With celebrations for its 150th Anniversary year underway, Holland America is introducing Heritage Cruises that focus on ports significant to the brand’s history, plus unique onboard and shoreside experiences.
Over the next year, 48 Heritage Cruises will be rolled out with special itineraries in Alaska, the Caribbean, northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Australia/New Zealand, Hawaii, South America, and Mexico. The voyages will spotlight 56 ports of call, diving into region-specific stories that connect each destination to the cruise line.
Screens on the ships will showcase the ports’ historical moments, photos, and fun facts, while other touches like region-specific drinks and food will bring the destinations to life on board.
“As a beloved company that’s been around for 150 years, these special Heritage Cruises allow us to continue celebrating Holland America Line with our guests in a meaningful way,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “We have a deep connection to ports around the world, and we’re excited to show how each highlighted destination has shaped our brand.”
Here are some Heritage Cruise port highlights:
- Alaska: Sitka, Skagway, Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau, Icy Strait, Ketchikan, and Prince Rupert
- Northern Europe: Copenhagen, Eidfjord, Ålesund, Geiranger, Bergen, Oslo, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam
- Mediterranean: Trieste, Naples, Rome, Florence, Dubrovnik, Sarande, Katakolon, Nice, Le Havre, Barcelona, Cartagena, and Lisbon
- Caribbean: Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, Curaçao, San Juan, Oranjestad, Philipsburg, and Colon
- Hawaii: Hilo, Honolulu, Kona, and Maui
- Mexico: Ensenada, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas
- West Coast: San Diego
- South America: Lima, Pisco, La Serena, Santiago, Punta Arenas, and Puerto Montt
- Australia and New Zealand: Sydney, Melbourne, Wellington, Auckland, Hobart, and Port Chalmers
- Panama Canal
Exclusive Heritage Cruise experiences will include:
- Dinner menus in the MDR showcasing Holland America’s history with region-based Heritage Dishes
- A Throwback Happy Hour rolls back time and features select drinks priced as low as 75 cents
- A special Dutch High Tea offers sweets like Oliebollen, Specoolus, mini bossche bollen, Gugelhupf, and Tompouce, along with tea sandwiches including smoked salmon on curry bread and chicken sate in peanut sauce on spiced bread
- Special port fact sheets to showcase fun, historic, and unique facts about the Heritage Ports
- Classic cruise activities and sporting games like Sjoelen, along with anniversary-themed trivia
150th anniversary celebrations on all cruises will include:
- A Captain’s Gala Menu one evening in the MDR with a collection of classic dishes, with every option coming from a previous Holland America menu
- New exclusive Holland America “De Lijn” gin, which will be featured in three new cocktails
- HAL Pils, a limited-edition anniversary pilsner made in partnership with Pikes Brewing from Seattle
- “Origin Story,” a visual telling of the company’s history from its founding through present day — this presentation is offered in the World Stage with LED screens that envelope the audience in the journey
- Mariner Society members receive a 150th Anniversary Royal Goedewaagen tile
- Limited-edition 150th anniversary retail items in the onboard shops
Holland America fans looking for another special and historical sailing can book the 150th Anniversary Transatlantic Crossing departing April 6, 2023 from New York, ending in Rotterdam on April 18th — the cruise line’s 150th birthday.
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