Holland America Line

Carnival's Holland America Line has reported a gastrointestinal illness outbreak on its current sailing with over 100 ill passengers onboard. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Holland America Line's Rotterdam has 152 sick guests onboard its current voyage which departed on February 2, 2025. 17 crew members are also reportedly ill. 

I've always thought of Cruise Directors as A-list celebrities on a cruise. You'll rarely disembark without having heard their voice over the PA system or seen them interacting with other passengers. However, their duties go far beyond being pretty faces who introduce events—they're also hosts, entertainers, planners, and problem-solvers. 

During their contracts, Cruise Directors live onboard their ships for multiple months. While you'll see them frequently in guest areas, their "home away from home" is below deck where passengers can't go.

If you're looking for an itinerary-focused cruise to Alaska, look no further than Holland America Line. They've been sailing to Alaska for over 75 years, longer than any other cruise line, and now, they're guaranteeing that guests will see one or more glaciers on their cruise. If not, passengers are entitled to a Future Cruise Credit.  

I joined Holland America’s Eurodam for a weeklong cruise through southeast Alaska, visiting some of the charming port towns and cities along this popular route.

I have enjoyed Alaska on both big cruise ships and smaller expedition vessels that ranged from 60 to 200 passengers, so I know there are different ways to see this magical destination.

While Holland America Line is a well-known mainstream cruise line that sails across the globe, they only operate a fleet of eleven ships, most of which were constructed in the early and mid-2000s. 

The cruise line was founded in 1873 in Rotterdam, Netherlands as a shipping and passenger line. It would not be until 1989 that Holland America Line would be purchased by Carnival Corporation, making it a United States-owned cruise line. 

Holland America’s Eurodam isn’t going to be the first ship you hear about when you start looking for cruises.

It’s a little older now. And it’s not flashy. Certainly, nothing about it really stands out.

And that’s exactly what makes Eurodam a perfect ship for your first cruise to Alaska.

A Holland America Line beverage package offers the choice to enjoy alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for a fixed daily price for the duration of your cruise vacation.

Your base cruise fare includes entertainment, accommodations, transportation between ports of call, and select food and beverages. Unless you book Holland America's "Have It All" fare, you will find that there are some cruise add-ons you have to purchase separately, including alcohol. 

Unfortunately, sometimes we need to change travel plans. Not ideal, but life is busy, and things pop up. Adding to travelers’ worries are the recent flight delays and cancellations, resulting in some guests missing their cruise.

Before booking a cruise, it is a good idea to understand cancellation policies, especially as it relates to any promotional pricing and packages. Details regarding how much money you will get back, timeframes and processes are all things to know ahead of time.

Holland America Line’s newest ship, Rotterdam, had its official naming ceremony on May 30, 2022. The ceremony took place in the city for which the ship is named, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Attending the ceremony was her royal highness, Princess Margriet of The Netherlands. Princess Margriet will serve as the ship’s godmother, and participated in the naming ceremony.