Key Aspects:
- Holland America Line is experiencing a booking spike for 2026 Europe cruises.
- Demand rose by 30% overall and by 50% to Northern Europe itineraries.
- The line’s Wave Season promotion is offering fare discounts and other perks.
Cruises in Europe, particularly Northern Europe, are proving to be a major boon in Holland America Line’s advance bookings for 2026.
Demand for Europe voyages has risen by one-third and by a whopping 50% for the continent’s northern destinations compared to early January 2025.
Guests appear to be embracing the line’s itineraries that feature longer times in port, more overnights in port, and explorations of some 175 UNESCO World Heritage sites across 35 countries in the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, British Isles, and Northern Europe.
Several voyages were curated in partnership with The History Channel, a collaboration that the cruise line rolled out in early 2025. The iconic television brand signed a three-year agreement with Holland America to help design itineraries and shore excursions that take full advantage of a destination’s historical landmarks and elements.
In Northern Europe, for instance, some excursions that debuted in 2025 included hiking the Trondheim Heritage Trail in Trondheim, Norway, and the Walk With Huskies experience in Tromso.
One History Channel voyage onboard Nieuw Statendam, the 13-day Fjords of Norway, for example, departs September 19, 2026 from Rotterdam. The Pinnacle-class ship that accommodates 2,666 guests will make eight port calls in Norway, including at Trondheim, Stavanger, and Oslo, before ending in Dover, England.
History Channel itineraries are offered in other destinations, too, such as Oosterdam’s 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise departing from Rome on August 29, 2026. Port calls offering history-focused and cultural excursions include Portofino, Italy, Ajaccio, Corsica, Marseille, France, and Gibraltar, UK, before the cruise ends in Barcelona.
Holland America Line Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Maykova Galina)
Oosterdam has a capacity for 1,964 guests in double occupancy and is a Vista-class ship.
“With our Dutch roots and unmatched expertise in the region, guests know they’re traveling with the European cruise experts when they choose Holland America. These voyages will sell out and at the fast pace we are seeing this year, now is a good time for guests to secure their ideal cruise,” said Dan Rough, vice president of revenue management for Holland America Line.
The cruise line’s latest success story followed on the heels of another surge in bookings during its 2025 Black Friday weekend sale.
Offered from November 28 to December 1, 2025, that promotion led to a nearly 20% jump in bookings — eclipsing an all-time record high back in 2023. Like the current Wave Season promotion, it featured reduced deposits, fare discounts, and other value-added benefits.
Book By January 12 For Wave Season Deals
Holland America Line’s announcement strongly suggests that travelers considering a summer voyage to Europe should book soon, noting that the cruise line’s Wave Season promotion — called Start Your Journey, is time-limited.
It’s good advice, considering that the promotion is in effect only until January 12, 2026 and offers several valuable benefits. The Wave Season deal currently on offer includes reduced deposits of $25; up to 30% discounts on cruise fares; up to $500 in onboard credits; balcony cabin upgrades; and free fares for children, among other perks.
Other notable itineraries Holland America Line is offering for summer 2026 include the 14-Day Wild British Isles sailing onboard Nieuw Statendam. The May 30, 2026 voyage sails roundtrip from Dover, England, and features an overnight in Glasgow, Scotland.
The full exploration of Great Britain includes port calls at Edinburgh and Kirkwall, Scotland; Lerwick, Shetland Isles; Portree, Isle of Skye; and Holyhead, Wales. Guests will also visit Greencastle and Cork, Ireland, and Amsterdam on this voyage.
Sports-minded passengers will be glad to know that every match in the FIFA World Cup 26 competition will be broadcast across the Holland America Line fleet.
