15 reasons Holland America is worth a second look

15 reasons Holland America is worth a second look

Holland America has a reputation for
being the cruise line for an older crowd. Well, that might be true in most cases. That doesn’t mean you should rule them out
when planning your next cruise. After sailing on several of their ships
recently, I’ve realized they’re a misunderstood cruise line
with a great product. While they may not have the buzz or flash
of other adult oriented cruise lines. They’re still a very chill-friendly
vacation destination with less crowds, premium touches, thermal suites
on almost every ship, and standard features
that are disappearing on newer ships like a full wraparound promenade
and an observation lounge. In this episode of The Chill Cruiser, I’ll explore the 15 reasons
why Holland America is worth considering. If you’re looking for
a chill cruising experience. Hey, cruisers Andrew from Toronto,
Canada here. Welcome to the Chill Cruiser where I
explore cruising from a chill perspective. Today I’m going to explore why
I think Holland America is worth a first or second look, depending
on how many years you’ve been cruising. When I started cruising in 2010,
Holland had a reputation as being the cruise line for a much older
crowd than other cruise lines. With not much to do after dinner, I cruised on them twice,
and that was definitely the case on one cruise, where most nights
the program ended at 9 p.m.. I enjoyed both cruises overall,
but they didn’t inspire any loyalty to the cruise line. fast forward to last year,
when I had the opportunity to sail on Holland’s newest ship, Rotterdam, which is
part of their popular pinnacle class. I was really impressed
with the premium touches of the ship, And pleasantly surprised to see that
there were a lot of fun things to do at night,
including the incredible B.B. King Blues Club. After that cruise, I definitely
wanted to go back on a Holland ship and have since sailed on several ships
and 3 or 4 of the classes in the fleet. Although some of their older ships
still do lack a pulse at night, I realized that most of their ships offer great,
chill, friendly amenities that outshine even the newest ships on trendy lines
like celebrity and Virgin Voyages. Most ships also come standard,
with features that are disappearing on newer mega ships, like a wraparound
promenade and an observation lounge. All ships also feature thoughtful touches that if there were ever offered
another cruise lines, they were discontinued long ago
as part of a cost cutting exercise. If you’re looking for super chic design
and to party every night, then Holland definitely isn’t for you. But if you’re looking primarily
to relax with the option to let loose every now and then,
then Holland is definitely worth a look. I’ll explore 15 reasons why,
according to the categories I use in my ship
reviews like vibe, cabins and amenities. It’ll start with their ships. Overall. The first reason is that Holland
ships are smaller than most cruise lines. While mega ships are now regularly
topping out at more than 5000 people and newer, premium ships from
celebrity are getting closer to 4000. Holland’s largest ship accommodates
under 2700 people at double capacity, and their smaller ships
have less than 1500 people. That means, aside from the buffet, at peak times,
you’ll rarely experience any crowds, and then embarkation is usually a very
relaxed affair, with next to no lineups. and when you want to go to the Lido deck,
you only have to go to deck nine instead of deck 15. Now, the reason why I think Holland deserves a second
look is their newer pinnacle class ships. While they’re slightly bigger
than the rest of the fleet, they still feel like a smaller ship,
but with big premium touches. Interiors spaces are beautiful
and feel like a five star hotel, including the dramatic main dining room
with an open and airy design. Both the indoor
and outdoor pools have large walk in steps
that make it very easy to get in and out, and the salarium pool has a nice mezzanine
with cozy nooks and lounges. Every
cabin category is beautifully appointed. And then there’s the legendary Music
Walk with three fantastic music venues all within steps of each other,
including my favorite, the B.B. King’s Blues Club, which usually features
a five piece band and two vocalists that bring the house down
most nights of every cruise. B.B. King
used to be on every Holland ship, but it’s now unfortunately
only on the pinnacle class. another reason to consider Holland. If you’re planning a cruise to Alaska,
is that they offer a glacier guarantee. If, for whatever
reason, a ship doesn’t visit at least one glacier
that’s on the itinerary, They’ll give you a 15% credit
that you can apply to another cruise. That doesn’t seem like a lot,
but it’s better than nothing. Which is what Princess gave after canceling Glacier Stop
when I was on Majestic Princess in 2022. We found out hours before
we were supposed to visit the Dawes Glacier, that we’re going directly
