Holland America Line

Cruise line with a proven "Tradition of Excellence"

Holland America may be one of the oldest names in cruising but it believes in keeping up with the times.

amsterdam of holland america Its fleet has grown to 15 ships, offering nearly 500 cruises from more than 25 North American home ports, including departures from Norfolk, Baltimore, and Boston.

It is all a far cry from 1873 when the line was founded as the Netherlands-America Steamship Company, later providing service to the Americas and consequently a name change to Holland America Line.

The company’s first ocean liner was the original Rotterdam, which sailed its maiden voyage from the Netherlands to New York City on October 15, 1872. The current Rotterdam is the sixth in a long line of distinguished ships.

Recent additions to the fleet include the 2,100-passenger Europa in July 2008 and the latest incarnation of Nieuw Amsterdam which arrived in July 2010.

Holland America excels in service, amenities and special programmes. Known for consistent and attentive service, its ships have one of the highest staff-members-to-guest ratios. Spacious staterooms average 25 percent larger and verandahs twice as large as those on other lines’ ships.

Menus are among the most extensive at-sea. Dining choices include formal elegance, alternative specialty dining in the Pacific Northwest-themed Pinnacle Grill, casual fare and complimentary 24-hour room service.

Itineraries range from two to 108 days and visit all seven continents, including new Australia/New Zealand and Asia sailings, a world cruise and popular sailings to several ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico and Europe. The Noordam also offers Caribbean sailings in the winter from new homeport New York City.

Fleetwide Signature of Excellence enhancements feature new programmes and amenities including the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine - a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts will provide cooking demonstrations and classes - Explorations Cafe powered by the New York Times, teens-only activity areas and all new cabin amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush-top Mariner’s Dream Beds.