Asia is about to get a thoughtfully paced return from Holland America, with a map that blends new Japanese doors with long, unhurried evenings in major cities. Noordam will be the host for a string of well-sized journeys that feel considered rather than crowded, giving you time to savour each port and still enjoy easy sea days in between.
From September 2027 to April 2028, Noordam will run 15 itineraries of 13–15 days featuring first calls to Hitachinaka, Nagoya, and Maizuru in Japan. Overnight stays include Ha Long Bay, Seoul, Bangkok, Manila, Osaka, and Shanghai. Highlights span a 14-day Circle Japan loop and a Japan and South Korea Discovery that visits Jeju and overnights at Incheon for Seoul access.
Holland America has used this season to widen the lens on Japan and deepen the experience in several Asian capitals. Rather than rushing, the schedule sets a steady rhythm that rewards curious travellers who like to learn, taste, and wander without checking their watch.
Adding Hitachinaka, Nagoya, and Maizuru opens up fresh regional angles that many cruise maps skip. Hitachinaka gives access to Ibaraki’s gardens and coastal paths that are gentler than the capital’s pace, while Nagoya places you near Aichi’s craft traditions and castle heritage with quick rail options. Maizuru faces the Sea of Japan and offers a different approach to Kyoto, which can help you dodge the densest traffic into the city and see a quieter side of the region. Together, they broaden Japan beyond the usual triangle without complicating logistics.
Building overnight stays into Ha Long Bay, Seoul, Bangkok, Manila, Osaka, and Shanghai changes the way you plan days. You can enjoy a late dinner without racing back to the gangway, then wake up with time for a museum, temple, or neighbourhood walk before the ship sails. It feels like a mini city break within a voyage, which suits travellers who want texture and context rather than a checklist.
With voyages set at 13 to 15 days, sea days appear as breathers, not barriers. Distances are sensible, port clusters are balanced, and the overall flow helps both early birds and night owls find their groove. That is the quiet strength of the Holland America Line Asia 2027–28 season, an itinerary design that respects your energy while still delivering variety.
Two headliners anchor the schedule, then a supporting cast of routes adds regional colour. Each one is built to show contrasts, from neon nights to temple calm, and from volcanic landscapes to karst bays.
The Circle Japan itinerary brings Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu into one conversation. On Honshu, you might chase landscaped gardens, contemporary galleries, and coastal towns. Shikoku shifts the mood towards pilgrimage paths, bridges, and udon shops, then Kyushu layers in hot springs, volcano-shaped horizons, and seaside markets. Returning to the same ship each night turns the loop into a relaxed rhythm, where you can collect experiences without repacking a suitcase.
Pairing Japan with Jeju and an overnight at Incheon adds cross-cultural richness. Jeju’s black lava coastlines and green tea fields feel a world away from urban Japan, and the overnight makes Seoul sparkle after dark. Street food alleys, late cafés, and the soft glow of the Han River become realistic options when you are not watching the clock. The next morning, you can switch gears to museums or palaces, then rejoin Noordam with time to spare.
Across the season, you will see overnights repeated in Bangkok, Manila, Osaka, and Shanghai, which means more chances to enjoy night markets, riverside rooftops, and evening neighbourhood walks. The idea is not to overwhelm with choice, it is to place you in cities long enough to live a day and a night, then move on before the spell breaks. That balance is a hallmark of the Holland America Line Asia 2027–28 season.
Asia is generous, so a little strategy turns good port days into great ones. Think about light, local travel time, and the kind of stories you want to bring home, then build from there.
An overnight in Ha Long Bay lets you split the experience across two moods. Take a daytime junk cruise to weave among limestone karsts and sea caves, then use the evening for a seafood dinner and a quiet promenade under lantern light. In the morning, the first boats on the water feel almost private, and photographs pick up soft detail that is different from midday brightness. Leave space for a short village visit or market stop so you can connect the scenery to everyday life.