to Juneau to evacuate a sick patient. Princess didn’t even try to show pictures
of what we missed, let alone provide compensation or make any apparent effort
to reschedule the glacier stop. The glacier was canceled,
and the captain and the cruise director never mentioned the G word again. The rest of the cruise. Holland America’s guarantee. I think the cost of providing a credit
gives them an incentive to do as much as they can to either
avoid canceling a glacier stop, or finding a way to add
one. Later in the cruise. I think that’s huge, because a glacier
stop is usually the highlight of an Alaskan cruise. Let’s move on to the vibe of their ships. Big reason Holland worth considering
is that because their itineraries and programing are geared towards adults,
there are much fewer kids than most other cruise lines. I’ve now been on more than six
Holland ships, and on most you could count the number of kids
with one hand, but obviously doesn’t mean there’s no kids like on Virgin and that there won’t be more kids
on holiday cruises. But it does mean you don’t have to worry
about kids running amuck most of the time. Another thing I really like about the vibe
of Holland Ships is the Dutch flair. you see the signature Blue Delt
pattern everywhere, from the dining room to the cafe to room service. On every cruise,
there’s a Dutch inspired menu in the main dining room
With delicious options. I had never tried before. Like hodgepodge. Classic. And this dish that starts with a tea
that I won’t even dare try to pronounce. At least once a cruise. You also get a tasty mini stroopwafel
treat in your cabin, and there are even more Dutch treats available every day at the Grand Dutch
Café on Pinnacle class ships. You also see hints of the signature Dutch orange everywhere,
from art to crew uniforms. speaking of orange, one welcome change
that really stood out when I tried Holland America again was the Orange Party, which brings
some of the fun energy to the cruise that was missing years ago. it’s hosted once every cruise,
and is another opportunity to celebrate Dutch flair
with orange cocktails and Dutch treats. Guests are encouraged to wear orange
and most usually do the night of the orange parties,
also when they host the famous bar hop, where you can meet other guests
while trying some refreshing cocktails, playing games
and watching some entertaining bartenders. The bar hop ends with a fun procession
that leads directly to the heart of the dance floor
of the Orange Party, which on Pinnacle Club ships, is the fun B.B. Kings Blues Club. Let’s talk about the amenities on Holland Ships, which are a big reason
why they’re worth a first or second look. First is that every ship has popular
venues and features that are disappearing from newer mega ships,
like a forward observation lounge to enjoy a panoramic view, a full wraparound
promenade that offers a stunning view and a library. And it’s not just any ordinary library. On every one of the six ships
I’ve been on. The library felt more like
a nice bookstore, with illuminated shelves and multiple copies
of each book available. They also had several cozy lounge chairs
that offer some of the best places at sea to relax and read. Second is that every ship features
a solarium style pool with a retractable roof. This makes the main pool and surrounding area comfortable
regardless of the weather and itinerary. It also means they can surround the pool
with super comfortable padded loungers. This can make a big difference
on itineraries like Alaska, where the weather is very unpredictable
even in the middle of the summer. It’s something I wish was on Ruby Princess
when I went back to Alaska on Princess last year. Even though it was mid-July,
the weather went from 80 degrees to 50 degrees
within a few hours of leaving Vancouver, and it’s due to 50 degrees
for several days. All of Ruby’s four pools were outdoor,
so they were essentially useless for most of the cruise. Most Holland ships also feature
two very chill, friendly features you usually only find on newer ships,
if at all. The first is a full thermal
suite available for an extra fee with heated loungers, Sauna and steam rooms, and a hydrotherapy pool,
which is one of my favorite amenities. This is just an awesome place
to de-stress and detox, And I love the powerful shower that offers
a great scalp and back massage. Most new cruise ships
have a steam room and sauna, but I’ve been surprised that ships
from adult oriented lines like Virgin and Celebrity
don’t offer a similar hydrotherapy pool. When I was on The Scarlett Lady earlier
this year, there’s thermal suite only had small, cool and warm tubs,
but no hot tubs with a massage, shower. Princess has the fantastic Enclave
Thermal Suite, but it’s only available on their newer
Royal and Sun class shops, while Holland’s Thermal Suite is available
on every one of their ships. Aside from the Zaandam and Volendam. Most Holland ships
also feature a complimentary sauna that’s available to every guest. The second chill friendly feature on
