by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 10:15 AM ET, Wed December 24, 2025
Guests aboard Holland America Line’s 2026 Grand Voyages will receive the line’s signature tote bags—with a sustainable twist.
This year, the brand made the bags using upcycle ship textiles. The two-year initiative transformed retired fabrics into functional keepsakes, keeping 30,000 yards of soft textiles out of landfills. It’s already created 4,000 of the eco-friendly tote bags, and plans to make another 25,000 for upcoming Legendary Voyages.
The effort began during ship renovations, when fabrics such as drapery and bed runners were collected instead of discarded. Those materials were shipped to Turkey’s Andriali Mill, where they were broken down and spun into new yarn. From that yarn came the sleek, durable totes that guests on Volendam and Zandaam’s Grand Voyages will receive in January.
Each bag features a QR code so guests can learn about its transformation story.
“These tote bags are a symbol of what’s possible when we rethink waste,” says My Nguyen, director of interior design for Holland America Line. “They started as stateroom fabrics and now represent a much bigger story—our commitment to circular design and reducing landfill impact across the fleet. Every bag reflects creativity, collaboration, and a shared responsibility for the planet, and we hope guests feel proud to carry that message with them.”
The project is part of a broader push toward circular design. Holland America Line recently launched Dansk: Re:Shape, which repurposes carpet waste into coasters, notebooks and postcards for onboard gift shops—already diverting more than 1.5 tonnes of carpet from landfills.
The cruise line is also piloting an Aluminium Furniture Circularity Project, aimed at recycling marine-grade aluminum from balcony and pool deck furniture, creating a business case for salvaging and reusing high-value materials.
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