9 Reasons I Fell in Love with Holland America Line

I’m currently onboard Nieuw Statendam and, honestly, I’m smitten.

At this point, I’ve tried pretty much all of the major cruise lines. But for some reason, I’d omitted to try Holland America. What a mistake that was!

Holland America Line might not shout the loudest in the cruise world. And to be honest, I didn’t fully understand what made them unique. But once you’ve sailed with this underrated cruise line, you understand why loyal cruisers return again and again.

I was invited to spend a week onboard Nieuw Statendam as she sailed from Rotterdam to Reykjavik. As always, my opinions are my own and the cruise line has no control over my content.

This cruise has surpassed all my expectations, and then some. So, read on to discover why I fell for this elegant, quietly confident cruise line…

1. The proud Dutch heritage

Holland America Line has been sailing since 1873, when it was a shipping line between the Netherlands and America. Over the decades it evolved from carrying immigrants and cargo across the Atlantic to offering premium leisure cruises all over the world – while keeping its Dutch roots firmly at the heart of the brand.

One of my favourite spots onboard Nieuw Statendam is the Grand Dutch Café, where you can treat yourself to Dutch specialities like friet (chips with mayo and peanut sauce), Dutch poffertjes (pancakes), bitterballen (breaded meatballs) and stroopwafels (caramel biscuits).

The captain and many of the senior officers are Dutch and the announcements are made in English first, then Dutch. Everything else is English though so you really don’t need to be a Dutch speaker to enjoy a cruise with this line!

2. Friendly faces everywhere

Holland America Line’s crew are genuinely warm and attentive – the kind who remember your name and your favourite drink.

Even the passengers seem friendlier than on other cruise lines. While the nationality of the guests varies depending on the destinations, on this cruise there’s a mix of Americans and Dutch people, with a few Brits, Australians and other Europeans too.

I’ve found that most Dutch people speak perfect English and are happy to chat.

I heard that Holland America attracts an older clientele, but in my experience the other guests aren’t any older than cruise passengers tend to be. There’s a mix of all ages, with couples aged 50 to 70 making up the majority.

3. Easy departures from the UK and Netherlands

Holland America Line offers cruises all over the world with a fleet of eleven ships. So whether you want a long and exotic adventure, or just a a week away, there’s something for you.

Because HAL’s ships are mid-sized, they can often reach ports that mega-ships can’t. That means charming fjord towns in Norway, smaller Mediterranean islands, and even rare British Isles stops.

Many of the cruises depart from Amsterdam or Rotterdam. These are very easy to fly to from the UK, and both great places to spend a couple of days before or after your cruise.

But, if you live in the UK, you can skip the airport queues entirely and hop on a cruise from Dover – Nieuw Statendam is offering roundtrips from there in 2025 and 2026.

4. Perfect for solo travellers

Holland America Line offers solo cabins on the three Pinnacle ships, so you’re not paying for space you don’t need.

They also host solo traveller meetups early in the cruise, making it easy to meet people if you’d like to socialise. I attended one of these on my cruise and met some wonderful people of all ages and from all walks of life. We even had dinner together afterwards.

5. Surprisingly good for families

Holland America Line might have a reputation for attracting an older crowd, but don’t let that fool you – they do family cruising really well.

The Club HAL kids’ programme and the teen space offer plenty to keep younger cruisers happy, with games, movies and social events.

In the evenings, the High Score! teen area open up to everyone, so the whole family can battle it out over air hockey or arcade games. This space is incredible, with lots of video games, pinball machines, air hocky, a giant table football station and so much more.

I love that younger kids are welcome too and my eight and ten year old would absolutely love being allowed to use this space, with or without their parents!

Just how good Holland America is for kids seems to be something of a secret – and honestly, I’m a little nervous to tell you as I don’t want everyone to know!

I cruised in the school holidays in August and saw barely any children onboard at all. If you’ve ever taken a cruise that’s marketed towards families in August – you’ll really appreciate the contrast here.

Unlike most cruise ships, Holland America Line’s newest Pinnacle-class ships (that’s Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam) all have dedicated family rooms that sleep five people with two bathrooms!

