Holland America Line has announced its 2027–2028 Asia cruise season, introducing new destinations and expanded itineraries across Japan and Southeast Asia.
The upcoming program adds three maiden ports in Japan—Hitachinaka, Nagoya, and Maizuru—along with a new scenic cruising experience through Maizuru Bay, offering travelers access to diverse cultural and coastal experiences from September 2027 to April 2028.
The season will be operated aboard the Noordam and includes voyages ranging from 13 to 15 days. Departures will be available from Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Seattle. The line’s mid-sized vessel allows access to smaller, less-frequented ports such as Jeju, South Korea, and Boracay, Philippines, giving guests broader access to unique destinations throughout the region.
Expanded Itineraries and Overnight Stays
“Asia offers guests a wealth of natural wonders and remarkable cultural landmarks,” said Robert de Bruin, Director of Deployment and Itinerary Planning at Holland America Line. “We know our guests are eager for deeper exploration, so this season we’ve added new ports, increased calls to lesser-visited destinations and provided extended stays in popular locales.”
The program features overnight calls in six cities—Halong Bay, Vietnam; Seoul, South Korea; Bangkok, Thailand; Manila, Philippines; Osaka, Japan; and Shanghai, China. These longer stays allow passengers to explore destinations after dark, from Halong Bay’s illuminated karst scenery to Shanghai’s skyline and Manila’s historic walled city of Intramuros.
Holland America’s new ports in Japan highlight distinctive regional attractions. In Hitachinaka, guests can visit Seaside Park, famous for its seasonal flower gardens. Nagoya showcases a reconstructed castle and deep urban heritage, while Maizuru, a former naval city, offers a new scenic cruising route through Maizuru Bay, surrounded by green islands and calm waters.
Season Highlights Across Asia
The 2027–2028 season includes 15 itineraries featuring Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. Highlights include the 14-day “Circle Japan” sailings, roundtrip from Tokyo or Yokohama, calling at up to 10 Japanese ports and one in South Korea. A “Southern Japan” itinerary, departing Feb. 27, 2028, introduces Nagoya as a maiden port and includes an overnight call in Osaka (Kobe).
Additional voyages include the 14-day “Far East Discovery,” sailing between Hong Kong and Singapore, with overnight stays in Halong Bay and Laem Chabang (Bangkok). Guests seeking a holiday experience can sail on the Dec. 19, 2027, departure, celebrating Christmas Eve in Da Nang, Christmas Day in the South China Sea, and New Year’s Eve in Thailand’s Nathon.
Other options include a 14-day “Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines” voyage from Singapore to Hong Kong, featuring overnight stays in Manila and Bangkok; and the “China & Japan Discovery” route, departing Feb. 13, 2028, from Hong Kong to Tokyo, with overnight calls in Shanghai and Osaka.
Two trans-Pacific crossings are also scheduled: a 13-day voyage departing Sep. 12, 2027, from Seattle to Tokyo via Alaska and northern Japan, and a 15-day return sailing on Apr. 23, 2028, from Tokyo to Vancouver, Canada.
Onboard Dining and Experiences
Onboard, guests can enjoy Holland America Line’s Destination Dining program, featuring dishes inspired by each region visited. Menus highlight local ingredients and traditional flavors, including Japanese rockfish, Korean bibimbap, Thai mango sticky rice, and Filipino chicken adobo. Guests can also experience two pop-up dining concepts: Taste of Tamarind and Morimoto by Sea.
Shore excursions will showcase cultural and natural landmarks, such as Busan’s cliffside temples, Kochi’s samurai-era castles, and Vietnam’s ancient town of Hoi An. These curated activities aim to provide travelers with a deeper understanding of local heritage, cuisine, and daily life.
Holland America Line is offering early booking incentives for the 2027–2028 Asia season through its “Have It All” premium package, which includes shore excursions, specialty dining, beverage packages, Wi-Fi, and prepaid crew appreciation. Mariner Society loyalty members can also earn up to $400 onboard credit per stateroom for bookings made by Jan. 12, 2026.
For more information on Holland America Line’s 2027–2028 Asia cruises, guests can visit hollandamerica.com or contact their travel advisor.
Photo Credit: Holland America Line
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