Holland America Line is setting a crisp pace for local cruising with a program that blends Grand Voyages, special Culinary Ambassador Sailings, and practical departure windows. The calendar centres on headline two-week sailings out of Sydney, includes Melbourne and Hobart or Burnie on every itinerary, and adds a festive two-ship day on the harbour for good measure.
Holland America Line has launched a 2025-2026 Australia program with departures in November, February, and March, featuring a 14-day Australia and New Zealand flagship from Sydney, a 14-day South Australia round trip, calls in Melbourne and Hobart or Burnie on all sailings, culinary ambassador events, a 7 March double call by Volendam and Zaandam in Sydney, and flexible standby sailings with early booking benefits.
This schedule is designed for how people actually holiday, not how brochures look. Dates are spaced around school terms and late-summer calm, marquee itineraries are simple to understand, and every voyage guarantees time in southern cultural hubs. Add in food-forward programming, and you get a season that rewards curiosity without making planning a chore.
The program’s shape is clear. The 14-day Australia and New Zealand itinerary is the centrepiece for guests who want a classic two-nation sweep with room for sea-day unwinding. The South Australia Discovery Holiday is a 14-day round trip from Sydney that leans into wine regions, markets, and coastal walks. Because Melbourne plus Hobart or Burnie appear on every itinerary, you can prioritise timing and shipboard preferences without worrying about missing key ports.
With departures in November, February, and March, travellers can dodge peak holiday congestion while keeping the weather on their side. November brings early-summer buzz. February and March deliver long days, softer prices on land, and fewer crowds at galleries and markets. It is the right mix of availability and atmosphere for couples, families, and friend groups.
Signature touches give the season personality. The double call in Sydney on 07 March by Volendam and Zaandam adds harbour-day theatre if your dates align. Culinary ambassador voyages bring extra flavour to evenings at sea. These additions enrich the week without complicating your core decisions around dates and staterooms.
Every good season needs a couple of go-to choices that deliver value straight away. Here, both headline two-week options do exactly that, then layer on consistent southern calls that reward walking shoes and café time. Start with the format you prefer, then tailor the details.
The flagship departs Sydney and balances sea days with coastal cities to create an easy rhythm. Two weeks is long enough to exhale into ship life, sample regional kitchens, and see shoreline drama, yet compact enough for a single stretch of leave. Expect relaxed mornings, strong port days, and evenings that feel like a boutique hotel with a view. It is the default choice for first-timers and a comfortable return for loyal guests.
If cellar doors, coastal promenades, and market tastings are your style, the 14-day South Australia Discovery Holiday is a direct line to those pleasures. Round-tripping from Sydney keeps logistics simple. The pacing supports layered days ashore, then quiet nights with good conversation and a nightcap. It is especially satisfying for friend groups who prefer shared experiences to box-ticking.
Consistency is a feature here. Melbourne’s laneways, galleries, and espresso culture pair neatly with either Hobart’s waterfront markets and MONA possibilities or Burnie’s coastal ambience and smaller-city pace. These ports are reliable anchors for a holiday that balances art with appetite, and they make excellent canvases for unhurried strolling.
Food is a storyteller on this program. Holland America Line’s chef partners appear on selected sailings to bring fresh perspective to menus and tastings, turning sea days into flavorful interludes and evenings into conversations you will remember.
Chef Masaharu Morimoto brings precision and clarity to seafood and spice. Expect composed plates that are as photogenic as they are satisfying, with techniques that showcase freshness over fuss. On a long sailing, that focus keeps dinners light enough for early starts ashore, yet special enough to feel celebratory.
Seattle chef Ethan Stowell is known for bright, seasonal cooking that lets good ingredients do the talking. On board, that translates into menus that feel familiar in form, better in execution, and perfectly suited to a glass of something local. It is the kind of dinner that supports conversation rather than upstaging it.
“Master tea blender” Steve Schwartz adds aromatic structure to mornings and afternoons. Curated blends can pair with pastries, anchor a sea-day pause, or close the night with something calming. It is a gentle enhancement that suits a program with cultural days ashore and reflective evenings afloat.
Beyond dates and destinations, the mechanics of booking can improve your holiday. This season includes a flexible standby pathway and the usual benefits of getting in early. Knowing how these work helps you match certainty and value to your personality.
For selected voyages, you can join a waiting list from $129 per person per day for an inside or oceanview stateroom, or $199 for a verandah. If a place opens, you sail on confirmed terms. If not, you can remain on the list for a later date or take a full refund. It is a practical route to savings if your calendar has give and you enjoy a little serendipity.
Holland America notes guests are booking further ahead to secure preferred itineraries, cabin locations, and extras. Early planning is not only about fares. It protects mid-ship positions for stability, interconnecting layouts for families, and prime dining or spa times that add polish to the week. Decide your non-negotiables, then book in that order.
On popular windows, the best-located cabins go first. Clarify whether you value balcony angles for photography, proximity to lifts for mobility, or quiet zones for early nights. With your preferences set, we sequence choices so you keep what matters and flex where you can.
A strong port mix is only as good as your day plan. These southern calls reward a light schedule, comfortable shoes, and a willingness to follow your nose. Set a simple theme for each stop and allow room for discovery.
Build the day around art and espresso. Start with a gallery, wander laneways for murals and coffee, then cross to the river for a late lunch. Small detours often make the memory, whether it is a hole-in-the-wall bakery or a bookshop you did not plan to enter. Leave time for a final stroll before sail-away.
Hobart’s harbour sets the tone. Markets brim with makers, local cheeses, and preserves, and there is always a café within a short walk. If MONA is on your list, plan for ferry timing and ticket windows, then keep the rest of the day easy. Sunset light on the water is your cue to head back.
Burnie trades spectacle for sincerity. It is an easy place to slow down, chat with locals, and sample regional bakes. A coastal walk and a simple lunch can be enough, then you return on board with energy for the evening’s program.
Before you choose dates, take a spin through our live sailings to see how durations, port mixes, and special touches line up with your diary. Our Cruise Finder makes side-by-side comparison easy, so you can shortlist a couple of perfect fits and park the rest for later.
If you are travelling from Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, or North America, the same view helps you visualise flight paths and pre or post-cruise stays. Share your shortlist with us, and we will confirm availability, refine the plan, and secure your preferred category.
Holland America Line’s 2025–2026 Australia season is a thoughtful answer for travellers who want culture-rich ports, evenings worth lingering over, and logistics that respect real life. With a 14-day Australia and New Zealand flagship, a South Australia round trip, guaranteed Melbourne and Hobart or Burnie calls, culinary ambassador moments, and a two-ship Sydney day on 7 March, the calendar makes it easy to choose well. If this matches your style, start your plan with us by chatting with our cruise specialist, and we will align dates, staterooms, and shore days with you.