Holland America Line is adding to its award-winning entertainment lineup with the introduction of several new mainstage experiences in 2024. Four new shows will put a fresh spin on the classic cruise production format. Additional new productions tailored to various regions will provide a variety of performances focusing on the local culture where ships are cruising.
“When we were creating this project, we were responding to what our guests were telling us,” Bill Prince, HAL’s vp of entertainment and enrichment told attendees at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami. “We cannot produce enough content fast enough for them, because they really want to see something different on the stage as often as we can possibly do it.”
These concert-style productions are 
fronted by three multi-talented headliners, who will be supported by an ensemble of singers and dancers. The new shows are:
• Song & Dance: Set on a studio backlot, two leading men front a concert of musical numbers from Broadway, Hollywood and more.
• Class Act: Las Vegas goes to sea in this elaborate production, celebrating iconic female performers of the concert and nightclub stage.
• All That!: Be a part of our studio audience as we present our take on the classic TV variety shows of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Headliners share the spotlight combining singing, dancing and a bit of comedy.
• Hey, Mr. DJ: Iconic radio DJs introduce songs from the ’60s through today in this concert of pop hits.
“We have some amazing choreographers and designers helping us to create this material,” Prince said. “Some of them have done some things like So You Think You Can Dance and the Tonight Show… all sorts of amazing projects to help us create some amazing experiences.”
The new shows will be the anchor for entertainment programming. They debuted on Eurodam in February 2024, followed by Rotterdam, Zuiderdam and Nieuw Statendam by the end of June with more ships to follow.
Unique Programming for Specific Regions
Complementing the new shows on the mainstage, Holland America Line is featuring productions specific to each region so guests will experience a different lineup when they cruise in Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, South America and other areas around the world.
“We want to make sure we are leaning into the destinations where we sail,” Prince told Seatrade attendees. “In the four shows, we wanted to change up the traditional production show model just a little bit. We will feature three resident performers on each ship that has the show package.”
Caribbean cruises on Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam and Eurodam will feature the unique orchestral steel drum concerts of Island Magic playing a versatile repertoire ranging from traditional island sounds to unique versions of classical and pop songs. Cruises to Canada and New England on Volendam and Zuiderdam will introduce the new show Breton Thunder, an authentic Atlantic Canada music experience. Sailings on Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam and Zuiderdam in Europe will feature classical string music with the Chordial Chamber Trio and Pantheon, a dynamic group of European tenors.
Beyond the mainstage, Holland America Line is adding Rolling Stone Lounge to more ships and enhancing its popular Billboard Onboard music experience. Rolling Stone Lounge, which showcases a 7-piece band playing everything from rock to pop to R&B, was added to Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam in December 2023.
Entertainment offerings vary by ship depending on the length of the cruise and destination of the ship.
Holland America Line Releases Refreshed 2025 Grand World Voyage Itinerary
In order to prioritize safety and give travelers adequate time to plan, Holland America Line released a refreshed itinerary for its 2025 Grand World Voyage sailing aboard Zuiderdam. The updated itinerary includes portions to replace the previously announced route through the Red Sea, while adding new ports in Africa and Europe as well as a call in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The changes will only affect the last 43 days of the 124-day voyage. The updated voyage will now visit one more port than originally planned, calling at 49 unique ports in 34 countries and territories, spanning six continents, concluding as planned on May 9, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Following the originally planned visit to Cape Town, South Africa, the new itinerary has been updated to include a call to Walvis Bay, Namibia, before heading north toward Praia, Ilha de Santiago, Cape Verde—the first time Holland America Line has called in more than three years. The ship will then explore the Mediterranean, calling at originally scheduled ports in Gibraltar, Gibraltar; Alexandria, Egypt; Athens, Greece; Rome and Naples, Italy; Lisbon, Portugal; and Barcelona, Spain. Newly added ports include Valletta, Malta; Tangier, Morocco; Arrecife, Alicante, Cartagena and Tenerife, Spain; Olbia and Sardinia, Italy; and Kusadasi, Turkey, pending final confirmation from relevant ports.
Guests who book the full 124-day Grand World Voyage by June 3, 2024, receive onboard spending credits and amenities valued at up to $8,500 per person. New perks for all guests who book early feature complimentary Surf Wi-Fi package, a $500 air credit per person if booked through Flight Ease, and complimentary roundtrip airport transfers.
For more information, visit hollandamerica.com.
