As Holland America Line prepares to celebrate eight decades of sailing Alaska , the company has unveiled its 2027 Cruisetour season with significant changes to its combined cruise and land tour offerings. The cruise line is thus reinforcing its position in this key destination for both the North American market and travelers from Spain and Europe interested in extensive nature tours.
The new itinerary incorporates enhancements to the onshore experience, an expanded meal plan, and significant investment in its Denali lodge , aiming to offer more integrated, comfortable trips with greater control over the entire journey. The idea is that passengers don't have to worry about logistics and can focus on enjoying glaciers, wildlife, and inland landscapes.
Cruisetours 2027: a combination of cruise and land adventure
For the 2027 season, the cruise line has created 19 different Cruisetour itineraries , all offering access to some of Alaska's most iconic landscapes. Each itinerary combines a sea voyage with an inland excursion, allowing travelers to experience both the thrill of a cruise and direct contact with nature on land.
On the maritime portion, each trip includes a cruise of between three and seven nights aboard one of four ships in the fleet: the Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Westerdam, and Zaandam . These voyages allow passengers to explore glacial and fjord regions, with frequent opportunities to see marine wildlife and icy landscapes—a major draw for many European travelers to Alaska.
All itineraries are designed to include at least one visit to Denali National Park , one of the state's great natural icons. From there, each tour varies in duration and combinations, with the option to extend the experience into the Alaskan interior and the Yukon for those seeking a longer, more in-depth trip.
Travelers have the option of starting their trip with the cruise or the land portion , making it easier to adapt their itinerary to flight connections or other prior trips within North America. This flexibility is especially useful for international travelers arriving from Europe, who often combine Alaska with other visits in the United States or Canada.
Those wishing to go a step further can join the route to the Canadian Yukon , which focuses on the history of the Klondike Gold Rush and less crowded inland landscapes. This extension of the land route is designed for travelers with more time and a desire to explore less-traveled areas.
Exclusive route to the Yukon and the Gold Rush
One of the aspects the company highlights for 2027 is that, as the only cruise line that travels beyond Skagway into the Yukon , it can offer an itinerary that follows part of the Klondike gold rush route to Dawson City . This area maintains a strong historical atmosphere, with constant references to 19th-century expeditions.
The extension to the Yukon allows guests to connect their sea voyage with a more prominent cultural and historical component, focusing on the gold rush and life in the old mining settlements. It's an experience that typically appeals to European travelers interested in nature destinations with a strong historical background.
In addition to Dawson City, Cruisetours that include this extension incorporate stays in Skagway , a port with a rich mining history and the starting point for railway routes and trails that evoke the Klondike past. In both Skagway and the Yukon, the cruise line uses its own accommodations , which facilitates coordination with cruise schedules and ground transportation.
This infrastructure integration is one of the keys to Holland America Line's model in Alaska , which focuses on directly managing hotels, trains, and buses to offer a more streamlined product without excessive reliance on external providers. This approach aims to reduce unforeseen issues and improve the overall flow of the journey.
For passengers, this translates into more direct connections between ship, train, and accommodation , with less waiting and clearer daily planning. In practical terms, this structure is especially useful on long journeys, where fatigue can accumulate if logistics aren't well-organized.
Meal plan included with the Early Bird Discount
One of the major new features for Cruisetours 2027 is the addition of a complimentary meal package for those who book with the Have It All Early Bird Discount . This enhancement applies to the land portion of the trip and sets it apart from other offerings on the market.
The plan includes breakfast at the company's exclusive properties in Denali, Skagway, and Dawson City , a perk that simplifies daily life for guests during the land portions of the journey. Also included is lunch aboard the McKinley Explorer panoramic cars , with glass domes that offer breathtaking views of the Alaskan landscape as you travel through the Alaskan interior by train.
The extras added to the plan also include the Music of Denali dinner show , a theater-style offering that combines gastronomy and entertainment, and lunch during the Tundra Wilderness Tour , one of the most popular activities in Denali focused on the area's wildlife and landscapes.
According to information provided by the cruise line, the retail price of this package can reach up to $829 , but it will be included at no additional cost for those who take advantage of the Have It All Early Bird Bonus. The company presents this move as a significant improvement within the cruise and package tour industry , highlighting its ownership of properties along much of the Alaskan itinerary.
