Canada and New England Cruise Tourism Expands as Holland America Unveils Major 2028 Montréal Programme

Holland America Line has opened bookings for its 2028 Canada and New England cruise season, deploying Volendam and the transformed Zuiderdam between May and October 2028 across Montréal, Québec City, Atlantic Canada and New England as the cruise operator strengthens its regional programme with more round-trip Montréal sailings than any other cruise line. The season combines seven- to 14-day itineraries with longer Collectors’ Voyages, giving travellers greater access to historic cities, coastal communities, wildlife areas and major natural attractions across eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.

Montréal Moves to the Centre of Holland America’s 2028 Cruise Strategy

Montréal will hold a prominent position in the 2028 deployment. Holland America says its programme will feature more round-trip Montréal cruises than any competing cruise line, strengthening the Canadian city’s role as both a cruise gateway and destination. The wider season will offer departures from Montréal, Québec City, Boston, New York and Fort Lauderdale, creating a network of itineraries connecting major urban centres with smaller coastal destinations.

Holland America is able to operate deeper into the region with its mid-sized ships, including voyages along the St. Lawrence River and calls at ports that cannot accommodate some larger vessels. For Montréal and Québec, the programme has significance beyond cruise passenger numbers. Homeport and turnaround operations can generate demand for accommodation, airport transfers, restaurants, attractions and pre- or post-cruise stays, expanding the economic footprint of cruise tourism beyond the port itself.

Volendam and Zuiderdam to Lead Six-Month Cruise Season

The 2028 Canada and New England season will operate from May through October, providing a broad cruising window covering spring, summer and the region’s high-profile autumn foliage period. Volendam and Zuiderdam will operate the programme. Standard itineraries will range from seven to 14 days, while longer Collectors’ Voyages will allow travellers to combine journeys for more extensive exploration.

Several itineraries will also provide additional destination time. Selected voyages are scheduled to include late-night stays in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and Saint John, New Brunswick, while some cruises will include overnight stays in Québec City. This approach increases the amount of time passengers can spend ashore and potentially broadens tourism expenditure across dining, sightseeing, retail, transport and organised excursions.

Longer Voyages Push Deeper Into Atlantic Canada

Beyond the core seven-day programme, Holland America will operate longer itineraries connecting some of eastern North America’s most important cruise destinations. A 10-day Québec and Newfoundland voyage is scheduled to travel from Montréal to Boston on 7 June 2028, with calls including St. Anthony, St. John’s and Corner Brook.

Another 10-day itinerary, New France and Newfoundland, is scheduled from Boston to Montréal on 19 August. The programme also includes 11-day Maritimes and New France voyages, sailing round-trip from Montréal on 27 May and 29 August. Longer repositioning options further connect Canada with the US East Coast. A 14-day Atlantic and Colonial New England itinerary will travel from Fort Lauderdale to Montréal from 13 May, while a 14-day Atlantic Coast and Québec voyage aboard Zuiderdam is scheduled from Québec City to Fort Lauderdale from 14 October.

Transformed Zuiderdam Makes Regional Debut

An important product development for the season will be the arrival of Zuiderdam following its Holland America Evolution transformation. The ship will become the first post-Evolution Holland America vessel to operate in Canada and New England. The programme forms part of what the company describes as the largest fleet investment in its 153-year history.

Changes aboard Zuiderdam include new Solo Verandah staterooms, aimed at travellers cruising independently, and Bridgeview Suites featuring forward-facing panoramic views. The ship will also receive the Grand Dutch Café, alongside refurbished accommodation, redesigned guest areas and other enhancements influenced by features found aboard the line’s newer Pinnacle Class vessels. Its deployment therefore adds a fleet-modernisation component to Holland America’s wider destination strategy in eastern North America.

National Parks and UNESCO Sites Strengthen Destination Appeal

The programme is structured around more than port-to-port transportation. Holland America says its Canada and New England voyages provide access to five national parks and seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, giving the itineraries a significant nature and heritage component. Potential experiences extend from the cultural landscapes of Montréal and Québec City to the maritime communities and rugged coastlines of Atlantic Canada and Newfoundland.

Wildlife is another important part of the regional tourism proposition. Depending on location and season, travellers may have opportunities to see beluga whales around Saguenay Fjord, while humpback, fin and minke whales inhabit waters around Atlantic Canada. Puffins are also associated with Newfoundland’s coastline. These attractions strengthen the region’s position in nature-based and experiential cruise tourism, particularly for travellers looking beyond conventional city-focused itineraries.

Atlantic Canada Gains Wider Tourism Exposure

The deployment also creates opportunities for destinations across Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Québec. Cruise calls can distribute international visitors beyond major gateways into smaller coastal communities where tourism businesses depend heavily on seasonal demand.

Ports including Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Saint John and destinations in Newfoundland can consequently benefit from excursion activity and passenger spending, while Montréal and Québec City function as important gateways into the wider regional network. For the travel trade, the variety of itinerary lengths also creates products suited to different market segments, ranging from week-long holidays to longer destination-intensive journeys.

Regional Cuisine Extends the Destination Experience Onboard

Holland America is additionally using food and entertainment to connect the onboard product with destinations visited ashore. Its Canada and New England programming incorporates regional ingredients and dishes associated with the destinations, including Atlantic seafood, Maine lobster, Prince Edward Island mussels and Québec cheeses.

The strategy reflects a wider cruise-industry emphasis on destination immersion, where regional culture is incorporated into the ship experience rather than being limited to shore excursions. This approach is particularly relevant in Atlantic Canada and New England, where seafood, maritime culture, French Canadian heritage and historic coastal communities form a significant part of destination identity.

2028 Programme Extends Canada and New England Cruise Momentum

The 2028 announcement builds on Holland America’s established presence in the region. Its 2026 programme already deployed Volendam and Zuiderdam on Canada and New England routes, including cruises linking Boston with Montréal and Québec City as well as longer Atlantic Canada itineraries. The 2028 deployment advances that strategy through a stronger Montréal focus, extended destination stays and the introduction of a transformed Zuiderdam. Bookings for the season are now open, with eligible cruises available under Holland America’s Have It All Early Booking Bonus, subject to applicable terms and availability.

For Canada and New England tourism, the programme represents a substantial forward commitment covering six months of cruise operations. Its combination of Montréal homeport activity, Atlantic Canadian calls, longer Newfoundland itineraries, upgraded ship capacity and extended stays gives destinations multiple opportunities to capture visitor expenditure. As cruise operators increasingly compete through destination depth rather than simply ship size, Holland America’s 2028 schedule places Montréal, Québec City, Atlantic Canada and New England firmly at the centre of its North American regional cruise offering.