Tourexpi
Holland America Line Extends 2026 Europe Season
Arctic
Circle for Northern Lights viewing.
Holland America
Line announced a six-week extension of its 2026 Europe season and opened
bookings for four cruises available as part of the expansion. Guests have
further opportunities to explore the Mediterranean and Norway —
including a chance to see the Northern Lights on a cruise that enters the
Arctic Circle.
Each
of the newly added cruises will sail aboard Nieuw Statendam roundtrip or
one-way from Rotterdam, one of the premier hubs from which to
explore Europe, and Holland America Line's historic home.
"Cruises
rooted in the culture and history of Europe are proving to be popular
with our guests, and extending the season means more opportunities to enjoy our
personalized service in the region," said Paul Grigsby, vice
president of deployment for Holland America Line. "With 2026 projected to
be a peak year for aurora activity, adding a Northern Lights cruise late in the
year gives our guests a better opportunity to see this phenomenon with the aid
of dark skies and little light pollution."
Now
bookable as part of the expansion is an additional departure of the highly
coveted 14-Day Arctic Journey and Northern Lights with The HISTORY
Channel cruise, departing on Nov. 7. As 2026 is predicted to be a
highly active period for auroras, a growing number of travelers plan to
prioritize seeing them on vacation. This cruise offers ample opportunity to see
the aurora, while also deeply exploring Norway.
The
ship will sail north, calling at Ålesund, Trondheim and crossing the Arctic
Circle before reaching Tromsø, known as the "Capital of the Arctic"
and base camp for many aurora hunters. The ship then spends an overnight at
Alta — often called the world's Northern Lights capital — before sailing to
hard-to-reach Leknes (Lofoten). Before returning to Rotterdam, Nieuw
Statendam visits Åndalsnes, Bergen and Lerwick, Scotland.
Guests
sailing to see the Northern Lights can sign up to get a wake-up call from the
ship any time the aurora borealis is spotted.
Also
open for booking is a 14-Day Mediterranean and Atlantic Treasures: Lisbon Overnight,
departing Nov. 21. The cruise explores seven ports in Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar:
Cadiz (Seville), Malaga (Granada), Alicante, Cartagena
(Murcia), Gibraltar and Leixoes — as well as an overnight in Lisbon,
allowing guests to further immerse themselves in the destination. While
in Lisbon, guests can book shore excursions taking them to the city's two UNESCO
World Heritage sites: the Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery. The voyage
is also notable as Holland America Line's first roundtrip exploration of the
Mediterranean from Rotterdam in nearly 10 years.
Guests
can also book a 7-Day Norway with Nordfjord or 15-Day Cultural Crossing with England and Normandy.
Have
It All Early Booking Bonus
For
a limited time, when guests book these four European extension cruises with the
Have It All premium package, the 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.
Guests
can also take advantage of Holland America Line's Exclusive Mariner Society Early Booking Bonus. Mariner Society
loyalty members can enjoy up to $400 onboard credit per stateroom
when these cruises open for sale. Guests must book these cruises by July
9, 2025, to receive the Exclusive Mariner Society Early Booking Bonus.
For
more information about Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, call
1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.
Find
Holland America Line on Facebook, Instagram and the Holland America Blog. You can also access all social media outlets
via the home page at hollandamerica.com.
Image Credit: © Holland America Line
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