Holland America Cruise Line

A classic cruise experience in a more premium setting.

Holland America is for those who take a deep breath, look at the sky and say, “I think I am ready to try something different”. Holland, after all, sits in a very niche place within the cruise industry. It is not a mainstream cruise line like Royal Caribbean or an ultra luxury one like Explora Journeys. Holland is mostly considered a Premium Cruise Line, similar to Celebrity Cruises, offering voyages for travelers who want a classy experience and great food.

Holland America has actually been sailing for more than one hundred years and began with transatlantic voyages between Europe and North America. Nowadays, they have eleven mid sized ships, and all of them focus more on intimate experiences that help you relax than anything else. You will not find waterparks or roller coasters onboard, but you do get rock bands, cozy lounges with jazz and some great cuisine.

Holland is huge in Alaska, maintaining such a strong presence that they own lodges and entertainment venues there while offering hundreds of itineraries, including cruise tours that combine cruises with land expeditions. Beyond Alaska, Holland America sails to Antarctica, Tahiti, Iceland, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand and Norway, and they also operate Half Moon Cay, their private Bahamian island. They are also big in transoceanic travel if you ever want to try a long voyage between the United States and Europe.

Food quality is another big highlight. Holland America’s main dining room, buffet and specialty restaurants consistently rank among the best in mainstream and premium cruise lines. They are known for their cheese selections, Indian and Pan Asian restaurants and specialty venues like the Pinnacle Grill steakhouse. If you are mostly used to mainstream cruise lines, the jump in quality becomes very clear when you sail with Holland America.

Holland America is not an all inclusive cruise line per se, but they do offer a package called Have it All Premium Cruise Package that delivers excellent value. For just sixty dollars per person daily, you get shore excursion credit, a beverage package and free Wi-Fi. They also offer something called Club Orange that provides priority embarkation and some extra onboard perks. Holland has a lot of small details that might go unnoticed at first, but that is exactly why Famvia is here to help you out.

As far as activities go, Holland is all about letting you relax while enjoying music. They are very big on music, by the way, and feature lounges designed around different genres. So you can move from Michael Jackson to John Denver in a heartbeat. You also have the chance to attend art classes, play at the sports courts and enjoy the Orange Party that celebrates their Dutch heritage. They even have Mahjong tournaments on some of their ships. Sorry, Holland, even after many online tutorials, I still cannot understand Mahjong.

Holland America is great, especially for those who love music and want to try a classy cruise without many children onboard. They are an exceptional choice if you want to visit Alaska or simply cross the world. Just make sure to pack something orange and bright in your suitcase and have fun.