Holland America cruises to Alaska: ships, routes and Glacier Bay

Why pick Holland America for Alaska

Holland America has been sailing to Alaska since 1947, and 2027 is its 80th year there. It is one of only six lines the National Park Service lists as authorized to take cruise ships into Glacier Bay National Park, and the line says it holds more Glacier Bay permits than any other. On Glacier Bay days a Park Service ranger comes aboard to narrate.

The ships are the other reason. Holland America’s Alaska fleet runs from the 1,400-guest Zaandam to the 2,650-guest Koningsdam, smaller than the big ships Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Princess send north. That means more room at the rail on glacier day and a quieter feel on board. Evenings are about live music, lectures and dinner rather than shows and clubs. The line’s Alaska program adds a wildlife expert on board and “Alaska Up Close” talks with local speakers.

Holland America also backs every Alaska cruise with a Glacier Guarantee: if the ship doesn’t visit a glacier, you get a future cruise credit worth 15% of your fare.

For the wider picture, see our Alaska cruise guide, how the line ranks in our best cruise lines for Alaska, and the full Holland America Line guide.

Holland America ships in Alaska for 2026 and 2027

The same six ships sail Alaska in both 2026 and 2027: Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam. The 2026 season opened in late April with Eurodam in Seattle, with more than 100 voyages across the six ships. Here is how they are deployed in 2027.

• EurodamSignature class, about 2,100 guests7-day Alaska Explorer round trips from Seattle that include Glacier Bay.
• NoordamVista class, about 1,920 guestsThe long-trip ship: 7-day Alaska Explorer and Great Bear Rainforest trips, the 14-day Great Alaska Explorer and the 28-day Arctic Circle voyage, all from Seattle.
• KoningsdamPinnacle class, about 2,650 guestsThe newest ship in the Alaska lineup: 7-day Alaska Inside Passage round trips from Vancouver.
• ZaandamR class, about 1,430 guestsThe smallest ship: 7-day Inside Passage round trips from Vancouver.
• Nieuw AmsterdamSignature class, about 2,100 guests7-day Glacier Discovery one-ways between Vancouver and Whittier, the cruise half of most cruisetours.
• WesterdamVista class, about 1,920 guestsGlacier Discovery one-ways between Vancouver and Whittier.

The routes above are the 2027 plan from Holland America’s announcement. In 2026 some roles were different (Noordam, for example, sailed the Glacier Discovery one-ways), so check the ship on the itinerary page for your exact date.

Which Holland America Alaska cruise to book

7-day Alaska Explorer, round trip from Seattle. Calls at Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, with a stop in Victoria, British Columbia, on the way back. The glacier day depends on the ship: Eurodam’s 2027 trips include Glacier Bay (plus Icy Strait Point), while Noordam’s 2027 Alaska Explorer sailings visit Dawes Glacier instead. This is the easiest option: no one-way flights. Holland America uses Smith Cove (Pier 91); see our Seattle cruise port guide for parking and transfers.

7-day Alaska Inside Passage, round trip from Vancouver. Koningsdam and Zaandam, calling at Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. Holland America’s Inside Passage itinerary page lists Glacier Bay on these round trips, with Tracy Arm on some dates. New for 2027 there’s also an 8-day round trip from Vancouver that adds Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and a Glacier Bay day. Start here if you live closer to Vancouver or want the newest ship. See our Vancouver cruise port guide.

7-day Glacier Discovery, Vancouver to Whittier (or the reverse). Both directions call at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway and include Glacier Bay. Northbound adds College Fjord; southbound adds Hubbard Glacier. Ending at Whittier, near Anchorage, is what lets you add a land tour. You’ll need an open-jaw flight and a passport.

Longer voyages from Seattle and Vancouver. Noordam’s 14-day Great Alaska Explorer and 7-day Great Bear Rainforest trip, Zaandam’s 18-day Great Bear Rainforest & Alaska Explorer round trip from Vancouver (with Kodiak and an overnight in Anchorage), and the 28-day Legendary Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice voyage, which leaves Seattle on June 6, 2027. They suit retirees and repeat Alaska cruisers who’d rather add sea days than fly.

Holland America’s Alaska ports also include Icy Strait Point and Klawock on some trips, and the line sells more than 175 shore excursions in Alaska.

Cruisetours: Denali and the Yukon

A Holland America cruisetour pairs a Glacier Discovery cruise with land days, for 9 to 17 days in total. Every one includes one to three nights at the line’s own Holland America Denali Lodge, a Denali National Park tour and the McKinley Explorer train. Some go further into the Yukon, with Dawson City and the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, which is the main difference from Princess. The Ultimate Alaska & Denali cruisetours include two nights at the Denali Lodge, a dedicated tour director and a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

Book the land part together with the cruise. The cruise direction decides whether you do land days before or after the ship, and lodge space in July is limited. The Glacier Guarantee covers most cruisetours too, but not a handful of Yukon cruisetours that have no glacier day.

Holland America vs Princess in Alaska

The two are sister companies and the closest rivals in Alaska. Princess has more ships (eight in 2027), more departures and five lodges; Holland America has smaller, quieter ships, the Yukon cruisetours and longer voyages up to 28 days. Both go to Glacier Bay. See the Princess Alaska guide and Holland America vs Princess.

Sample Holland America Alaska sailings

Sample Holland America Alaska sailings, 2027. From-prices per person, checked September 2026.

Departs	Line and ship	Nights	Itinerary	From	Link
May 15, 2027	Holland America Line, Eurodam	7	7 Night Alaska Cruise (from Seattle, Washington)	$569	Check price
May 23, 2027	Holland America Line, Nieuw Amsterdam	7	7 Night Alaska Cruise (from Whittier, Alaska)	$564	Check price
Sep 25, 2027	Holland America Line, Eurodam	7	7 Night Alaska Cruise (from Seattle, Washington)	$914	Check price

Holland America Alaska FAQ

Does Holland America go to Glacier Bay?

Yes. It is one of six lines authorized by the National Park Service to enter Glacier Bay, and says it holds more permits than any other line. Eurodam’s Seattle round trips and the Glacier Discovery one-ways include it. Some other sailings visit Hubbard Glacier instead, so check the itinerary for your date.

What is the best Holland America ship for Alaska?

Koningsdam, the newest and largest in the Alaska fleet, if you want the most dining and music venues. Eurodam if you want Glacier Bay on a Seattle round trip. For a cruisetour, pick Nieuw Amsterdam or Westerdam on the Glacier Discovery route. Zaandam suits people who prefer a small ship.

When does the Holland America Alaska season run?

From April to September. The 2026 season began in late April in Seattle, and 2027 runs from April through September. See our Alaska guide for what each month is like.

What if my flight is delayed before a Holland America Alaska cruise?

The ship won’t wait for a late flight, so fly in the day before, especially for a one-way trip starting in Whittier or Vancouver. If you book air through Holland America’s Flight Ease program, Late Arrival Protection is included: when an airline delay means you’ll miss embarkation, the line arranges flights to join the ship at the next suitable port at no extra cost. If you book your own flights, travel insurance that covers missed departures is worth having.

Do I need a passport for a Holland America Alaska cruise?

U.S. citizens on a round trip from Seattle can use a birth certificate and government photo ID. For round trips from Vancouver and one-way Glacier Discovery cruises, bring a passport. See our no-passport cruise guide.