Holland America Line Reveals 2028 Alaska Cruises with New Itineraries and Reimagined Oosterdam
Holland America Line has opened bookings for Alaska cruises in 2028, with new itineraries, Nootka Sound scenic cruising and the reimagined Oosterdam.
Holland America Line is has annnounced its 2028 Alaska cruise season, with a programme that combines classic Alaska itineraries with several new ways to explore the region.
The season will feature six ships, cruises ranging from seven to 18 days and departures from Seattle, Vancouver and San Diego. Among the highlights are a new California-to-Alaska voyage, first-time scenic cruising through Nootka Sound and the Alaska debut of the newly reimagined Oosterdam.
When do Holland America Alaska 2028 cruises go on sale?
Holland America Line has opened bookings for its 2028 Alaska cruise season, so travellers can now start planning Alaska cruises for 2028.
The programme includes departures from Seattle, Vancouver and, for the first time in this programme, a new San Diego-to-Vancouver itinerary. Cruise lengths range from seven to 18 days.
Holland America Line Oosterdam Photo: Holland America Line
For anyone considering an Alaska cruise in 2028, there is plenty to look out for.
Holland America Line’s 2028 Alaska season at a glance
| Holland America Alaska 2028 | Details |
|---|---|
| Ships | Oosterdam, Noordam, Eurodam, Koningsdam, Westerdam and Zaandam |
| Cruise length | 7 to 18 days |
| Departure ports | Seattle, Vancouver and San Diego |
| New voyage | 11-day California to Alaska: Shores, Fjords & Glaciers |
| New scenic cruising | Nootka Sound on selected itineraries |
| New Alaska ship | Reimagined Oosterdam |
| Cruisetours | Oosterdam will be the primary ship for Alaska Cruisetours |
| Key highlights | Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier, Tracy Arm and College Fjord |
A new way to cruise from California to Alaska
One of the most unusual additions to Holland America Line’s 2028 programme is the new 11-day California to Alaska: Shores, Fjords & Glaciers itinerary.
The voyage aboard Zaandam departs San Diego on 29 April 2028 and finishes in Vancouver.
The itinerary combines several of Alaska’s best-known destinations with less frequently visited ports. Guests will visit:
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
Juneau
Ketchikan
Wrangell
Klawock
Prince Rupert
For UK cruisers looking at a longer North American holiday, this could be an interesting alternative to simply flying into Seattle or Vancouver for a conventional seven-day Alaska cruise.
Nootka Sound makes its Holland America debut
Another particularly interesting addition is scenic cruising through Nootka Sound.
Grat Bear Rainforst itinerares include Icy Strait. Photo Halland America Line
Selected Great Alaska Explorer and Great Bear Rainforest itineraries will sail through the remote waterway on the west coast of Vancouver Island for the first time in Holland America Line’s history.
Nootka Sound is known for its rugged coastline, forested shores and spectacular Pacific Northwest scenery. It is also an area that appears far less frequently on mainstream cruise itineraries than destinations such as Glacier Bay or the Inside Passage.
The scenic cruising is included on selected Great Alaska Explorer and Great Bear Rainforest sailings, giving passengers the opportunity to see a different side of the region without necessarily adding another port day.
Which Holland America ships sail Alaska in 2028?
Six Holland America Line ships are scheduled to sail in Alaska during 2028: Oosterdam, Noordam, Eurodam, Koningsdam, Westerdam and Zaandam.
Westerdam in Hubbard Glacier. Photo: Holland America Line.
The biggest change is the arrival of the reimagined Oosterdam, which will feature Holland America Evolution and become the primary ship for the line’s Alaska Cruisetours.
Oosterdam heads to Alaska
Perhaps the biggest ship-related development for Alaska cruisers is the arrival of the reimagined Oosterdam.
Oosterdam will become the first Holland America Line ship to feature Holland America Evolution, described by the cruise line as its largest fleet investment in its 153-year history.
The transformation will introduce several new accommodation and public-space features, including:
Solo Verandah staterooms
Oosterdam will have purpose-built Solo Verandah staterooms, giving solo travellers the opportunity to have their own verandah accommodation rather than paying for a conventional double-occupancy cabin.
Bridgeview Suites
The ship will also feature new Bridgeview Suites, with panoramic forward-facing views.
That could be particularly appealing on an Alaska cruise, where the scenery is arguably one of the main attractions. Having a forward-facing viewpoint gives passengers another way to watch the mountains, glaciers and waterways as the ship sails through Alaska.
Grand Dutch Café
Another addition is the Grand Dutch Café, inspired by Holland America Line’s Dutch heritage.
The transformation will also include refreshed staterooms and suites, updated guest areas and enhancements influenced by the line’s Pinnacle Class ships.
Oosterdam will also operate Alaska Cruisetours
Oosterdam isn’t just being positioned as another option for an Alaska cruise.
Holland America Line says the ship will be the primary ship for its Alaska Cruisetours, allowing passengers to combine their cruise with an overland journey into Denali and the Yukon.
The 2028 Cruisetours have not yet been released, with Holland America Line saying details and availability will be announced later.
For comparison, 2027 Alaska Cruisetours are already available to book, so anyone specifically interested in combining a cruise with an inland Alaska adventure may want to keep an eye on the 2028 programme.
Holland America’s 2028 Alaska itineraries
There is considerable variety in the 2028 programme, from traditional seven-day cruises to much longer explorations.
