Holland America Details 2027 Pan Am Centenary Cruise

Holland America Line has detailed aviation-history presentations, airline-era dining and exclusive shore excursions for its Pan Am 100th Anniversary Legendary Voyage. The 28-day cruise aboard Zuiderdam will depart Miami on Oct. 30, 2027, sailing roundtrip and visiting 18 destinations in the Caribbean and Central America.

The itinerary retraces parts of Pan Am’s historic route network during the airline’s centenary year. Founded by Juan Trippe in 1927, Pan Am started with scheduled mail service linking Key West and Havana, then extended its operations across the Caribbean and into Central and South America.

“With this cruise, we're bringing that era to life while merging elements of Pan Am's storied history with Holland America Line's signature experiences,” said Paul Grigsby, vice president of itinerary planning and deployment for Holland America Line.

Aviation speakers and airline-era dining

The presentation lineup includes actor and storyteller Willie Aames; Linda Freire, chair and co-founder of the Pan Am Museum Foundation; and David Hinson, the foundation’s vice chairman. Other Pan Am historians and aviation experts will also participate.

Onboard programming will recreate aspects of the Clipper Club, Pan Am’s network of private airport lounges where travelers could dine, relax and socialize before flights or during connections. Menus will draw on dishes served during the airline’s operating years.

Main courses include eggplant cannelloni Parmigiano accompanied by asparagus risotto, Dover sole filled with crabmeat and enclosed in puff pastry, and broiled filet mignon served with potato croquettes and jardiniere vegetables. The menu also includes cream of tomato soup and Cocktail de Crevettes, a shrimp dish with boiled egg, asparagus and Louis dressing. A Grand Marnier soufflé with crème anglaise is among the desserts.

Two themed cocktails are planned. The Pan Am combines light white rum with Campari, orgeat, lemon juice and egg white, finished with aromatic bitters. The Clipper uses Mount Gay Eclipse rum, Dolin Blanc and grenadine, with a lemon-twist garnish.

Craig Carter, CEO of Pan Am Global Holdings, said the itinerary recalls the airline’s early Flying Clipper operations. He said the onboard program “will bring to life a special time in the history of travel.”

Exclusive tours connect ports with Pan Am history

Holland America has developed several excursions specifically for the voyage, linking destinations to the airline’s regional operations and the travel culture associated with its service.

In Cartagena, “Pan Am’s Golden Age: Cartagena’s Jet Set” will take guests through the city in classic roadsters. The excursion will examine Cartagena’s reputation as a destination for emeralds during the Pan Am era.

The “Agua Clara Locks and Panama Canal Railway” excursion will visit both transportation landmarks, exploring their connections to the network that enabled travel through the region.

In St. John’s, Antigua, the “High Point” tour will visit Shirley Heights. Its harbor views offer a perspective comparable to that used by aircraft navigators guiding their planes into port.

Pan Am’s Clipper flying boats operated international services before and during World War II. Their ability to land on water allowed them to serve cities that lacked runways suitable for large, long-range aircraft.

In Trinidad and Tobago, “Pan Am’s Caribbean: Wings of Trinidad” will explore Port of Spain and the airline’s early role in Caribbean aviation. The excursion includes Chaguaramas, the former Pan Am flying-boat base where Clippers once landed.

See current Zuiderdam fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.