As it celebrates its 150th anniversary, cruise operator Holland America Line has announced the launch of its and even the world’s longest and most ambitious cruise. Details of the 133-day sailing along with a simultaneous 124-day 2025 Grand World Voyage were announced by Holland America Line President Gus Antorcha aboard Zuiderdam to Grand World Voyage guests currently sailing in the North Sea.
With the Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole and Grand World Voyage both departing in January 2025, this will be the first time that Holland America Line is offering two Grand Voyages of more than 120 days simultaneously. The ‘Grand Voyage: Pole-to-Pole’ aboard Volendam enables cruisers to visit five continents on a journey that travels south-to-north, while the ‘Grand World Voyage’ aboard Zuiderdam covers six continents on an east-to-west route, each conveniently sailing roundtrip from a US homeport.
“This will be a truly historic pair of voyages. Our Grand World Voyage travels east to west and our other Grands focus on one region, so designing this first-of-its-kind route that explores south to north roundtrip from the US is an incredible way to allow our guests two different choices to travel across the world,” Antorcha told guests.
“Detailed planning went into this voyage to ensure we are visiting destinations when the weather is favorable, and we included locations that are sought after like the Amazon River, Greenland and Iceland, in addition to Antarctica and the Arctic. We have created two voyages that linger in ports for memorable moments and several overnight stays. We even timed it so the two voyages will meet-up to share an overnight experience in Barcelona,” said Paul Grigsby, vice president for deployment and itinerary planning for Holland America Line.
Travellers interested in either of the Grand Voyages can call Holland America Line’s World Cruise Reservations Desk or a travel advisor to make a deposited Future Cruise Request. Guests with a deposited Future Cruise Request will get priority booking confirmation prior to the two voyages officially opening to the public May 24, 2023, says a press statement by the cruise operator.