Holland America got its start as a transatlantic passenger, mail and cargo carrier in 1872 and prospered right up through the 1960s when the line made a successful transition from the transportation business to full time cruising. HAL bought Windstar Cruises and in turn Carnival bought both in 1988. The company has seen tremendous investment in its fleet.
Fleet
Numbering 12 ships, the fleet, apart from the Prinsendam
bought second-hand, is fairly homogeneous in layout and décor, exuding elegance
within. Many of the public rooms share familiar names, so past passengers can
get their orientation quickly and perhaps not care which “dam” ship they are
on. None of the fleet is in the megaship category, the largest being 82,000
tons.
Itineraries
With such a large fleet the ships cover the globe from
seven-day milk runs in the Caribbean, down to the Mexican Riviera and along the
Inside Passage to much longer cruises circumnavigating South America, nosing
south to the Antarctic Peninsula, crossing oceans and undertaking full world
cruises.
Dining and Decor
Restaurant seating is both traditional and open at dinner
with specialty restaurants featuring Pacific Northwestern fare and evening
buffet dining. Décor is sophisticated with museum quality art throughout the
fleet, including signature sculptures in the atriums.
Programs
HAL offers enrichment programs on its longer cruises and in Alaska with specialists in their fields giving informal lectures. The Culinary Arts program
is relatively new where the chefs make presentations in a roll out kitchen and
offer cooking classes.
Onboard Experience
Holland America brings a lot of traditions to their ships and
attracts an older crowd who appreciates them. While there are some children
aboard during school holidays, HAL does not draw families in the numbers that
the mass market lines do.
Competitors
With HAL positioned above the popular lines, they have more
in common with Oceania, Celebrity and Crystal offering what passes for
traditional, low-key cruise experience without a lot of hype, energy and nose.
The competitors’ food may be a notch or two better but that probably does not
disappoint most HAL loyalists.
