Holland America Line unveils 2025-2026 Panama Canal and Hawaii cruises

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Holland America Line has opened bookings for its 2025-2026 Panama Canal and Hawaii cruises. The renowned premium cruise line, famous for its extended and destination-focused voyages, will offer departures from five North American homeports on five ships.

This season’s highlights include new ports, various ways to transit the Panama Canal, and Nieuw Amsterdam’s debut in Hawaii. The six different Panama Canal cruises offer several firsts: Acajutla, El Salvador, has been added as a port on most Panama Canal sailings. Guests can also experience the transit through the canal aboard the Pinnacle-Class ship Koningsdam for the first time. Departures from Miami are new this season for those looking to transit the canal aboard Zuiderdam. The voyages range from 15 to 22 days, providing options for both shorter and longer vacations.

“We know a Panama Canal transit is a once-in-a-lifetime experience many of our guests are seeking, and by adding Acajutla to select voyages, we’re making it even more memorable. Guests can discover the ‘Pompeii of the Americas’ with a shore excursion to Joya de Cerén archaeological site, where they’ll explore a Mayan farming village remarkably preserved under volcanic ash,” said Beth Bodensteiner, Holland America Line’s chief commercial officer. “With four different departure cities, there are so many different ways to experience the Panama Canal aboard one of our ships.

In Hawaii, Nieuw Amsterdam will make its debut, offering roundtrip itineraries from San Diego, California. Joining the ship on island-hopping adventures will be Koningsdam and Zaandam, with nearly all trips including an overnight stay in Honolulu, the iconic capital of Hawaii. The Panama Canal and Hawaii cruises will be available from October 2025 through April 2026, lasting from 15 to 22 days.

These cruises showcase a blend of natural and man-made wonders, featuring cascading waterfalls, ancient Mayan ruins, and the famous locks of the Panama Canal. Shore excursions are designed to be culturally immersive, showcasing the natural beauty and rich history of the destinations. Onboard cuisine highlights local flavors, including golden pineapple, Pacific mahi-mahi, fresh homemade salsa, and other regional specialties sourced directly from the ports.

Key Points for the 2025-2026 Panama Canal Cruise Season:

• Panama Canal cruises will be aboard Eurodam, Koningsdam, and Zuiderdam.
• Cruises will start or end in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Seattle, Washington; San Diego, California; or Miami or Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
• During the Panama Canal transit, guests will experience a daylight passage, accompanied by commentary on the open decks, providing fascinating insights into the engineering marvel of this man-made wonder.
• Itineraries offer a duration spanning from 15 to 22 days, encompassing stops in diverse destinations such as Aruba, California, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, and Turks and Caicos.
• Certain cruises present the flexibility of multiple embarkation or disembarkation options, including routes like Fort Lauderdale to San Diego, Seattle, or Vancouver.
• Handpicked sailings will incorporate a visit to Acajutla, marking a new addition to Holland America Line’s port repertoire. Here, guests can partake in enriching excursions to impeccably preserved Mayan ruins, volcanic landscapes, and cacao plantations, while also offering opportunities to explore further into El Salvador, including San Salvador and Nahuizalco.
• Many Panama Canal cruises will include a stop at Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s award-winning private island in the Bahamas.

Key Points for the 2025-2026 Hawaii Cruise Season:

• Cruises to Hawaii will be aboard Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, and Zaandam, with Nieuw Amsterdam making its first season in Hawaii.
• Guests on Nieuw Amsterdam can savor the culinary delights of the ship’s latest restaurant, Morimoto by Sea. Meanwhile, those aboard Koningsdam or Zaandam can indulge in the restaurant’s menu during exclusive pop-up dinners.
• Itineraries will include roundtrip options from San Diego, roundtrip from Vancouver, or from Vancouver to San Diego.
• The 17-day “Circle Hawaii” itinerary from Vancouver to San Diego will include stops at Nawiliwili, Kahului, Hilo, Honolulu (overnight), and Kona. The The 17-day roundtrip from San Diego will include either an overnight stay or a late departure from Honolulu, along with a stop in Ensenada, Mexico, and visits to other Hawaiian ports like Kona and Kahului.

The 18-day “Circle Hawaii” cruise, offered as a roundtrip from either San Diego or Vancouver, will visit Kahului, Hilo, Honolulu (overnight), Nawiliwili, and Kona. The roundtrip from San Diego will also include a stop in Ensenada, while the roundtrip from Vancouver will add Victoria, Canada, to its itinerary.

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