The 4 lessons of Holland America ships, defined

Of all the large cruise manufacturers, Holland America has one of many easiest fleets to know.

The storied, Seattle-based cruise line operates 11 vessels that may be bunched into simply 4 teams.

Every of those teams — often known as “lessons” in cruise trade lingo — is made from ships that have been constructed across the identical time and observe the identical primary design. If you realize one member of the group, you realize all of them.

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An introduction to Holland America ships

Holland America downsized its fleet significantly in 2020 with the removing of 4 vessels. But it surely’s nonetheless one of many seven huge traces that account for almost all of cruises taken by North People. Its 11 ships provide practically 23,000 berths.

Generally, Holland America operates huge ships. However they are not practically as huge because the vessels operated by the six different huge traces that cater to North People. Certainly, in some cruising circles, Holland America’s ships are known as “midsize” ships (versus huge ships).

Holland America’s largest vessels measure about 100,000 tons, making them about 60% smaller than the largest ships operated by Royal Caribbean and 40% smaller than the largest ships operated by Norwegian Cruise Line.

A few of Holland America’s vessels are simply 61,000 tons, which is as small as a few of the vessels operated by a lot pricier upscale traces equivalent to Oceania Cruises or Azamara.

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This implies you will be in for a extra intimate cruise expertise on the standard Holland America ship than on the ships of such rival traces as Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess Cruises and Celeb Cruises. There will likely be fewer folks on board, and venues could also be much less crowded.

On the flip aspect, you will typically discover fewer venues and facilities on Holland America ships than on the ships of its opponents working larger vessels. In the event you’re searching for a huge, bustling megaship with each amusement recognized to people, Holland America is not your line.

In contrast to some traces, equivalent to Royal Caribbean and Celeb, Holland America does not drastically change the design of its ships from class to class.

As a substitute, Holland America normally takes an incremental method to design modifications for its new lessons of ships. You will discover so much in widespread between Holland America’s Pinnacle Class and Signature Class of ships, as an example. And these two lessons will not really feel all that completely different from the sooner Vista Class.

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Generally, Holland America’s largest and most amenity-packed ships are its latest ships. In the event you’re searching for a Holland America cruise expertise with essentially the most attainable onboard actions and venues, you will wish to steer towards the vessels in its new Pinnacle Class.

If cruising in essentially the most intimate setting attainable is your purpose, you will wish to take a look at the R Class, Holland America’s oldest class of ships.

Pinnacle Class

Ships in school: Rotterdam (2021); Nieuw Statendam (2018); Koningsdam (2016)

Dimension: 99,500 to 99,863 tons

In the event you’re within the “newer is best” camp on the subject of cruise ships, that is the Holland America ship class for you.

Holland America’s Pinnacle Class simply started rolling out in 2016, and the three vessels within the sequence are considerably youthful than another vessel within the Holland America fleet.

They’re additionally larger than another vessel within the Holland America fleet and, because of this, boast extra facilities.

Notably, along with a predominant restaurant and informal buffet, every of the three Pinnacle Class ships has 5 separate specialty eating venues. Choices embrace all the pieces from a pan-Asian eatery and an Italian restaurant to a steakhouse. That is greater than you will discover on different Holland America ships.

Pinnacle Class ships even have all of Holland America’s signature leisure venues — one thing that may’t be stated for the road’s older vessels.

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Particularly, on Pinnacle Class ships, you will discover an leisure space with a Billboard Onboard music venue (for chart-topping hits performed by a stay pianist), a Rolling Stone Lounge (for a stay band enjoying basic rock) and a B.B. King’s Blues Membership (for Memphis-style rhythm and blues).

The Pinnacle Class ships even have spectacular, state-of-the-art predominant theaters with push-out phases enveloped by two-story, 270-degree wraparound LED screens. The theaters are house to all kinds of further music, dance and comedy performances.

The highest decks of the Pinnacle Class ships have predominant pool areas that may be lined by a retractable glass magrodome throughout inclement climate. This makes these ships a good selection when reserving a cruise in a vacation spot the place the climate might be iffy. The pool areas even have a big display to indicate films, one thing distinctive to the ships of the Pinnacle Class.

Every of the Pinnacle Class ships additionally has a secondary SeaView Pool and lounge space at its again.

Moreover, every of the Pinnacle Class ships has a spa, a on line casino and an extra-fee outside lounge space referred to as The Retreat — a function that first debuted with the Pinnacle Class. Additionally new on the Pinnacle Class ships are Holland America’s first ocean-view cabins for solo and household vacationers.

Every of the Pinnacle Class ships is designed to hold 2,650 passengers at double occupancy.

Signature Class

Ships in school: Nieuw Amsterdam (2010); Eurodam (2008)

Dimension: 86,700 and 86,273 tons, respectively

At round 87,000 tons, the Signature Class vessels are about 15% smaller than the Pinnacle Class ships, they usually have a considerably extra intimate really feel.

Additionally they have a tad fewer facilities.

