Best Holland America Cruises

Updated in 2016 after originally launching in 2002, ms Prinsendam carries just 835 passengers and 499 crew members. As Holland America's smallest ship, ms Prinsendam can navigate to remote ports of call. And thanks to its intimate atmosphere, you won't have to battle crowds for a spot by the pool or a seat in the Crow's Nest lounge.

When it comes to lodging, the ship's Inside cabins are larger than others in the fleet, offering up to 233 square feet of space. Passengers can also choose from Ocean View cabins or four Suite categories. All cabins are equipped with Euro-Top mattresses and flat-screen TVs.

Most onboard entertainment and activities are geared toward adults; in fact, ms Prinsendam is the only ship in the fleet that does not offer Club HAL kids programming. Other facilities include the Greenhouse Spa and the Digital Workshop, powered by Windows. Passengers have their choice of a number of dining venues, including a poolside grill and a more formal Italian eatery, Canaletto.

Between November 2018 and June 2019, ms Prinsendam departs from Amsterdam, London, Lisbon, Rome, Buenos Aires and Fort Lauderdale for sailings to smaller ports in Europe, the Caribbean, South America and Antarctica. On July 1, 2019, the ship will be leaving the Holland America fleet. 

Launched in 2016, the 2,650-passenger ms Koningsdam is one of Holland America's newest ships and the first in the more contemporary Pinnacle Class. Passengers can participate in everything from cooking classes to duty-free shopping, or simply relax by the pool or at the spa.

Guests can spend their evenings playing casino games or watching stage shows and musical acts through partnerships with Lincoln Center and Billboard magazine. While the ship does offer youth clubs for children ages 3 to 17, most of the entertainment and activities are geared toward adults.

When hunger strikes, passengers can choose between 11 dining venues, ranging from the casual New York Pizza & Deli to the more formal Pinnacle Grill steakhouse.

The ship's cabin categories are also diverse. Staterooms range from Interior and Ocean View cabins that range from 151 to 231 square feet, to Verandah rooms and three Suite categories.

In 2018-19, ms Koningsdam departs from Fort Lauderdale and Rome for itineraries in the Caribbean and Europe. 

Originally launched in 2008 and updated in late 2015, ms Eurodam carries up to 2,104 passengers and 876 crew members.

The ship’s 11 decks include five cabin categories: Interior staterooms (141 to 284 square feet), Ocean View and Verandah staterooms, and Signature and Neptune Suites. All cabins come equipped with plush Euro-Top mattresses and flat-screen TVs. Suites received updates to the furniture, carpeting and bathrooms, as well as a USB outlet on the bed's headboard and a Bose Bluetooth speaker. 

Recent cruisers of ms Eurodam were pleased with the versatile selection of nine dining venues. Most notably, the ship offers Tamarind, which serves exotic fare from Southeast Asia, China and Japan. 

Daytime activities range from the new America's Test Kitchen to the BBC Earth Experiences. More active pursuits include two swimming pools and sports courts. In the evenings, passengers can sip cocktails at one of the bars or lounges or take in a show at the Lincoln Center Stage or B.B. King's Blues Club.

In 2018-19, ms Eurodam departs from Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, Seattle and Vancouver for sailings in the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii and Tahiti, Mexico and more. 

Launched in 2002 and last refurbished in 2017, ms Zuiderdam features an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures by famed artists like Andy Warhol and Frank Lloyd Wright. Additional highlights include America's Test Kitchen, BBC Earth Experiences and the Digital Workshop, powered by Windows. If you're looking to relax on your voyage, head to the line's signature Greenhouse Spa & Salon or The Retreat, a secluded deck with sun beds, private cabanas and a separate bar. 

With room for 1,964 passengers and 817 crew members, the ship maintains a 1-to-2 staff-to-guest ratio. Recent passengers said everyone was friendly and attentive, from the bartenders to the room stewards.

Inside and Ocean View staterooms aboard ms Zuiderdam measure between 151 and 233 square feet. All cabins include sofas, coffee tables, chairs and vanities, in addition to a queen-sized bed (or two twin beds). Other amenities include Euro-Top mattresses and flat-screen TVs. Dining venues include the upscale Pinnacle Grill, traditional dining rooms and more. 

In 2018-19, ms Zuiderdam departs from New York City, Fort Lauderdale, Boston, Quebec City, Copenhagen and The Netherlands for sailings in Canada, Europe, the Panama Canal and the Caribbean. 

Borrowing its name from the former city of New Amsterdam (now known as New York City), this 2,106-passenger member of the Holland America fleet launched in 2010 and is famous for its extensive art collection valued at more than $3 million. Guests can admire works from Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein through a complimentary self-guided iPod tour.

Passengers can also pass the time by the pool or in the Greenhouse Spa, while more enriching programs include the new America's Test Kitchen, the BBC Earth Experiences and photography classes in the Digital Workshop, powered by Windows. While the ship offers youth clubs for kids ages 3 to 17, most activities are geared toward adults.

When it comes to dining, guests can choose from seafood at the popular Sel de Mer French restaurant, New York Pizza on the pool deck, Asian delicacies at Tamarind and more. Several casual eateries and the main dining rooms are included at no extra cost.

Meanwhile, staterooms range from Interior cabins to expansive Signature, Neptune and Pinnacle Suites, all of which are equipped with Sealy Premium Euro-Top mattresses and flat-screen TVs.

