You may have noticed we don’t normally talk much about Holland America Line (HAL).  

Apparently they’ve noticed too… but more on that in a minute. (Spoiler Alert – book a Holland America cruise through Pampered Cruiser during the next 2 weeks and get an additional 5-12% discount above and beyond anything publicly available).

On the ocean, we would categorize anything fewer than 1000 guests as a “small ship”.  HAL’s smallest ship falls outside that, with 1400 guests (and their largest ship, the new Rotterdam, holds 2650).  So even though Holland America’s ships do not qualify as ‘small ships’, their LARGEST ship holds fewer than HALF the number of guests compared to those big mega ships offered by other companies.

So why might you want to look at Holland America?  

The most important criteria when selecting a cruise vacation is the itinerary, so if you find a Holland America  itinerary you like, that’s the first and most important reason.  Second, the price point will be lower than a luxury cruise line because HAL’s slightly larger ships give them a price advantage.

Here’s a quick look at why you might want to have Holland America on your radar.

Alaska:

• Most of our business is river cruises and small-ship ocean cruises.  However, we do sell a fair number of HAL cruises – particularly in Alaska where between them and Princess, they pretty much dominate the market for that destination.  If you’re going to Alaska, we will almost always suggest you consider Holland America even if you normally choose a luxury cruise line with smaller ships.
• HAL has 6 ships in Alaska this year, so there are tons of options.  There are literally dozens of different land-sea combinations with HAL in Alaska. 
• HAL has hotel/lodge properties in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Denali, Seward, Alyeska, Talkeetna, Whitehorse, Dawson City, and Skagway.  
• HAL’s show-piece in Alaska is the McKinley Chalet Resort in Denali with a 68-acre campus.
• HAL are the only ones offering Cruise Tour options to the Yukon Territory that can be done in conjunction with a visit to Denali.
• HAL has dedicated rail cars exclusively for their clients on the Alaska Rail system.  Every HAL Alaska Cruise Tour includes some time on the rails – the very best way to see the interior of Alaska.

Also:

• HAL’s mid-sized ships are a nice balance between being large enough to have lots of dining and entertainment choices, and small enough you’re not walking the length of three football fields to get to the dining room.
• The entertainment is geared to those of us in the 45+ age range.  A dueling piano lounge, and the BB King Blues Room are examples of this.  They also have the production shows, and a night club, for those looking for the traditional offerings. Bob and I really enjoy the entertainment wherever we travel, and we think the entertainment on board HAL ships is very well done.

Exclusive (Private) Sale Prices:

• HAL wants to work with more Pampered Cruiser clients, so they’ve arranged a 2-week private sale with us that gives YOU the very best value.
• Get 5% to 12% off publicly available rates. This discount is exclusive to our agency (ONLY if you book through Pampered Cruiser within the next 2 weeks), and is not available if you book directly with HAL or another travel agency.  Note: this kind of discount is very unusual.  As you may know, normally when you book through us you’ll pay exactly the same price compared to booking directly with the cruise line (this applies to any cruise line).  We always add extra perks to your reservation compared to booking direct, but a price discount like this is rare indeed.
• The best part about this promotion is that the exclusive price discount IS combinable with all the other publicly available HAL promotions that are offered right now (and there are a lot of them!).  This is unusual and exceptional, because cruise lines often feature “select sailings” OR they don’t allow you to combine promos.  In this case, you don’t have to compare promotions to see which would be a better deal for you.  You can choose ANY cruise and get all the goodies.
• Book a Holland America cruise with us in the next 2 weeks, and here’s what you’ll get:
  • 5% – 12% OFF ‘Have It All’ fares you see on their website.  Cruise-only fares are NOT eligible.
  • ‘Have It All’ Amenities: Beverage Package, Shore Excursion Credit, Specialty Dining.
  • Anniversary Sale Goodies:  Reduced fares and additional onboard credits.
  • Virtuoso and Group Amenities only available through our Agency:  Additional onboard credits, and in Alaska, tickets to the Music of Denali Dinner Theatre.
  • On-Stage Alaska:  Up to $350 in additional on board credits.
  • For 2025 Alaska bookings, we can also get you Free Prepaid Gratuities, and an upgraded wifi and drink package. 
  • Mariner Club Members and Carnival Corporation Shareholders will also get their usual benefits. 

