Holland America is out with another epic cruise — this time with a special twist
Holland America is out with another epic itinerary from North America to Europe and back — this time with an unusual twist.
The Seattle-based line on Monday said the 35-night round-trip voyage from Boston to some of Northern Europe's most alluring destinations would include a viewing of the solar eclipse that would take place above Northern Europe in August 2026.
Dubbed the Voyage of the Vikings, the sailing will take place on Holland America's 1,964-passenger Zuiderdam and offer North American travelers a chance to visit such hot spots of Viking history as Greenland, Iceland and Norway without getting on a transatlantic flight.
The voyage will kick off in Boston July 18, 2026, with a sailing up the coast of North America that initially resembles a New England and Canada cruise. The first port calls will be Portland, Maine, and Sydney, Nova Scotia.
But the call at Sydney will mark just the start of an unusually in-depth look at the coast of Eastern Canada, which will include four stops in Newfoundland and Labrador — Corner Brook, Red Bay, St. Anthony and St. John’s — as well as Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Some of the Canada stops will take place as the ship heads toward Europe, while others will be on the return voyage.
After its initial visit to the Canadian coast, Zuiderdam will turn east across the North Atlantic for a multiweek visit to Greenland, Iceland, Norway, the Netherlands, Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Calls in Greenland will include Paamiut (Frederikshab), Nanortalik and Qaqortoq (Julianehab).
Iceland calls will include Reykjavik (where the ship will stay overnight), Seydisfjordur, Husavík and Grundarfjordur.
Other stops during the trip will be Eidfjord in Norway; Rotterdam in the Netherlands (for an overnight stay); Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland; and Belfast in Northern Ireland.
The solar eclipse will occur when the ship is sailing off the western coast of Iceland near Grundarfjordur.
The trip will end back in Boston on Aug. 22, 2026.
The new Voyage of the Vikings cruise is just one of three Holland America sailings that will include the chance to see the solar eclipse occurring in 2026. The others:
- A 28-night Scandinavian Solar Eclipse sailing on the 2,666-passenger Nieuw Statendam out of Dover, England. It begins July 26, 2026.
- A 13-night Mediterranean Solar Eclipse sailing on the 1,964-passenger Oosterdam out of Lisbon. It begins Aug. 9, 2026.
The longer Voyage of the Vikings sailing is just the latest at Holland America to offer vacationers the opportunity to sail from North America to Europe and back without ever getting on a transatlantic flight — something of a specialty for the brand.
Earlier this year, the line announced plans for a 45-night sailing from North America to the Mediterranean and back that mimics an ambitious voyage the line offered in 1925. That sailing kicks off Oct. 7, 2025.
The lengthy Mediterranean voyage was the second such sailing the line has added to its schedule in the past two years. The line is also planning a 42-night sailing from the U.S. to the Mediterranean in November.
The two Mediterranean sailings are out of New York and Fort Lauderdale, respectively.
The new Northern Europe itinerary announced Monday is the latest addition to a new series of Legendary Voyages that Holland America began unveiling in 2023. The extra-long sailings, scheduled to take place over the next three years, focus on a single region and range from 25 to 59 nights in length. They also feature special programming.
The initial lineup of Legendary Voyages included both previously offered routings and some all-new ones — the latter including an epic itinerary focused on Japan scheduled for later this year that will last more than 50 days.
In general, the voyages focus on far-off destinations — including Australia and New Zealand, the Amazon and South America, the South Pacific and Hawaii, Greenland and Iceland, Asia, and Alaska and the Arctic Circle. But in a twist, most sailings are designed to begin and end in a North American port, meaning that North American passengers can reach distant places without ever getting on an international flight.
Related: The 4 types of Holland America ships, explained
The new lineup of long trips is designed to augment Holland America's celebrated collection of even longer Grand Voyages — far-ranging, often world-circling sailings that are typically 70 nights or longer.
Holland America has long been known for longer sailings from U.S. ports that bring people to far-flung places around the globe. The new Legendary Voyages and an expanded lineup of other long cruises mark a doubling down by the line on such trips.
Fares for the new Voyage of the Vikings sailing announced on Monday start at $7,809 per person. More information is available at Holland America's website.
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.