Holland America Line Ships by Size, Age and Class (2022)
Holland America Line has an active fleet of eleven ships currently. They have no current plans to extend their fleet.
In this guide, we will cover all the different ships in the Holland America fleet and how they compare to each other.
Introduction to Holland America Line
Holland America Line (or Holland America as it is sometimes more frequently referred to) was founded in 1873 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
All the way until 1989, it operated as a Dutch shipping line with passenger, cargo and cruise voyages between the Netherlands and North America (hence the name of the company!)
After 1989, it was acquired as a subsidiary of the Carnival Corporation but it is run as a separate brand and headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
They have a relatively small fleet of ships (eleven) compared to some of the bigger cruise line brands in the world, but all ships are under 2,700 passengers which makes them particularly attractive to people who don’t like a lot of people on their cruises!
In addition to this, the Holland America Culinary Council helps direct the quality of food and drink served across the line. Due to this, the dining experience onboard the ships is of a more premium nature than some of the more mass-market cruise lines.
Holland America Line Frequently Asked Questions
Holland America Line Ships by Size (from largest to smallest)
| Ship Name | Tonnage (GRT) | Passengers (Max) | Length (Metres) | Decks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Rotterdam | 99,935 | 2,668 | 299 | 12 |
| MS Nieuw Statendam | 99,902 | 2,666 | 299 | 12 |
| MS Koningsdam | 99,863 | 2,650 | 299 | 12 |
| MS Nieuw Amsterdam | 86,700 | 2,106 | 285 | 11 |
| MS Eurodam | 86,273 | 2,104 | 285 | 11 |
| MS Noordam | 82,500 | 1,916 | 285 | 11 |
| MS Oosterdam | 82,000 | 1,964 | 290 | 11 |
| MS Westerdam | 81,811 | 1,964 | 285 | 11 |
| MS Zuiderdam | 81,769 | 1,916 | 291 | 11 |
| MS Zaandam | 61,396 | 1,432 | 237 | 10 |
| MS Volendam | 60,906 | 1,432 | 237 | 10 |
What does ‘Tonnage (GRT)’ mean?
GRT (Gross Registered Tonnage) is a term used to calculate the volume inside a ship. It is a measure of cubic capacity and is calculated by the total volume from inside the hull and decks of the ship. 1 GRT = 100 cubic feet of space. In essence, the bigger the GRT – the more ‘space’ the ship has for passengers, cargo, etc.
How are ‘Passengers (Max)’ calculated?
You’ll see multiple numbers for passengers on ships – this is because many ships include extra beds in cabins (such as the sofa/couch can convert to a pull-out bed) – but the majority of cabins usually have 2 people in them. the ‘Max’ number is if every cabin used their additional pull-out bed, etc. This number is unlikely to be reached very frequently.
Holland America Line Ships by Age (from newest to oldest)
| Ship Name | Built |
|---|---|
| MS Rotterdam | 2021 |
| MS Nieuw Statendam | 2018 |
| MS Koningsdam | 2016 |
| MS Nieuw Amsterdam | 2010 |
| MS Eurodam | 2008 |
| MS Noordam | 2006 |
| MS Westerdam | 2004 |
| MS Oosterdam | 2003 |
| MS Zuiderdam | 2002 |
| MS Zaandam | 2000 |
| MS Volendam | 1999 |
Are all Holland America Line ships new builds?
Yes. All the current fleet of ships for Holland America Line are purpose-built specifically for the cruise line. Whilst some of their ships have been sold off or transferred to sister cruise lines in the past, every ship in the current fleet was designed for Holland America passengers from the beginning!
Holland America Line Ships by Class (from newest to oldest)
| Ship Name | Class |
|---|---|
| MS Rotterdam | Pinnacle-class |
| MS Nieuw Statendam | Pinnacle-class |
| MS Koningsdam | Pinnacle-class |
| MS Nieuw Amsterdam | Signature-class |
| MS Eurodam | Signature-class |
| MS Noordam | Vista-class |
| MS Westerdam | Vista-class |
| MS Oosterdam | Vista-class |
| MS Zuiderdam | Vista-class |
| MS Volendam | Rotterdam-class |
| MS Zaandam | Rotterdam-class |
Final Thoughts
Holland America Line is a line that feels more like an exclusive club than your other large cruise lines. Whilst they do cater for families, they are firmly aimed at couples and solos who enjoy the finer things in life – from high-end food and drink to exclusive lectures and classic musical performances.
Ideal for travellers who wish for some luxury, but don’t want to go very high end like Seabourn or Silversea.
If you enjoyed this article you may also like our comparisons of MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises and Royal Caribbean ships.
