Cruise to Iceland or Mexico as the Next Big Trip

Cruise to Iceland. The destination is expected to become the new “it” itinerary next year and Holland America Line (HAL) is getting onboard with the demand with 29 sailings that range from weeklong getaways and longer, with more in-depth journeys. The close-to-home cruises that depart or end in Boston, Massachusetts are set up for family getaways and guests looking to explore North America’s Atlantic Coast. And one extended roundtrip-Boston itinerary stretches up to the dramatic landscapes of Iceland and beyond to Greenland.

“Our expanded season allows travelers to explore the region from spring through autumn, including the popular fall foliage, and by offering longer cruises we can extend up to Greenland and Iceland for a truly unique vacation,” said Beth Bodensteiner, Holland America Line’s chief commercial officer. 

From April through October in 2024, a cruise to Iceland on the Volendam and Zuiderdam offers a series of seven-day “Canada & New England Discovery” departures with ports that showcase the region’s noteworthy seafood, deep maritime history, quintessential charm and natural beauty. Ten- and 11-day cruises on Volendam add Newfoundland, while a 24-day expedition adds Greenland and a circumnavigation of Iceland.

Cruise to Iceland: Highlights of the 2024 Season:

+ A 24-day cruise departing July 27 on Volendam sails roundtrip from Boston and circumnavigates Iceland, enhancing Holland America Line’s homeport initiative that allows guests to see the world from their doorstep, with just a short flight or drive to the port. The cruise makes six calls around Iceland, with 10 additional visits in Greenland, Maine and Canada’s Nova Scotia, Labrador and Newfoundland.

+ Volendam will cruise between Boston and Montréal, Québec, Canada in both the summer and fall on a series of seven-day “Canada & New England Discovery” itineraries with convenient weekend departures. Ports include Bar Harbor, Maine, and the Canadian destinations of Québec City, Québec; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; and Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia. (The Sept. 28 departure exchanges Bar Harbor for Rockland, Maine.)

+ Zuiderdam will sail seven-day “Canada & New England Discovery” itineraries between Boston and Québec City, with weekend departures and overnight calls at Quebec City at the beginning or end of the cruise. Ports include Bar Harbor, Charlottetown, Sydney and Halifax. (The Sept. 21 departure exchanges Bar Harbor for Rockland and doesn’t include a Quebec overnight.)

Cruise to Iceland

+ One seven-day “Historic Coasts” cruise roundtrip from Boston aboard Volendam departs July 20 and calls at Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine; Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada; and Halifax and Sydney.

+ Volendam offers longer “Newfoundland & New England Discovery” cruises that sail between Boston and Montreal. Ports on the 10-day cruise includes Quebec City, Baie-Comeau and Havre-Saint-Pierre, Québec; Corner Brook, St. Anthony and St. John’s in Newfoundland; Halifax and Portland. The 11-day departure calls at Portland, Saint John, Corner Brook, Charlottetown and Quebec’s Saguenay.

+ Both Volendam and Zuiderdam will cruise the region in the fall so more guests can view the impressive display of the changing foliage. Itineraries feature scenic cruising through the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Saguenay Fjord.

+ Holland America Line’s perfectly sized ships are small enough to enable cruising the scenic St. Lawrence River, with calls at Montréal and Québec City on nearly every itinerary and large enough to host multiple spaces for live music, entertainment productions and specialty dining.

Volendam Offer

+ Volendam offers 13- and 14-day repositioning cruises along the Atlantic Coast between Montréal and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in April and October. Both cruises include an overnight at Quebec City. Zuiderdam’s 11-day Atlantic Coast cruise from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale in October adds Charleston, South Carolina.

Currently, guests who choose to cruise to Iceland can access a special Have It All premium package that encompasses standard package amenities of shore excursions, specialty dining, a Signature Beverage Package and Surf Wi-Fi are included — plus the added perk of free prepaid Crew Appreciation, along with free upgrades to the Elite Beverage Package and Premium Wi-Fi.

