Holland America Line Opens 2026 Europe Season for Booking
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Holland America Line has officially opened its 2026 Europe season for booking, offering an array of exciting itineraries across the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canary Islands, and transatlantic routes. Four ships are set to sail, and guests can choose from seven to 42 days cruises, providing various options and new ports to explore.
Exploring the Mediterranean Aboard Oosterdam
For those looking to delve deep into the Mediterranean, the Oosterdam will host a series of Collectors’ Voyages spanning 14 to 27 days. Guests can also opt for shorter seven—to 14-day itineraries departing from five homeports: Lisbon, Portugal; Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Barcelona, Spain; and Civitavecchia (Rome) and Trieste (Venice), Italy. These itineraries can be combined for an even more immersive experience, with up to 21 days of sailing without repeat ports.
Paul Grigsby, Holland America Line’s vice president of revenue planning and deployment, shared, “There’s so much to see throughout the Mediterranean region, and by creating itineraries from multiple homeports, we’re allowing our guests to explore more ports and countries in an exciting way we haven’t offered before.”
Northern Europe Adventures with Pinnacle-Class Ships
Guests seeking to explore Northern Europe can board the Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam, both Pinnacle-Class ships. These ships will return to their homeport in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Nieuw Statendam will also offer roundtrip sailings from Dover, England. The 2026 season includes popular favourites such as seven-day cruises to Norway’s fjords and 14-day Baltic and Scandinavian Capitals cruises, featuring overnights or late-night calls in Oslo and other ports.
Beth Bodensteiner, Holland America Line’s chief commercial officer, expressed excitement about the return of these ships to their historic home, stating, “Aboard the two ships, guests can experience over 80 ports across 20 countries, as far west as the Canary Islands in Spain, and as far east as Finland and the Baltic States.”
Celestial Cruises and Unique Itineraries
The 2026 Europe season also features six Celestial Cruises, including three eclipse cruises, two Northern Lights cruises, and one summer solstice Arctic Circle crossing. Highlights include:
- 18 July 2026: 35-Day Voyage of the Vikings: Solar Eclipse, Zuiderdam, roundtrip from Boston, Massachusetts.
- 25 July 2026: 28-Day Scandinavian Solar Eclipse with Greenland and Scotland, Nieuw Statendam, roundtrip from Dover, England, or Rotterdam.
- 9 August 2026: 13-Day Mediterranean Solar Eclipse with Barcelona Overnight, Oosterdam, from Lisbon, Portugal, to Piraeus (Athens), Greece.
- 4 October 2026: 14-Day Arctic Journey and Northern Lights, Rotterdam, from Rotterdam to Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- 17 October 2026: 14-Day Arctic Journey and Northern Lights, Nieuw Statendam, roundtrip Rotterdam.
- 13 June 2026: 14-Day Arctic Circle Crossing: North Cape Solstice, Nieuw Statendam, roundtrip from Dover or Rotterdam.
