Holland America Line is gearing up for the 2026 holiday season with a cruise lineup that blends Christmas traditions, seasonal culinary offerings, and special celebrations at sea. Passengers can enjoy traditional dishes such as Thanksgiving dinner, brunch with Santa, and the Feast of the Seven Fishes, along with beautifully decorated ships and special activities on itineraries that coincide with Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year's.
Holland America Line's holiday cruises will offer seasonal cuisine, entertainment, festive decorations, and special discounts.
Spending the holidays aboard a cruise ship allows you to maintain cherished traditions while discovering new destinations, without the hassle of planning. Holland America Line takes care of the details so passengers can dedicate more time to sharing special meals and activities with loved ones, combining travel and exploration with the festive atmosphere.
“The holidays are a time when traditions and togetherness take on special importance, and traveling doesn’t mean having to leave them behind,” says Michael Stendebach, Vice President of Food, Beverage, and Accommodation at Holland America Line. “Onboard, passengers can celebrate in a family-like way while creating new memories with the people who matter most. From traditional meals to timeshares, we want them to feel right at home during this time of year.”.
A festive atmosphere on all cruises
Whether the itinerary takes you through the tropical islands of the Caribbean, the glaciers of Antarctica, or the landscapes of Australia, Holland America Line creates a welcoming Christmas atmosphere through ship decorations, tree lighting ceremonies, and special programming.
The entertainment program includes Christmas carols, holiday movies, crew performances, and activities for the whole family. The arrival of 2027 will be celebrated with onboard parties and a champagne toast on New Year's Eve.
Traditional holiday flavors
Food plays a prominent role in the celebrations, with food and drink offerings that combine traditional recipes with flavors from around the world. Passengers can gather for Thanksgiving dinner, begin Christmas Day with "Breakfast with Santa," enjoy the "Feast of the Seven Fish" on Christmas Eve, and participate in "The Nutcracker Tea.".
The special menus will include traditional dishes such as latkes —potato pancakes typical of Jewish cuisine—turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and eggnog. There will also be offerings inspired by Christmas traditions from different countries, allowing guests to discover new flavors without sacrificing the classics.
New for 2026, the main restaurant will incorporate a seasonal ginger cake created in collaboration with Magnolia Bakery, as part of Holland America Line's alliance with this well-known American bakery.
The offering will also extend to drinks, with specialty coffees such as Christmas Cocoamint Coffee, Vanilla Gingerbread Latte and Eggnog Latte, as well as festive cocktails such as De Lijn Ginger Mojito, Rudolph the Red Margarita and Minty Elf Martini.
Holland America Line's Christmas cruises maintain one of their most distinctive traditions: the creation of gingerbread villages on board. The kitchen teams on each ship craft original compositions with this classic treat, shaping authentic Christmas scenes.
Each vessel features a unique design, the result of hours of planning, baking, and assembly. These elaborate creations showcase the creativity and skill of the culinary teams and have become a signature element of the company's Christmas celebrations.
Those planning to travel during the holidays can take advantage of the Save on Sunshine, which offers up to 50% off cruise fares and allows children to travel free as the third or fourth passenger in the same cabin on certain departures.
In addition, those who book between October 13 and 21, 2026, will be able to benefit from one onboard credit per cabin and one free dinner at a specialty restaurant on selected Christmas cruises.
Some featured cruises for the 2026 season
- Baja California Peninsula, 7 days. Aboard the Koningsdam, departing from and returning to San Diego (California) on November 21, 2026.
- Christmas cruise through the Panama Canal, 15 days. Aboard the Zaandam, from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale (Florida), departing on December 19, 2026.
- Baja California Peninsula at Christmas, 7 days. Aboard the Koningsdam, departing from and returning to Fort Lauderdale, on December 19, 2026.
- Eastern Caribbean at Christmas: Windward and Leeward Islands, 11 days. Aboard the Rotterdam, departing from and returning to Fort Lauderdale on December 22, 2026.
- Southern Caribbean: ABC and Windward Islands at Christmas, 14 days. Aboard the Volendam, departing from and returning to Fort Lauderdale on December 22, 2026.
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Western Caribbean at Christmas: Greater Antilles and Mexico, 7 days. Aboard the Eurodam, departing from and returning to Fort Lauderdale on December 26, 2026.
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