Zuiderdam just got a serious glow-up. And its first cruises after the work wraps read like a highlight reel of Europe.
Bookings are open now for the 2028 season. The itinerary hits the Mediterranean, Norway’s fjords, Iceland and Greenland, all on one ship.
The makeover comes courtesy of Holland America Evolution, the line’s biggest fleet investment in its 153-year history. Zuiderdam is getting new Solo Verandahs built just for solo travelers, plus forward-facing Bridgeview Suites and Vista Suites. There’s an updated Pinnacle Suite too, along with a new Grand Dutch Café, a feature borrowed from the line’s Pinnacle Class ships.
The ship debuts in the Mediterranean next spring
Zuiderdam re-enters service April 2, 2028. It kicks off the season in the Mediterranean, then moves to Amsterdam as its summer home base.
President Beth Bodensteiner called the region one the line has sailed for more than 150 years. This season leans into that history, then pushes Zuiderdam north into territory it hasn’t covered before.
Mediterranean stops set the tone
The season opens with open-jaw sailings linking Rome, Barcelona and Lisbon. Zuiderdam calls at Livorno for day trips to Florence and Pisa, then swings through Marseille and Gibraltar.
From there, a longer 13-day Atlantic Europe voyage traces the coastlines of Portugal, Spain and France. It continues to Ireland before wrapping up in Amsterdam.
Then it heads north to Norway’s fjords
Once Zuiderdam settles into Amsterdam for summer, seven-day Norwegian Fjords cruises take over. They sail to Bergen, Oslo and some of the country’s most photographed fjords, including Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord.
Want more time in the region? Two longer sailings go deeper: a 10-day fjords itinerary and an 11-day route through Ireland and Scotland.
Iceland and Greenland close out the season
Save some excitement for last, because this is the standout stretch. Multiple voyages sail between Amsterdam and Reykjavík, stopping at Icelandic ports such as Akureyri and Ísafjörður, along with the Shetland and Faroe Islands.
The season wraps with a 21-day Cultural Crossing, departing Aug. 12, 2028, from Amsterdam to Boston. It traces a route through Iceland and Greenland, with stops in Qaqortoq and Nanortalik, before crossing into Atlantic Canada and New England.
A 2028 cruise might sound far off, but that’s the whole point. Book early, and you’ll likely get better cabin picks and pricing, especially on a ship you haven’t been able to sail in this new form yet.
Mandy is a luxury travel, fine dining and bucket-list-adventure journalist with expert insight from 47 countries. She uncovers unforgettable experiences around the world and brings them to life through immersive storytelling that blends indulgence, culture and discovery, and shares them with a global audience as co-founder of Food Drink Life. Her articles appear on MSN and through the Associated Press wire in major U.S. outlets, including NBC, the Daily News, Boston Herald, the Chicago Sun-Times and many more.