most home ships is The Retreat, which is a private sundeck area available
for an extra fee of cabanas and dedicated attendants who can bring you drinks
and a light lunch. All Holland ships
also feature really nice premium touches that you can’t find another line
at this price point. One of my favorites is that every cabin
has bath products from Elemis including hand soap, body lotion, shampoo,
conditioner and body wash. It’s a treat to use these products
every day. Every time you wash your hands,
you reminded of how nice the products are, from the rich lather and the nice scent. My friend usually brings her own
bath products onto cruises
because she doesn’t like the quality. But when she joined me on the Nieuw
Statendam last year, she didn’t need to use them
since she loved the Elemis option so much. At most sail away
servers come around the aft pool offering appetizers,
which I think is a nice touch. at the end of the cruise, Holland
also provides every guest with a collectible Dutch themed plate
that’s customized for your ship class. It’s a beautiful souvenir to bring home,
but also serves as a great decoration
and conversation starter. They also provide a sticker
with a snapshot of the cruise that you can place in a souvenir logbook. Another reason to consider Holland
America is their cabins, which are usually very roomy
and nicely appointed. Cabins on pinnacle class
ships are beautiful, with modern touches like cabinet under lighting and illuminated
mirrors at the desk and in the bathroom. I’ve stayed in an Oceanview Vista suite, signature suite And a Neptune suite on pinnacle
class ships, and they were all impressive. The balconies on every ship
class are also very roomy and feature reclining chairs and a foot rest. I should note, though,
that there are some Neptune Suites
with very small balconies in the category, which I’ll cover in my review of Nieuw
Statendam coming soon. Although the cabins on older
ships are a bit dated, they’re still roomy And feature
bedside USB ports and other handy features like adjustable closet shelves. All cabins still receive evening turndown service
and Ocean View cabins and above on signature, Vista and Art class ships
also feature a standard bathtub. Another very chill
friendly feature is that every cabin, regardless of category, includes
a very cozy robe. If you’ve seen my previous videos,
then you’ll know I love chilling in the cabin
or on the balcony in my robe. And I tried Virgin Voyages for the first time earlier this year,
which positions itself as a premium line. I was surprised to find
that the robes were not standard, and it took me several days
and several negotiations to get one, and the largest they would give me
was a medium which was a bit snug. Their bathrooms also didn’t
include amenities like body lotion, which was surprisingly. Hit subscribe and watch out for my review
of Scarlet Lady coming soon! Room service is another area
where Holland America stands out. They offer an impressive room service menu that’s available 24 over seven,
and it’s completely free. Not just breakfast like some lines
every course. That’s huge for people like me, who again,
love to avoid the crowds of the buffet and chill out in their cabin. I just disembarked the Zuiderdam
in Quebec City and they’re room service. Pulled pork
sandwich was the best I’ve ever had. On land or sea, if you want to try some of the items
on the main dining room dinner menu,
but don’t feel like dressing up. You can also order items from the dining
room menu through room service until 9 p.m. every night,
which is a great perk. I’ve taken full advantage of several
times. That’s a good segue
to dining on Holland America, where there are several other aspects
that makes them worthy of another look. The overall dining offering is very solid,
with a nice array of deliciously prepared options in the main dining room. They also have options every night
that are unique to your cruises itinerary, which, I’ll be honest,
can be a bit hit and miss. I just sailed on a can of New England
cruise, and my friend was not impressed with their seafood offerings like
the salmon bucatini or the salmon filet, but they’re fleet wide. Menu options are consistently good. Most ships also offer decent specialty
dining options like their steakhouse, the Pinnacle Grill, which offers
the mouth wateringly delicious appetizer called the Clothesline. Candied bacon. Signature and pinnacle class chefs
also have tamarind, which offers great pan-Asian cuisine and has a really cool
bar that you can visit regardless of whether you’re dining at tamarind. Like the main dining room, those services
specialty restaurants can be very hit miss,
but the food quality is usually excellent. There’s also usually great casual dining options, like a burger and hot dog
kiosk on the Lido deck. Signature and pinnacle class ships
also have the New York Deli, which is a delicious option
for pizza, sandwiches and salads. You can place your order
