Alaska Cruises! Holland America Line Unveils 2026 “Great Land” Lineup

As the 2024 summer Alaska travel season winds down, it’s a great time for travelers to start planning a future vacation to “America’s Last Frontier.” One of the pioneers of Alaska cruise exploration, Holland America Line, has just unveiled its 2026 Alaska cruises including some intriguing new options.

From April through September 2026, Holland America Line will sail three different types of itineraries — roundtrip from Seattle, WA; roundtrip from Vancouver, B.C.; or between Vancouver and Whittier (Anchorage), AK. Those itineraries, including some new options detailed below, range from seven to 28 days.

(Photo of American Bald Eagle above is provided courtesy of Holland America Line.)

2026 Alaska Cruises: Deeply Immersive

“We continue to build an Alaska program that is unlike any other in the industry,” says Dan Rough, a VP for Holland America Line. Calling the 2026 lineup “deeply immersive,” he adds that the line is “putting a spotlight on all the splendor that brings cruisers to Alaska.’

For instance, guests might talk to a park ranger while watching a glacier calve in Glacier Bay. Or they might join a whale-watching tour; here’s a Holland America whale-watching resource page.

Or guests can simply head for a Holland America ship’s dining room. There, as well as in specialty and casual eateries, they can savor freshly caught local fish. Whatever the case, “we want our guests to return home from vacation feeling inspired,” Rough emphasizes.

2026 Alaska Cruises: Highlights

Wondering about the highlights of Holland America’s 2026 Alaska lineup? First, guests will have a robust choice of vessels. Six Holland America ships will explore Alaska including Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam.

For the first time in more than five years, Westerdam will cruise to Alaska from Vancouver and Noordam will sail roundtrip from Seattle. This deployment provides guests with different ship options to repeat their favorite itineraries.

New in 2026, the 14-day “Great Alaska Explorer” cruise will be offered roundtrip from Seattle (in addition to departures from Vancouver). At press time, fares for that new Seattle option started at $2,449 per person, double occupancy.

Kodiak: Off-the-Beaten-Path 

Are you a “been there, done that” Alaska cruiser? Well, even many repeat Alaska travelers have not visited Kodiak. It’s a city on Kodiak Island, the second largest island in the U.S. (3,670 square miles and 100 miles wide).

Alaska Travel, the state’s official tourism group, provides Things to Do in Kodiak, a great resource for what to see and do on the island. We’d likely look for ways to view gigantic Kodiak bears. But travelers might instead choose to head out for fishing, hiking, exploring local culture and heritage, and other enticing activities!

Here are some appealing options with Kodiak port calls. Noordam’s 14-day “Great Alaska Explorer” departure from Seattle on August 23, 2026, and Westerdam’s cruise roundtrip from Vancouver on September 13, 2026, will visit Anchorage, Juneau, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Sitka and Valdez, plus Glacier Bay scenic cruising, all in Alaska, plus Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada.

Nieuw Amsterdam‘s 14-day roundtrip cruise from Vancouver on May 3, 2026, will call at multiple destinations. Among them are Anchorage, Juneau, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Icy Strait Point, Wrangell and Valdez. In addition, guests will enjoy Glacier Bay scenic cruising. The ship will also call at Prince Rupert.

Long or Short? – 2026 Alaska Cruises

Do you love to settle in on a cruise ship and not feel that you have to race off in a week or two? One itinerary that The Meandering Traveler would love to take is the popular 28-day “Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice” sailing. It’s returning for a third year. Departing June 7, 2026, in time for the Summer Solstice, the nearly month-long voyage aboard Noordam sails roundtrip from Seattle.

What’s special is that it heads to the Bering Sea and across the Arctic Circle. Guests will visit 11 Alaska ports plus Prince Rupert and Vancouver. A bonus? Guests will enjoy an overnight at Anchorage and late-night departures from Juneau and Valdez.

At press time, a veranda stateroom on that sailing started at $9,939 per person, double occupancy. Looking at all accommodations, starting fares ranged between $5,479 and $16,389 per person, double occupancy.

Other 2026 Alaska highlights include the following shorter, seven-day voyages. Fares vary by departure dates. So, either click on the links for the individual date options, or chat with your personal travel planner for pricing details.

• Seven-day “Alaska Inside Passage” cruises will operate roundtrip from Vancouver on Koningsdam, Zaandam and Nieuw Amsterdam. Ports of call will include Ketchikan, known for its many intricately carved totem poles; Juneau, the state’s charming capital and gateway to the Mendenhall Glacier; and the historic Gold Rush town of Skagway.
• Seven-day “Alaska Explorer” cruises will sail roundtrip from Seattle aboard Eurodam and Noordam, and will include calls at Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (evening visit); and Ketchikan, Juneau and Sitka. Eurodam‘s itinerary also will visit Alaska’s Icy Strait Point and Glacier Bay. Noordam will take guests to Dawes Glacier.
• Seven-day “Glacier Discovery Northbound” and “Glacier Discovery Southbound” itineraries will cruise between Whittier (Anchorage) and Vancouver aboard Nieuw Amsterdam and Westerdam. Ports of call will include Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway.

