1 . See south-east Asia up close
A cruise in captivating south-east Asia combines diverse experiences taking you deep into the region’s culture and history and with 150 years of experience, Holland America Line has all the destination knowledge you’ll need to ensure you make the most of this fascinating part of the world.
Singapore is an island nation that has successfully blended modernity with carefully preserved neighbourhoods shaped by Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences to create a cosmopolitan atmosphere. A variety of experiences here will suit varied interests, including foodie-focused tours, or trips to see some of Singapore’s newer marvels such as Gardens By The Bay, a 250-acre park home to more than 250,000 rare plants, and Marina Bay Sands, famed for its observation deck 650ft above ground and sure to give you a unique perspective of Singapore.
Five exotic destinations best explored by sea
For those who crave far-flung shores, a cruise can open up an array of incredible destinations in one all-encompassing trip
By April Hutchinson
Cruising into Thailand, you will have several opportunities to explore a dynamic country famed for its many islands, such as Koh Samui. Spend the day among the 42 scenic islands of Ang Thong National Marine Park, or soak up the atmosphere of some of the island’s prominent Buddhist temples topped off by relaxing at Chaweng Beach. When it comes to Bangkok, you’ll discover a capital city like no other, with gritty river markets, shiny shopping malls and shimmering golden pagodas among some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers.
Heading into Vietnam, the port of Phu My opens the door to Ho Chi Minh City’s dynamic blend of old and new, where you can explore both the buzz of a modern city and the refinement of classical French architecture. As part of a long-time partnership between Holland America Line and Food & Wine magazine to help travellers make the most of gastronomic hot spots, you can join a cooking class to learn the essentials of Vietnamese cooking. Or try a visit to the untouched rural area of Ba Ria Province, close to Phu My, to meet locals in their homes, as well as visiting a pagoda to add a touch of spiritual enrichment to your experience as you learn about the Buddhist way of life.
The choice of what to do at each destination is always yours. Further opportunities in Vietnam include a fun tour of Nha Trang by rickshaw before visiting the famed giant white Buddha sitting serenely on a lotus blossom at Long Son Pagoda. Most cruises will have an overnight stop in Da Nang, enabling guests to slot in more sightseeing. From the port, you can head to the twin must-sees of the area – the picturesque town of Hoi An and historic Hue, before sailing on to Unesco World Heritage-listed Halong Bay, known for the awe-inspiring beauty of its 2,000 islands. On some cruises, there will be an extended stay at Halong, leaving between 10pm and midnight for the next port of call.
2 . Make the most of Australia
Australia can be explored through a variety of deep-dive regionalised cruise options with Holland America Line, or you could opt to embark on a comprehensive 35-day Australia Circumnavigation, designed to take you around the highlights of this vast country in the hands of experts.
The starting point is of course Sydney, known for its idyllic lifestyle, food scene, natural beauty and world-famous twin icons of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, where you could even spend an evening taking in a performance.
When in Queensland, falling for the charms of the glorious Whitsundays – a network of 74 islands famed for chalky-white beaches and incredible marine life – is inevitable, once you start exploring from the cruise stop of Airlie Beach. Take a snorkel or scuba diving trip to the world-famous Great Barrier Reef, and revel in the beauty of the world’s longest coral reef, or even appreciate it from a bird’s-eye view with a 40-minute scenic sightseeing flight.
3. Get to know New Zealand
New Zealand has the dual allure of captivating landscapes and fascinating culture driven by rich Maori traditions. You could be relaxing on beaches and exploring subtropical forests on one island, then hiking among glaciers, lakes, and snow-tipped mountains on another soon after, with a cruise allowing you to effortlessly journey around the country as you tap into a plethora of experiences handpicked by Holland America Line’s destination experts.
On North Island, start your immersion into Maori history with a visit to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, in the compact capital of Wellington. On some sailings there will be an overnight stay giving more time to explore. The city is also known as the creative hub for Lord of the Rings, and fans of the films can join an expert guide to discover production secrets and visit locations featured in the film trilogy. Next, the town of Tauranga serves up a combination of surf and volcanic experiences in the beautiful Bay of Plenty region, and there are plenty of fun and interesting suggestions on ways to visit nearby Rotorua, such as a guided cycle tour of this geothermal wonderland and its significance to the Maori people.
On South Island, one of the biggest draw cards is Milford Sound, known for its snowy peaks, intricate fjords and more of those spellbinding Lord of the Rings landscapes. By opting to take the immersive overnight experience here – available only if booked as an excursion from the ship – you’ll exclusively get to see Fiordland National Park in all its glory. A trip on the 1913 historic steamship TSS Earnslaw will carry you back in time as you cruise across Lake Wakatipu to enjoy a gourmet barbecue dinner, before heading onto Dunedin the next day.
Christchurch is South Island’s largest city and if you are travelling on an itinerary which includes an overnight stop in Milford Sound, a day here might be spent at the Akaroa Cooking School, making the most of the partnership between Holland America Line and Food & Wine magazine, as you pick up tips from expert chefs on how to prepare delicious meals using freshly-caught shellfish from Akaroa Harbour, and free-range beef and lamb farmed on the surrounding hillsides. Alternatively, you can swap one ship for another, joining Fox II, a classic gaff-rigged ketch, sailing in the traditional way as you look out for Hector’s dolphins, endemic to New Zealand and the smallest and rarest dolphins in the world.
