Holland America Line has been sailing from San Diego, Calif., since the 1990s, and 2023 and 2024 will add to that tenure with half a dozen ships sailing to and from the West Coast port. Highlights of the upcoming season include a pair of solar eclipse cruises, California coastal trips, Mexico itineraries, Hawaii cruises and Panama Canal transits — not to mention combinations of several sailings dubbed “Collectors’ Voyages.”
“San Diego is an important homeport for Holland America Line, both as a drive-to market and for guests who fly in, and it’s important for us to be able to offer cruises to a variety of destinations,” said Beth Bodensteiner, chief commercial officer of Holland America Line. “Our West Coast itineraries have been meticulously designed to showcase the best of each region, and we took extra time crafting the solar eclipse cruises so they are perfectly aligned to give our guests a total view. We expect them to book up quickly, so those who are interested shouldn’t delay.”
Solar Eclipse Cruises
Both Zaandam and Koningsdam will offer cruises featuring the April 8, 2024, solar eclipse. The former will embark on a 14-day roundtrip sailing on March 30, 2024, stopping in Mazatlan for special views of the event. The latter will leave on April 5, 2024, for a 22-day journey, offering a day at sea for eclipse viewing before heading to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Hawaii, then finishing in Vancouver.
Mexico Cruises
Koningsdam, Volendam and Zaandam will sail Mexico itineraries roundtrip from San Diego, including:
- Weeklong “Mexican Riviera” sailings, featuring Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas
- Ten-, 11- and 12-day routes that include the seven-day cruise, plus a combination of Guaymas, Loreto, Manzanillo, Pichilingue (La Paz), Santa Rosalia, Topolobampo and Zihuatanejo
- A single five-day cruise that calls on only Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas
Hawaii Cruises
Koningsdam and Volendam will sail "Circle Hawaii” voyages roundtrip from San Diego (or roundtrip from Vancouver or between San Diego and Vancouver), ranging from 16 to 18 days in length.
Featured ports include Lahaina, Hilo, Honolulu, Kona and Nawiliwili, as well as Ensenada, Mexico.
California Coast Cruises
Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam,Noordam, Volendam and Zaandam will cruise along the West Coast of the U.S., roundtrip from San Diego (or roundtrip from Vancouver or between San Diego and Vancouver), including these California voyages:
- “Pacific Coast” routes are four or five days long, visiting combinations of Catalina, Monterey, Santa Barbara and San Francisco, Calif., as well as Astoria, Ore., and Victoria, Canada.
- Longer six- or seven-day “Classic California Coast” and “Wine Country and Pacific Northwest” itineraries head to combinations of Monterey, Santa Barbara and San Francisco, Calif.; Victoria, Canada; and Ensenada, Mexico.
Panama Canal Cruises
Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Volendam and Zaandam will transit the canal between San Diego (or Vancouver or Seattle) and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Circuits range from 14 to 22 days, calling on a combination of Aruba, California, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Turks and Caicos ports, as well as the line’s private island of Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.
Collectors’ Voyages
Not to be forgotten are Collectors’ Voyages of up to 32 days in length that bundle two non-repeating cruises for even greater variety.
