Holland America Line returns to Alaska with a season of extensive exploration and new experiences | News
Holland America Line kicks off the 2026 Alaska season, which begins April 25 with the arrival of Eurodam at the Port of Seattle. With more than 100 voyages across six ships this season from three homeports, guests embarking on a cruise to the Big Land will find an array of extensive onboard programs, high-end culinary offerings and more than twenty new shore excursions – all designed to connect guests more deeply with Alaska’s awe-inspiring landscapes and local culture.
Travelers looking to explore Alaska with Holland America can take vacations from April through September, ranging from weeklong vacations to a 28-day legendary Arctic Circle solstice. Cruises sail round-trip from Seattle, Washington; roundtrip from Vancouver, Canada; and between Vancouver and Whittier, Alaska.
“As a leader in Alaska, we strive to provide experiences that are both enriching and unforgettable, bringing guests closer to the region in meaningful ways,” said Robert Morgenstern, senior vice president of Alaska Operations at Holland America Line. “From new shore excursions and enhanced programming to our industry-leading fresh seafood offerings, every detail of our 2026 season is designed to help guests connect more deeply with Alaska’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.”
More than two dozen new tours debut on Alaska Cruises
Holland America is introducing 25 new shore excursions on Alaska itineraries in 2026. Among the most anticipated are Adventure to Norris Glacier: Floatplane, Paddle and Hike in Juneau; Exclusive Moose & Friends Moose Discovery in Anchorage; Remote coastal rainforest hike, gourmet seafood picnic and brewery in Kodiak; and Authentic Alaska: Tongass Rainforest Hike in Sitka.
‘Glacier Day’ puts the spotlight on Alaska’s majestic glaciers
Holland America Line offers more glacier experiences than any other cruise line. ‘Glacier Day’ takes place once per cruise, spotlighting the region’s majestic glaciers. The program includes times for glacier observations, environmental commentary, presentations, informative viewing stations, photo opportunities, Dutch pea soup on deck, Glacial Ice cocktails, lectures by Glacier Bay National Park Rangers and Huna cultural interpreters, and an open bow for viewing.
Every Alaska cruise includes a visit to one or more of Alaska’s iconic glacier destinations: Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier, and Endicott Arm. The cruise line offers guests a Glacier Guarantee™, which states that if a glacier is not visited during a trip to Alaska, guests will receive a Future Cruise Credit worth 15% of the cruise price. Shore excursions also offer the opportunity to visit additional glaciers, including Mendenhall and Portage.
New for 2026: the Teen Ranger program moves to all ships in Alaska. Previously only at Koningsdam, cruisers aged 13 to 17 will enjoy special age-appropriate experiences on Glacier Day. The popular Junior Ranger program for guests ages 3 to 12 remains on all Alaska ships.
See more wildlife than any other cruise line
Alaska is synonymous with breathtaking wilderness, and Holland America offers more ways to see wildlife in their natural habitat. Alaska ships have a wildlife expert on board, and a Wildlife Spotting Guide highlights the native animals found along the cruise route and includes a map of the best places to see each species. On shore, Holland America offers nearly 180 shore excursions to see all kinds of species, making the cruise line an industry leader for wildlife and wilderness tours in Alaska.
In addition to these wildlife viewing opportunities, the mission of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) remains top of mind for Holland America. Guests on trips north can visit the conservation center between Whittier and Anchorage and see Eland the Moose on exclusive shore excursions, experiencing the peaceful environment surrounded by alpine glaciers and Alaska’s beautiful wildlife.
Serving fresh fish in Alaska
Holland America Line builds on its groundbreaking Global Fresh Fish Program, which brings locally sourced fresh fish from port to plate in less than 48 hours. In addition to the seafood and other local delicacies featured on the menus, ships in Alaska will serve select premium dishes prepared by Chef Masaharu Morimoto, the brand’s fresh seafood ambassador. Other culinary highlights include the Salmon Bake in Lido Market and an Alaska Brunch served once per cruise in the Dining Room.
Holland America is the only cruise line to achieve the distinguished Certified Seafood International (formerly Responsible Fisheries Management) certification: the global benchmark for serving only fresh, certified sustainable and traceable Alaskan wild seafood aboard all ships sailing the Big Land.
Drink menus include Alaska Brews and Glacial Ice Cocktails
Acclaimed bartender Sam Ross has created a menu of exclusive cocktails found throughout the fleet’s Alaska bars, including new Glacial Ice Cocktails. Additionally, the local beer menu will expand to six varieties with Amber Ale, White Ale and Juneau Juice IPA from Alaskan Brewing. From Denali Brewing Co. Holland America Line offers Bachelor Brew American Style Lager, Twister Creek IPA and Single Engine Red Irish Red Ale.
Enrichment brings Alaska on board
Guests interested in learning more about Alaska can attend an Alaska Up Close Talk. Topics range from ‘Pacific Giants’ and ‘The Iditarod’ to ‘Ancestral Memories’ and ‘Breaking the Ice Ceiling’. Watercolor and origami workshops focus on Alaskan nature and wildlife and encourage guests to tap into their artistic side.
Cooking techniques and Alaska’s culinary history are showcased during live cooking shows. Many of the featured dishes include fresh fish from the Global Fresh Fish Program and will be available in the Main Dining Room the night of the show.
Alaska Cruise Tours Visit Denali National Park and Yukon
Holland America Line cruise tours range from nine to 17 days and include a one-, two- or three-day visit to Denali National Park. Select Cruise Tours also include a trip to the wilderness of Canada’s Yukon. Holland America Line is the only cruise line to offer overland travel to the Yukon in combination with an Alaska cruise and a Denali experience.
A $70 million, multi-year investment is underway that will expand guest capacity at the Holland America Denali Lodge while improving the guest experience. Already completed are improvements to the riverside interpretive trail with scenic viewpoints, improved on-site signage, improvements to the Cottonwood and Canyon Lodge guestroom buildings, a new coffee experience – Outpost Coffee + Provisions – and a renovated Karstens Public House with expanded indoor seating. Several eateries, under the leadership of culinary ambassador Ethan Stowell, have revamped food and beverage menus to include more Alaskan products.
Sail to Alaska in 2026 with Holland America Line
Holland America Line’s 2026 Alaska cruise season is designed to give guests more choice and flexibility than ever before. The six ships sailing in the region are Koningsdam, Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam.
Examples of departures are:
7-day Alaska Explorer tour from Seattle aboard Eurodam and Noordam.
7-day Alaska Inside Passage return from Vancouver aboard Koningsdam and Zaandam.
9-day Denali & Yukon Cruise tour offered May through August.
10-day Signature Denali Cruise tour offered May through September.
18-day Great Bear Rainforest and Alaska Explorer tour from Vancouver, departing from Set. 16, 2026, on board Zaandam.
For more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.
