Our Itinerary
Day 0 Sydney (Departing 06:30 pm)
Day 1 At Sea
Day 2 Melbourne
Day 3 Burnie
Day 4 At Sea
Day 5 At Sea
Day 6 Milford Sound, then Fiordland National Park
Day 7 Dunedin
Day 8 Christchurch
Day 9 Picton
Day 10 Wellington
Day 11 Napier
Day 12 Tauranga (Rotorua)
Day 13 At Sea
Day 14 Auckland (arriving 07:00 AM)
Holland America Line
If you had to pick one word to describe the Holland America Line, that word would be "venerable." The line is arguably the most historic and tradition-laden on the seas today. Its first ship, the 1,684-ton Rotterdam, set sail on a voyage between Holland and New York in 1873 and today HAL ships sail all around the globe.
The line originally was named The Netherlands-America Steamship Company, but soon became known as the Holland America Line because it carried great numbers of immigrants from Holland to America. The company concentrated on the trans-Atlantic passenger trade, as well as the commercial freight shipping business until the 1970's. Its first purpose-built passenger ship was built in 1973, and since then, the line has concentrated on cruise vacation travel.
In 1978, Holland America moved its headquarters from Rotterdam to USA. In 1989 the behemoth Carnival Corporation acquired the company.
Holland America may now be a USA based cruise line, but it continues to maintain strong ties with its Netherlands heritage. Today, this premium cruise leader operates 13 ships to seven continents and carries nearly 700,000 cruise passengers a year. Ships in its fleet - since the 1890's and continuing today - bear the suffix "dam." Most of the names are inspired by actual dams that traverse the rivers of the Netherlands. In other cases, such as with its Vista-class of ships, the names represent points of the compass (Oosterdam is East, Westerdam is West, Noordam is North, etc.). Many of the names are in their fourth, fifth or sixth incarnations.
The Fleet
While Holland America offers many consistent features across the fleet, its 13 ships do offer varied onboard ambiances.
Statendam class (S-class)
The Statendam-class ships include Statendam, Maasdam, Ryndam and Veendam. The four vessels entered service between 1993 and 1996. The ships were ordered not long after Carnival Corporation bought Holland America. Since Carnival didn't want the Holland America ships to compete in size with its own Carnival Cruise Lines, the Statendam ships were kept to a more modest size: 55,000 tons, 720-feet long, with a passenger capacity of approximately 1,260. It's a nice configuration that feels more spacious than other mid-sized ships. The Statendam-class ships feature two-level dining rooms and large atriums.
All eight older ships have now been upgraded with Signature of Excellence enhancements, and all boast the Explorations Cafe and Culinary Arts Centre.
ms Statendam - 1993 - Upgraded May 2005
ms Maasdam - 1993 - Upgraded April 2006
ms Ryndam - 1994 - Upgraded October 2004
ms Veendam - 1996 - Upgraded January 2006
Rotterdam class (R-class)
The Rotterdam-class vessels consist of the line's two flagships, the 1,316-passenger Rotterdam and the 1,380-passenger Amsterdam, built in 1997 and 2000, respectively. (Both ships are 780 feet long and approximately 60,000 tons.) As flagships, the Rotterdam and Amsterdam were designed to show off Holland America at its best - and most opulent. They are the most posh ships in the line, decorated with a lot of dark woods, ornate dining facilities, elaborate atriums, and the impressive original artworks that are the line's hallmark. Constructed for longer voyages, the ships carried passengers on the Grand World Voyages from 1997 - 2001.
The fleet's older ships - much more midsized, measuring 60,000 tons and carrying 1,440 passengers - may not possess all the bells and whistles and lack the higher balcony ratios of its newer brethren but they're among the sweetest ships afloat. These include the Zaandam and Volendam. The ships debuted in 1999 and 2000, sandwiched in between the launch of the line's Rotterdam and Statendam classes of ships. Zaandam and Volendam feature a convenient third staircase for easier access to public rooms, a very spacious and well-equipped gym facility, and more of the popular "verandah suites" than any other Holland America ship. Zaandam and Volendam were the first ships in the fleet to introduce what has now become Holland America's signature restaurant, the Pinnacle Grill.
ms Rotterdam - 1997 - Upgraded April 2005
ms Volendam - 1999 - Upgraded December 2005
ms Zaandam - 2000 - Upgraded January 2005
ms Amsterdam - 2000 - Upgraded October 2005
Vista class
Highlights of the Vista-class ships include ocean views in 85 percent of the staterooms, and verandahs in 67 percent of the staterooms. They feature nifty, glass-walled exterior elevators that ascend up 10 decks and provide fabulous panoramic views.
ms Zuiderdam - 2002 - Upgraded December 2005
ms Oosterdam - 2003 - Upgraded October 2006
ms Westerdam - 2004 - Upgraded April 2005
ms Noordam - 2006
Signature class
The unveiling in June 2008 of Holland America's next new series -- the Signature class of vessels - marks Eurodam's debut. Though Eurodam is inspired in large part by the Vista class design, it features a new alternative restaurant, the Asian-themed Tamarind, and the relocation of the popular Explorations by New York Times library/coffee bar in a Crows Nest-adjacent space.
ms Eurodam - Entered service on July 5, 2008
ms Nieuw Amsterdam - Announced on June 11, 2007. Slated for a 2010 delivery
"The Elegant Explorer"
Unique in its own right is Holland America's Prinsendam. Holland America purchased the 793-passenger Prinsendam in 2002. Built in 1988, the ship was originally called the Royal Viking Sun, and then became the Seabourn Sun. Holland America dubbed the ship its "Elegant Explorer," and is now utilizing it primarily for longer sailings, such as the Grand World Voyage. Although Holland America has updated the ship, Prinsdendam still has an old-world feel, with lots of dark woods and brass accents. But it also has plenty of modern amenities, including a nicely equipped Internet cafe with wireless access in hot spots throughout the ship and a small but lovely Pinnacle Grill Restaurant.
ms Prinsendam - 1988 (originally the Royal Viking Sun - bought by HAL in 2002) - Upgraded January 2005
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