Travel agents and clients based along the West Coast will appreciate that Holland America Line (HAL) will continue to base ships in the region for departures to Hawaii and through the Panama Canal for the 2025-2026 season. Bookings are now open onboard five HAL ships.
New will be Nieuw Amsterdam visiting Hawaii roundtrip from San Diego, Calif., along with Pinnacle-class Koningsdam transiting the Panama Canal for the first time with stops at Acajutla, El Salvador.
“We know a Panama Canal transit is a once-in-a-lifetime experience many of our guests are seeking, and by adding Acajutla to select voyages, we’re making it even more memorable,” said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer for HAL. “Guests can discover the ‘Pompeii of the Americas’ with a shore excursion to Joya de Ceren archaeological site, where they’ll explore a Maya farming village remarkably preserved under volcanic ash.
Most Hawaii sailings include a one-night call in Honolulu.
Credit: 2024 Holland America Line/stock.adobe.comHawaii Cruises
HAL is using three of its ships — Koningsdam, Zaandam and Nieuw Amsterdam — to sail to Hawaii from San Diego. It will be Nieuw Amsterdam’s inaugural season in the region, and it will also showcase the new Morimoto by Sea dining concept. (The menu from celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto will also be featured on the other two ships during special pop-up dinners.)
Seventeen-day roundtrip itineraries are available from San Diego, calling on Honolulu (with an overnight or late departure), Kona and Kahului, plus Ensenada, Mexico. Other sailings set sail from Vancouver, British Columbia and disembark in San Diego, visiting Nawiliwili, Kahului, Hilo, Honolulu (overnight) and Kona along the way.
A longer 18-day alternative is available, and will leave roundtrip from either San Diego or Vancouver going to Kahului, Hilo, Honolulu (overnight), Nawiliwili and Kona, as well as either Ensenada or Victoria, Canada, respectively.
Panama Canal Cruises
Even more options are available for clients seeking a Panama Canal transit, starting or ending in Vancouver; Seattle, Wash.; San Diego; or Miami or Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Routes range from 15 to 22 days onboard Eurodam, Koningsdam and Zuiderdam, and stops will be a combination of Aruba, California, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador (including Acajutla), Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Turks and Caicos.
Acajutla-based shore excursions will encompass Maya ruins, volcanoes and cacao plantations, as well as access to San Salvador and Nahuizalco.
What’s more, many such itineraries additionally showcase HAL’s private island destination of Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas and a daylight transit of the Panama Canal itself, complete with commentary broadcast on the open decks.
