If your idea of a perfect vacation involves waking up in a different country every few days, Holland America has just made your dreams a lot more attainable. The cruise line is now selling tickets for two sprawling new itineraries designed specifically to reach the kinds of harbors and hidden corners that bigger ships can only dream about.
The star of the lineup is a 129-day around-the-world voyage departing from Fort Lauderdale on January 5, 2027. This isn't your typical "hit the major ports" experience. The itinerary spans 28 countries and includes 16 port calls that exist nowhere else in Holland America's lineup. We're talking about places like Walvis Bay in Namibia, the volcanic archipelago of Cape Verde, and Reunion Island, where the landscape feels untouched by the cruise ship crowds. The ship handling this adventure is the Volendam, which carries enough amenities to keep you entertained between ports, from a full spa to multiple dining venues and a casino.
The route kicks off by exploring the Caribbean and South America's eastern coastline before diving into the dramatic beauty of Antarctica and Chile's glacier-carved fjords. From there, you'll sail across the Pacific, with seven extended overnight stays in Lima, Tahiti, Sydney, Bali, Cape Town, Bordeaux, and Copenhagen. One stop that sounds almost mythical: Null Island, where the Prime Meridian and the Equator actually intersect at zero. The final push takes you across the Atlantic and through Puerto Rico before returning to Florida. Prices start at around 26,549 euros (roughly 29,000 USD).
Why Some Ships Can Actually Go Where Others Can't
The second voyage, launching in 2028, is a 90-day Pacific adventure departing San Diego aboard the Zaandam. This one hits 41 ports across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, and French Polynesia. The real gem here is a 15-hour stop in Bora Bora, a destination that most mega-ships can't access at all.
Here's where the magic happens: Holland America's R-Class ships, which include both vessels, carry 35 percent fewer passengers than the company's newer Pinnacle-Class ships. That smaller footprint isn't just about comfort (though there's plenty of that). It fundamentally changes what the cruise line can do. "When we design Grand Voyages, we look for places our guests can really savor," Paul Grigsby, Vice President of Planning and Analytics, explained. "We can only access islands like Bora Bora with our R-Class ships."
This size advantage opens doors that stay firmly closed for the floating cities of the cruise industry. Smaller ships can navigate shallower waters, dock at ports with limited infrastructure, and stay long enough for passengers to actually experience a place rather than just snap photos at the pier. "That kind of access gives guests the flexibility to experience the lagoon, the marine life and the changing views of Mount Otemanu at their own pace," Grigsby added. It's the difference between visiting somewhere and actually knowing it.
What You're Actually Getting On Board
Both ships offer what Holland America calls "an intimate atmosphere and a more traditional style of cruising." That translates to fewer crowds, more personal service, and a fundamentally different vibe than you'd find on newer, massive vessels. The Volendam includes multiple suite categories, world-class restaurants, cocktail bars, retail shops, and evening entertainment that doesn't feel like factory-line tourism.
If you're the type of traveler who books a cruise and then barely leaves the ship, these itineraries probably aren't for you. But if you've fantasized about standing on Antarctic ice, exploring Easter Island, or watching sunrise over a Polynesian lagoon, these voyages are structured specifically for that kind of traveler. The overnight stays mean you're not rushing through a port at dawn and leaving at sunset. You can wake up, have breakfast, and actually spend a full day somewhere.
Bookings are already open for both voyages, and given that these destinations don't appear on any other Holland America sailing, availability may tighten quickly. If long-form travel appeals to you, this might be worth locking in sooner rather than later.