for both the burger and pizza places using Holland America’s Navigator app. Pinnacle class ships also have the Grand Dutch Cafe
I mentioned earlier. You can find menus from all of my Holland
America cruises, along with pics
of every dish I tried on my website. The Chill Cruiser blog. The final reason why I think Holland
America is worth another look is their wine list. It’s a small but solid list of options
that are generally available in every bar throughout the ship. Many cruise lines now offer lengthy wine
lists, with everything from very cheap to very expensive options by the glass
that can be hard to find at every venue Holland’s list isn’t complicated, but
the options they do have are really good. One of my favorite white wines
is the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Even though it’s one of the best
selling categories of wines in the US, it’s become impossible to find on cruise lines like Princess,
even if you upgrade your drink package on Holland, it’s one of their house wines,
so you can get it at any bar, and it’s included in their standard
drink package. Santa margarita Pinot Grigio
is also available in the drink package, which surprised my friend who joined me
on the new stand down last year. Because it’s usually considered
a premium wine that requires an upcharge. You can find the wine list along with bar menus from all of my Holland
America cruises on my website. The Chill Cruiser Dot blog. Half Moon Cay, Holland America’s
private island in the Bahamas, is also one of my favorite
Caribbean destinations. It has beautiful white sand beaches,
few crowds and a mobile daiquiri bar. It’s definitely another reason
to consider Holland, at least for now. This relaxed vibe might not remain after
Carnival Corp, Holland’s parent company finishes
expanding the facilities of the island so that several ships
from all Carnival Corp brands like Carnival
can visit on the same day. Carnival and Holland ships are scheduled
to call on the same day for the first time on October 17th, 2026. On some days, like February 15th, 2027, two Carnival ships are scheduled
to call the same day as a Holland ship including the Mardi Gras,
which accommodates more than 5000 people. If you’re considering a Holland America
itinerary with a stop at Half Moon Cay you can get an idea of how busy the island will be the day
the ship scheduled to visit. By using sites like cruise
timetables, dot com, or cruise mapper sites like what’s in port can help
you do a similar check for every port on any cruise itinerary. Like every cruise line, Holland
America does have its quirks. Their buffet design means
it can get very claustrophobic and chaotic during busy times. Their mainstage entertainment is usually
very high tech, but not very entertaining. Their internet service can be a bit slow,
and some ships and their decentralized design also means
there’s no social hub on the ship, like Princess’s Piazza or Celebrity’s
Martini Bar. All of the bars and restaurant venues
are fairly scattered throughout the ship. There is that music walk
I mentioned on Pinnacle Quest Ships, where all the main music venues are located
side by side If the main goal of your trip is to relax,
enjoy some good food and live music without crowds than Holland
America is definitely a great option. If nightlife is important,
I would definitely try Pinnacle class ships first, which means conning
Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam. Watch for reviews of all of these ships
as well as Euro Dam, Niuew Amsterdam and Zuiderdam coming soon. If you’ve cruised Holland America recently and can think of areas I didn’t cover,
please add them below in the comments. If you’re already a subscriber,
thank you for supporting my channel. If you’re not yet a subscriber
and found this video helpful, I’d really appreciate
if you consider subscribing because it helps me grow the channel
and create more content like this. While I work on all those reviews
I mentioned, you can check out my first impressions
video of Rotterdam here. Thank you for watching and happy cruising.

Holland America has a reputation for being the cruise line for an older crowd. While that may be the case most of the time, it’s still a great cruise line. Join me as I review 15 reasons why Holland America is worth considering for a relaxing cruise based on my experiences on Rotterdam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Eurodam and Zuiderdam. Throughout the video, I review how Holland America stands out in areas like vibe, cabins, amenities and dining and compare them to other adult-oriented cruise lines like Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises and Virgin Voyages.

You can find menus and daily programs from past cruises at https://thechillcruiser.blog

Roboskater by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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📘 CHAPTERS

00:00 Start
00:54 Past experience with HAL
02:17 Ships
04:41 Vibe
06:37 Amenities
10:07 Cabins
12:32 Dining
15:09 Half Moon Cay
16:09 HAL’s quirks