Holland America is great for:
- Those who love great food
- Travelers who prioritize peace and quiet
- Those planning a trip to Alaska
- Guests aged 50 and older
Holland America might not be great for:
- Families with children
- Those seeking a mega-resort experience
You might not know much about Holland America, but what if I told you that they are one of the oldest cruise lines in the world, having started operations more than a hundred years ago by transporting passengers from the Netherlands to New York City? What if I also told you that they operate all over the globe, including in niche destinations like Antarctica, Tahiti, and Iceland?
Also, what if I told you that you can get all your questions answered, and even book your next vacation, just by clicking the Request a Quote button? It's totally free, and better yet, you won’t pay a dime more when you book your Holland America cruise through us. We'd be more than happy to lend a hand and chat about everything from ships and itineraries to staterooms and more!
Yes, Holland America is big and classy, but you don’t often hear much about them. This is a cruise line that typically attracts an older audience - guests who value peace and quiet over massive entertainment options and Broadway-style shows. Holland America has 11 ships in its fleet, and even its largest vessel is still less than half the size of something like Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas.
Holland America is more about the destinations than the ship itself, offering an elegant atmosphere filled with rock bands, jazz, and, above all, some of the most delicious food on the high seas. They might not be the best cruise line for families with children, as their ships lack waterslides, waterparks, and the massive entertainment options found on newer Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships. However, if your priority is exploring incredible destinations, Holland America might be the perfect choice for you.
Reviews of Holland America
The Good
Elegant & Classy: Holland America typically attracts older guests who seek a peaceful and romantic trip above all else. In this sense, they are similar to Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises, which also appeal to a similar demographic. However, instead of gardens on the top deck, Holland America focuses on elegant lounges with live music, exceptional dining, and a variety of itineraries ranging from short cruises to transatlantic voyages.
Alaska: Holland America is huge in Alaska. They are so big, in fact, that they have a dedicated tab on their website focused solely on Alaska and even own their own lodges and entertainment options there. They offer hundreds of different Alaska cruise dates and also offer cruisetours, which combine cruises with land expeditions. If you’re planning a trip to Alaska, you should definitely consider these guys.
Great Food: Holland America has some of the best food on the high seas, period. Their Main Dining Room, buffet, and specialty restaurants are all excellent, and they are known for having the best cheese across all cruise lines. Not only that, but their Indian and Pan-Asian restaurants also receive great reviews. If you love eating well (I mean, who doesn’t?), you can’t go wrong with Holland America and their incredible chefs.
Lots of Itineraries: There’s so much to see and do when cruising with Holland America! We already showed you that they’re huge in Alaska, offering hundreds of itineraries focused on the Land of the Midnight Sun, the Yukon, and land expeditions. Not only that, but they can also take you to Antarctica, Brazil, Australia, Tahiti, New Zealand, and Norway, and they even have their own private island, Half Moon Cay, in the Bahamas. Right now, they have nearly 900 different cruises and itineraries for you to choose from, which is… a lot.
The Bad
Not for Children: Holland America usually isn’t your first choice if you’re traveling with children. They’re definitely not about the mega-resort experience at sea, as their entertainment options are mostly focused on live music and enjoying the different destinations. They do have a kids' club for guests aged 3–17, but it’s not as big as what you’d find on Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, or Carnival.
...and not for Everyone: Holland America, much like many other cruise lines, isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. Just keep in mind that their nightlife can be lacking and is mostly centered around traditional cruise activities like live music, casinos, bingo nights, and lots of shopping. They don’t have Broadway shows or big lounges that stay open late into the night. This is a cruise line for those who want to relax, enjoy great food, and explore unique destinations above all else.
How Much is a Cruise on Holland America?
Of course, prices vary based on the date, itinerary, and your stateroom category, but it’s fair to say that Holland America is a bit more expensive than mainstream cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Let’s check out some cruises and their prices per passenger:
- 7-Day Eastern Caribbean: San Juan & St. Thomas – $700
- 7-Day Alaska Inside Passage – $1,000
- 14-Day Denali & Yukon Cruise with Land Exploration – $3,480
- 7-Day Norwegian Fjords & Scotland with History Channel – $1,120
- 72-Day Grand World Voyage – $17,280
What is included in your Holland America fare?
Holland America follows the traditional model of most cruise lines, giving you access to:
- Dining (Main Dining Room, Buffet)
- Room Service
- Kids Club
- Onboard activities like live shows, sports courts, swimming pools, and more
Wi-Fi, gratuities, laundry, alcoholic drinks, specialty restaurants, and excursions are not included and require extra fees.
Holland America does offer what they call the "Have It All Premium Cruise Package," which enhances your cruise experience. Let’s check it out.
