Best Holland America Line Cruises 2022
During regular times cruise ships go around the world to every continent and to more countries and ports than you could count. Some cruise lines go to a few continents, others specialize in certain regions, and then other cruise lines – such as Holland America Line – travel to all seven continents on inventive and creative and also longer – cruises. Here’s a look at some of the best Holland America Line Cruises 2022.
Why Highlight The Best Cruises of 2022?
While the world navigated a pandemic cruise ships largely sat at anchor around the world waiting their turn. Cruising’s return to service has been one filled with challenges and it’s been a slow process. Although cruising has returned in major markets such as the UK and in the US the Caribbean and Alaska, as well as some markets in Europe and Singapore, these voyages are shorter (a week or less) and less exploratory and destination deep than cruises that are scheduled to be offered in 2022.
The cruises that are happening right now are incredible – it is wonderful that people are able to safely cruise again. Honestly, every ship that is in service right now deserves a “best” award because they are bringing some joy and hope back into the lives of so many. But, with the reduced number of ships sailing, and the restrictions, for a “best” post we wanted to look at a larger scope of available itineraries and ships.
Note: This post has been updated to reflect cancelled cruises for 2022.
What Does “Best” Mean and why Holland America Line?
For this post we dove into some of the longer itineraries offered by Holland America Line, the ones that are going into far off places and deeply exploring a region. Many of these itineraries feature convenient round-trip departures, and all are certain to capture your sense of wonder and exploration.
Many cruise lines are now offering longer more in depth voyages, but Holland America Line as a mainstream cruise line has been paving the way in this particular market for years. Holland America Line is known to deliver a high-quality cruise product and combined with it’s option for destination intensive itineraries and in general a more affordable price tag than other destination intensive cruise lines (many luxury lines offer very immersive itineraries), it seemed a good choice to start our adventure at looking at cruise destinations around the world.
Over time other cruise lines offering some incredible cruises will be highlighted on this blog as well.
And, while this post may be about the “best” cruises – best is subjective. For this post we’ve decided that “best” are longer itineraries visiting far off places – maybe this is our wanderlust getting the best of us! What might be best for someone may not be what’s best for you. One of the things that is so wonderful about cruising is that there are a multitude of cruise lines and cruises offered around the world and of varying lengths. There is a best cruise for everyone – even if it’s not one of these particular cruises. With cruising it is all about picking the cruise and cruise line that’s right for you. Once you’ve found that, that’s the “best” cruise!
Disclosure: Holland America Line is owned by Carnival Corporation, the writer of this article owns CCL stock. Additionally her husband is employed by one of the member lines of Carnival Corporation. This may implicitly bias her towards lines owned by Carnival Corporation.
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Tales of the South Pacific
The Tales of the South Pacific voyage is an incredible opportunity to visit an immense number of countries and islands in the South Pacific region without having to hop on a small plane in between each one.
This forty five day Itinerary will start with five days in Hawaii – including an overnight in Honolulu. After that it is crossing the pacific and the equator. In true ship tradition if you’ve never crossed the equator you are a pollywog, and once you cross it you are a shellback. On this itinerary you can expect to experience a King Neptune Ceremony honoring this age old sailors tradition.
The voyage will continue as it brings you to well known and sought out places like Bora Bora and Tahiti – each with an overnight stay for more in-depth exploration as well as smaller, less known islands like a perennial favorite – Dravuni Island in Fiji.
The itinerary additionally includes stops in American Samoa, Samoa, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Kiribati, as well as additional French Polynesian islands. This Tales of the South Pacific journey will leave you loving that island life and days in the sun.
Note: This voyage includes a lot of ports that need to be accessed by tender.
Tales of the South Pacific
Ship: Zuiderdam
Length of Voyage: 45 nights
Departure Port: San Diego, California
Departure Date: October 3rd, 2022
Prices From: $6,949
Australia Circumnavigation
Australia – land of koala’s, kangaroos, and a thousand species of spiders that can kill you. Australia has so much to offer – from beautiful cities like Sydney, to natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef. There is so much to explore in Australia and this cruise really gives you the opportunity to explore all of it.
Sailing roundtrip from Sydney, this cruise circumnavigates the continent. An incredible opportunity not to be missed.
Australia Circumnavigation
Ship: Noordam
Length of Voyage: 35 nights
Departure Port: Sydney, Australia
Departure Date: November 12nd, 2022
Voyage of the Vikings
One of the most popular cruises that is offered the Voyage of the Vikings takes guests roundtrip from Boston across the Northern Atlantic stopping in places like Iceland and Greenland before venturing into the Baltic region with an overnight stop in Rotterdam. Want to explore your viking heritage?
This itinerary can be done as a roundtrip out of Boston or Boston to Rotterdam or the reverse.
Voyage of the Vikings
Ship: Zaandam
Length of Voyage: 35 nights
Departure Port: Boston, Massachusetts
Departure Date: July 9th, 2022
Canada, New England, and Iceland
A Canada/New England cruise is my kind of cruise. Roundtrip out of Boston – an easy port to get in and out of – and taking you on a lovely and idyllic journey through places like Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. There are plenty of these itineraries out there amongst the cruise lines – but this one is special. Not only does this cruise bring you through the typical spots for a Canada/New England cruise – it heads further and explore Iceland.
A convenient 24 night itinerary leaving early August will get you out of the summer heat and give you incredible exploration opportunities.
