Holland America Cruise Line Schedules for Alaskan Cruises

Holland America Cruise Line schedules for Alaskan cruises varies by cruise type. Holland America Line offers a standard Alaska Cruise, the Alaskan Explorer Cruise, the Glacier Discovery Cruise, and the Glacier Bay Inside Passage Cruise. Before we discuss the types of cruises and schedules, here is a bit of background and history about Holland America Line.

Established in 1873, Holland America Cruise Line was founded as the Netherlands-America Steamship Company (NASM) — a shipping and Passenger line. According to the Holland America Cruise Line website, because it was headquartered in Rotterdam and provided service to the Americas, it became known as Holland America Line (HAL).

Carrying more than 700,000 cruise passengers around the world each year, Holland America Line is recognized as a leader in luxury cruising. The line has been a heavy hitter in the premium cruise line industry for more than 130 years and it offers nearly 500 cruises from more than 25 homeports. Holland America Cruise Lines has the means to offer itineraries ranging from two to a whopping 108 days. Cruises cover all seven continents, including new Australia/New Zealand and Asia sailings, a world cruise, and popular sailings to several ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico and Europe.

The full list of Holland America’s cruise destinations includes: Alaska, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest, the Panama Canal, and South America. And, winter sailings to the Caribbean are just around the corner as Holland’s 1,918-passenger ms Noordam (introduced in early 2006) will offer Caribbean sailings from its new homeport New York City.

Including the ms Noordaam, Holland America features a five-star fleet of 14 stunning ships ranging from the small and intimate to the large and luxurious. Holland America Line’s famous fleet includes: ms Amsterdam, ms Eurodam (to be delivered in summer 2008), ms Maasdam, ms Oosterdam, ms Prinsendam, ms Rotterdam, ms Ryndam, ms Statendam, ms Veendam, ms Volendam, ms Westerdam, ms Zaandam, and ms Zuiderdam.

Accommodations aboard all Holland America cruise ships are elegant, spacious, and unbelievably comfortable. Several types of accommodations are available including: Penthouse Verandah Suites, Deluxe Verandah Suites, Superior Verandah Suites, Verandah Staterooms, Large Outside Staterooms, Large Inside Staterooms, and Large Standard Staterooms.

Holland America Cruise Line schedules for Alaska cruises vary from year to year. The Alaska cruise season typically lasts from May through September with the exception of special expedition cruises. Cruises depart from Vancouver, Canada (the most popular departure port), Seattle, Washington, Seward (Anchorage) Alaska, and San Diego, California. Holland America Line offers 7-day, 10-day, 11-day, 12-day, and 14-day cruises ranging in price from $800 or so, depending on room type/view and length of cruise, up to $4,000 or more.

Holland America Line Alaskan cruises typically depart at 4 p.m. and return on the last day at 7 a.m. Standard Alaska cruises typically depart on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Wednesday. The departure day is up to you. For more information about current schedules, visit the official Holland America Line website.