Have It All Premium Cruise Package
The Have It All Premium Cruise Package can be purchased at the time of booking or after your reservation is made. It costs $60 per person, per day, and includes perks like:
- A $100 shore excursion credit (with a larger credit for cruises longer than 9 days)
- Signature Beverage Package (wine, beer, soda, cocktails, specialty coffee)
- 1 Night Specialty Dining (available on cruises longer than 9 days)
- Wi-Fi Surf Package (web browsing, social media, emails, messaging)
Club Orange
Holland America also offers what they call Club Orange, which costs $25 per person, per day for cruises up to 13 days and $15 per person, per day for cruises that last longer than 13 days.
For the full list of Club Orange perks, check out this link, but here are some of them:
- Priority Embarkation and Disembarkation
- Priority Seating and Dining with an Expanded Menu
- Complimentary Stateroom Upgrade
- Invitation to a Special Onboard Event
Holland America Fleet and Destinations
Holland America has 11 cruise ships in total, which isn’t a lot compared to major cruise lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean. Still, it’s impressive that Holland America manages to be present almost everywhere in the world.
Their ships aren’t as big as those of Icon of the Seas or Carnival Jubilee. In fact, they’re usually half the size of the largest ships on the planet and prioritize intimate experiences for guests above all else. I mean, if their cruises don’t have huge waterparks and crazy things like go-karts and roller coasters, there's no need for them to be super big, right?
You can check an overview of what's included in every Holland America ship by following this link.
Rotterdam is their newest ship, which debuted in 2020. It can accommodate 2,668 guests and features multiple specialty restaurants and theaters with live shows. However, it doesn’t have a major Broadway-like stage show, instead focusing more on smaller presentations, lounges, and music bars, following the tradition established by Holland America years ago.
Holland America Destinations
Holland America is present all over the world. You can find them cruising to:
- Alaska & Yukon (main destination)
- Caribbean (main destination)
- Europe (main destination)
- Hawaii
- Mexico
- Panama Canal
- Oceania
- South America & Antarctica
Holland America Main Ports of Departure
These are the main ports of departure for Holland America:
- Boston
- Fort Lauderdale
- Miami
- Seattle
- Vancouver, Canada
- Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Rome, Italy
Room Options onboard Holland America
There are four cabin types on Holland America:
- Inside
- Ocean View
- Verandah
- Suite
Inside cabins are approximately 145 to 225 square feet and come in two types: the standard Inside cabin (good for 3 guests) and the Spa Inside Cabin (good for 2 guests). The rooms are the same, but the Spa Inside Cabin includes a Yoga Mat, is located near the Spa, and provides a concierge to help you set appointments with the Spa.
Ocean View cabins range from 175 to 282 square feet. The main difference is that they come with a small porthole (that can’t be opened) offering a good view of the ocean. Another big difference is that there are Family Ocean View rooms that sleep up to 5 guests, which are great for larger parties looking to share expenses.
Verandah staterooms range from 228 to 405 square feet and include a private balcony. The standard Verandah stateroom is good for 4 guests, but there are also Spa Verandah Rooms for 3 guests and Aft-View Verandahs with a view of the back of the ship, suitable for only 2 guests.
Suites are, as expected, the most expensive and luxurious rooms onboard, and come in four different types, tough not all of them are present in every ship. They are the Vista Suite, Signature Suite, Neptune Suite and Pinnacle Suite. Guests of the Neptune and Pinnacle Suite get all the perks of the Club Orange.
Here are the different prices per stateroom for a 12-day Eastern Caribbean: St. Lucia cruise onboard Rotterdam. Prices are per passenger:
- Inside: $1,220
- Ocean View: $1,720
- Verandah: $1,920
- Vista Suite: $3,290
- Signature Suite: $4,890
- Neptune Suite: $5,960
- Pinnacle Suite: Sold Out
Activities onboard Holland America
Holland America doesn’t offer the traditional mega-resort experience you’ll find on cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, or Carnival. Instead, they focus on a modern lifestyle, great food, and chill activities that help you relax and have a good time with friends or your partner. We're talking trivia nights, bingo, board games (even Mahjong), art classes, and more.
Holland America is also known for its sports courts, fitness centers, and onboard fitness classes. After all, if you’re eating great food all day, staying in shape is always a good idea.
You’ll also find casinos on Holland America ships, complete with complimentary lessons so you can finally learn how to play Blackjack, Poker, and other games. They offer slot machines, table games, and even a Deal or No Deal style game that families can enjoy together.
What you won’t find are waterslides, water parks, or arcades for kids. Holland America delivers a more sophisticated cruise experience that’s less about thrills and wild entertainment, and more about laid-back activities everyone can enjoy… preferably with a drink in hand.
