Holland America Line has opened reservations for the first European cruises aboard the Zuiderdam following its extensive transformation under the Holland America Evolution program, the company’s largest fleet investment in 153 years, according to markets.ft.com.
Transformation Launch and Itinerary Overview
The upgraded Zuiderdam will return to service on April 2, 2028, beginning its season in the Mediterranean before shifting to homeport in Amsterdam for Northern Europe and Iceland sailings. The itineraries cover the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Norway’s fjords, Iceland, Greenland, and Atlantic coastal destinations.
New Accommodations and Onboard Additions
Zuiderdam’s transformation includes new accommodation types such as Solo Verandahs designed for solo travelers, forward-facing Bridgeview Suites, Vista Suites, and a
redesigned Pinnacle Suite. A new venue, the Grand Dutch Café, inspired by Pinnacle Class ships, has also been added, enhancing the onboard experience for guests.
Mediterranean and Atlantic Europe Itineraries
The Mediterranean portion of the 2028 season features open-jaw voyages connecting Rome, Barcelona, and Lisbon. Ports of call include Livorno, Marseille, Valencia, Málaga, Cádiz, Gibraltar, and Tangier, offering a mix of historic cities and coastal culture.
The Atlantic Europe itinerary is a 13-day voyage sailing from Lisbon to Amsterdam, calling at Porto, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Paris, London, Cork, and Dublin, traversing Atlantic coastlines along Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
Northern Europe and Iceland Voyages
Zuiderdam’s Northern Europe cruises include
Norwegian Fjord itineraries with stops at Bergen, Oslo, Skjolden, Ålesund, and Nordfjordeid, showcasing fjords such as Sognefjord, Nordfjord, and Hardangerfjord. Longer options include a 10-day Norwegian Fjords & Landscapes itinerary and an 11-day Wild British Isles sailing covering Ireland and Scotland.
The ship also operates multiple sailings between Amsterdam and Reykjavík, with calls at the Shetland Islands, Faroe Islands, and Icelandic ports including Akureyri, Ísafjörður, Seyðisfjörður, Grundarfjörður, and Heimaey, linking travelers to North Atlantic maritime history.
Bookings can be made through travel advisors, by phone at 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425), or via hollandamerica.com, with more details about Holland America Evolution and
other ship updates forthcoming.
Holland America Line’s fleet includes 11 vessels visiting nearly 400 ports in 114 countries. The company has offered Alaska cruises for over 75 years, the longest among cruise lines. President Beth Bodensteiner remarked on the appropriateness of introducing the transformed Zuiderdam in Europe, a region integral to the company since its founding.
“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,” Bodensteiner said, highlighting the voyages’ celebration of the cruise line’s heritage and
Zuiderdam’s next chapter.
