Holland America's latest epic cruise is an island lover's delight
Looking for an easy and affordable way to tour Australia, New Zealand and a large number of Pacific islands in a single trip?
Holland America has a new offering that allows for just that.
The Seattle-based line on Tuesday will announce an epic monthlong itinerary that gives travelers the opportunity to visit Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and several of the most notable Pacific island groups without getting on any inter-island flights.
The "Islands of the South Pacific: Sydney to Auckland" voyage, as Holland America is calling it, will take place on the line's 1,924-passenger Noordam and kick off Jan. 4, 2026, in Sydney.
As it begins, the sailing will resemble a typical sailing up the east coast of Australia with stops at Queensland's Moreton Island — a sandy getaway known for sand tobogganing, diving, bird-watching and parasailing — and the Queensland capital, Brisbane.
Additional stops up the Australian coast will include Townsville, a gateway to scuba diving outings at Australia's Great Barrier Reef, and the city of Cairns.
After a week of such exploring along Australia's east coast, Noordam will strike out northeastward for a three-day visit to Papua New Guinea.
Among the stops in Papua New Guinea will be Alotau, a buzzing harbor that was the site of the Battle of Milne Bay — often billed as Japan's first defeat in the Pacific during World War II. Noordam also will visit Papua New Guinea's Conflict Islands and Kiriwina, the largest of the country's Trobriand Islands.
From Papua New Guinea, Noordam will head eastward toward Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands — the site of another well-known World War II battle. Nowadays, it's known for its unspoiled beauty, which includes mountain spires, rocky coastlines, dense rainforest and spectacular waterfalls.
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Holland America ship
Guadalcanal is just the first of a string of Pacific islands on the schedule. Noordam will spend the next 10 days hopping eastward and southward between several major island groups, including the islands of Vanuatu and Fiji — both independent countries made up of large numbers of islands.
Noordam will visit three destinations in each of these two island groups. In Vanuatu, it will spend a full day each in Luganville, Port Vila and Mystery Island. The Fiji visit will bring day visits to Lautoka, Suva and Dravuni Island.
A final Pacific island stop during this stretch of the trip will be the islands of Tonga, another independent country composed of multiple islands. Two stops are planned in Tonga, in Vavau and Nukualofa.
After touring these island groups, Noordam will turn southwestward across the Pacific to New Zealand, where the trip will end Feb. 1, 2026. Stops in New Zealand include Waitangi and Tauranga.
A 'legendary voyage' for Holland America
The new South Pacific itinerary is the latest addition to a new series of so-called Legendary Voyages that Holland America unveiled in early 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 routes — the latter including an epic itinerary focused on Japan scheduled for this year that will last more than 50 days.
The voyages generally 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. But in a twist, most sailings are designed to begin and end in a North American port. This means that 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 celebrated collection of even longer Grand Voyages — far-ranging, often world-circling sailings that typically are 70 nights or longer.
The initial grouping of Legendary Voyages announced in early 2023 included 17 specific departures between late 2023 and early 2025. Holland America has since been adding additional departures, including the new South Pacific trip.
Holland America has long been known for longer sailings from U.S. ports that brought people to far-flung places around the globe. The new Legendary Voyages and an expanded lineup of other long voyages mark a doubling down by the line on such trips.
Fares for the new South Pacific itinerary — which will be 28 nights long — start at $3,669 per person, not including taxes, fees and port charges. More information can be found on the page for the sailing at Holland America's website.
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- 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.
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- $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.
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| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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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.