Holland America Line Cancels Cruises to Move Up Ship’s Renovation

This past spring, Holland America Line announced its largest fleet upgrade ever, a $500 million project called Holland America Evolution that will upgrade and add new features to six cruise ships.

Oosterdam was the first ship to receive these upgrades in late 2027. Now, Holland America Line has canceled a few cruises to move the project up by five weeks.

The cruise line said that they are moving the project forward due to strong demand for cruises on upgraded cruise ships. Because of this, the following sailings are canceled:

• September 11, 2027
• September 21, 2027
• October 2, 2027
• December 2, 2027
• December 9, 2027

Guests who were booked on one of the canceled cruises will be contacted about rebooking options.

Oosterdam will now return to service with new features on October 31, 2027, a 10-day cruise from Rome to Trieste, Italy. Guests aboard the sailing will be among the first to experience the reimagined ship while visiting destinations in Italy, Greece, Montenegro and Croatia.

An additional four new cruises have been added to Oosterdam’s schedule. They are an 11-day Mediterranean voyage from Trieste to Piraeus (Athens), Greece, departing November 10, 2027; a seven-day Mediterranean cruise from Piraeus to Barcelona, Spain, departing November 21, 2027; a 13-day transatlantic crossing from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, leaving November 28, 2027; and an 11-day Caribbean cruise sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, departing on December 11, 2027.

Guests booked on what were previously the inaugural cruise and first transatlantic cruise in December 2027 will have the opportunity to move to the corresponding new cruises and remain among the first guests to sail on the post-Evolution Oosterdam. These new sailings will open for bookings early next month.

Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line, gave the following statement:

“We’re very happy with the unprecedented response we’ve received to Holland America Evolution, and we’re thrilled we can move up Oosterdam’s dry dock to meet guest demand.

“Starting earlier allows us to create five additional cruises on the newly reimagined ship. Guests will have more opportunities to enjoy all of the enhancements coming to Oosterdam, from new stateroom and suite categories to the Grand Dutch Café and redesigned Ocean Bar. We’re excited to welcome guests aboard as Oosterdam begins this new chapter and to give them the opportunity to be among the first to experience her transformation.”