When you layer all these things together, this offer is pretty hard to beat. 

Click for more details: https://www.dtspotlight.com/pamperedcruiser/en/cruise/13771/Limited-Time-Offer-to-Alaska-with-Holland-America

THE FINE PRINT:  Cruises less than 7 days, World Cruises, and Caribbean sailings less than 2 weeks are excluded.  Percentage discount is available on HAVE IT ALL fares only.

2024 Examples:

ALASKA Denali Cruise Tour

• Fairbanks to Vancouver for 12-days departing July 30 (with 3 nights at Denali).
• Visit Fairbanks, Denali (3 nights), Anchorage, Whittier, Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Vancouver.
• Verandas from $4749 pp.

ALASKA Yukon & Denali Cruise Tour

• This one is great for those that have perhaps already taken a cruise to Alaska, but not done the land portion.  HAL is the only cruise line visiting Yukon. 
• Vancouver round-trip for 18-days departing July 24 (includes flights on tour)
• Visit Vancouver, Whitehorse, Dawson City, Fairbanks, Denali (3 nights), Anchorage, Whittier, Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Vancouver.
• Verandas from $5405 pp.

MEDITERRANEAN: Athens to Rome departing October 19 for 28 days 

• Visit Athens, Mykonos, Istanbul (overnight), Ephesus, Rhodes, Crete, Malta (overnight), Sicily, Olympia, Corfu, Kotor, Split, Venice (overnight), Dubrovnik, Albania, Argostoli, Messina, Naples, Rome.
• Verandas from $4959 pp.

JAPAN:  Tokyo to Hong Kong departing October 27 for 14-days.

• Visit Tokyo, Osaka (overnight), Naha, Ishigaki, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Manila, Boracay, Puerto Princesa, Hong Kong
• Verandas from $4699 pp.

2025 Examples:

ALASKA Denali Cruise Tour

• Seattle round-trip departing May 26, 2025 for 13-days.
• Visit Seattle, Fairbanks, Denali 3, Anchorage, Whittier, Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Vancouver, Seattle
• Verandas from $5049 pp.  Includes Pre-Paid Gratuities and upgraded Beverage Package

ALASKA Yukon & Denali Cruise Tour

• Vancouver round-trip departing May 21 for 18-days.
• Visit Vancouver, Dawson City, Fairbanks, Denali (3 nights), Anchorage, Whittier, Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Vancouver.
• Verandas from $5919.  Includes Pre-Paid Gratuities and upgraded Beverage Package

NORWEGIAN FJORDS & SCOTLAND departing London (round-trip) June 14, 2025 for 14-days

• Visit Rotterdam, Nordfjordeid, Trondheim, Honningsvag, Tromso, Leknes, Shetland Islands, Invergordon, Edinburgh, London
• Verandas from $4169.  Includes Pre-Paid Gratuities and upgraded Beverage Package

NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA departing February 2, 2025 for 14-nights

• Visit Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Milford Sound, Dunedin, Christchurch, Picton, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland.
• Verandas from $3098 pp.

Pop-Up Sale with AMA Waterways: Free Gratuities 

If you’re in the market for a European River Cruise in 2024, then we can get free pre-paid gratuities thrown in for bookings made in the next week.  

Click here for more details: https://www.dtspotlight.com/pamperedcruiser/en/cruise/14923/Exclusive-Pop-Up-Sale-with-AmaWaterways

Here are three examples:

Danube River from Budapest to Vilshofen departing August 10 for one week:

• Visit Budapest (overnight), Bratislava, Vienna, Wachau Valley, Linz, Passau, Vilshofen (overnight)
• Fares from $2999 pp (represents $1000 off) with a $150 per person on board credit.

Christmas Markets from Amsterdam to Basel departing December 19 for one week:

• Visit Amsterdam (overnight), Dusseldorf, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Ludwigshafen, Strasbourg, Breisach, Basel
• French Balconies from $3848 pp ($1500 off per stateroom) with $150 pp OBC.

Provence & Lyon, France departing December 12 for one week:

• Visit Arles (overnight), Avignon, Viviers, Tournon, Vienne, Lyon (overnight).
• Bob and I did this itinerary in December 2023 (ie same time of year).  See our video blog here:  https://youtu.be/H2rBL8J7DIU 
• Fares from $3098 pp ($2000 off per stateroom) with a $150 pp OBC.

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If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sue Bradley