14-day Great Alaska Explorer
Noordam will operate a 14-day Great Alaska Explorer from Seattle, with departures on 4 June and 20 August 2028.
The itinerary includes:
Juneau
Ketchikan
Prince Rupert
Anchorage
Kodiak
Valdez
Hubbard Glacier
Endicott Arm/Dawes Glacier
Nootka Sound scenic cruising
This is one of the more destination-rich options in the programme and should appeal to cruisers who want to go beyond the usual Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan combination.
18-day Great Bear Rainforest & Alaska Explorer
The longest itinerary highlighted by Holland America Line is an 18-day Great Bear Rainforest & Alaska Explorer aboard Zaandam.
The roundtrip Vancouver cruise departs on 13 September 2028 and includes:
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
Great Bear Rainforest
Bella Bella
Homer
Kodiak
Anchorage
Valdez
Nootka Sound scenic cruising
It provides a much more extensive exploration of the region than the typical seven-day Alaska cruise.
16-day Great Bear Rainforest & Alaska Explorer
Oosterdam will operate a new 16-day Great Bear Rainforest & Alaska Explorer from Vancouver, departing 28 April 2028.
The itinerary includes the Great Bear Rainforest, Hubbard Glacier, Prince Rupert, Kodiak, Anchorage and Valdez.
There will also be scenic cruising through Johnstone Strait, Grenville Channel and Princess Royal Channel.
Seven-day Glacier Discovery
For cruisers looking for a more traditional Alaska cruise, Holland America will operate 36 seven-day Glacier Discovery departures during the 2028 season.
Oosterdam and Eurodam will sail between Vancouver and Whittier, the port for Anchorage.
The itineraries include:
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
Juneau
Skagway
Ketchikan
Either College Fjord or Hubbard Glacier, depending on the sailing
This is the classic cruise-and-glacier combination that makes Alaska such a popular cruise destination.
Seven-day Alaska Inside Passage
There will be 46 seven-day Alaska Inside Passage departures aboard Koningsdam, Zaandam and Oosterdam.
These cruises operate roundtrip from Vancouver and include:
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
Juneau
Skagway
Ketchikan
For first-time Alaska cruisers, this is likely to be one of the simplest ways to experience the region without committing to a longer itinerary.
Seven-day Alaska Explorer
Westerdam and Noordam will operate 45 seven-day Alaska Explorer departures roundtrip from Seattle.
The itinerary includes:
Juneau
Sitka
Ketchikan
Either Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve or Endicott Arm/Dawes Glacier, depending on the sailing
The Seattle departure point could also make these cruises particularly convenient for travellers combining Alaska with a stay in the Pacific Northwest.
Alaska remains a major part of Holland America’s identity
Eurodam in Johns Hopkins Photo: Holland America Line
Holland America Line has been cruising in Alaska for more than 80 years, and the 2028 programme continues its emphasis on destination-focused experiences.
The cruise line offers more than 200 shore excursions, ranging from whale watching and bear viewing to experiences focused on Alaska’s wildlife and culture.
On board, its Alaska Up Close programme brings destination experts and local knowledge to passengers, alongside National Park Service Rangers and wildlife experts on selected sailings.
Glacier viewing is another major part of the experience, with itineraries featuring destinations and scenic cruising areas including Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier, Tracy Arm and College Fjord.
There is also an Alaska focus in the food and drink programme, including Alaska seafood, the Alaska Brunch, Alaska Seafood Boil and the Savour My Catch programme.
Is Holland America a good choice for an Alaska cruise?
Holland America’s 2028 programme is particularly interesting because it goes beyond the standard seven-day Alaska cruise.
The line has plenty of conventional itineraries for first-time visitors, but the longer Great Alaska Explorer and Great Bear Rainforest & Alaska Explorer sailings provide a much deeper exploration of the region.
The addition of Nootka Sound, meanwhile, gives repeat Alaska cruisers another reason to look at the 2028 season.
And then there is Oosterdam.
With its new Solo Verandah staterooms, Bridgeview Suites, Grand Dutch Café and wider Evolution transformation, the ship could become one of the more interesting choices for Alaska cruisers in 2028.
For travellers who want to combine their cruise with inland Alaska, the planned Cruisetour programme aboard Oosterdam could be even more significant.
The Lowdown
There is more to Holland America’s 2028 Alaska season than simply putting another ship in the Inside Passage.
The new San Diego-to-Vancouver voyage immediately stands out because it gives cruisers a much longer journey into Alaska while incorporating several ports that don’t appear on the standard seven-day itineraries.
I’m also intrigued by the addition of Nootka Sound. Scenic cruising is an important part of an Alaska cruise, and sailing through a relatively unusual waterway can be just as memorable as ticking another port off the list.
But the ship story is probably the biggest one.
Oosterdam’s arrival gives Holland America a fresh proposition for Alaska, particularly for solo travellers and anyone prepared to spend more for a forward-facing Bridgeview Suite. The fact that she will also be the primary ship for Alaska Cruisetours makes her particularly relevant to anyone wanting to combine a cruise with Denali and the Yukon.
If you’re a first-time Alaska cruiser, the seven-day Glacier Discovery and Inside Passage itineraries remain the obvious starting points. But if you’ve already done Alaska once, I’d be looking much more closely at the longer Explorer itineraries and the Great Bear Rainforest options.
And if you’re planning an Alaska cruise for 2028, this is a programme worth putting on your shortlist now.