ItinerariesBy Cruise Frog Editorial
Holland America Line has opened bookings for its 2028 Canada and New England season. Announced October 1, the program will operate from May through October aboard Volendam and Zuiderdam, with cruises of seven to 14 days and longer combined voyages.
Departures include Montréal, Québec City, Boston, New York and Fort Lauderdale. The season will also bring the regional debut of Zuiderdam after its Evolution transformation. The line identifies purpose-built Solo Verandah staterooms, Bridgeview Suites and a Grand Dutch Café among that ship’s planned additions.
The ship update is part of the deployment news
Zuiderdam’s planned transformation gives readers two decisions to consider together: the destination program and the ship’s revised accommodation. Someone interested in a new solo cabin, for example, needs to establish that the category is available on the specific departure being considered.
The announcement describes the coming additions; it does not supply a universal price for those cabins. Availability and fares are tied to the booking date, voyage and room category. The existing Zuiderdam page provides vessel context, while the Holland America Line page connects it with the wider fleet.
Volendam is the program’s other named vessel. A regional itinerary can vary between ships, so readers should not assume the new Zuiderdam facilities apply to both. Cruise Frog’s ship directory provides a starting point for comparing the two options.
Port hours can change the shape of the trip
Select departures feature late-night calls in Charlottetown and Saint John and overnight stays in Québec City. Those features are attached to particular itineraries, rather than every sailing in the season. The detailed schedule will establish which departure offers the additional time ashore.
An overnight can allow travelers to plan a different kind of visit from a short daytime call. The practical value depends on the actual port hours and the distance to the places they want to see. Readers comparing sailings should consider the time available in each destination alongside the total number of ports.
The range from seven to 14 days also creates different travel commitments. Longer combined voyages may appeal to travelers seeking more destinations, while a shorter sailing can fit a more limited vacation window. The announcement provides the broad choices; the individual itinerary supplies the day-by-day evidence.
Match the cruise endpoints with flights
A departure from Montréal or Québec City and an arrival in another gateway can require an open-jaw flight arrangement. Before booking, identify both ends of the cruise and the transfer needed between the airport and port. The cheapest advertised flight may be less convenient if it does not align with those endpoints.
Lounge Frog’s airport search, airline directory and lounge directory are existing resources for evaluating the flight segment. Travelers connecting internationally can also consult the Heathrow guide when that airport is on their route.
The newly opened season combines familiar regional gateways with a coming ship transformation. Readers can now compare departure-level itineraries and accommodation rather than rely solely on the seasonal headline. More cruise-line programs and ship developments are covered in Cruise Frog news.
Source: Official announcement. Reporting checked October 13, 2026.
Photo: Holland America Line ship at sea; representative fleet photograph · Holland America Line