Holland America Line has opened bookings for its 2028 Alaska season, marking a new chapter in a program that has taken travelers into the region for more than 80 years. The new season combines familiar Alaska highlights with several less-common experiences, including first-time scenic cruising through Nootka Sound, a new California-to-Alaska itinerary and the Alaska debut of the reimagined Oosterdam.
The 2028 program includes cruises ranging from seven to 18 days aboard six ships: Oosterdam, Noordam, Eurodam, Koningsdam, Westerdam and Zaandam. Voyages will operate from Seattle and Vancouver, between Vancouver and Whittier, and on a new sailing from San Diego to Vancouver. The range gives travelers options from classic Inside Passage cruises to longer journeys combining Alaska with British Columbia’s wilderness.
Nootka Sound Adds a New Dimension to Alaska Cruising
One of the most notable changes is the introduction of scenic cruising through Nootka Sound on select Great Alaska Explorer and Great Bear Rainforest itineraries. Located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, the remote waterway is associated with the early history of British Columbia and is rarely included on mainstream ocean-cruise routes.
For repeat Alaska cruisers, that makes the addition particularly significant. The region’s glaciers, wildlife and major ports are already well established on cruise itineraries, so lesser-traveled waterways can offer a different reason to return. Holland America’s new sailings will combine Nootka Sound with destinations such as Juneau, Ketchikan, Anchorage, Kodiak and Valdez, as well as Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier.
The season also introduces an 11-day California to Alaska: Shores, Fjords & Glaciers voyage aboard Zaandam, departing San Diego on April 29, 2028. Another new option is a 16-day Great Bear Rainforest & Alaska Explorer aboard Oosterdam, departing Vancouver on April 28.
Oosterdam Brings Holland America Evolution to Alaska
Oosterdam will be another major draw in 2028 after becoming the first Holland America ship to receive the company’s new Evolution transformation. The investment is the largest in the cruise line’s 153-year history and introduces several accommodations and public spaces designed to enhance the onboard experience.
New features include Solo Verandah staterooms, Bridgeview Suites with forward-facing panoramic views and the Grand Dutch Café. Oosterdam will also become the primary ship for Alaska Cruisetours, which combine a cruise with overland travel into Denali and the Yukon.
Across the wider fleet, Holland America will continue offering seven-day Glacier Discovery, Alaska Inside Passage and Alaska Explorer itineraries, alongside longer voyages reaching the Great Bear Rainforest. Guests will have access to more than 200 shore excursions, including whale watching and bear viewing, while onboard programming will feature Alaska experts, National Park Service rangers and wildlife specialists.
The 2028 season also reinforces Holland America’s focus on food and regional culture, with Alaska seafood, seafood boils and other destination-focused dining experiences complementing the scenery.
For travelers considering Alaska again, the appeal of the new season is less about adding more ports and more about finding different ways to experience a familiar destination. Nootka Sound, longer wilderness itineraries and the transformed Oosterdam give repeat visitors new reasons to return while preserving the glaciers, wildlife and landscapes that have defined Holland America’s Alaska program for generations.
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