Holland America Line: The Complete Cruise Guide – NerdWallet

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

Holland America’s mum or dad 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 would possibly get monetary savings in your subsequent crusing.

Is a Holland America cruise best for you?

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

Although open to vacationers of any age (infants should be no less than six months outdated to embark on most cruises), Holland America caters to the mature set.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 vigorous leisure features a on line casino, trivia nights and dwell music. Kids or grownup vacationers searching for most stimulation may be much less enthused.

However relaxed cruisers searching for peace would possibly discover it right here.

Each Holland America ship has a gymnasium, portrait studio, sports activities courts, a spa, salon and a number of swimming pools. On a brief three-night cruise, you may eat three meals a day at a distinct 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 visitors, Holland America’s largest ship, Rotterdam, accommodates 2,668 visitors.

Holland America locations

Holland America covers nearly 100 nations 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 nations 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 massive. 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 supplied in a long time. Dubbed the “Nice Bear Rainforest,” the seven-day itinerary departs from Seattle and consists of 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 house (and repair), ebook the Pinnacle Suite, which fills roughly 1,290 sq. toes. Excessive-end suites embrace 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 might be 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 informal 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 value additional, 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 just 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 mostly restricted to the fundamentals like water, tea and low. Sodas, specialty coffees, mocktails and alcohol value additional.

Except for The Eating Room, waiter-service eating places value additional. Some function an à la carte mannequin, reminiscent of Nami Sushi. There, entrees value 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 particular person. Sure gadgets even have an extra cost (caviar prices an additional $50).

Although the extra fees may be 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 package deal.

The soda-only package deal entails limitless fountain drinks for $8 per particular person, per day.

The Quench package deal prices $17.95 per particular person, per day and consists of sodas, premium espresso (like lattes), juice, mocktails and bottled water. It’s technically not limitless, however there’s loads to go round with a 15-drink every day restrict.

For packages with alcohol, you’ll owe no less than $55 per particular person, per day (premium spirits value extra). Once more, there’s a 15-drink every day cap.

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

For instance, dinner at Canaletto prices $25 additional per particular person and consists of 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 dwell music and wine tasting.

Each ship options World Stage, a theater internet hosting leisure like skilled lecturer talks and dance performances. Ships even have no less than 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 out of doors sport courts, together with pickleball courts. In any case, Holland America is the unique cruise line accomplice 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 opponents like Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line) so don’t anticipate many youngsters onboard. Many cruisers think about the shortage of children one among Holland America’s greatest options.

As a result of facilities are so comparable on each ship, it’s onerous to choose one greatest ship. However listed here are some components to contemplate:

Holland America: How a lot does it value?

Based on 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 particular person. That determine assumes double occupancy (so a pair sharing a room would owe about $1,300), however doesn’t account for additional charges, together with taxes and gratuities, or non-obligatory add-ons like drinks or Wi-Fi.

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

Costs may range broadly by area. Right here have been the typical costs per particular person 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 package deal could also be price it.

Packages range 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 package deal ended up cheaper than shopping for all of these issues a la carte. However think about what you actually need. When you solely drink one alcoholic beverage per day, the $55 beverage package deal most likely isn’t price it.

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

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

Refer a good friend: Holland America repeatedly runs a referral program the place you would possibly get a cruise credit score in case your good friend enters your title within the referral type.

Turn out to be an AARP member: AARP members can earn as much as $200 in stateroom credit. Precise quantities rely upon room kind and cruise size. Contemplating AARP membership prices $16 yearly (and doubtlessly much less when you decide to multiple 12 months), becoming a member of pays for itself primarily based on the cruise credit score alone.

Holland America sells a cancellation safety plan, which lets you cancel your cruise for any motive. It’s referred to as the Holland America Line Cancellation Safety Plan (CPP). Not like conventional insurance policy that require proof (e.g., a physician’s be aware confirming sickness) or have tons of tremendous print round causes the insurer doesn’t should pay out, CPP is handy as a result of it helps you to cancel for actually any motive.

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

The most cost effective plan, Commonplace, requires you cancel no less than 24 hours earlier than departure. The Platinum Plan helps you to cancel any time as much as departure. Neither will get you a full refund although. The Commonplace Plan refunds as much as 80% of your whole value, 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 onerous 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 price it?

Holland America provides a standard and stylish cruise expertise. The emphasis on high-quality eating makes it good for foodies — simply be aware that one of the best eating places value additional. Crowds are mature, which is a professional or a con relying on the extent of leisure, nightlife and vitality you search.

Households or individuals searching for excessive stimulation and fixed leisure ought to skip it. Moreover, funds vacationers would possibly discover the extra fees aggravating (although extra fees are widespread throughout just about any cruise line).

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

(High photograph courtesy of Holland America)