4. Soak up South American sights
From the excitement of seeing the magnificent wildlife of the Galapagos Islands, to the wonder of learning about remote villages along the Amazon, South America will dazzle in your memory long after you return home.
Experiences across the continent could start with transiting the epic Panama Canal, a bucket-list essential for many people fascinated by the man-made carving of this waterway to make a shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Not only is it an engineering marvel, there’s plenty to see ashore too, with more than 100 species living in nature reserves along the length of the canal, and guides will offer expert narration during the impressive journey of eight to 10 hours.
In Ecuador, the coastal town of Manta is your gateway for overland adventures to capital Quito, the world’s first city to receive Unesco status, and to two of the world’s most desirable experiences – the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu.
Galapagos can become part of your South American odyssey too, with a four-day trip fully organised by Holland America Line. Heading far out into the Pacific, some 650 miles from the mainland, you can expect a nature adventure of a lifetime, seeing the likes of Galapagos land tortoises and the famous blue-footed boobies in their natural environment.
Machu Picchu is a marvel many long to see also – and it’s possible on a Holland America Line trip, with your journey to this ancient site made aboard the Vistadome train through the Sacred Valley, followed by an extraordinary bus journey to reach the famous stone city in the clouds.
5. Have an adventure in Antarctica
There’s no better way to get close to the unbelievable “White Continent” than on a memory-making cruise.
Embrace your inner explorer as you sail from Cape Horn through the notorious Drake Passage for a day-and-a-half to reach the Antarctic Peninsula. Once there, you will glide through picture-perfect bays, and past isolated islands packed with penguin colonies as expert naturalists share years of guiding experience. Your sailing will always be dictated by weather conditions and what’s been spotted ashore and in the waters, making each day as dynamic as nature wants it to be.
The world is a big place, and not everything can be done in one day, but you will always have tried-and-tested tips and recommendations for each destination you visit on a Holland America Line cruise – what you experience is up to you.
Get more out of your cruise
With a fleet of 11 ships and a cruising legacy of 150 years, Holland America Line knows the world's oceans inside-out, offering deep dives and authentic immersions in more than 100 countries.
Planning becomes effortless, with the chance to see so many incredible places on one all-encompassing trip, and you need only unpack once in your premium stateroom.
Ensuring your voyage is as memorable as possible, destination experts are on hand in Holland America Line’s Explorations Central Discovery Centers on board. Plus, you can engage with captivating storytelling via EXC® Talks.
Ardent foodie? You’ll love Port To Table, which links the culinary heritage of places you visit using onboard cooking demonstrations and food-and-wine tastings.
A show at World Stage will leave you cheering for more, whether it’s a performance by Step One Dance Company – a six-person contemporary dance group which tours the line’s ships with their unique shows – or the electrifying performances of Cantaré, with a cast bringing iconic pop songs to life with amazing harmonies.
Performances by musical virtuosos can also be found on select cruises, or you can be enveloped by BBC Earth In Concert, where innovative programming becomes even more vivid as breath-taking wildlife footage is accompanied by musicians performing award-winning soundtracks.
Produced by Telegraph Media Group
Lead Designer: Victoria Griffiths, Project Manager: Rachel Eggleton , Commissioning Editor: Rupert Murray, Writer: April Hutchinson, Sub-editor: Tim Cumming, Picture Editor: Cat Costelloe, Web Editor: Ross Thomas
Picture credits: Cruise Image Library, AdobeStock, Getty, Alamy
Advertiser content for
Singapore’s impressive illuminated city skyline and boats in Marina Bay
Buddhist temple Wat Benchamabophit, or the Marble Temple, is one of Bangkok, Thailand’s major tourist attractions
Hoi An Ancient Town in Vietnam is a preserved small-scale trading port dating from the 15th to 19th centuries
Holland America Line’s award-winning Westerdam cruise ship at Sydney Harbour, Australia
Flights above the Great Barrier Reef offer a different perspective on the world’s longest coral reef
Visit Australia Zoo in Queensland to see Komodo dragons, the largest species of lizard
South Island’s Milford Sound is one of New Zealand’s most stunning natural attractions
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington has exhibits of art, science, and the natural history of New Zealand
Hector’s dolphins are the smallest and rarest dolphins in the world
The Galapogas Islands rich wildlife includes iguanas who warm themselves on volcanic rocks at Egas Port, Santiago Island
15th-century Inca citadel Machu Picchu is the most visited tourist attraction in Peru, despite being over 7,000 feet above sea level
Opening of the Ports monument at San Sebastián Square in Manaus, Brazil
Adélie penguins make their home along the entire coast of Antarctica
Holland America Lines elegant fleet of cruise ships welcome you aboard
Explore the culinary traditions of different regions through cooking demonstrations
Rolling Stone Rock Room is the onboard live music venue that plays the classics
Spend time in Cairns, hotspot of the state’s tropical northern region, perhaps even heading deep into the rainforest to try a fun afternoon of river tubing on the Mulgrave River. Another Cairns highlight is the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway which takes you over the Unesco World Heritage Site rainforest for breathtaking views.
