Holland America Opens Bookings for Expanded 2028 Europe Season
Nieuw Amsterdam is set for its first Europe deployment in more than ten years, and Zuiderdam’s post-refit schedule begins in the Mediterranean.
Holland America Line has opened bookings for an expanded 2028 Europe season running from January through December, with five ships scheduled across Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and transatlantic routes. The Seattle-based line says the program has its highest number of Europe port calls in nearly a decade, with record or near-decade-high visit totals in Norway, Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands.
The deployment covers sailings from seven to 48 days aboard Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Volendam and Zuiderdam, nearly half of Holland America’s 11-ship fleet. Nieuw Amsterdam returns to Europe for the first time in more than 10 years.
“We built each season around moments travelers can only experience at certain times of year,” said Paul Grigsby, vice president of deployment and revenue planning for Holland America Line. Grigsby cited spring in the Netherlands, winter itineraries in the Mediterranean and Canary Islands, and extended summer daylight along European coastlines.
Norway, Spain and Portofino get larger call programs
In Northern Europe, Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam and Zuiderdam will sail seven- to 28-day voyages to Norway, Iceland, Greenland, the British Isles and the Baltic. Holland America said its Norway call count will reach its highest level since 2014.
The Mediterranean program includes seven- to 11-day sailings from six homeports, with itineraries visiting Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia and Turkey. Spain will see Holland America’s largest number of visits since 2017, while Portofino is scheduled for a record six calls in 2028.
The season runs the full calendar year
Nieuw Statendam will open the year with winter voyages to the Canary Islands, Spain, Portugal and Morocco, including Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Lisbon and Casablanca. Spring sailings add Rotterdam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Zuiderdam across the Mediterranean, the Low Countries and Northern Europe, with calls including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Bruges, Barcelona, Athens and Naples.
All five ships are scheduled in Europe during the summer, covering Norway, Iceland, the British Isles, the Baltic, Greece, Croatia and Turkey. Autumn itineraries continue aboard Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Volendam, followed by late-fall Mediterranean, Canary Islands and transatlantic departures that include Barcelona, Lisbon, Tenerife and Fort Lauderdale.
Bookings are open with early-booking incentives tied to the line’s Have It All package and Early Booking Bonus. Starting fares were not included in the booking announcement.
Zuiderdam links the season to Holland America Evolution
The 2028 Europe slate also includes Zuiderdam’s first voyages after its Holland America Evolution work, with the ship scheduled to return to service on April 2, 2028, in the Mediterranean before spending much of the summer sailing from Amsterdam. Holland America Evolution is a roughly $500 million modernization covering six ships: the four Vista-class vessels and two Signature-class vessels.
“There is something especially fitting about introducing a newly transformed Zuiderdam in Europe,” said Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line. She said the season connects Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Iceland and Greenland itineraries with the company’s Dutch heritage.
Announced changes for Zuiderdam include new Solo Verandahs, forward-facing Bridgeview Suites, Vista Suites, a reworked Pinnacle Suite, refreshed accommodations and the addition of Grand Dutch Cafe. The ship’s post-refit Europe schedule begins with Mediterranean open-jaw cruises linking Civitavecchia, Barcelona and Lisbon, followed by a 13-day Atlantic Europe voyage from Lisbon to Amsterdam.
From Amsterdam, Zuiderdam will operate Norwegian fjords sailings between April and August, including itineraries calling at Bergen, Oslo, Skjolden, Alesund and Nordfjordeid. The ship will also sail British Isles, Iceland and North Atlantic voyages, including a 21-day Amsterdam-to-Boston Cultural Crossing departing Aug. 12, 2028, via Iceland and Greenland.
Before Zuiderdam joins the upgraded fleet, Oosterdam is scheduled to become the first Holland America Evolution ship in December 2027. Holland America plans to announce additional Zuiderdam changes in the coming months.
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