Holland America Line opened bookings for 2026-2027 Panama Canal and Hawaii Cruises. The voyages, ranging from 14 to 28 days, will sail aboard six ships with departures from five convenient North American homeports.
In a press statement, Holland America Line says that the new itineraries bring visitors to UNESCO World Heritage sites and exciting ports, as well as provide opportunities to celebrate Thanksgiving in Honolulu.
The statement adds that visitors seeking to transiting the Panama Canal can choose from twelve voyages, ranging from 14 to 21 days, providing options for those seeking shorter or longer vacations. Cruises are aboard Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Zuiderdam, and start or end in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Seattle, Washington; San Diego, California; or Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“It’s easy to understand why the Panama Canal — one of the engineering wonders of the modern world — is on the top of so many of our guests’ bucket lists. Each cruise will transit the historic canal, giving guests a front row seat to the fascinating operation of locomotives that guide the ships through the locks. And not only will these itineraries that allow guests to not only experience a once-in-a-lifetime transit of the canal, but they also include exciting ports of call in both North and Latin America,” says Paul Grigsby, Vice President of Deployment, Revenue Planning and Analytics for Holland America Line.
The statement adds that visitors can choose a 21-Day Panama Canal sailing from Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale aboard Nieuw Amsterdam. Visitors will be able to experience 11 ports in eight countries and have the chance to visit multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Joya de Ceren Archaeological site in El Salvador for a glimpse of Mayan life. The cruise also includes a call to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas.
The cruise line says that on select Panama Canal itineraries, visitors can visit Acapulco, Mexico, with Holland America Line for the first time in nearly 15 years. The port, nearly 500 years old, is the gateway to stunning beaches, ancient ruins and culinary delights.
It adds that for travellers seeking the world-famous beaches of Hawaii, Holland America Line offers the choice of six itineraries ranging from 17 to 28 days. The cruises sail aboard Koningsdam, Noordam and Zaandam, and start or end in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Seattle, Washington; or San Diego, California.
Each cruise to Hawaii features onboard programming to help visitors further immerse in the destination, including talks and performances from cultural ambassadors, as well as the chance to participate in hands-on activities like hula dancing and ukelele lessons.
For a more unique onboard experience, visitors hoping to start new Thanksgiving traditions can embark on Zaandam, sailing roundtrip from San Diego.
On Nov. 19, the ship will embark on an 18-Day Circle Hawaii Holiday cruise taking visitors to five ports in Hawaii as well as a stop in Ensenada, Mexico. Those on board will arrive in Honolulu early on the morning of Thanksgiving Day and will enjoy an overnight call in Hawaii’s capital city before heading to Hilo.
“Sailing with Holland America for the holidays provides a delightful and stress-free way to celebrate. We take pride in transforming our ships into a home-away-from-home during this festive season. Our unique onboard experiences, coupled with visits to extraordinary destinations like Hawaii, are sure to create cherished holiday memories for years to come,” says Michael Stendebach, Vice President of Food, Beverage, and Room Division for Holland America Line.
