Holland America Line Is Sailing 48 'Heritage Cruises' to Celebrate Its 150th Anniversary
Holland America Line is drawing from onboard traditions and visiting ports with historic importance to the brand for these 48 special sailings.
Courtesy of Holland America Line
Holland America Line is retracing its long history with a series of heritage sailings in honor of the cruise line’s 150th anniversary next year.
To celebrate the milestone, the cruise line will revisit historic ports of call around the world in Alaska, northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and more, Holland America exclusively shared with Travel + Leisure. The 48 cruises will also include special onboard experiences like Dutch high tea served with treats specially made for the heritage voyages and a historic happy hour with prices and drinks to match (think: cocktails for less than $1).
Courtesy of Holland America Line
“As a beloved company that’s been around for 150 years, these special Heritage Cruises allow us to continue celebrating Holland America Line with our guests in a meaningful way,” Gus Antorcha, the president of Holland America Line, said in a statement provided to T+L. “We have a deep connection to ports around the world, and we’re excited to show how each highlighted destination has shaped our brand.”
The cruise will kick off with a 14-Day South America Passage cruise from Buenos Aires.
Overall, the heritage cruises will stop in 56 historic ports, including in Sitka and Skagway in Alaska; in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Rome, and Lisbon in Europe; in St. Thomas and San Juan in the Caribbean; in Honolulu and Maui in Hawaii; in Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland in Australia and New Zealand; and more.
Courtesy of Holland America Line
On board the heritage cruises, travelers can enjoy classic Dutch games like an egg walk or Sjoelen, a tabletop shuffleboard game, as well as sip 150th 'De Lijn' gin cocktails, enjoy a 150th Martini for just 75 cents, and sit down to a Captain's Gala Dinner complete with classic dishes pulled from previous Holland America Line menus.
Passengers will also be treated to “This Day in History” announcements and receive special port fact sheets for each heritage port.
Holland America’s official 150th anniversary will take place on April 18, 2023. The company first started as a shipping and passenger line called the Netherlands-American Steamship Company.
Courtesy of Holland America Line
Additionally, Holland America is sailing special transatlantic cruises for its anniversary. The first, which took place in October, recreated the company’s first sailing by crossing the Atlantic Ocean (before Holland America even incorporated). The second, which will sail on April 3, will leave Florida and spend eight days crossing the Atlantic, eventually arriving on the cruise line's anniversary, April 18, back in the Netherlands.
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