It’s so refreshing is that you won’t find hordes of kids on board in peak school holidays. Without the giant waterslides and cartoon mascots that draw big crowds elsewhere, the vibe stays calm – pools are peaceful, corridors are quiet, and there’s space to breathe.

For parents, that means a holiday that’s as relaxing for you as it is exciting for the kids. And if you’re a teacher wanting to escape other people’s children for a while – this cruise line is a great choice!

Keep your eye out for the occasional ‘Kids Cruise Free’ offers, but know that he kids prices are always pretty good.

I priced up a two-week cruise for my family in August 2027, and the kids’ prices came in at less than 20% of the adult fares, which is fantastic!

6. Food that hits the spot

Dining is where Holland America really shines. The main dining room on Nieuw Statendam is one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve ever seen. The sweeping staircase, curved balconies and warm golden lighting is just stunning.

I also love the Lido Market buffet which has so much choice. Everything is clearly labelled and tastes delicious. There are plenty of crew members on hand to top up your coffee or bring some orange juice to your table for you.

There are more casual options too, like the poolside café Dive-In, which serves gourmet burgers, hot dogs and loaded fries (vegan and gluten-free options included too), and the New York Deli & Pizza bar which is open from breakfast until bed time.

Speciality dining is exceptional – from steak and seafood at Pinnacle Grill to Asian fusion at Tamarind, French-inspired plates at Rudi’s Sel de Mer, and homely Italian at Canaletto.

And then there’s 24-hour room service, which is still free, because HAL refuses to let classic cruise perks vanish.

7. Live music every night

Music isn’t just background noise on Holland America – it’s a major part of the onboard experience.

Onboard Nieuw Statendam, The Music Walk on deck 2 offers four distinct venues:

• B.B. King’s Blues Club for soulful, high-energy sets
• Billboard Onboard for duelling pianos and crowd singalongs
• Rolling Stone Lounge for classic hits performed live
• Ocean Bar for soloists in a cosy atmosphere

Whether you’re sipping a nightcap or dancing in your seat, the atmosphere is infectious and the variety of performers is incredible – they’re all super talented.

Nieuw Statendam’s décor is inspired by the “architecture of music” – there’s musical-inspired artwork everywhere you turn. Taking the stairs has never been so much fun with the incredible pieces to admire on each floor!

8. The World Stage

On the Pinnacle-class ships, the World Stage wraps the audience in a 270-degree LED screen. It’s immersive, it’s high-tech, and it makes every performance feel amazing.

When you’re listening to a lecture, you’re also watching, as the huge screens give so much information. And for live performances such as dancers, acrobats and magicians, you feel as though you’re right there with them, as the stage is in the centre and at a relatively low level.

9. The “Have It All” package is actually good value

Cruise packages can be hit or miss, but HAL’s Have It All deal is genuinely worth a look.

For $60 per person, per day, you get:

• Signature Beverage Package – Covering a wide range of drinks
• Shore Excursion Credit – $100 on up to 9 days, $200 on 10-20 days and $300 on 21+ days
• Speciality Dining – 1 meal up to 9 days, 2 meals 10-20 days and 3 meals on 21+ days
• Surf Wi-Fi Package

Given that the drink package costs $51 per day anyway, if you’re thinking of getting that then the Have It All deal is totally worth it. Book it before you cruise though, as once onboard it costs $70 per day rather than $60.

Look out for other deals that you can combine with this too, like free prepaid crew appreciation, free kids fares and low deposits.

Final word

Holland America Line doesn’t try to be everything to everyone – and that’s exactly why it works. Elegant ships, genuine service and thoughtful extras make it feel special without being stuffy.

Whether you’re a solo traveller, a couple, or a family looking for calm sea days, Holland America is definitely worth a spot on your cruise shortlist.

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• Holland America Ships Ranked From Best To Worst By Real Customer Reviews
• Holland America’s Club Orange Perks – Worth It or Not?
• Why Holland America is Europe’s Best-Kept Cruise Secret