As a result of facilities are so related on each ship, it’s laborious to choose one finest ship. However listed here are some elements to contemplate:

Holland America: How a lot does it price?

In accordance with a NerdWallet evaluation of greater than 100 Holland America cruise itineraries by way of 2024, the typical seven-night, inside stateroom begins at $646 per individual. That determine assumes double occupancy (so a pair sharing a room would owe about $1,300), however doesn’t account for further charges, together with taxes and gratuities, or optionally available add-ons like drinks or Wi-Fi.

Suites can simply price double that (or way more). For instance, the typical Vista Suite (the bottom class of suites), averaged $1,322 per individual for a seven-night journey. The fanciest of the suites, the Neptune Suite, averaged $2,766 per individual.

Costs may also differ extensively by area. Right here have been the typical costs per individual for seven-night journeys (assuming inside staterooms with double occupancy), damaged down by main areas:

That’s the bottom fare, however anticipate different bills, together with:

For the latter three gadgets — shore excursions, Wi-Fi, speciality eating and drinks — the Have It All premium cruise bundle could also be value it.

Packages differ relying on the cruise size. Right here’s what’s included:

NerdWallet analyzed dozens of Holland America cruise fares. On common, right here’s how a lot cash you’ll save, relying on the cruise size:

In each knowledge level in NerdWallet’s evaluation, the Have It All bundle ended up cheaper than shopping for all of these issues a la carte. However think about what you really want. Should you solely drink one alcoholic beverage per day, the $55 beverage bundle in all probability isn’t value it.

Cruise last-minute: The Final Minute Cruise Offers web page lists discounted sailings throughout the subsequent 60-90 days. Nonetheless, don’t overlook different prices reminiscent of potentially-expensive, last-minute airfare.

Scout out promotions: Holland America’s common offers web page is the spot for Black Friday cruise offers or different seasonal promotions.

Refer a pal: Holland America usually runs a referral program the place you may get a cruise credit score in case your pal enters your title within the referral kind.

Change into an AARP member: AARP members can earn as much as $200 in stateroom credit. Precise quantities depend upon room kind and cruise size. Contemplating AARP membership prices $16 yearly (and doubtlessly much less in case you decide to a couple of yr), becoming a member of pays for itself based mostly on the cruise credit score alone.

Holland America sells a cancellation safety plan, which lets you cancel your cruise for any purpose. It’s referred to as the Holland America Line Cancellation Safety Plan (CPP). Not like conventional insurance coverage that require proof (e.g., a physician’s word confirming sickness) or have tons of superb print round causes the insurer doesn’t must pay out, CPP is handy as a result of it permits you to cancel for really any purpose.

Plans begin at $79, however can run larger relying on protection and journey size.

The most cost effective plan, Normal, requires you cancel at the very least 24 hours earlier than departure. The Platinum Plan permits you to cancel any time as much as departure. Neither will get you a full refund although. The Normal Plan refunds as much as 80% of your complete price, and Platinum refunds as much as 90%.

The Platinum Plan additionally covers potential prices reminiscent of emergency medical and dental care, protection for misplaced or delayed luggage and journey delay insurance coverage.

The Holland America Line Rewards Visa® Card has a $0 annual charge, so it’s laborious to knock it. It earns 2 factors per $1 spent on Holland America purchases and 1 level per $1 spent in all places else. There are additionally no international transaction charges.

Is cruising with Holland America value it?

Holland America affords a standard and stylish cruise expertise. The emphasis on high-quality eating makes it good for foodies — simply word that the most effective eating places price further. Crowds are mature, which is a professional or a con relying on the extent of leisure, nightlife and vitality you search.

Households or individuals looking for excessive stimulation and fixed leisure ought to skip it. Moreover, price range vacationers may discover the extra expenses aggravating (although further expenses are frequent throughout just about any cruise line).

Briefly, cruisers who worth refined service, scrumptious meals, and exploration could love Holland America.

(Prime picture courtesy of Holland America)