Just like the Pinnacle Class ships, each of the Signature Class vessels — Nieuw Amsterdam and Eurodam — have stay music leisure at a Billboard Onboard music venue and a Rolling Stone Lounge. However in contrast to the Pinnacle Class ships, the vessels lack a B.B. King’s Blues Membership. As a substitute, you will discover stay music at an extra venue referred to as Third Avenue West.

You will additionally discover simply three to 4 extra-charge eating places on the ships. Every of the vessels has such Holland America signature shops as a Pinnacle Grill steakhouse, Canaletto for Italian and the pan-Asian delicacies serving Tamarind. In contrast to the Pinnacle Class vessels, the Signature Class ships haven’t got Rudi’s Sel De Mer, a brasserie created by prime Holland America chef Rudi Sodamin. Additionally they haven’t got a Grand Dutch Cafe.

That stated, Nieuw Amsterdam is now house to a brand new restaurant created by superstar chef Masaharu Morimoto referred to as Morimoto by Sea, and Eurodam has a Morimoto by Sea pop-up restaurant. Each are open for dinner solely.

Regardless of having just a few completely different eateries and music venues, the Signature Class ships are related in appear and feel to the Pinnacle Class ships.

Just like the Pinnacle Class ships, the Signature Class ships have predominant pool areas that may be lined by retractable glass magrodomes throughout inclement climate and secondary pool areas at their backs.

The ships are designed to hold about 2,100 passengers at double occupancy.

Vista Class

Ships in sequence: Noordam (2006); Westerdam (2004); Oosterdam (2003); Zuiderdam (2002)

Dimension: Between 82,305 and 82,348 tons

Comprising 4 vessels, that is the largest group of Holland America ships. Thus, it is the category of Holland America ship on which you’re most certainly to sail.

In dimension, the vessels are only a tad smaller than the Signature Class ships — about 5% smaller, to be actual. Nonetheless, they’re designed to hold about 9% fewer folks at double occupancy, which means they provide a much less crowded really feel than the Signature Class vessels.

Their barely smaller dimension means there are barely fewer facilities, although.

For instance, every of the 4 Vista Class vessels gives simply two specialty eating places: Holland America’s signature Pinnacle Grill steakhouse and the Italian restaurant, Canaletto. In contrast to the Signature Class, there isn’t a pan-Asian eating venue.

Three of the 4 ships — Oosterdam, Zuiderdam and Westerdam — even have a Morimoto by Sea pop-up eatery.

The principle leisure choices on the Vista Class vessels are much like what’s discovered on Signature Class ships: a stay music leisure space with a Rolling Stone Lounge and Billboard Onboard venue.

The entire ships even have a Third Avenue West music venue.

Just like the Pinnacle Class and Signature Class ships, the Vista Class ships have predominant pool areas that may be lined by retractable glass magrodomes throughout inclement climate and secondary pool areas at their backs.

R Class

Ships in sequence: Zaandam (2000); Volendam (1999)

Dimension: 61,396 and 61,214 tons, respectively

The R Class ships are about 25% to 38% smaller than the remainder of the ships within the Holland America fleet and have a extra cozy really feel.

Due to their smaller dimension, additionally they have fewer options and facilities than the ships within the different Holland America lessons — significantly the ships of the newer Pinnacle and Signature lessons.

Generally, R Class ships attraction to cruisers searching for a extra intimate cruise expertise. Additionally they draw cruisers who care extra in regards to the locations they go to on a cruise than onboard points of interest.

Alongside these traces, Holland America usually deploys the R Class ships on its extra far-flung, destination-rich itineraries, together with prolonged around-the-world cruises.

As an illustration, within the fall of 2025, Zaandam is scheduled to sail an epic, 56-day South Pacific cruise out of Vancouver, B.C., that features visits at greater than 20 island ports from Hawaii to Fiji.

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In early 2026, Volendam will sail a globe-circling voyage lasting 132 days that may embrace visits to all seven continents — a relative rarity for world cruises. It’s going to additionally embrace in depth time in South America and Northern Europe — which is hard to drag off logistically on an around-the-world cruise.

Regardless of their smaller dimension, the R Class ships provide the identical variety of pool areas (two) as their larger sister vessels, with one pool space lined by a retractable glass magrodome.

Every of the vessels has two specialty eating venues: Holland America’s signature Pinnacle Grill steakhouse and the Italian restaurant Canaletto. As well as, each provide a Morimoto by Sea pop-up eatery.

Leisure choices on the R Class ships embrace a predominant World Stage theater for exhibits, a piano bar and a string ensemble that performs onboard.

Backside line

The Holland America fleet is comparatively simple to know. There are simply 4 sorts of ships within the Holland America fleet, and — for essentially the most half — they are not too completely different from one another.

Holland America believes strongly in providing a constant product from ship to ship, and it does not make revolutionary modifications with every class of vessels it unveils.

The large distinction between the road’s 4 lessons of ships is the scale of the vessels within the lessons. In the event you’re a fan of larger ships with extra facilities, you will in all probability gravitate to the brand new Pinnacle Class vessels. In the event you like your cruise ships extra intimate, you will in all probability wish to persist with the R Class vessels.

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