24 April 2025
Holland America Line has started its first UK season in 10 years with the first of 10 roundtrip departures from Dover.
The 2,666-guest Nieuw Statendam set sail from Dover on a two-week cruise to the Canary Islands, Morocco and Portugal. It is a sold out sailing for the Pinnacle-class ship which celebrated with a British-themed dinner for guests. Most guests hail from the UK, Netherlands and the US, HAL said.
Nieuw Statendam will make 10 roundtrip departures from Dover this year, through September, with sailings ranging from 14 to 42 days.
They include British Isles, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Iberia and eastern Mediterranean itineraries.
To mark the occasion, Holland America Line donated 200 Lindt Easter bunnies to local charity, Dover SmART Project. The charity provides creative opportunities for disadvantaged children, mainly young carers. Holland America Line has a partnership with Lindt across its fleet, which features branded chocolate on dessert menus, in onboard shops and as part of special events and gifting options.
Nieuw Statendam will also return to Dover from April to October 2026, on a series of seven-and 14-day European cruises to the Norwegian fjords, Iceland and Canary Islands.
Karen Farndell, HAL’s UK director of sales and marketing said: “Returning to the famous white cliffs marks an exciting new chapter for us, and reflects the growing demand we’re seeing from guests from the UK. We’re thrilled to offer a rich variety of itineraries on our doorstep over both 2025 and 2026, as part of a wider, long-term investment in the local market.”
Holland America Line will sail from nine ports across Europe in total this year.