Choosing the Right Holland America Cruise

How to Plan a Holland America Cruise That Fits Your Travel Style

Once you decide that Holland America Line might be a good fit, the next step is figuring out which cruise is right for you.

And this is where it can get a little overwhelming.

With eleven ships traveling to all seven continents, there isn’t just one “Holland America cruise.” There are hundreds of combinations of destinations, timelines, and experiences. The good news is that you don’t need to figure it all out at once.

This is the exact process Mr. Whaldo and I use every time we start planning a new cruise.

When to Cruise Holland America

The first question is simple. When can you go?

Timing matters more than people realize because it directly affects where you can go. Some destinations are seasonal, and if your travel dates are fixed, your options may narrow quickly.

For example, Alaska cruises run during the warmer months when the waterways are accessible. On the flip side, Antarctica cruises happen during their summer, which falls in our winter.

It sounds obvious, but this is where your planning really begins. Your calendar often makes the first decision for you.

How Long Should Your Cruise Be

Next comes length.

How much time do you actually want to spend onboard?

Holland America offers everything from short getaways to extended voyages that last weeks or even months. If you’re working with a set amount of vacation time, that will guide you. If you have more flexibility, this is where you can start shaping the experience.

A shorter cruise can feel like a quick reset. A longer one allows you to settle into the rhythm of life at sea. Neither is better. It just depends on what you need.

Choosing Your Cruise Destination

Now for the fun part.

Where do you want to go?

This is where Holland America really shines. You can cruise through the islands of the Caribbean, sail past glaciers in Alaska, explore the fjords of Norway, or cross through the Panama Canal. You can wake up in Europe, Asia, Africa, or somewhere you’ve only ever seen in photographs.

Sometimes the destination is obvious. Other times, it helps to browse and see what sparks something.

We’ve found that even when we think we know exactly where we want to go, looking through itineraries often opens the door to something we hadn’t considered.

Planning a Bucket List Cruise

This is where things get a little more personal.

Instead of starting with a destination, start with a moment.

What have you always wanted to see?

A glacier calving into the sea. Penguins in the wild. A total solar eclipse. The northern lights. A historic site you’ve read about for years.

Holland America builds entire itineraries around experiences like these. When you plan this way, the cruise becomes more than a vacation. It becomes something you’ve been waiting to check off your list.

Mr. & Mrs. Whaldo in Eidfjord, Norway / Photo by Whaldo Digital Content

Relaxation or Exploration On Your Cruise

Now comes a decision that will shape your entire trip.

Do you want to relax or do you want to explore?

Some itineraries are port-heavy, with a new destination almost every day. Others include more sea days, giving you time to slow down, read, write, or simply watch the ocean move.

Here’s the part people forget.

You don’t have to get off the ship at every port.

We’ve had entire days where we stayed onboard while everyone else went ashore. Those turned out to be some of our favorite days. Quiet spaces, fewer crowds, and time to just be.

The beauty of cruising is that you get to decide how busy or how relaxed your trip will be.

Turning Ideas Into Your Perfect Cruise

Once you’ve worked through these questions, something starts to come together.

A timeframe. A destination. A pace.

From there, it becomes much easier to narrow down your options and choose a specific cruise that fits what you’re looking for.

It doesn’t have to be perfect on the first try. We’ve planned cruises one way and then adjusted the next time based on what we learned. That’s part of the experience, too.

Next In the Holland America Series

In the next article in this series, I’ll break down the different Holland America ships and what makes each one unique.

Because once you’ve chosen where you want to go, the ship itself becomes part of the experience.

And choosing the right one can make all the difference.

-J.S. Whaldo