Holland America Line is making a significant shift in its deployment strategy, keeping Nieuw Statendam in Europe through the 2027-2028 winter season to offer year-round cruising in the region. The move adds a dozen new itineraries onboard the ship spanning the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, along with two additional voyages on Zuiderdam. Compared to the prior year, the expanded program adds more than 70 port days.
"Europe continues to be one of the most sought-after destinations for our guests, and as a cruise line with Dutch roots, it's a region we know incredibly well," said Paul Grigsby, vice president of deployment and itinerary planning for Holland America Line. "Expanding to year-round Europe allows us to showcase a completely different side of the destination—one that is quieter, more immersive and deeply seasonal. From the festive charm of Christmas markets to a cooler and more relaxed Mediterranean region, winter offers a more authentic way to experience Europe."
Two Christmas market voyages aboard Nieuw Statendam anchor the winter program. The first is a 13-day Baltic and Scandinavian itinerary sailing roundtrip from Rotterdam or Dover, touching Kiel as a jumping-off point for Hamburg's markets, plus Tallinn and Copenhagen. Overnight stays in both Helsinki and Stockholm allow for evening exploration, and the Helsinki call provides access to Lapland.
The second holiday sailing is a 15-day itinerary timed to the Christmas season, with overnights in Hamburg and Copenhagen. Additional calls include Aarhus, scenic Elbe River cruising and a southern Norway sequence covering Oslo, Kristiansand, Bergen and Stavanger.
Once the holiday sailings wrap, Nieuw Statendam moves south for a winter and early spring Mediterranean program covering the Western and Eastern Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. The itineraries connect ports across Spain, France, Italy and Greece, including Valencia, Marseille, Livorno, Naples, Mykonos, Rhodes and Kusadasi.
Voyage lengths run from seven to 14 days, with Collectors' Voyages stretching up to 24 days. Back-to-back combinations are available for travelers seeking broader regional coverage.
Editor’s Note: This article was generated by AI, based on a press release distributed by Holland America Line. It was fact-checked and reviewed by a TravelAge West editor.
