Holland America Line Shifts Focus to Longer Sailings, Even in the Caribbean

For 2024/25, Holland America is introducing a number of longer Caribbean cruises, including options from Boston and the line’s return to Bermuda. The longer itineraries are part of the line’s new focus on longer sailings that HAL president Gus Antorcha spoke to press about during a press conference onboard Nieuw Amsterdam last week.

“Deployment is very much something we’re focused on,” he said. “We’re evolving and we’re spending more time thinking about what our guests want and how do we become more differentiated. In that vein, our guests have told us they love longer voyages. They not only told us in surveys but as we developed these longer, more unique voyages, we see it sell. And that ultimately is the best proof point, what people actually do.”

In the Caribbean, in 2023, the line has increased its 12-day capacity by 41%.

It’s a move, the line is doubling down on for 2024/25, adding three new voyages that are 14 and 21 days.

“With sailings covering the entire region and combinable itineraries up to 35 days, our Caribbean cruises extend to lesser-visited islands and are among the most diverse in the industry,” Antorcha said.

From October 2024 through March 2025, Holland America will operate six ships in the Caribbean with the majority of itineraries roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. Two of the new itineraries, however, depart from Boston. On select itineraries, evening departures from Puerto Rico, Curacao, St. Maarten, and Aruba mean more time in port and the chance to experience local nightlife.

New & Notable
New for 2024 is the 21-day “Perfect Caribbean Escape” cruise that departs roundtrip from Boston aboard Zuiderdam. Departing Oct. 19, the sailing includes a partial Panama Canal transit and calls in Bermuda, Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk, Curacao, Aruba, Cartagena, Colon (Panama), Puerto Limon, Port Canaveral, and Bimini.

Following this 21-day journey, Zuiderdam will offer a new 14-day “Southern Caribbean” sailing from Boston to Fort Lauderdale, departing November 9 that also includes a call at Bermuda. The ship then heads to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, Curacao, and Half Moon Cay.

Another new 21-day Caribbean exploration sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale aboard Volendam. Departing January 4, 2025, this “Ultimate Caribbean” journey stops at Half Moon Cay, Amber Cove, San Juan, Tortola, St. Maarten, Antigua, Dominica, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada, Bonaire, Aruba, Ocho Rios, and Grand Cayman.

The line’s 2024/25 Caribbean itineraries also include six-, seven-, and 10-day options in the Western Caribbean; seven- and 11-day cruises in the Eastern Caribbean; nine- to 14-day sailings in the Southern Caribbean.

Many of the cruises can be extended into Collectors’ Voyages ranging from 14 to 35 days.