Are you looking for the most complete activity? Holland America Cruises at sea? If so, you’ll want to hop aboard one of Holland America’s largest cruise ships.
Holland America’s largest cruise ships are, unsurprisingly, the ones with the most restaurants, bars and exhibition halls on board, as well as the greatest variety of staterooms and suites. They also boast the largest spas and casinos of any ship in the Holland America fleet.
With 1,325 rooms and room for 2,650 passengers at double occupancy, Holland America’s largest ships are larger than many land-based resorts, though they are not as large as some of the truly giant cruise ships operated by such major lines as Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line.
Among the Seven major cruise lines that account for the majority of cruises Adopted by North Americans, Holland America is known for focusing on relatively smaller vessels.
Holland America operates 11 cruise ships in total. In addition to three ships that can accommodate 2,650 guests at double occupancy, the line has eight smaller ships, some of them significantly smaller. Holland America’s two smallest ships are designed to carry just 1,432 passengers each.
Holland America’s smaller ships, in particular, have less deck space for pools and lounges and fewer interior spaces than Holland America’s larger cruise ships.
Holland America’s smaller cruises are best for vacationers who prefer a more intimate, less crowded resort experience.
Related: Holland America’s 4 ship classes, explained
To make sure you choose the right Holland America cruise for you, it’s worth studying which Holland America ships are the largest and which are the smallest before booking.
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Here every Holland America ship currently in operation is ranked from largest to smallest.
1. Rotterdam
Maiden voyage: 2021
Size: 99,863 gross tons
Passenger capacity:2.650
1 (tied). New Statendam
Maiden voyage: 2018
Size: 99,863 gross tons
Passenger capacity:2.650
1 (tied). Koningsdam
Maiden voyage: 2016
Size: 99,863 gross tons
Passenger capacity:2.650
4. New Amsterdam
Maiden voyage: 2010
Size: 86,700 gross tons
Passenger capacity:2,106
5. Europresa
Maiden voyage: 2008
Size: 86,273 gross tons
Passenger capacity:2,104
6. Noordam
Maiden voyage: 2006
Size: 82,318 gross tons
Passenger capacity:1,924
7. Westerdam
Maiden voyage: 2004
Size: 82,305 gross tons
Passenger capacity:1.916
7 (tied). Oosterdam
Maiden voyage: 2003
Size: 82,305 gross tons
Passenger capacity:1.916
7 (tied). Zuiderdam
Maiden voyage: 2002
Size: 82,305 gross tons
Passenger capacity:1.916
10. Zaandam
Maiden voyage: 2000
Size: 61,396 gross tons
Passenger capacity:1,432
11. Volendam
Maiden voyage: 1999
Size: 61,214 gross tons
Passenger capacity:1,432
What is Holland America’s largest cruise ship?
Holland America’s largest cruise ship is the Rotterdam, with a capacity of 2,650 passengers, and its two larger sisters, the Nieuw Statendam, with a capacity of 2,650 passengers, and the Koningsdam, with a capacity of 2,650 passengers.
All three vessels are exactly the same size: 99,863 gross tons. (Note that gross tons are a measure of size that takes into account a ship’s interior space and not its weight.)
In addition to being the largest ships in the Holland America fleet, the three vessels, collectively known as the Pinnacle class, are the newest ships in the Holland America fleet and feature the most space and amenities.
Related: Top 5 destinations to visit on a Holland America cruise
Notably, in addition to a main restaurant and a casual buffet, all three Pinnacle-class ships feature five separate specialty restaurants, from an Asian restaurant and an Italian restaurant to a steakhouse. It’s more than you’ll find on other Holland America ships.
Pinnacle Class ships also feature all of Holland America’s signature entertainment spaces, something that cannot be said of the line’s older ships.
Specifically, on Pinnacle-class ships, you’ll find one of the line’s signature live entertainment areas with a BB King’s Blues Club (for Memphis-style rhythm and blues), Billboard Onboard (for chart-topping hits played by a live pianist), and Rolling Stone Rock Room (for a live band playing classic rock).
Related: Holland America makes changes to entertainment on some ships
Pinnacle Class ships also feature spectacular state-of-the-art main theaters with deployable stages surrounded by two-story, 270-degree LED screens. The theaters host all kinds of additional music, dance and comedy shows.
What is Holland America’s smallest cruise ship?
Holland America’s smallest cruise ship is the Volendam, which can accommodate 1,432 passengers. At just 61,214 gross tons, it is 39 percent smaller than the Rotterdam and the other two Pinnacle-class ships mentioned above.
Because of its smaller size, the Volendam has fewer features and amenities than most other Holland America ships, particularly the ships in the new Pinnacle class and another recent group of ships called the Signature class.
In general, Volendam attracts cruisers who are looking for a more intimate experience. It also attracts cruisers who care more about the destinations they visit on a cruise than the attractions on board.
Launched in 1999, the Volendam is not only Holland America’s smallest ship, but also its oldest.
Are there larger Holland America ships coming?
Not yet. Holland America does not have any ships on order. The brand is owned by Carnival Corporation, which has not ordered new ships for Holland America for several years, as focuses on paying off debtThe company took on a massive amount of debt during the COVID-19 pandemic to stay in business.
What is the difference between Holland America’s larger and smaller ships?
Holland America’s larger cruise ships have room for more onboard attractions and venues than the line’s older ships. As a result, they’re a good choice for vacationers looking for a larger resort experience with plenty of dining, bar and entertainment options.
Holland America’s smaller ships lack some of the features of the larger ships. They generally have a more intimate feel and have less passenger capacity. While Holland America’s largest Pinnacle-class ships can carry 2,650 passengers at double occupancy, as mentioned above, the line’s two oldest ships (known as R-class ships) are only designed to carry 1,432 passengers at double occupancy.
As a result, Holland America’s smaller ships are a good choice for vacationers who prefer more privacy on a cruise and don’t mind giving up some onboard amenities to get it. Plus, they’re usually cheaper to cruise per day.
Related: Don’t miss out on these Holland America loyalty benefits
Please note that all Holland America ships are periodically renovated and upgraded every few years, so even the older Holland America cruise ships have new carpets, updated furniture, modern decor in the cabins, and other updates. In many cases, they have also renovated entire restaurants and bars over the years with concepts that first debuted on the newer ships.
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