With the ship alongside in Incheon overnight, you can lean into Seoul’s evening personality. Start with a palace garden or gallery while it is cool, pivot to a neighbourhood dinner of barbecue or bibimbap, then finish with skyline views beside the river. Because you have a full night, there is room to try a late dessert bar or a vinyl café without worrying about last shuttles. The next day, choose either a quick cultural stop or a slow city stroll before sailing.
In Bangkok, a late finish opens Chao Phraya river views and night markets that are too often rushed. Manila rewards a two-part plan, day one for Intramuros and museums, day two for bayside walks and cafés. Osaka is a food lover’s playground after dark, and the extra time means you can still fit in a Kyoto garden run the next day if you wish. Shanghai shines with an evening on the Bund and a morning in a favourite museum or park, a pairing that benefits from the overnight’s calm.
The blend of new Japanese ports and longer city stays creates room for different styles of travel within the same voyage. It will resonate with guests who value depth, food, and culture, and a measured pace.
If your idea of a perfect day includes a local gallery, a neighbourhood café, and a conversation with a craftsperson, this program is a match. Ports like Nagoya and Maizuru open doorways into workshops and regional museums that sit just outside the usual tourist paths. Because overnights reduce pressure, you can linger where conversations lengthen and still catch a headline sight the next morning.
Even without formal wine regions on the map, the season is rich in flavour. Izakaya lanes in Osaka, market stalls in Manila, noodle counters in Shikoku, and tea culture on Jeju create an edible itinerary inside the larger one. Overnights make a late reservation realistic, and there is time to try both a celebrated spot and a humble favourite recommended by a local guide.
Noordam’s mid-sized layout, clear signage, and steady pacing suit families and first-timers. Sea days are spaced to recharge, and overnight calls reduce FOMO so each generation can follow its interests. If grandparents prefer a quiet museum morning while teens explore a trend-led district, you can split and meet later for an early dinner without stress.
A few early decisions make a big difference. Choose the right cabin position, line up anchor experiences, and pack for a range of climates so you stay comfortable from Japan’s autumn to Southeast Asia’s warmth.
Midship verandahs tend to ride most evenly on open water, helpful if you are sensitive to movement. If you expect long days ashore, an ocean view stateroom can be an excellent value, keeping natural light in play while you spend afternoons in public rooms. Light sleepers should look for a deck above or below the busiest venues, and families might prioritise proximity to lifts for easier pram or stroller runs.
Overnight ports concentrate demand for small group tours and popular restaurants. Reserve one anchor activity or dinner in each overnight city, then leave a second slot open for a spontaneous find. In places like Seoul or Osaka, that balance gives you the best of both worlds, a guaranteed highlight and the serendipity that often becomes the holiday story you tell later.
The season runs from September to April, which means layers. Pack a light jacket for cool evenings in Japan, breathable fabrics for Bangkok and Manila, and comfortable walking shoes everywhere. A small daypack, a reusable water bottle, and a portable charger keep you nimble. If you plan to add pre or post-nights in Japan, keep an eye on autumn foliage and early spring bloom timing when choosing dates.
Seeing the whole season at once makes choices easier. Our Cruise Finder lays itineraries side by side so you can compare Circle Japan with the Japan and South Korea Discovery, note where overnights fall, and filter by 13, 14, or 15 nights. It is the quickest way to find the sailing that mirrors how you like to travel.
If you are coordinating friends from Australia, New Zealand, and further afield, Cruise Finder keeps everyone aligned. Shortlist two or three dates, mark which ones hit weekend overnights in Osaka or Bangkok, and note preferred cabin types so decisions come together cleanly. A tidy shortlist turns research into a plan the whole group can commit to.
New Japanese gateways, city overnights, and well-spaced sea days make this a season built for depth rather than rush. Noordam provides the calm base, Asia supplies the colour, and your choices fill in the story. If you would like help matching dates, cabins, and the best itinerary to your interests, the simplest next step is to send a message to our cruise adviser so we can hold space, plan smart connections, and get you booked.