Holland America Line Plans Record 2028 European Season

New options are on the horizon for your 2028 vacation planning: the cruise line Holland America Line has opened bookings for its European season. As the company announced in a press release, its offerings on the continent are being significantly expanded. With five ships – the Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Volendam, and Zuiderdam – itineraries will range from quick seven-day getaways to an epic 48-day voyage.

Record Numbers of Port Calls

According to the cruise line, the 2028 season will feature the company's highest number of European port calls in nearly a decade. A particularly high number of stops are planned in Norway, Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

During their voyages, the ships will head to famous destinations. In Northern Europe, the schedule includes the Port of Geiranger in the Norwegian fjords as well as the Port of Reykjavik in Iceland. In the Mediterranean, stops will include the Port of Barcelona, the Port of Dubrovnik, and the Port of Naples. The Port of Casablanca in Morocco and the Port of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands are also on the itinerary. Serving as homeports for your departures and arrivals in Europe are, among others, the Port of Amsterdam and the Port of Lisbon. For transatlantic crossings, the Port of Fort Lauderdale in the USA will also be used.

A special highlight of the season is the return of the Nieuw Amsterdam to Europe, where she has not sailed for over ten years. Among other features, the ship brings a specialty restaurant by chef Masaharu Morimoto to European waters.

Milestone Anniversary in Saguenay, Canada

While Holland America Line is planning for the future, there is reason to celebrate elsewhere. As reported by the industry portal Cruise Industry News, the Canadian port of Saguenay is celebrating 20 years of international cruising in the region.

On September 15, 2006, a Holland America Line ship – the former Amsterdam – kicked off the port's very first international season. Since then, Saguenay has grown to become the second-largest international cruise port on the St. Lawrence River, welcoming nearly 700,000 passengers. Key milestones in the port's history include the opening of its terminal in 2009, as well as the maiden visits of famous ships like the Queen Mary 2 in 2016 and the Disney Magic in 2018. The current celebrations, which were also attended by officers from the Sapphire Princess and the Seven Seas Splendor, will extend into the winter cruise season in early 2027.