Is Holland America a good cruise line? Our 2026–2027 review

Holland America scorecard

Our verdict in one line: Holland America is the best traditional cruise line among the big names, strongest in Alaska and on longer voyages, and weakest on what the base fare covers. It ranks sixth in our cruise line rankings and is a close second to Princess in our best cruise lines for Alaska.

Strengths

• Alaska. Holland America has sailed Alaska since 1947. It is one of only six lines the National Park Service lets into Glacier Bay, and it pairs one-way Glacier Discovery cruises with land tours to its own Denali Lodge and on to Dawson City in the Yukon. For 2027 it sends six ships, from April to September, on trips of 7 to 28 days from Seattle, Vancouver and Whittier. See our Holland America Alaska guide.
• Mid-size, uncrowded ships. No ship carries more than about 2,670 guests, so decks and lounges feel calmer than on the mega-ships. That matters most on scenic sailings.
• Live music and lectures. Evenings lean toward live-music venues and talks rather than big production shows and clubs.
• Longer voyages. Panama Canal crossings, Europe from spring to autumn, fall foliage sailings from Boston and Montreal, and the Grand World Voyage each January.
• A simple upgrade path. The Have It All package bundles the Signature Beverage Package, Surf Wi-Fi, one to three specialty dinners and a shore excursion credit (both scale with the length of the cruise) and prepaid crew appreciation for one per-day price.

Weaknesses

• Less included than it looks. The base fare covers meals, shows and activities, but drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and the daily crew appreciation charge are extra unless you book Have It All or a promotion covers them. Compare totals, not headline fares.
• Little for young kids and teens. There is a youth program, but nothing like the waterslides and kids’ areas on Disney, Royal Caribbean or Carnival.
• Quiet evenings. If you want late bars and a party crowd, look elsewhere.
• An ageing middle of the fleet. The four Vista-class ships date from 2002 to 2006 and the two R-class ships from 1999 and 2000. No new ship is on order, so the Pinnacle trio (2016 to 2021) stays the newest for now.
• The package has limits. Have It All’s drinks carry a per-drink price cap and a daily limit of 15, and a cruise of four to nine nights gets just one specialty dinner, so it pays off mainly if you drink daily and would book excursions anyway.

Holland America Alaska cruise reviews: how it compares

Alaska is where most people first consider Holland America, so it’s worth being specific. Against Princess, its closest rival and sister company, Holland America has fewer ships and dates in Alaska but a quieter onboard feel; Princess wins on choice and its larger lodge network near Denali. Against Norwegian and Royal Caribbean, it has far less to do on sea days but more Glacier Bay access. Against Carnival and MSC, it usually costs more from Seattle. The full comparison is in our Holland America vs Princess page, and round-trip options are in the Seattle cruise port guide.

Who it suits

• Couples and older travelers who want a calm ship, a traditional dinner and live music afterwards. It leads our best cruise lines for seniors.
• Multi-generation groups where grandparents set the pace and older kids are happy with port days.
• Alaska first-timers who want Glacier Bay and a Denali land tour booked through one company.
• Travelers with time for 10-plus nights, a Panama Canal crossing or a grand voyage. Holiday sailings appear in our Christmas and New Year cruise picks.

It doesn’t suit families with young children (see our best family cruises), groups looking for nightlife, or anyone who wants a nearly all-inclusive fare. For more included food at a higher price, see our Oceania review.

Which Holland America ship to pick

For most people, one of the Pinnacle-class ships: Rotterdam (2021), Nieuw Statendam (2018) or Koningsdam (2016). They are the newest and have the most dining and music venues. The Signature-class Nieuw Amsterdam and Eurodam are a good middle ground. Choose an older Vista- or R-class ship when it runs the itinerary you want. The full fleet is in our Holland America cruises guide.

Holland America review FAQ

Is Holland America a good cruise line?

Yes, for couples, older travelers and multi-generation groups who want a calm, mid-size ship and strong itineraries, especially in Alaska. It’s not a good pick for young families or nightlife, and its base fare includes less than some rivals.

Is Holland America good for Alaska?

Yes. It has sailed Alaska since 1947, holds Glacier Bay access that most lines don’t, and runs its own Denali Lodge for land tours. We rank it a close second to Princess, which has more ships and dates in Alaska.

Is Holland America good for families?

For families with older children who enjoy port days, it works. For young kids, Disney, Royal Caribbean and Carnival have far more to do on board.

Is Holland America's Have It All package worth it?

If you drink every day, want Wi-Fi and would book a couple of excursions anyway, usually yes, because it also prepays crew appreciation. If you drink little and explore ports on your own, the base fare plus a few extras often costs less.

Is Holland America better than Princess?

For a quieter ship and a slower pace, yes. Princess has more ships, more Alaska dates and more for families. See Holland America vs Princess.

Are these Holland America cruise reviews based on passenger ratings?

No. This is our editorial review, graded on the criteria in how we rate cruises and based on Holland America’s own fleet, itinerary and fare pages. We don’t publish star ratings or passenger scores.