Holland America Line has opened bookings for the Zuiderdam's first European season following its transformation as part of the Holland America Evolution program, the largest investment in the shipping company's 153-year history to modernize its fleet.
The upgrades will debut on April 2, 2028, when the ship returns to service sailing the Mediterranean before moving to Amsterdam, from where it will operate an extensive summer program in Northern Europe, Iceland and Greenland.
From the historic cities of the Mediterranean to the stunning 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 starting the season in the Mediterranean, the Zuiderdam will establish its home port in Amsterdam, reinforcing the company's close ties with the Netherlands and offering convenient access to some of the most spectacular destinations in Northern Europe.
“There is something especially meaningful about presenting a completely renewed Zuiderdam in Europe, a region we know exceptionally well and which has been part of our history from the very beginning,” said Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line.
“This season highlights the extraordinary diversity of the continent, 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 mariners. It is a collection of voyages that celebrates our heritage and this new chapter for the ship.”.
The return to service of the Zuiderdam will mark a new phase of the Holland America Evolution program, an ambitious multi-year modernization plan that incorporates many of the unique features of the Pinnacle-class ships into more ships in the fleet.
The main new features include:
- New Solo Verandah cabins, designed specifically for individual travelers.
- New Bridgeview Suites with panoramic views from the bow.
- Renovated Vista Suites.
- A completely redesigned Pinnacle Suite.
- Modernization of numerous cabins throughout the ship.
- Addition of the popular Grand Dutch Café, one of the most appreciated spaces on the Pinnacle class ships.
The company has indicated that it will announce further improvements in the coming months as part of this transformation.
The season will begin with several seven-night cruises between Rome (Civitavecchia), Barcelona, and Lisbon, allowing passengers to combine some of Southern Europe's most outstanding destinations. Ports of call include Livorno (Florence and Pisa), Portofino, Marseille, Valencia, Alicante, Málaga (Granada), Cádiz (Seville), Gibraltar, and Tangier
Subsequently, the Zuiderdam will undertake a 13-day cruise between Lisbon and Amsterdam, traveling 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, visiting destinations such as Bergen, Oslo, Eidfjord, Haugesund, Ålesund, Skjolden, and Nordfjordeid. Longer itineraries will also be available, including:
- Norwegian Fjords & Landscapes, 10 days.
- Wild British Isles, an 11-day cruise with stops in Belfast, Galway, Killybegs, Stornoway, Kirkwall, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Cork.
The program will also include several seven-night cruises between Amsterdam and Reykjavik, with stops in the Shetland and Faroe Islands, as well as visits to some of Iceland's most spectacular ports such as Akureyri, Ísafjörður, Seyðisfjörður, Grundarfjörður and Heimaey.
As the grand finale of the season, a 21-day cruise will depart from Amsterdam on August 12, 2028, bound for Boston, considered the star voyage of the year. The itinerary will travel through Iceland and Greenland, with stops in Norðfjörður, Djúpivogur, Grundarfjörður, Ísafjörður, Akureyri, Seyðisfjörður, Reykjavik, Qaqortoq and Nanortalik, before continuing on to Atlantic Canada and New England.
With this new program, Holland America Line combines the debut of the renovated 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.
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