At the end of September 2025, the Nieuw Amsterdam of the Holland America Line will embark on an interesting cruise from Vancouver to San Diego. The journey lasts a total of 20 nights (with many ports repeating themselves, as it’s like 3 cruises glued together), and cabins in various categories are currently available at very affordable rates.
The best deal is for ocean view cabins, starting at just €1,099 per person. Also worth considering are the inside cabins for €999, and balcony cabins for €1,999 (each per person based on double occupancy). For solo travellers, the cheapest outside cabin is also available at an affordable €1,426. This means the surcharge compared to double occupancy is only around 30%.
Holland America Line charges an automatic crew gratuity of US$17 (~€15) per person per night to your onboard account. If you are not comfortable with this, you can request an adjustment or removal at the reception desk.
The following services are included in the cruise fare with Holland America Line:
- All meals at the main and buffet restaurant
- Tea, water, and coffee during meals
- Onboard entertainment and events
- Gala evening or special night events
The Route
The cruise begins in Vancouver, Canada. The ship departs the port in the afternoon and sets course for Victoria. Here, you can visit attractions such as the Butchart Gardens or the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel. The city is also home to Canada’s oldest Chinatown.
Next, the ship heads to San Francisco, where it stays overnight in port. This gives you more time to explore highlights like the Golden Gate Bridge or the former prison island of Alcatraz.
After that, the Nieuw Amsterdam sails to San Diego, the second-largest city in California, known for its blend of Spanish, Mexican, and American cultures. The surrounding area also offers many beautiful beaches.
On the way south, the ship also makes stops in Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas—giving you the chance to visit three Mexican ports.
Later in the cruise, many cities are repeated, such as San Francisco and San Diego. After a final visit to Santa Barbara, you’ll reach your final destination: San Diego (again), after 20 nights at sea.
Here’s the detailed itinerary:
| Date | Location | Arrival | Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 28 | Vancouver | 15:00 | |
| September 29 | Victoria | 07:00 | 14:00 |
| September 30 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| October 1 | San Francisco | 12:00 | |
| October 2 | San Francisco | 18:00 | |
| October 3 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| October 4 | San Diego | 07:00 | 15:00 |
| October 5 | Ensenada | 07:00 | 15:00 |
| October 6 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| October 7 | Cabo San Lucas | 07:00 | 15:00 |
| October 8 | Puerto Vallarta | 08:30 | 17:00 |
| October 9 – 10 | 2 days at sea 🌊 | ||
| October 11 | San Diego | 07:00 | 16:00 |
| October 12 | Ensenada | 08:00 | 17:00 |
| October 13 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| October 14 | San Francisco | 07:00 | |
| October 15 | San Francisco | 20:00 | |
| October 16 | At sea 🌊 | ||
| October 17 | Santa Barbara | 07:00 | 13:30 |
| October 18 | San Diego | 07:00 |
The Ship
The Nieuw Amsterdam, part of Holland America Line’s Signature class, is a mid-sized ship that first entered service in 2010. It’s not the flashiest vessel out there, and it doesn’t try to be.
The ship’s design leans toward understated elegance, with dark woods, muted colours, and subtle art deco touches. There’s a clear focus on refinement rather than spectacle. The crowd tends to skew older, with fewer families and a generally relaxed pace onboard.
Cabins are practical and well-maintained, though not particularly innovative. Dining is solid overall, with standout speciality restaurants like Tamarind (Asian-fusion) and Pinnacle Grill (steakhouse). The main dining room and buffet are generally reliable, though service can sometimes be a bit inconsistent.
The Nieuw Amsterdam tends to sail popular routes like Alaska, the Caribbean, and occasionally Europe. It’s best suited for travellers who value a calm, polished atmosphere and don’t need constant stimulation. If you’re looking for a floating resort packed with activities, this probably isn’t the ship. But if you’d rather spend your evenings listening to a string quartet or watching the sunset from a quiet deck, the Nieuw Amsterdam might be your kind of cruise.
Flights
Flights to Vancouver are quite cheap. Currently, a flight from Paris with Westjet only costs €292 with luggage. Flying back from San Diego, however, is not so cheap. However, TAP is offering extremely cheap tickets to Barcelona from San Francisco, costing only €219 with luggage. So, it’s definitely worthwhile booking a ticket from San Diego to San Francisco for around US$84 (~€72), e.g. with Southwest, including luggage. This will cost you around half of what tickets from San Diego to Europe are costing.
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Cover Picture: The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco | Ditmar Lange