Holland America Line began accepting reservations on July 30, 2026, for Zuiderdam’s first European voyages following the ship’s extensive transformation under the Holland America Evolution program. The upgraded features will debut on April 2, 2028, when Zuiderdam returns to service, initially sailing in the Mediterranean before repositioning to Amsterdam for summer itineraries across Northern Europe and Iceland.
Zuiderdam’s New Accommodations and Onboard Enhancements
The transformation introduces new accommodations including Solo Verandahs designed for solo travelers, forward-facing Bridgeview Suites, Vista Suites, and a reimagined Pinnacle Suite. The ship also benefits from the addition of the Grand Dutch Café, bringing popular elements from Holland America’s Pinnacle Class ships
to Zuiderdam. These upgrades are part of the fleet’s largest investment in Holland America’s 153-year history.
Mediterranean and Atlantic Coast Itineraries
Zuiderdam’s 2028 European season opens with Mediterranean open-jaw voyages connecting Rome, Barcelona, and Lisbon. Ports on these cruises include Livorno (for Florence and Pisa), Marseille, Valencia, Málaga, Cádiz, Gibraltar, and Tangier. Following this, a 13-day Atlantic Europe voyage will sail from Lisbon to Amsterdam, calling at Porto, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Paris, London, Cork, and Dublin along Atlantic coastlines of Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
Northern Europe Sailings from Amsterdam
After arriving in Amsterdam, Zuiderdam will focus on Northern Europe summer itineraries featuring Norwegian Fjords cruises visiting Bergen, Oslo,
Skjolden, Ålesund, and Nordfjordeid. These sailings showcase renowned fjords including Sognefjord, Nordfjord, and Hardangerfjord. Extended voyages include a 10-day Norwegian Fjords & Landscapes itinerary and an 11-day Wild British Isles route calling at Irish and Scottish ports.
Icelandic Voyages and North Atlantic Destinations
Multiple cruises will operate between Amsterdam and Reykjavík, incorporating stops in the Shetland and Faroe Islands. Icelandic ports on these itineraries include Akureyri, Ísafjörður, Seyðisfjörður, Grundarfjörður, and Heimaey, highlighting dramatic landscapes and coastal communities of the region.
Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line, said, “There is something especially fitting about introducing a newly transformed Zuiderdam in Europe, a region we know exceptionally
well and one that has been part of our story from the very beginning.”
