Holland America is out with another epic cruise, this time to the Arctic
The adventures of Erik the Red are the inspiration for another epic new itinerary from Holland America.
The Seattle-based cruise line on Tuesday revealed plans for a nearly monthlong sailing to the Arctic inspired by the routes that the famed Norse explorer followed a thousand years ago.
The 28-night voyage on the 2,666-passenger Nieuw Statendam will stop at some of the most scenic parts of Iceland — Erik the Red's original home. It'll also stop in Greenland, which he explored, and the Arctic portion of Norway.
Erik the Red is credited for establishing the first European settlement on Greenland after being exiled from Iceland and setting out to explore westward. He's also credited with giving Greenland its current name. He was the father of Leif Erikson, one of the first Europeans to reach North America.
The new Arctic itinerary — dubbed the Arctic Circle Crossing: Greenland and Iceland — will kick off in Rotterdam in the Netherlands on June 29, 2025. It'll bring calls at 15 ports across five countries.
The trip will start with travel up the coast of Norway to Alesund and Trondheim before crossing the Arctic Circle on the way to Honningsvag and Tromso. From there, it'll continue with a westward ocean crossing to Ittoqqortoormiit on the east coast of Greenland.
In addition to being well above the Arctic Circle, Honningsvag is, notably, the northernmost city in mainland Norway and the gateway to North Cape — the northernmost point in Europe accessible by car.
On the way to Ittoqqortoormiit, Nieuw Statendam will sail around rarely visited Jan Mayen, a volcanic island in the Arctic Ocean known for its active volcano — the northernmost active volcano in the world.
From Ittoqqortoormiit, Nieuw Statendam will head southward to Iceland for stops at Akureyri and Isafjordur before traveling westward to the western side of Greenland. Stops will include Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat and Nanortalik. This leg of the trip will include three more crossings of the Arctic Circle (two southbound and one northbound).
Related: Holland America is out with another wowzer of a cruise itinerary
After sailing along the west coast of Greenland, Nieuw Statendam will return eastward to Iceland for an overnight stay in the capital city of Reykjavik.
The voyage will end with stops at Stornoway on the Scottish isle of Lewis; Invergordon, Scotland; and Dover, England.
Four of the stops on the itinerary — Nuuk, Ittoqqortoormiit, Sisimiut and Ilulissat — will be maiden calls for Holland America.
A 'legendary voyage' for Holland America
The new Arctic itinerary is the latest addition to a new series of so-called Legendary Voyages that Holland America unveiled earlier this year. 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 have special programming.
The recently announced Legendary Voyages lineup includes both previously offered routings and some all-new routes — the latter including an epic itinerary focused on Japan that will last more than 50 days.
In general, the Legendary Voyages will focus on far-off destinations, including Australia and New Zealand, the Amazon and South America, the South Pacific and Hawaii, Greenland and Iceland, Asia, Alaska and the Arctic Circle. However, in a twist, many of the sailings are designed to begin and end in a North American port. This means North American passengers can reach distant places without ever getting on an international flight.
Related: Inside Passage to Arctic Circle: Cruise Alaska for a month with this epic new itinerary
The new lineup of long trips is designed to augment Holland America's collection of even longer Grand Voyages — far-ranging, often world-circling sailings typically 70 nights or more.
The initial grouping of Legendary Voyages announced earlier this year included 17 specific departures between late this year and early 2025.
Fares for the new 28-night Arctic itinerary start at $4,719 per person, not including taxes, fees and port charges.
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- 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.
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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.