Culture Discovery Cruises
The Lido pool deck aboard a Holland America ship
Premium Cruise Line

Holland America

Mid-size ships, deep heritage and long, destination-rich voyages, at a gracious, unhurried pace.

Request a Holland America Quote
The line

A century and a half at sea

Holland America Line is one of the oldest names in cruising, founded in Rotterdam in 1873 and sailing ever since. It occupies the classic premium space: mid-size ships, a refined but relaxed style, and itineraries that reach much further than most mainstream lines.

A subsidiary of Carnival Corporation since 1989 and headquartered in Seattle, Holland America runs a fleet of eleven ships. The newest, the Pinnacle-class trio of Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam, lead the fleet, with the wider Vista and Signature classes filling it out.

The line is known for its music program, its culinary partnerships and a loyal following that returns for the long, immersive voyages, from Alaska to full world cruises, that define it.

Style
Classic premium
Fleet
11 ships
Newest class
Pinnacle
Signature
Music Walk
Sails to
Alaska, Europe, worldwide
Founded
1873, Rotterdam
In a word

“Holland America is where cruising’s long heritage still shows: mid-size ships, real music and voyages measured in weeks, not days.”

A Holland America suite with a private veranda and sitting area

Mid-size ships, led by the Pinnacle class

Holland America ships are deliberately mid-size, carrying roughly two to three thousand guests rather than the small city aboard a mega-ship. That scale keeps the feel gracious and easy to navigate, while still offering the range of venues guests expect.

The Pinnacle-class ships, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam, are the most modern in the fleet, with contemporary staterooms and suites, a two-deck World Stage theater and elegant public rooms that carry the line’s understated Dutch character.

The main dining room aboard a Holland America ship

Music Walk, and a serious kitchen

The signature onboard experience is Music Walk, a cluster of live-music venues that includes B.B. King’s Blues Club, Lincoln Center Stage for chamber music, Billboard Onboard and Rolling Stone Rock Room. Few premium lines put live music this front and center.

Dining is a strength too, from the main Dining Room to specialty venues like the Pinnacle Grill steakhouse and the Rudi’s Sel de Mer seafood brasserie, alongside a culinary and enrichment program built around the regions the ships visit.

A live-music venue on Holland America’s Music Walk in the evening

Alaska, Europe and voyages around the world

Holland America is a leader in Alaska, with decades of experience and its own Yukon and Denali land programs, and it sails a full Mediterranean and Northern Europe season each summer. Longer voyages reach Asia, Australia, South America and the Panama Canal.

The line is especially known for its long-format sailings, including Grand Voyages and a full world cruise that circles the globe over more than one hundred days. We help you match the ship, season and itinerary length to the trip you want.

Since Holland America sails the Italian coast, it is easy to add a week in the Tuscan countryside before or after your cruise.

Booking Holland America with CDV

Why book through us

Exclusive Holland America value

Group amenities and onboard credit on Holland America sailings that you will not find booking direct.

Combinable offers

Our exclusive value can usually be layered with Holland America's current promotions, plus full Mariner Society loyalty credit.

Premium specialists

Advisors who know the fleet and its long itineraries, and match the right ship, stateroom and voyage to you.

Seamless land and sea

Because we run our own tours ashore, we make it easy to add a CDV land tour where your voyage begins or ends.

Pair your voyage with a land tour

Sail the Mediterranean, then slow down in Tuscany

Holland America’s Mediterranean voyages call along the Italian coast, which makes them a natural match for our own culinary tours. Add a Culture Discovery week in the Tuscan countryside and turn a fine cruise into a hands-on immersion in the region’s food, wine and hill towns.

See the Tuscany cooking vacation
Compare similar lines

More premium cruises we love

Cunard

British ocean-liner heritage, transatlantic crossings and the timeless Grills experience.

Explore Cunard

Celebrity Cruises

Modern premium cruising with striking design, strong dining and the suites-only Retreat.

Explore Celebrity Cruises

Viking Ocean

Adults-only, destination-focused sailing with an understated Scandinavian style and no casino.

Explore Viking Ocean

Azamara

Boutique ships that stay longer in port, with overnights and a signature evening ashore.

Explore Azamara

Frequently asked questions

What is Holland America known for?

Holland America is known for classic premium cruising on mid-size ships, deep heritage dating to 1873, and long, destination-rich itineraries. Onboard highlights include the Music Walk live-music venues, a strong culinary program, and a leading position in Alaska cruising.

How many ships does Holland America have?

Holland America operates eleven ships. The newest are the Pinnacle-class trio, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam, built between 2016 and 2021, alongside the earlier Vista and Signature-class ships. The mid-size scale is a defining feature of the fleet.

Who owns Holland America Line?

Holland America Line has been a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation since 1989. It was founded in 1873 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and is now headquartered in Seattle, Washington, where it still operates as its own distinct premium brand.

What is Music Walk on Holland America?

Music Walk is Holland America’s signature entertainment concept, a group of live-music venues that typically includes B.B. King’s Blues Club, Lincoln Center Stage for classical chamber music, Billboard Onboard for pop hits and the Rolling Stone Rock Room. It gives the ships an unusually strong focus on live music.

Is Holland America good for Alaska?

Yes. Holland America is one of the most experienced lines in Alaska, with a long history in the region and its own land programs into the Yukon and Denali. Its mid-size ships and cruisetour options make it a popular choice for combining the Inside Passage with the interior.

Who is Holland America for?

Holland America suits travelers who prefer a calmer, more traditional style of cruising, with mid-size ships, live music, good food and immersive itineraries. It has long drawn a more mature, well-traveled crowd, though its updated ships and programming appeal to a broader range of ages.

What is the dress code on Holland America?

Most evenings are smart casual. Voyages also include a couple of Dressy or Gala nights, where guests dress up a step further, though formal wear is not required. The overall atmosphere is refined but relaxed.

Does Holland America offer world cruises?

Yes. Holland America is well known for long-format sailings, including its Grand Voyages and a full world cruise that circles the globe over more than one hundred days. Shorter segments of these longer voyages are often available as well.

How much does a Holland America cruise cost?

Fares vary by ship, stateroom or suite category, season and itinerary length, and a long world voyage is a very different figure to a week in the Caribbean. Rather than quote a misleading range, we price your specific voyage and secure the best available CDV value. Request a complimentary quote and we will lay out the real numbers.

Ready to sail with Holland America?

Complimentary quote, exclusive CDV value, and a specialist who plans it around you.

Request a Quote+1 (656) 333-6123 ext. 403