Holland America Opens Bookings for 2028 Grand Voyages
Volendam will sail roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on January 4, while Zaandam departs San Diego on January 30 for Hawaii and the South Pacific.
Holland America Line opened bookings May 22 for two 2028 Grand Voyages it first announced in late April: a 129-day Grand World Voyage aboard Volendam and a 90-day Grand Australia & New Zealand Voyage aboard Zaandam. Volendam will sail roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 4, 2028, and Zaandam will depart San Diego on Jan. 30, 2028.
Volendam is scheduled for 45 ports in 26 countries and territories across six continents, while Zaandam will call at 41 ports in 12 countries and territories. Both also include Bora Bora. It is the first time Holland America has placed two Grand Voyages at the French Polynesian port in the same season.
“For 2028, the focus was on building routes that make sense from start to finish,” said Paul Grigsby, vice president of deployment and revenue planning for Holland America Line. The itineraries were planned with “meaningful time” in Antarctica, New Zealand and the South Pacific, he said, plus scenic passages that are part of the journey.
The sailings fall under Holland America’s Grand Voyages program, a long-duration product generally running 60 days or more. The 2028 departures use two of the line’s R-class ships: the 1999-built, 61,214-GT Volendam and the 2000-built, 61,396-GT Zaandam, both built by Fincantieri in Marghera, Italy and carrying roughly 1,432 to 1,718 guests depending on occupancy.
Holland America lists early-booking benefits for eligible 2028 Grand World Voyage guests of up to $10,700 per stateroom, including onboard credit, air credit, Wi-Fi and other savings. The booking announcement did not include starting fares for either itinerary.
Volendam’s world cruise builds around South America, Antarctica and Africa
Volendam’s 129-day Grand World Voyage will sail through the Caribbean and South America before a full Antarctic Experience, followed by scenic cruising in the Beagle Channel, Glacier Alley and the Chilean Fjords.
The ship will then cross the equator toward Easter Island and continue through the South Pacific and French Polynesia. Holland America has scheduled eight days across six New Zealand ports before the itinerary continues to Australia, Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka, rounds the Cape of Good Hope and follows Africa’s west coast ahead of the transatlantic return to Fort Lauderdale.
Zaandam focuses on the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia
Zaandam’s 90-day Grand Australia & New Zealand Voyage will sail west from San Diego through Hawaii and the South Pacific, crossing the International Date Line before reaching New Zealand. The itinerary then continues through Australia and returns by way of Melanesia, Fiji, Samoa and French Polynesia.
Holland America also plans select multi-day overland programs during both sailings. The examples disclosed so far are a South Africa safari for Volendam guests and a Margaret River itinerary in Western Australia for Zaandam passengers.