The Orange Party is the big event on every Holland America sailing. Pack your favorite orange outfit and get ready to dance the night away with your group, or maybe meet someone new! The party is free to attend, but food and drinks do cost extra. It’s fine if you didn’t bring any orange outfit, you can easily find one at Holland’s onboard shops.
Holland America doesn’t offer big parties or late-night entertainment. If you're looking for a lot of high-energy action after midnight, this might not be the cruise line for you. However, if you love live music and relaxing, then Holland has plenty in store to make you smile.
Kids Club
Holland America offers a Kids Club called Kids Club onboard their cruise ships. I know, original name, right? The Kids Club is included in your base fare and is for kids aged 3-17 years old. Kids can join others in their age group for arts and crafts, sports, video game competitions, scavenger hunts, team games, and themed parties.
The Kids Club onboard Holland America is considered fine, but not as good as what you’d find on Disney Cruise Line, Carnival, or Royal Caribbean. That’s not surprising, considering that Holland America caters more to an adult crowd. But hey, it’s good to know they at least have a kids' club in case you’re traveling with children.
The Kids Club isn’t available on cruises lasting 25 days or longer, including all Legendary and Grand Voyages.
Dining options onboard Holland America
Good news! If activities onboard Holland America might be a bit lacking, we can’t say the same about the food. Holland America has some of the best food across all cruise lines, and we aren’t just talking about specialty dining. Any one of their ships will have at least two restaurants included in your fare (the main dining room and the buffet) and two specialty restaurants, with the newest ships offering even more venues for you to choose from.
Take the Rotterdam ship, for example. It has some amazing specialty restaurants, like the steakhouse Pinnacle Grill, the Southeast Asian restaurant Tamarind, and the Italian restaurant Canaletto. That’s in addition to the three restaurants already included in your fare. Lido Market is the buffet option included on all cruise ships and is considered one of the best buffets you can find on a cruise.
In the Main Dining Room, you can choose traditional pre-set seating or a flexible open schedule. Also, make sure to make reservations in advance for your favorite specialty dining restaurants!
Holland America Info List
Dress Code onboard Holland America
This is what Holland America has to say about the dress code:
“Shirts/cover-ups and footwear are always required indoors. During daytime, dress is casual. Most evenings smart casual attire is appropriate. Shorts, pool and beachwear, distressed jeans, and men’s tank tops are best left to the daytime and are not permitted in table service restaurants.
Dressy Nights evoke the grand traditions of cruising as guests dress to impress for special events on board, including our five-course gourmet dinner in the Dining Room. For gentlemen, collared shirts and slacks are required in all fine dining restaurants”.
Wi-Fi onboard Holland America
Wi-Fi isn’t included in your base fare. You can obtain it by purchasing the Have It All Premium Cruise Package or by selecting from a special package. There are three different Wi-Fi packages:
- Surf - Have it All: only available in the Have it All Premium Package. Good for web surfing, messaging and social media.
- Premium ($35.99 per day): basic audio and video features are supported, although streaming isn’t supported.
- Stream ($46.99 per day): good for everything listed above plus all kinds of streaming.
Drinking Age
The drinking age on all Holland America ships is 21.
Drink Packages onboard Holland America
There are five different types of drink packages available for guests 21 years and older:
- Have It All Package – The one from the Have It All Premium Package. Includes beer, wine, specialty coffee, and some cocktails.
- Elite Beverage Package ($65.95 per day): Includes all drinks priced $15 and under.
- Signature Beverage Package ($60.95 per day): Includes all drinks priced $11 and under.
- Quench ($17.95 per day): Includes Coca-Cola products and specialty coffee.
- Coca-Cola Package ($8 per day): Unlimited fountain sodas priced $8 and under.
Gratuities
You will be charged $16 per person for each day of your cruise, and $17.50 if you are in a suite. An 18% service charge will also be added to bar, drink package, and spa purchases.
Laundry onboard Holland America
Although there aren't self-service laundry machines on Holland America, they all offer laundry services for an additional fee.
Carry-on Drinks Policy onboard Holland America
Guests may bring Wine and Champagne onboard, however a corkage fee of USD $20.00 (which is subject to change without notice) will be applied to each bottle (max 750 ml in volume or less).
Book Your Dream Vacation with Holland America!
Now that you know all about Holland America, it’s time to pack your bags, head to Alaska, the Caribbean or Europe, and explore some of the most beautiful places in the world!
Feel free to reach out anytime for the best deals, more details on room options, activities, or anything else you need. Holland America is known for its classy, elegant atmosphere, and we like to think we share the same values here at Famvia. Truly, a match made in heaven.
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