You don’t have to be a seasoned cruiser to feel the pull of Holland America Line’s freshly released Grand World Voyage and Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage for 2027. Both sailings blend old-school maritime romance with modern luxury, wrapping rare ports, multi-night stays and new overland adventures into one seamless journey.
Think 129 nights that meander from Easter Island to Bordeaux, or 70 days tracing the spine of the Andes before skimming past Antarctic icebergs. If you’ve ever dreamt of unpacking once and letting the world come to you, this might be the year to do it.
A Cruise Line That Knows Long-Haul Luxury
Holland America Line has refined the art of extended voyages for more than a century. Volendam and Zaandam, the midsize ships selected for 2027, carry just 1,432 guests, allowing for spacious public rooms and a crew-to-guest ratio that feels genuinely personal. Add in menus that rarely repeat, destination-savvy guest lecturers and freshly refitted staterooms, and you’re looking at a floating boutique hotel that simply keeps gliding to the next postcard view.
Two Itineraries, Infinite Storylines
Whether you choose to circumnavigate the globe or to deep-dive into the southern hemisphere, you’ll experience extended time in port, late-night departures ideal for lingering dinners ashore, and overnight stays that turn brilliant days into unforgettable nights. And with Holland America’s knack for uncovering lesser-visited harbours—Ascension Island, anyone?—the bragging rights begin the moment you step on board.
2027 Grand World Voyage: 129 Days of Pure Discovery
Think of this itinerary as the headliner—an east‑to‑west odyssey that spans six continents and 53 ports.
Route Highlights Worth Setting an Alarm For
Sailing round-trip Fort Lauderdale on 5 January 2027, Volendam first hugs South America’s Pacific edge before island-hopping to Australia and Southeast Asia. Think sunrise over Easter Island’s moai, sunset cocktails in Bora Bora, and two full days in Bali. After threading Sri Lanka and Madagascar, the ship dips around the Cape of Good Hope, then corkscrews up Africa’s west coast towards European shores. Late summer nights in Copenhagen and an overnight mooring on the Garonne River right inside Bordeaux round off the caper before the Atlantic crossing home.
Seven Overnight Stays—Because Some Cities Deserve the Moonlight
Copenhagen’s hygge-filled bars, Cape Town’s jazz joints, Lima’s legendary cevicherías—staying late transforms each destination. You’ll step ashore in Sydney on Australia Day, watch the Gironde estuary sparkle en route to Bordeaux, and perhaps join a midnight stroll through Old Havana (via a day in Papeete first).
UNESCO Overload for the Culturally Curious
With access to 81 UNESCO World Heritage sites—from the Taj Mahal to Mont-Saint-Michel—this Grand Voyage could keep even the most intrepid traveller ticking boxes for years. Optional small-group tours ensure you’re not just snapping photos but actually hearing the stories behind Westminster Abbey’s stone carvings or snorkelling the outer reefs of the Great Barrier Reef.
2027 Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage: Ice, Samba and Amazon-Green Jungles
At 70 days, this loop swings from equatorial heat to polar chill before circling back to the warmth of the Caribbean.
A Tale of Two Oceans and One Mythic Canal
Departing Fort Lauderdale 3 January 2027, Zaandam pierces the Panama Canal before hugging South America’s Pacific rim. Expect mist-laden mornings in Ecuador, ceviche masterclasses in Peru and a daylight glide down Chile’s glacier corridor into Patagonia.
Antarctica: Four Days in an Icy Cathedral
After navigating the Beagle Channel, the ship nosedives across the Drake Passage for a four-day “Antarctic Experience”. From the safety of your teak verandah, you’ll witness tabular icebergs, penguin rookeries and (with luck) a tail-slap from a humpback. Shipboard naturalists provide running commentary, so every berg and petrel has a name and a story.
Carnival Energy Meets Colonial Charm
The homeward sweep up the Atlantic stitches together Stanley in the Falklands, Buenos Aires (two nights docked steps from tango clubs), Montevideo, and a sunset sail into Rio de Janeiro framed by Sugarloaf Mountain. By the time Zaandam returns to the Caribbean, you’ll have crossed the Equator twice and logged brag-worthy stories for dinner parties back home.
