Key Takeaways
- Holland America Line plans a 133-day ‘Grand Voyage Pole-to-Pole’ in 2025, visiting 68 ports across five continents from Fort Lauderdale to Antarctica and the Arctic Circle.
- The voyage will follow a unique “south-north-south route,” featuring stops at sought-after destinations like the Amazon River, Greenland, and Iceland.
- Early bookings made before June 3, 2024, offer significant bonus benefits, including onboard spending credits, complimentary Wi-Fi, air credits, and more.
Seattle, WA–Holland America Line has announced a historic, never-done-before pole-to-pole voyage planned for 2025 in a news release published on April 20.
Per the release, the 133-day ‘Grand Voyage Pole-to-Pole’ will embark from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and explore the landscapes of Antarctica and the Arctic Circle (above Norway) and visit 68 ports in 28 countries across five continents.
“Detailed planning went into this voyage to ensure we’re visiting destinations when the weather is favorable, and we included locations that are sought after like the Amazon River, Greenland, and Iceland, in addition to Antarctica and the Arctic,” said Paul Grigsby, Vice President for deployment and itinerary planning for Holland America Line in the release.
The Voyage
Per the release, other voyages in the Grand Voyage series are centered around exploring one region, making this a first of its kind for the cruise line.
The voyage plans to take a “south-north-south route,” beginning in the United States and traveling, through the Panama Canal, along the west coast of South America to Antarctica.
From there, the Volendam will head northward through the heart of the Amazon River and then head east to Africa. After that, it will proceed further north through Europe towards the North Cape in Norway.
Finally, the voyage will head westward across the northern Atlantic Ocean, passing through Iceland and Greenland before descending along the eastern shores of North America.
Bookings open
The cruise company officially opened bookings two days ago (April 24) and has designated the Volendam for the journey scheduled to commence on January 25, 2025.
According to the release, bookings made before June 3, 2024, will receive the following bonus benefits:
- Onboard spending credits and amenities valued at up to $8,800 per person
- Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
- $500 air credit per person if connecting flights were booked through Flight Ease (Holland America Line’s flight booking service) and complimentary roundtrip airport transfers to and from the Fort Lauderdale airport
- Laundry and dry cleaning service when booking certain stateroom categories
Those interested must contact Holland America Line’s World Cruise reservations desk ( 1-800-522-3399) or a travel advisor to make a deposited Future Cruise Request.
What We Think
Holland America Line’s ‘Grand Voyage Pole-to-Pole’ is a remarkable and unprecedented expedition, offering travelers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the world’s most captivating regions in a single extended journey.
The voyage’s well-planned route and inclusion of sought-after destinations make it a dream adventure for those with a taste for exploration.
Early bookings provide attractive incentives, making it an even more enticing proposition for adventurers seeking a grand cruise experience
Read the full release here.
