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.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- Top ways cruisers waste money
- The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.