Food, Wine and Culture and Culinary Tours 

Exclusive shore excursions in partnership with FOOD & WINE magazine highlight the tastes of the region. On Canada and New England cruises, guests can indulge in authentic poutine and maple syrup–infused treats or farm-to-fork cuisine in Quebec City; explore the best of Nova Scotia’s culinary scene along Halifax’s iconic waterfront boardwalk; and sample Prince Edward Island’s freshly-shucked oysters, lobster sliders and home-grown mussels.

Warming Up in Mexico from the Port of San Diego

Closer to home, travelers who want to stay warm, check out a rare eclipse and head to beaches rather than steaming mineral baths, HAL’s West Coast sailings from San Diego may be the ticket. 

San Diego, California, has been a West Coast homeport for Holland America Line since the 1990s, and for the 2023-2024 season the cruise line is featuring a robust schedule from the Golden State. Highlighting the San Diego cruise season are two solar eclipse cruises that place Koningsdam and Zaandam in Mexico for total viewing during the April 8, 2024, eclipse. Also, a special Mexico departure in December 2023 explores unique ports in the Sea of Cortez.

Holland America Line is now booking travelers for the 2023-2024 season to explore Mexico, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast and Panama Canal on six ships across 39 departures. Voyages are roundtrip from San Diego or begin or end in the popular California port.

Undoubtedly “San Diego is an important homeport for Holland America Line, both from 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 Bodensteiner. “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. Particularly We expect them to book up quickly, so those who are interested shouldn’t delay.”

Two Solar Eclipse Cruises with Total Viewing Power

+ Zaandam’s 14-day Solar Eclipse Cruise departs March 30, 2024, and is positioned for a total view of the solar eclipse as it tracks over Mexico. Roundtrip from San Diego, the ship is at Mazatlán April 8, giving guests a front-row seat.

+ Koningsdam’s 22-day Solar Eclipse Cruise positions the ship along the coast of Mexico for a total view before crossing the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii. The San Diego to Vancouver itinerary departs April 5 and heads south to Cabo San Lucas before spending the day at sea April 8 for the total eclipse. Koningsdam then makes way to Puerto Vallarta before crossing over to Hawaii.

Cruise to Baja and Beyond

Nevertheless Volendam’s 12-day “Historic Baja & Sea of Cortez” cruise departing Dec. 10, 2023, explores the sun-kissed jewels along the Baha Peninsula on a roundtrip from San Diego cruise to Mexico that features charming La Paz, tranquil Loreto and vibrant Puerto Vallarta. Nevertheless The journey follows in the footsteps of ports visited by author John Steinbeck and biologist Ed Ricketts in 1951, when they collected marine specimens on an expedition that eventually resulted in two books about their experiences.

Otherwise All Mexico cruises are roundtrip from San Diego.

Three ships offer Mexico itineraries: Koningsdam, Volendam, Zaandam.

Notwithstanding All seven-day “Mexican Riviera” cruises feature Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas.

The 10-, 11- and 12-day itineraries include the ports on the seven-day cruise, plus a combination of Guaymas. Loreto, Manzanillo, Pichilingue (La Paz), Santa Rosalia, Topolobampo and Zihuatanejo,

One five-day cruise calls at Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Hawaii in Mind

Cruises to Hawaii are aboard Koningsdam and Volendam. Itineraries are roundtrip from San Diego, roundtrip from Vancouver, or between Vancouver and San Diego. Although The featured “Circle Hawaii” cruises range from 16 to 18 days and are 17-day roundtrip sailings from Vancouver with calls at Lahaina, Hilo, Honolulu Kona and Nawiliwili, all in Hawaii. The 17-day roundtrip from San Diego also includes Ensenada.

Thereupon Other sailings from San Diego include passages to the Pacific Northwest in four and five-day itineraries that offer calls at Avalon, Monterey, Santa Barbara and San Francisco in California; and Astoria, Oregon and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Have It All Offers: Once again, Holland America Line’s “Have It All” premium fare adds four popular perks to the booking: shore excursions, specialty dining, a beverage package and Wi-Fi. The number of tours and specialty dining experiences depends on length of voyage. Have It All is available for cruises six days or longer.