Holland America Adds More Ships for Canada Cruises in 2020
Banking on the growing popularity of Canada and New England cruises, Holland America will have three ships cruising to Canada next summer.
Holland America Ships From A to Z
Along with Zaandam and Zuiderdam, Amsterdam will also offer summer cruises to Canada. In 2020, Holland America ships will offer more than 40 cruises to Canada and New England. If I had to pick a favorite itinerary, Canada and New England cruises might be at the top of the list.
In addition to the 40+ sailings, between April and October there will be 10 different itineraries and length of cruises ranging from six to 14 days.
New Canada and New England Itineraries
Beginning in April, Amsterdam, Zaandam and Zuiderdam sail a variety of six-, seven-, eight-, 10-, 11- and 14-day cruises. Departure ports include Boston, Fort Lauderdale, New York City, Montréal and Québec City. It’s in Canada that the ships will visit ports that really beckon me back every couple of years.
More Summer Cruises Offered
Zaandam will kick off the Canada and New England spring season on April 21, 2020. It begins with an 11-day cruise along the Atlantic Coast. The ship will depart from Ft. Lauderdale and head to the New England ports of Newport, Boston, Bar Harbor, Maine.
After crossing into Canada, Zaandam will continue on to Halifax and Syndey in Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and beautiful Québec City. The cruise ends in Montréal.
Amsterdam will sail a similar itinerary departing May 26 Added is a visit to Portland, Maine, and scenic cruising along the Saint Lawrence River.
Seven-night Canada New England Cruises
From May through September 2020, both Amsterdam and Zaandam offer a series of seven-day Canada & New England Discovery cruises between Montréal and Boston. Ports include Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown and Québec City. Plus cruising in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
In the fall, special six- and eight-day itineraries are featured departing Oct. 3 and Oct. 9, respectively.
At the end of the season, Zaandam heads back to Florida with an amazing 14-night southbound cruise. Departing from Montréal, the ship will call at Québec City and Baie-Comeau, Québec; Charlottetown; Sydney; Halifax. Then in the U.S, Zaandam stops at Bar Harbor; Boston; New York; and Charleston, South Carolina, finishing the cruise in Fort Lauderdale.
Read Next: A Day in Bar Harbor, Maine with Holland America
Fall Foliage Cruises
When September rolls around, Zuiderdam begins the fall season with three aptly-named Colors of Canada and New England cruises. These 10-day voyages between New York and Québec City depart on Sept. 7 and 27 and will visit Boston, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown and spend ab overnight in Québec City. The turn-around departure on Sept 17 includes a pre-cruise night in Québec aboard the ship.
These cruises include a day in the Saguenay Fjord, whose forested shoreline turns into brilliant hues of of reds, golds and orange as the season progresses.
Zuiderdam sails an 11-day Atlantic Coast cruise departing Québec City Oct. 7, calling at Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax, Bar Harbor, Boston, Newport and New York, before concluding at Fort Lauderdale.
Culinary Shore Excursions
The long-time partnership between Holland America Line and FOOD & WINE magazine now offers culinary-themed shore excursions. Learn and even taste local food, wine and culture in some of the world’s most renowned gastronomic hot spots.
For example, sample authentic poutine and maple syrup-flavored foods in charming old Quèbec City. Try an old-fashioned, trap-to-plate lobster bake in Bar Harbor. On FOOD & WINE tours, you’ll experience Canada and New England though all of your senses.