In 2018-19, ms Nieuw Amsterdam departs from Anchorage, San Diego, Seattle, Vancouver and Fort Lauderdale for sailings in Alaska, the Caribbean, Mexico and the Pacific Coast. 

Launched in 2000, ms Zaandam attracts older, more sophisticated travelers, with onboard activities catering more to those in need of R&R than those seeking an adrenaline rush. The 1,432-passenger ship carries up to 604 crew members and was most recently updated in 2017.

While active pursuits include sports courts and a fitness center, the majority of onboard activities are geared toward enrichment, such as America's Test Kitchen, BBC Earth Experiences and Digital Workshops powered by Windows. The ship also offers kids clubs for passengers ages 3 to 17.

Most recent guests described the cabins as comfortable. Inside and Ocean View cabins measure between 151 and 267 square feet – large enough to fit a queen bed (or two twin beds), a sitting area and a vanity space. Travelers were also pleased with the multiple onboard restaurants, ranging from the casual Lido Market buffet to Canaletto, which serves Italian fare.  

In 2018-19, ms Zaandam sails from Boston, Buenos Aires, Fort Lauderdale, Montreal, Rio de Janiero and Santiago, Chile, for itineraries in Canada, New England, South America and Antarctica.

Inaugurated in 2000, ms Amsterdam can carry up to 1,380 passengers and 647 crew members. With this passenger-to-crew ratio of nearly 2-to-1, recent cruisers said that customer service was a top priority.

Another high point for passengers: the accommodations. Options span from 182-square-foot Interior cabins to 1,296-square-foot Pinnacle Suites (including the verandas). About 80 percent of cabins offer ocean views, and all staterooms come equipped with flat-screen TVs and Holland America Line's Signature Mariner's Dream beds with Euro-Top mattresses.

The ship also offers enriching and relaxing onboard activities, from BBC Earth Experiences and photography classes in the Digital Workshop to massages at the Greenhouse Spa and reclining by the Lido pool. There are also several lounges (head to the Mainstage for performances and presentations), as well as a special area for kids and teens. However, on the whole, the ship is not the best for children.

When it comes to food, there are a number of options ranging from the casual Lido Market to the main dining room to the intimate Pinnacle Grill, which serves Pacific Northwest-inspired fare.

In 2018-19, ms Amsterdam departs from a variety of ports, including Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Sydney and Seattle. It sails to destinations in Hawaii and Tahiti, South America, Alaska and the Pacific Coast. 

More colorful than most of Holland America's fleet, ms Oosterdam launched in 2003 and was last updated in 2016. The 1,964-passenger ship houses 812 crew members, making the passenger-to-crew ratio roughly 2-to-1.

The ship features six stateroom categories: Inside, Ocean View, Verandah, Signature Suite, Pinnacle Suite and Neptune Suite. All accommodations are outfitted with Sealy-Premium Euro-Top mattresses, flat-screen TVs and plenty of storage space.

Like other Vista-class ships, ms Oosterdam is equipped with a large pool and a sizable spa and fitness area, along with America's Test Kitchen, BBC Earth Experiences and sports courts. While there are kids and teens clubs for younger passengers, most of the activities and entertainment on the ship are geared toward adults.

When it's time to dine, guests can enjoy varied dishes in the main dining room, Italian fare at Canaletto or more casual options. On select nights, guests can dine on French seafood dishes from Sel De Mer at the Pinnacle Grill. 

In 2018-19, ms Oosterdam departs from ports in Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, Seattle and Vancouver. Itineraries include destinations in Alaska, the Caribbean, Hawaii and Tahiti, Mexico, the Panama Canal and the Pacific Coast. 

Last renovated in late 2017 (and first launched in 1997), ms Rotterdam can carry up to 1,404 guests and 600 crew members. The ship was the first to feature the fleet's Lanai staterooms, which offer sliding glass doors and direct access to the ship's Lower Promenade Deck.

The ship is also equipped with the Crow's Nest, a panoramic lounge at the top of the ship. If you're traveling with tots or teens, you'll be happy to find several Club HAL youth areas, as well as The Loft, an area designed for teens. The ship also houses a unique multimillion-dollar art and antique collection.  

The ms Rotterdam's collection of distinct eateries range from the Lido Market buffet to the casual New York Pizza to the more formal Pinnacle Grill steakhouse.

In 2018-19, ms Rotterdam departs from ports in Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, Amsterdam, Rome and – its namesake – Rotterdam in the Netherlands. It sails to destinations in the Caribbean, Europe and the Panama Canal. 

Carrying up to 1,916 passengers and 810 crew members, ms Westerdam first debuted in 2004 and was most recently overhauled in 2017 to include renovated cabins and suites and new additions like America's Test Kitchen.

Other onboard facilities include the Rijksmuseum at Sea, which houses 8,000 pieces of world-renowned art, as well as BBC Earth Experiences, the Greenhouse Spa and multiple swimming pools.

When it’s time to dine, the ship's dining venues range from the casual poolside Dive-In grill to the upscale Pinnacle Grill. The ship also offers the Master's Chef Table Pop Up, available on cruises of eight nights or more. After dinner, guests can enjoy live music at the B.B. King’s Blues Club, take in a theatrical performance or try their luck in the casino.

Lodging options include Inside, Ocean View and Verandah cabins, as well as three Suite categories. Standard amenities include Euro-Top mattresses and flat-screen TVs.

In 2018-19, ms Westerdam departs from Anchorage and Fairbanks (both in Alaska), Hong Kong, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore, Vancouver and Yokohama, Japan. It sails to destinations across Alaska and Asia.