Sailing around the Cape York Peninsula, Australia’s most northerly point, allows time for you to plan your next adventure as you head to Darwin, gateway to Kakadu and Litchfield, two of the state’s most famous national parks.
Some cruises stop at the Unesco-protected Komodo National Park in Indonesia, offering up the chance to see the famous Komodo dragons. The viewing opportunity is available only to guests who book an excursion, with a guided walking tour by park rangers on the island taking you on a memorable search to see this fascinating rare reptile.
If you choose to sail down the coastline of Western Australia, a state lined with idyllic white-sand Indian Ocean beaches, you can end your Australian odyssey in the port of Fremantle, or “Freo”, a bohemian area of Perth. On a circumnavigation cruise you will have an overnight stay here, leaving the next day for the next port of call, giving you more time to explore. Holland America Line has plenty of ways to get to know this state capital, whether it’s delving deeper into aboriginal culture or exploring some of the country’s best wineries on a trip to the Swan Valley.
Heading down the east coast of the continent to Brazil is another option on a cruise, sailing from the sunny shores of the Caribbean to the inner reaches of the Amazon, with an overnight stay in the capital Manaus, learning about the lives of some 400 indigenous peoples living along the world’s largest river.
Your curiosity will be piqued by remote villages, far removed from the modern world, both in geography and culture. In this area of incredible biodiversity, Holland America Line’s expert naturalists will also always have their eye out for everything from jaguars to pink dolphins, assuring you never miss a moment of life in this hypnotic part of the continent.
Another highlight could be soaking up the sights of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, divided between Chile and Argentina, and known for attractions such as Glacier Alley. See – and hear – breathtaking glaciers as they creak and crack under the weight of the ice, and marvel at dramatic ice-melt waterfalls along the way, as well as penguin rookeries, humpback whales and sea lion and seal colonies.
The excitement of a day’s discoveries ashore continues once you’re back on board too, with a choice of thrilling entertainment options to tempt you after a delicious dinner.
Stroll the ship to your newly discovered favourite bar, ranging from B.B King’s Blues Club, where skilled musicians set the tone with classic soul, rock and roll and R&B favourites, to the ultimate live music venue of Rolling Stone Rock Room, or Billboard Onboard, a bar for enjoying all your favourite hits.
Spend time in Cairns, hotspot of the state’s tropical northern region, perhaps even heading deep into the rainforest to try a fun afternoon of river tubing on the Mulgrave River. Another Cairns highlight is the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway which takes you over the Unesco World Heritage Site rainforest for breathtaking views.
Sailing around the Cape York Peninsula, Australia’s most northerly point, allows time for you to plan your next adventure as you head to Darwin, gateway to Kakadu and Litchfield, two of the state’s most famous national parks.
Some cruises stop at the Unesco-protected Komodo National Park in Indonesia, offering up the chance to see the famous Komodo dragons. The viewing opportunity is available only to guests who book an excursion, with a guided walking tour by park rangers on the island taking you on a memorable search to see this fascinating rare reptile.
If you choose to sail down the coastline of Western Australia, a state lined with idyllic white-sand Indian Ocean beaches, you can end your Australian odyssey in the port of Fremantle, or “Freo”, a bohemian area of Perth. On a circumnavigation cruise you will have an overnight stay here, leaving the next day for the next port of call, giving you more time to explore. Holland America Line has plenty of ways to get to know this state capital, whether it’s delving deeper into aboriginal culture or exploring some of the country’s best wineries on a trip to the Swan Valley.
Heading down the east coast of the continent to Brazil is another option on a cruise, sailing from the sunny shores of the Caribbean to the inner reaches of the Amazon, with an overnight stay in the capital Manaus, learning about the lives of some 400 indigenous peoples living along the world’s largest river.
Your curiosity will be piqued by remote villages, far removed from the modern world, both in geography and culture. In this area of incredible biodiversity, Holland America Line’s expert naturalists will also always have their eye out for everything from jaguars to pink dolphins, assuring you never miss a moment of life in this hypnotic part of the continent.
Another highlight could be soaking up the sights of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, divided between Chile and Argentina, and known for attractions such as Glacier Alley. See – and hear – breathtaking glaciers as they creak and crack under the weight of the ice, and marvel at dramatic ice-melt waterfalls along the way, as well as penguin rookeries, humpback whales and sea lion and seal colonies.
The excitement of a day’s discoveries ashore continues once you’re back on board too, with a choice of thrilling entertainment options to tempt you after a delicious dinner.
Stroll the ship to your newly discovered favourite bar, ranging from B.B King’s Blues Club, where skilled musicians set the tone with classic soul, rock and roll and R&B favourites, to the ultimate live music venue of Rolling Stone Rock Room, or Billboard Onboard, a bar for enjoying all your favourite hits.