Holland America Line has opened reservations for the Zuiderdam’s first European season following its transformation as part of the Holland America Evolution program, the largest investment in the cruise line’s 153-year history to modernize its fleet.
The upgrades will debut on April 2, 2028, when the ship returns to service cruising the Mediterranean before heading to Amsterdam, where it will operate an extensive summer itinerary through Northern Europe, Iceland, and Greenland.
From the historic cities of the Mediterranean to the breathtaking Norwegian fjords and the volcanic landscapes of Iceland, the 2028 season will offer a comprehensive selection of itineraries through a region that Holland America Line has been exploring for more than 150 years.
After kicking off the season in the Mediterranean, the Zuiderdam will establish its home port in Amsterdam, reinforcing the company's close ties to the Netherlands and offering convenient access to some of Northern Europe's most spectacular destinations.
“There is something particularly meaningful about unveiling a completely renovated Zuiderdam in Europe, a region we know exceptionally well and that has been part of our history from the very beginning,” said Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line.
“This season highlights the continent’s extraordinary diversity, from the energy and history of the Mediterranean to the fjords and waterways of Northern Europe. After operating from our historic home in the Netherlands, the Zuiderdam will continue on to Iceland and Greenland, following routes traveled for generations by explorers and sailors. It is a collection of voyages that celebrates our legacy and this ship’s new chapter.”
The Zuiderdam's return to service will mark a new phase of the Holland America Evolution program, an ambitious multi-year modernization plan that will bring many of the exclusive features of the Pinnacle-class ships to more vessels in the fleet.
Among the main new features are:
- New Solo Verandah staterooms, designed specifically for solo travelers.
- New Bridgeview Suites with panoramic views from the bow.
- Renovated Vista Suites.
- A completely redesigned Pinnacle Suite.
- Renovation of numerous cabins throughout the ship.
- Addition of the popular Grand Dutch Café, one of the most beloved spaces on Pinnacle-class ships.
The company has indicated that in the coming months it will announce additional improvements that will be part of this transformation.
The season will begin with several seven-night cruises between Rome (Civitavecchia), Barcelona, and Lisbon, allowing travelers to combine some of Southern Europe’s most notable destinations. Port of calls include Livorno (Florence and Pisa), Portofino, Marseille, Valencia, Alicante, Málaga (Granada), Cádiz (Seville), Gibraltar, and Tangier
The Zuiderdam will then embark on a 13-day cruise between Lisbon and Amsterdam, sailing along the Atlantic coast of Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands, with stops in Porto, A Coruña, Bilbao, Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Paris, London, Cork, and Dublin.
During the summer, the ship will offer a wide range of itineraries departing from Amsterdam, including seven-night cruises through the Norwegian fjords, calling at destinations such as Bergen, Oslo, Eidfjord, Haugesund, Ålesund, Skjolden, and Nordfjordeid. Longer itineraries will also be available, including:
- Norwegian Fjords & Landscapes, 10-day tour.
- "Wild British Isles," an 11-day tour with stops in Belfast, Galway, Killybegs, Stornoway, Kirkwall, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Cork.
The itinerary will also include several seven-night cruises between Amsterdam and Reykjavík, with stops in the Shetland Islands and the Faroe Islands, as well as visits to some of Iceland's most spectacular ports, such as Akureyri, Ísafjörður, Seyðisfjörður, Grundarfjörður, and Heimaey.
To cap off the season, on August 12, 2028, a 21-day cruise from Amsterdam to Boston—considered the highlight of the year—will set sail.The itinerary will take in Iceland and Greenland, with stops in Norðfjörður, Djúpivogur, Grundarfjörður, Ísafjörður, Akureyri, Seyðisfjörður, Reykjavík, Qaqortoq, and Nanortalik, before continuing on to Atlantic Canada and New England.
With this new itinerary, Holland America Line combines the debut of the refurbished Zuiderdam with one of the most comprehensive European seasons in its history, reaffirming its commitment to offering culturally immersive itineraries aboard modernized ships that incorporate the company’s latest innovations.
Follow the news about cruise ships atCruisesnews.es