Great Bear Rainforest

If you desire to combine Alaska with more of the wildlife and the rugged nature of British Columbia, then check out the seven-night “Great Bear Rainforest” cruise. Departing on April 19, 2026, the 1,924-passenger Noordam will sail roundtrip from Seattle.

Highlights will include an overnight at Prince Rupert and scenic cruising in the Grenville Channel, Bella Bella and Johnstone Strait, with a transit of the Seymour Narrows. At press time, prices started at $1,234 per person, double occupancy, for an inside cabin, to $3,684 per person, double occupancy, for a Neptune Suite.

Good to Know? Holland America 2026!

2026 Alaska Cruises: Glacier Views Guaranteed

Holland America guarantees that guests will see a glacier on any of its Alaska cruises! A glacier is a body of dense ice that moves downward — and flows akin to a river in that regard — under its own weight.

Holland America’s ships will take guests up close to these awe-inspiring glaciers. In fact, the ships often sail right up to the face of these ice formations and rotate for 360-degree views.

Varying by itinerary, the spots guests might visit to see glaciers include Glacier Bay National Park, College Fjord, Dawes Glacier, Hubbard Glacier and the Twin Sawyer Glaciers of Tracy Arm.

During Glacier Bay scenic cruising, Holland America Line also brings aboard a Glacier Bay National Park ranger for the day. He or she will provide commentary and engage with guests to enhance the experience.

Guests can also get up close to glacial ice on such Holland America shore excursions as the 26 Glaciers Cruise from Whittier. Others include the Glacier Discovery Helicopter Tour in Skagway and Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip in Juneau.

Alaska Cruises 2026: Wildlife Sightings

Alaska is a rugged land with incredible wildlife. Check out the official Travel Alaska site page to learn a bit about the “Big Five” of Alaska wildlife. Those include bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and wolves. 

Did you know that approximately 200,000 moose live in Alaska? While they can be found across most of the state, they’re most abundant in the southcentral and interior regions. Bull moose are impressive — standing more than 6.5-feet-tall at the shoulder.

They can also weigh up to 1,600 pounds and their antlers are often six feet across. So, don’t get in their way — just watch safely from a distance. 

Of course, most cruise travelers desire to see bears and Alaska has plenty of those too. In fact, the state is home to multiple species of bears. So, cruisers might spot a black bear with cubs, a grizzly bear in Denali National Park, a brown bear along coastal beaches, or a massive Kodiak bear on that remote island.

 To view Alaska’s wildlife, Holland America’s guests might visit an animal sanctuary or head out into nature on excursions. Holland America also has an exclusive partnership with the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. That puts wildlife “front and center” for many guest activities.

Added bonus? The line’s Alaska ships typically carry a wildlife expert on board to help guests understand the region’s animals. Plus, the line’s Wildlife Spotting Guide will point out the native animals found along the cruise route. Guests also will receive a map that will show the best places to see each animal species.

Savoring the Freshest Fish 

After guests return from a day of touring, they’ll likely have developed a “good appetite.” For onboard dining, Holland America continues to build on its Global Fresh Fish Program. That means guests who choose a fish dish can count on savoring locally sourced fresh fish. In fact, that fish will move from port to plate in less than 48 hours.

In addition to the seafood and other local delicacies served on the ship’s menus, Alaska vessels serve exclusive dishes created by Chef Masaharu Morimoto. He’s the line’s fresh fish ambassador.

Holland America Line serves Alaska seafood that’s certified sustainable by the Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM).

“We Love Alaska” Program

For a deep dive into local Alaska culture, guests will discover the line’s “We Love Alaska” program. Guests will enjoy exclusive workshops and lectures about local heritage, culture, lifestyle and cuisine from those who know Alaska best. “Alaska Up Close” presentations will explore the stories of real Alaskans.

Holland America’s tours will also highlight the best of each destination. Plus, fine dining will showcase the region’s culinary traditions.

Cruisetours Are Coming

Why haven’t we talked about Alaska cruisetours for 2026? Well, Holland America says those signature cruisetours — combining an overland tour to Denali National Park and a journey to Canada’s Yukon Territory — will be available for booking “in the near future.”

Right now, only 2025 cruisetours have been announced. The 2026 cruisetours are yet to be revealed by the line.

Alaska Cruises 2026: Parting Thoughts

Desire to head north to Alaska in 2025 or 2026? For more information about Holland America Line, visit the line’s official website.

“Also, while this year’s Alaska travel season is soon drawing to a close, if you’re interested in a 2025 or 2026 Alaska vacation, now is a great time to start planning,” says Shelby Steudle, president, Pavlus Travel. “Our experts know Alaska and are skilled at matching travelers with the right cruise product for their vacation style and personality.”

Steudle stresses that “we’ll also assure you get the best deal with great customer service too. Just follow the contact information below.” Soon, you’ll be heading “North to Alaska!”

Important Notes from Pavlus Travel