Holland America Line to return to Dover in 2027 as part of Europe programme

A third Holland America Line ship will be dedicated to sailing in northern Europe in 2027.

Zuiderdam will join Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam in the region while Oosterdam will continue as the line’s primary ship in the Mediterranean.

Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam will continue to homeport in Rotterdam, while Zuiderdam will cruise from Amsterdam.

Nieuw Statendam will return to Dover in 2027, with alternate itineraries for those wishing to sail roundtrip from the UK.  

Both Zuiderdam and Rotterdam will also offer departures from Reykjavik in Iceland.

Surveys of both current and prospective passengers show that nearly half of respondents rank northern Europe, including Iceland and Greenland, as one of the most appealing cruise destinations. A majority also rank fjord cruising as something of particular interest.

Destinations covered with departures between April and December 2027 include Scandinavia, Greenland, the Baltics and the British Isles.

Meanwhile, Oosterdam will operate 14 itineraries ranging from seven to 11 days in duration with departures from Barcelona, Piraeus, Trieste and Civitavecchia, the port for Rome.

Deployment and itinerary planning vice president Paul Grigsby said: "Northern Europe is extremely popular with our guests for the ports of call and stunning scenery.

“As a cruise line rooted in European heritage, we’re uniquely positioned to offer them one-of-a-kind explorations with an onboard experience that matches the region.

"The destinations in the region are some of our highest-rated - from standout ports in Norway like Eidfjord and Bergen and scenic cruising in Eyjafjörður, Iceland, to the UK’s Liverpool and Ireland’s Killybegs - this season provides guests more chances to experience everything Northern Europe has to offer."