Holland
America Line is charting a course for adventure with its 2026 Grand World
Voyage—one of its most ambitious ever, promising an unparalleled travel
experience for adventurers eager to explore the entire globe. The company’s president,
Gus Antorcha, announced the details of this epic voyage to guests sailing the
current 2024 Grand World Voyage aboard Zuiderdam, which is presently positioned
between Okinawa and Tokyo.
Scheduled to
depart on January 4, 2026, aboard the intimate Volendam, this 132-day odyssey
will embark on an unforgettable roundtrip journey from Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, offering passengers the opportunity to explore all seven continents.
Antorcha emphasized the extensive research that went into crafting the
itinerary, ensuring that it encompasses beloved destinations and provides ample
time for exploration without feeling rushed.
Setting Sail
The unprecedented worldwide
cruise will sail aboard the Volendam, one of the line’s smaller vessels, which
will enable it to access narrower waterways, like France's Gironde
Estuary leading to Bordeaux. Promising an unparalleled and intimate global travel
experience, the 132-day voyage
will span all seven continents, stopping in 47 ports across 39 countries.
The 2026 Grand
World Voyage departs January 4, 2026, on a roundtrip odyssey from Fort
Lauderdale, Florida, following an east-to-west route, and traveling as far
south as Antarctica
and as far north as Oslo, Norway.
"We asked
thousands of past guests and travel advisors for their opinions about the
perfect Grand World Voyage, so this may be one of our most thoroughly
researched routes ever for a world cruise," Antorcha told current world
cruise guests. "This itinerary includes destinations we know guests love,
packed with memorable moments and overnight stays. We are purposefully visiting
fewer ports to allow more time to explore the destinations we visit and to
create a voyage that does not feel rushed."
The route for Holland America Line's 2026 Grand World Voyage. (Photo Credit: Holland America Line)
Global Exploration
The voyage will
take travelers on a captivating journey, beginning with a scenic cruise along
South America's east coast before venturing into the icy wonderland of
Antarctica. Due to the ship’s size, guests won’t disembark there, but will enjoy
a four-day Antarctic Experience that provides unparalleled views of this
pristine wilderness.
From there, the
ship will set course for the South
Pacific, stopping at such iconic destinations as Easter Island and the
Pitcairn Islands, before reaching the shores of Australia.
There, guests will have the opportunity to explore the Great Barrier Reef and
go on to immerse themselves in the vibrant cultures of Indonesia, the
Maldives and Singapore.
Next, the ship will call at the ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria, staying
overnight before making its way to the Mediterranean
and then exploring northern Europe
before making a transatlantic crossing.
Exclusive
Experiences
Special itinerary highlights
include nine overnight calls in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
Papeete, Tahiti; Sydney, Australia; Bali, Indonesia; Singapore;
Malé, Maldives;
Safaga (Luxor) and Alexandria (Cairo), Egypt;
and Lisbon, Portugal.
Guests will also enjoy five late-night departures from Bahia d' Opunoha, French
Polynesia; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; Oslo,
Norway; and San Juan, Puerto
Rico.
Booking Details
From today,
prospective travelers wanting to secure their spot on the Grand World Voyage
can call their travel advisor or Holland America Line's World Cruise
Reservations Desk directly to make a deposited Future Cruise Request. Those who
have put down a deposited Future Cruise Request will get priority booking
confirmation before reservations officially open to the public.
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