Canada, New England, & Iceland
Ship: Nieuw Statendam
Length of Voyage: 24 nights
Departure Port: Boston, Massachusetts
Departure Date: August 3, 2022
Hawaii, Tahiti, & Marqueses
Dinner on Waikiki, exploring Tahiti, sailing the South Pacific. Is there anything more relaxing sounding? Sailing this region will transport you into another world and give you the calm and peace of mind you are looking for. A cruise to this region is an incredible opportunity to explore many islands without having to pack and unpack and hop on a small plane between each island.
Ship: Zuiderdam
Length of Voyage: 35 nights
Departure Port: San Diego, California
Departure Date: February 27, 2022
Amazon Explorer
Have you always wanted to explore the Amazon but didn’t have time for longer World Cruises or South American circumnavigations? This is the cruise for you. An incredible opportunity to explore the Amazon River on a relatively short (at least short for that kind of exploration) cruise of 28 days.
Amazon Explorer
Ship: Volendam
Length of Voyage: 28 days
Departure Port: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Departure Date: November 19th, 2022
Aegean Sunsets, & Mediterranean Romance
There is nothing quite like exploring the vibrant cities and ancient history of the Mediterranean. In every port and around every corner is history and beauty. A cruise in the Mediterranean should be on everyone’s list and this itinerary includes so much of the region giving you a taste of everything from Istanbul to Barcelona.
Explore the Parthenon in Athens and the Colosseum in Rome, Greek Islands, Croatia, explore the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul and then enjoy walking Las Ramblas in Barcelona.
Aegean Sunsets, & Mediterranean Romance
Ship: Oosterdam
Length of Voyage: 19 days
Departure Port: Piraeus, Greece
Departure Date: August 28, 2022
Spitsbergen & Icelandic Fjords Explorer
This cruise goes north. Cross into the arctic circle and then some. Sailing over the summer solstice in the land of the midnight sun you could go days with daylight.
Spitsbergen & Icelandic Fjords Explorer
Ship: Volendam
Length of Voyage: 21 days
Departure Port: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Departure Date: June 12, 2022
Holland America Line’s Grand Africa 2022
This is the last of the Grand Voyages from Holland America Line that hasn’t been cancelled yet for 2022. We’ll see how the year plays out but this one has the advantage of sailing towards the end of the year with a departure date of October 12th, 2022. If this itinerary sails it will be incredible – 71 days circumnavigating Africa. However, that will all depend on how open the world is by then.
A lot of people are hoping this itinerary sails – it’s already Sold Out! This brilliant itinerary includes stops in places like Casablanca, Cape Town, Zanzibar, the Seychelles, Walvis Bay and more.
Grand Africa 2022
Ship: Zaandam
Length of Voyage: 71 days
Departure Port: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Departure Date: October 12th, 2022
Grand South America & Antartica
Note: This voyage has been cancelled for 2022.
Photo courtesy of Christina. You can find more on Instagram @wanderingjayhawk
This voyage, holding the designation within Holland America Line as a Grand Voyage includes a full circumnavigation of the South American continent. As this voyage is leaving in the first half of the year and heading to countries still very much in the depths of the pandemic it seems likely that there will be itinerary adjustments as time goes on. Even if the itinerary changes a bit it’s going to be an incredible cruise.
This Grand Voyage will include a full transit of the Panama Canal and incredible opportunities to visit places such as Machu Picchu, Antartica, the Falkland Islands. Port calls include such popular locations as Buenos Aries, and the overnight stop in Rio de Janeiro coincides with Carnival. The ship will also sail up the Amazon river and stop at smaller, lesser known ports around the South American continent.
Having the designation of a “Grand” voyage with Holland America Line indicates that there will be certain additional events and perks for the guests. This often includes themed Gala nights, specialty dinners, free or included luggage shipping from home, additional cultural ambassadors, lecturers, and classes onboard, as well as Grand Voyage gifts.
Grand South America & Antartica
Ship: Volendam
Length of Voyage: 74 nights
Departure Port: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Departure Date: January 4, 2022
Itinerary Highlights:
Grand World Voyage 2022
Note: This voyage has been cancelled for 2022.
During normal times when navigating around the world – things change. Whether it be for weather patterns or political challenges. Add in a global pandemic and I have to say that I am 100% convinced that some portion of this itinerary will change. It should also be noted that other lines – such as Cunard – have already cancelled their World Cruises for next year so there is a chance that could happen here, too.
However, even if the itinerary changes, anyone onboard this voyage will have an incredible time. A World Cruise is an experience unlike most any out there. For more information on World Cruises, see this post and video about World Cruises 2022.
Grand World Voyage 2022
Ship: Zaandam
Length of Voyage: 128 days
Departure Port: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Departure Date: January 4, 2022
Itinerary Highlights: Amazon River, Panama Canal, Asia including stops in Japan and China for the Great Wall of China, Vietnam, Singapore, Petra, Jerusalem, Suez Canal, Greece
Any Cruise Can Be a Best Cruise… These Are Just a Few To Choose From
Any cruise can be a best cruise – whether it goes all around the world or if it is a few days in the Bahamas or everything in between.
Holland America Line features some of the most interesting and inventive itineraries exploring remote parts of the world. If you are interested in itinerary based travel, they are absolutely worth taking a look at.