For travelers from Spain and other European countries, this inclusion of meals can be particularly appealing, as it allows for a more accurate estimate of the total trip budget before departure and reduces variable expenses once at the destination. Furthermore, since it's linked to an early booking offer, it can encourage further planning.
$70 million investment in the renovation of Holland America Denali Lodge
Another key element of the planned improvements for 2027 is the extensive renovation of the Holland America Denali Lodge , considered one of the highlights of the Cruisetour experience. The company is undertaking an investment of approximately $70 million , which, as announced, will be completed before the start of the 2027 season.
The renovation project includes the construction of new guest room buildings , as well as the modernization of the main building. The latter will feature a contemporary restaurant and an enhanced coffee experience, aiming to offer more dining options and relaxation spaces tailored to different types of travelers.
In addition to the changes to accommodations and restaurants, the lodge will see improvements to its public spaces and trail signage . This aims to make it easier to find your way around the resort and its surroundings, which is especially important for those who want to spend time hiking in the area near the entrance to Denali National Park.
The cruise line emphasizes that these actions aim to reinforce the "premium" experience on land , aligning the lodge's service level with the standard on board its ships. The goal is for travelers to perceive a seamless transition between life on the cruise and their stay in the Alaskan wilderness, without significant changes in comfort or service quality.
For the European market, accustomed to valuing both the landscape and the quality of the facilities, the combination of rugged nature and renovated accommodations can be especially attractive, particularly on long trips where rest and comfort become increasingly important as the days go by.
Integrated transportation and experiences in the Alaskan interior
Cruisetours 2027 will continue to rely on a transportation network operated directly by Holland America Line , including trains, buses, and accommodations. This integration is one of the cornerstones of their Alaska offering, designed to provide a seamless itinerary from the moment passengers disembark the ship until they return to port.
All itineraries include the scenic journey on the McKinley Explorer train , equipped with glass-domed carriages that offer panoramic views of the landscape. On board, travelers can enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere than a simple train transfer, with meal service and an experience-focused approach.
Some tours also include the historic White Pass & Yukon Route railway from Skagway , a train closely linked to the region's mining past and the gold rush routes. Other itineraries offer direct service to Denali, combining boat and accommodation in a single day to minimize downtime.
The fact that the company owns most of the key elements of the journey— buses, train cars, and hotels —facilitates scheduling and coordination between different stages. This ensures seamless connections and prevents travelers from encountering last-minute changes that could complicate their itinerary.
For those traveling from Spain or the rest of Europe, where trip planning is usually longer and the cost of airfare is significant, this type of "all-connected" proposal can make all the difference when choosing a combined tour of Alaska versus other options with more supplier changes and less control over operations.
Ultimate Cruise and new companion figures
Looking beyond 2027, the company has also announced changes that will begin to be implemented in 2026 on its Ultimate Cruise itineraries . These tours aim to offer an even broader view of Alaska, combining extended inland stretches with glacier-focused cruises.
Each Ultimate Cruise will feature several days of land-based adventure , including a two-night stay at the Holland America Denali Lodge and visits to some of the state's most iconic locations, such as Alyeska, Seward, and Homer . These destinations are typically known for their mountain scenery, marine life, and outdoor activities.
The maritime portion of these itineraries will be based on a seven-night "Glacier Discovery" cruise , designed to dedicate more time to the ice fields and nature observation from the ship. This combination of days on land and at sea, with slightly longer stays, is aimed at travelers seeking sustained contact with the environment.
In addition, the cruise line has announced that each Ultimate Cruise will have a dedicated Trip Director , whose role will be to provide continuous information, coordinate logistics, and serve as a point of contact for guests throughout the voyage. This role aims to facilitate group management and resolve questions or issues more efficiently.
In practice, this commitment to a greater presence of specialized staff and longer itineraries may be interesting for European travelers who prefer organized tours , in which daily planning is more structured and there is a clear point of contact throughout the trip.
With a combination of new meal plans, investment in accommodations, exclusive routes to the Yukon, and its own transportation network , Holland America Line is strengthening its position in Alaska for 2027, creating an offering designed for those who want to go beyond the classic cruise and delve into the interior of the territory, with special appeal for the Spanish and European public looking for great nature trips with the logistics already taken care of.
