Holland America Line has opened bookings for its 2028 Europe season, offering its largest number of port calls on the continent in nearly a decade and extending departures from January through early December.
Five ships will participate: Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Volendam and Zuiderdam. Itineraries will range from seven-night vacations to 48-day Legendary Voyages, covering Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and transatlantic routes.
The schedule includes record numbers of calls in Ireland and the Netherlands, the cruise line’s most visits to Norway since 2014 and its highest number of Spain calls since 2017. Travelers will also have access to more than 200 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Norway’s protected fjords and historic cities across the Mediterranean and Baltic regions.
Holland America says the program was designed around experiences that change throughout the year. Spring brings tulip season in the Netherlands, summer offers extended daylight across Northern Europe, autumn connects travelers with regional harvest traditions, and winter provides milder escapes in the Mediterranean and Canary Islands.
Five Ships Will Cover Europe Through Every Season
Nieuw Statendam will begin the year with seven- to 14-night cruises visiting the Canary Islands, Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Stops include Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Lisbon and Casablanca, giving travelers an alternative to the continent’s colder northern destinations.
Spring deployments will add Rotterdam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Zuiderdam, with cruises through the Mediterranean, the Low Countries and Northern Europe. Featured ports include Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Bruges, Barcelona, Athens and Naples.
All five ships will operate in Europe during summer, when itineraries expand to Norway, Iceland, the British Isles, the Baltic, Greece, Croatia and Turkey. Voyages will include destinations such as Flåm, Geiranger, Reykjavik, Stockholm and Dubrovnik, alongside scenic cruising through Norwegian fjords.
Autumn sailings will continue across Southern and Northern Europe, with voyages lasting up to 48 days. Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam will then extend the program into early December with Mediterranean, Canary Islands and transatlantic departures.
Nieuw Amsterdam Returns as Mediterranean Capacity Grows
Nieuw Amsterdam will return to Europe for the first time in more than a decade, strengthening Holland America’s Mediterranean deployment. The ship will bring onboard offerings including Morimoto by Sea, the dedicated restaurant developed with chef Masaharu Morimoto.
Mediterranean cruises will range from seven to 11 days and depart from six homeports. Many itineraries are designed to be combined back to back with few or no repeated ports, allowing travelers to create longer regional journeys without changing ships.
The season will include a record six calls at Portofino and a 48-day Legendary Mediterranean Voyage sailing round-trip from North America. Overnight stays, extended visits and late departures will provide additional time in selected destinations.
Holland America is also using early-booking incentives to encourage travelers to commit well before departure. Guests purchasing the Have It All package can receive shore excursions, specialty dining, beverages and Wi-Fi, with additional upgrades available through the Early Booking Bonus.
The scale of the 2028 schedule reflects growing demand for European cruises beyond the traditional summer peak. By operating from winter through late fall, Holland America is betting that travelers increasingly value seasonal experiences, smaller crowds and the ability to explore Europe at different times of year.
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