Holland America Line

Holland America Line began in 1873 as the Netherlands-America Steamship Company, carrying passengers and emigrants between Rotterdam and New York. It shifted to cruising in the 20th century, moved its headquarters to Seattle and joined Carnival Corporation in 1989. Its Dutch heritage lives on in ship names ending in -dam, Dutch art and antiques onboard and the Grand Dutch Café.

The fleet has around 11 ships, all mid-size by modern standards. The Pinnacle class (Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam) is the newest, with a high-tech World Stage and the Music Walk entertainment district. The Signature class (Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam) and the Vista class (Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Westerdam and Noordam) carry around 2,000 guests each, while the smaller R-class ships Volendam and Zaandam handle longer and more unusual voyages.

Holland America has sailed to Alaska for more than 75 years and pairs cruises with land tours into Denali National Park and Canada’s Yukon. It also runs Panama Canal transits, Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Europe, Asia, South America, Australia and a Grand World Voyage.

The pace is gentle and the mood grown-up. Most guests are over 55, many retired, with couples and friends the norm and more families in summer, especially in Alaska. Ships carry roughly 1,400 to 2,700 guests, so they feel spacious, with teak promenade decks that wrap around many ships for walking. Dress is smart casual, with one or two dressier evenings per week when many guests wear jackets and cocktail attire. Music is central: the Music Walk on many ships offers dueling pianos, rock and blues bands and classical duos. Service is attentive and often long-serving, with many Indonesian and Filipino crew members who know repeat guests by name.

The Main Dining Room offers fixed early or late seating or flexible open dining, with a menu that emphasizes fresh, regional seafood through the Global Fresh Fish program. The Lido Market is a well-organized buffet, and included casual spots include the Dive-In burger bar, New York Pizza and the Grand Dutch Café. Specialty restaurants carry a charge: Pinnacle Grill steakhouse, Canaletto for Italian, Rudi’s Sel de Mer seafood, Tamarind for Pan-Asian on some ships and Morimoto by Sea sushi on several. Alaska sailings feature local salmon, halibut and crab.

Live music is the core. The Music Walk on many ships showcases dueling pianos, a rock band and classical musicians, and the Crow’s Nest is a favorite lounge for views and trivia. Pinnacle-class ships’ World Stage uses a wraparound LED screen for shows. Expect enrichment talks, cooking demonstrations, a casino and production shows rather than thrill rides or Broadway musicals.

Club HAL runs supervised activities for children and teens in age groups, mostly during summer, holidays and Alaska sailings. Facilities are modest compared with family-focused lines, so it suits kids who enjoy nature, scenery and a quieter ship.

Cabins are comfortable and generously sized for the category, with a good share of balconies on newer ships. Suites include Neptune Suites with a dedicated lounge and concierge, plus Pinnacle Suites at the top. Some ships have single ocean-view cabins for solo travelers. Many cabins on older ships have bathtubs, a rarity today.

Drinks are extra unless you choose the Have It All package, which bundles a signature beverage package, specialty dining, shore excursion credit and Wi-Fi. Beverage packages can also be bought separately. Water, coffee, tea and breakfast juices are complimentary.

Holland America adds a daily crew gratuity per guest to your account, with a higher rate for suites; you can adjust it onboard. A service charge is added to bar purchases and many services, and beverage service charges are covered when drinks come through Have It All. Some promotions add prepaid gratuities.

The Mariner Society recognizes past guests with star levels earned through days sailed and credits, rising from one to five stars. Higher levels add perks such as laundry, discounts and priority services, and all members get a welcome-back reception.