Holland America Line

Celebrity Chefs in the House: Holland America has for two decades gathered a who’s who of celebrity chefs to guide its onboard dining experience — including David Burke, Ethan Stowell, and chocolate guru Jacques Torres. The onboard Culinary Arts Center also offers lessons in a full demonstration kitchen, often by guest chefs. In late 2023, celebrated Japanese Chef Masaharu Morimoto was named as the cruise line’s “fresh fish ambassador” and his dishes will be served aboard all Holland America ships in pop-up eateries at least once per cruise on all ships as well as in a stand-alone Morimoto By Sea restaurant aboard Nieuw Amsterdam.

The Best Private Island: For powdery white sand and clear turquoise water, you can’t beat the beaches on Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.

Alaska Expertise: Holland America Line has half a dozen ships in Alaska in the summertime, offering a variety of sailings of different lengths out of different embarkation ports as well as in-depth land-and-sea packages with train trips that offer time in Denali National Park and the Yukon at park-based lodges.

Elegant Ships: Home to comfortable furnishings, elaborate flower arrangements, and impressive art collections, these vessels take you around the world in a traditional yet polished style.

Fresh Fish and Pickleball On Board: In 2023, Holland America launched its global fresh fish program, a pioneering initiative utilizing a worldwide network of 60 ports to source and serve 80 types of fresh fish on board in all restaurants — going from port to plate in less than 48 hours. Activity-wise, while many cruise lines have added the popular court game pickleball to some of their ships, Holland America has been named the official cruise line of the Professional Pickleball Association, with courts on all ships and complimentary beginner lessons.  

Dutch Heritage: All Holland America ships have a tendency to acknowledge the line’s history, with on-deck celebrations of King’s Day (the national festivity for the king of the Netherlands’ birthday). On Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, and Rotterdam, there’s also the blue-and-white, Delft-inspired Grand Dutch Café, which serves everything from apple pancakes at breakfast to bitterballen at lunch and dinner, with no extra charge. (You can also buy salted black licorice here, for a fee.) 

Older Couples: The sophisticated ambiance and quiet elegance on these ships appeals to an older crowd, and the median age goes up as the sailings get longer or more far-flung.

Solo Travelers: Holland America hosts get-togethers for solo travelers early in the cruise. Want to avoid the dreaded single supplement? You can book a solo stateroom on Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, and Rotterdam.

Whether or Not There Are Kids Depends on the Sailing: While Holland America attracts an older crowd, the cruise line’s Kids Club program does provide an array of children’s activities year-round, including a junior ranger program in Alaska, scavenger hunts, and video game competitions. During the summer school break and winter holiday period, multigenerational travel is popular, and the number of small passengers swells.

Get to Shows Early: The popular B.B. King’s Blues Club performances, for example, are packed, so don’t dawdle if you want a good seat.