Overland Tours: Leaving the Ship to Chase Once-in-a-Lifetime Moments
Why pause at the coast when a short venture inland uncovers bucket‑list marvels?
Taj Mahal & Golden Triangle (Grand World Voyage)
A seven-day land package lets you disembark in Phuket, fly to Delhi, and tick off Jaipur’s pink-sandstone palaces before sunrise paints the Taj Mahal ivory-rose. Re-join Volendam in Malé with memory cards full and a deeper appreciation for India’s kaleidoscope.
Galápagos Wildlife Odyssey (Both Voyages)
Board a small expedition vessel for four days of blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises and snorkels with sea lions. Re-connecting with your ship, you’ll understand why Darwin never stopped writing about these islands.
Inca Trail Express to Machu Picchu
From Lima’s port of Callao, ride the rails to the Sacred Valley, overnight in Cusco, and greet dawn from the Sun Gate at Machu Picchu. History buffs call it goose-bump gold; Instagram calls it #BucketListUnlocked.
Life On Board: It’s Called a Grand Voyage for a Reason
Sea days aren’t downtime; they’re the connective tissue that makes every port shine brighter.
Culinary Adventures that Span Oceans
Menus change daily and seldom repeat, pulling produce straight from local markets whenever possible—imagine South African bobotie one night, Balinese satay the next. Gala dinners bring out lobster, caviar and vintage wines, while casual dive-in burger joints and 24-hour room service keep things comfortably familiar.
Enrichment that Goes Beyond Slide Shows
Guest lecturers range from maritime historians to NASA engineers. Workshops might teach you tango before Buenos Aires or photo-editing tips ahead of Antarctica’s white-on-white landscapes. Evening entertainment swings from classical quartets to folkloric troupes flown in for single-night performances.
A Crew That Knows Your Coffee Order by Day Three
With staffing levels scaled for personalised service, expect baristas who remember your flat-white preference and laundry that reappears folded like origami. Long voyages foster genuine friendships; by week four, bartenders greet you by name and cabin stewards anticipate when you’ll want fresh ice.
Value Adds That Stretch Your Holiday Dollar
Better yet, Early Booking Bonuses stretch your holiday dollar further, rewarding forward‑thinking travellers.
Onboard Credit and Wi-Fi
Reserve now and score up to US $2,000 (about A$3,060) per guest in onboard credit to spend on spa treatments, specialty dining or those must-have shore tours. You’ll also unlock complimentary Wi-Fi Surf packages—critical for emailing glacier selfies back home.
Air Credit & Transfers
Book through Flight Ease and Holland America slips in a US $500 (A$765) air credit plus round-trip transfers between Fort Lauderdale airport and the pier. Higher-tier stateroom categories further include prepaid crew appreciation and unlimited laundry, so your suitcase can stay light.
Pay-in-Full Discount
Settle the balance at booking and shave an additional 3 percent off fare—no small saving when your holiday spans four months.
Let’s Turn Dream Routes into Booked Tickets
Even seasoned travellers rarely carve out 70 or 129 days, so when the stars align, act. Cabins with larger balconies, forward-facing views or bathtub-equipped suites traditionally disappear first on Grand Voyages. Secure your preferred stateroom, lock in Early Booking Bonuses and let the countdown begin.
Before locking anything in, play around with dates and cabin types using our intuitive Cruise Finder. Filters let you sort by voyage length, embarkation city or even specific UNESCO sites you’ve longed to visit.
Already picturing yourself sipping Cape Town Chenin under Table Mountain or snapping glaciers in Chile? Our advisors can narrow excursions, arrange overland add-ons and ensure seamless flight connections. It’s all a few clicks away on the Cruise Finder portal.
Start Planning Your Grand 2027 Escape Today
If a season-long expedition filled with UNESCO icons, polar vistas and overnight city stays sets your heart racing, it’s time to move from dreaming to doing. Reach out to our cruise experts now and we’ll tailor a booking that matches your exact style of adventure.
Comments