Overview

Company Profile

With more than 130 years of experience, Holland America Line is recognized as the undisputed leader in the cruise industry's premium segment. Its 12 premium ships sail to more than 280 ports of call on all seven continents, ranging from popular Caribbean and Alaska itineraries to exotic cruises to the far corners of the world.

In 2004, Holland America Line grew its passenger capacity by about 13 percent over 2003 with the addition of the ms Westerdam, the third 1848-passenger Vista Class ship. By 2006, Holland America Line capacity will grow another 11 percent.

Over the course of the company's long history, first as a cargo- and passenger-shipping carrier, and subsequently a leisure-cruise line, Holland America Line has carried more than 9 million passengers from Europe to the New World and to vacation destinations across the globe.

Continuing a Tradition of Excellence
In late 2003, Holland America Line announced an unprecedented $225 million investment in unparalleled product and service enhancements to its fleet of five-star ships. Called Signature of Excellence, this initiative builds on Holland America Line's renowned Tradition of Excellence™ by significantly raising the standard in premium cruising. The comprehensive enhancements focus on five areas central to the Holland America Line guest experience: spacious, elegant ships and accommodations; sophisticated five-star dining; gracious, unobtrusive service; extensive enrichment programs and activities; and compelling worldwide itineraries. Enhancements are expected to be completed by the end of 2006.

Providing Passage to the New World
Holland America Line was founded in 1873 as the Netherlands-America Steamship Company (NASM), a shipping and passenger line. Because it was headquartered in Rotterdam and provided service to the Americas, it became known as Holland America Line. The company's first ocean liner was the Rotterdam, which sailed its maiden voyage from the Netherlands to New York City on Oct. 15, 1872. The one-way voyage took 15 days. Following that first voyage, Holland America Line has seen a series of benchmark moments in its history.

* By its 25th anniversary, Holland America owned a fleet of six cargo and passenger ships, and also provided service between Holland and the Dutch East Indies via the newly constructed Suez Canal.
* The line was a principal carrier of immigrants from Europe to the United States until well after the turn of the century, carrying 850,000 to new lives in the New World.
* In 1895, the company offered its first vacation cruise; its second leisure cruise, from New York to the Holy Land, was in 1910.
* In 1971, Holland America suspended its transatlantic passenger trade and turned to offering cruise vacations full time.
* In 1989, Holland America Line Inc. became a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival Corp., the largest cruise company in the world.

Compelling Worldwide Itineraries

In 2005, Holland America Line's fleet of 12, five-star, premium ships are offering nearly 500 cruises from 27 home ports - 17 in North America. Itineraries range in length from two to 116 days, visit all seven continents and offer the most extensive selection of ports the line has ever visited on cruises to the Caribbean and Panama Canal (175), Alaska (134), Canada/New England (18), and longer, exotic voyages to Europe (45), Mexico (43), Hawaii/Asia/Pacific (20), South America (17), and Transatlantic (8), as well as one Grand World Voyage.

Guests will have more destination choices in every corner of the world that will bring them not just to new and exciting locations but into the culture and heart of each place to create a truly memorable and unique experience.

2004 also brings the most extensive European season ever with 45 enticing itineraries on four distinctive ships (including the ms Westerdam), not to mention the D-Day commemoration and the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Sample Itineraries