Why We Cruise with Award-Winning Holland America

One of the questions we get often from new ministry partners or first-time passengers is why we sail so often on Holland America Line (HAL). Cruise lines like Carnival or Royal Caribbean have much higher profiles and name recognition, but all of our Alaska cruises and many of our Caribbean cruises take place on HAL.

Experienced travelers and repeat passengers know exactly why we choose HAL. Once you sail with Holland America, it’s hard to imagine anything else. The cruise industry feels the same way, with publications like Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure regularly citing Holland America on their “world’s best” lists. And in 2016, for the fifth straight year, Holland America was ranked as one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” by the Ethisphere Institute.

Beyond these high-profile accolades, we thought it would be helpful to highlight exactly why we love this cruise line.

Prestige:

One of the oldest cruise lines in the world, HAL began as a Dutch shipping line, and in the 19th century, brought hundreds of thousands of immigrants to the United States from the Netherlands. In more recent decades, it led the industry in identifying Alaska as a cruise destination, and the iconic navy blue hulls of its ships are frequent sights in Alaska’s Pacific waters during cruise season. In fact, HAL’s Alaska itineraries are often praised as the best in the business.

Size:

With a fleet of mid-sized ships, Holland America doesn’t offer the floating, city-sized behemoths other lines are known—and there’s a reason. By keeping down the number of passengers, HAL is able to focus more on amenities and a first-class experience. The smaller capacity means less waiting, better service and ships that never feel crowded.

Elegance:

We’ve found Holland America’s ships to be among the most refined at sea. These aren’t ships that spend millions of dollars to install enormous rock-climbing walls or surf simulators. Instead, they focus on maintaining a classy, comfortable environment without veering too far into formality. Passengers enjoy well-appointed rooms, plenty of space, tasteful art, a low-key atmosphere and sophisticated amenities on every deck.

Extraordinary Service:

Holland America Line, with a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:2, is one of only four cruise lines to have ever received the annual International Five Star Diamond Award from The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, which recognizes quality and excellence in the travel industry. In the past, this award has gone to five-star hotels and first-class airlines. The intuitive, personal service on a Holland America cruise never fails to impress Inspiration passengers.

Affordability:

Don’t let the elegance and service fool you. Despite these amenities, HAL itineraries fit well into the “moderately priced” category. These ships avoid the budget-rate pricing that brings in a more boisterous crowd. At the same time, they aren’t so expensive as to cater only to society’s elite. Holland America offers the best of both worlds—affordable luxury. For 21 consecutive years, it has been awarded the Best Overall Cruise Value from the publication Ocean & Cruise News.

Exquisite Dining:

The five-star dining onboard HAL cruises is one of this cruise line’s most admirable characteristics. Holland America’s culinary council is made up of world-famous chefs who design dishes using the food and techniques of the regions it frequents, ensuring the freshest and best dining at sea. In 2015, longtime master chef Rudi Sodamin of HAL was named Best Cruise Line Chef by Porthole Magazine for driving the cruise line’s culinary programs “to the forefront of cruise industry cuisine.” These ships’ flexible, “As You Wish” meal plan is something we love—and so do our passengers.

Notable Destinations:

Holland America Line isn’t just a great choice for Alaska, however. Fox News praised their Caribbean cruises in 2013, and we agree that the cruise line’s private island of Half Moon Cay is one of the best ports in the Caribbean.

If you’ve sailed on a Holland America cruise, leave a comment to let us know what it is about this exemplary, award-winning cruise line that made an impression on you.