Holland America Line’s Pole-to-Pole Grand Voyage 2025
The Arctic and Antarctic are on opposite sides of the earth – but did you know you can visit them both in one cruise? And on that same cruise also visit the Amazon River, a bit of Africa, the Caribbean, transit the Panama Canal and a whole bunch of other incredible places in between? That’s just what you will get with Holland America Line’s Pole to Pole Grand Voyage in 2025. A 133 night adventure of a life time roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale. Let’s take a look at what makes Holland America Line’s Pole to Pole Grand Voyage in 2025 special.
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Pole-to-Pole Voyages
Pole-to-Pole Voyages are gaining popularity. As the World Cruise market is continuing to grow in popularity with more cruise lines adding voyages and multiple cruise lines even offering two World Cruises per year, it can be tough to differentiate the itinerary offerings to be something that gets these guests (that often do these types of cruises every year) excited.
There are two “Pole-to-Pole” voyages that will happen before the Holland America Line Grand Pole-to-Pole voyage in 2025. The Hurtigruten Pole-to-Pole Voyage sailed in the summer of 2023 (94 nights) and the Silversea Pole-to-Pole voyage in 2024 (125 nights). While both of these voyages are sure to be incredible – they are at a much different price point than Holland America Line’s offering – coming in at $51,069 per person and $113,000 respectively whereas Holland America Line’s will start at $26,399. Additionally, and this is a big one, neither of these other Pole-to-Pole voyages are roundtrip from a US homeport. Instead these voyages would involve long flights to both start and end your voyage.
Holland America Line offers a variety of Grand Voyages each year. Take a look at the current Holland America Line Grand Voyage offerings as well as some of what makes a Grand Voyage special.
How Long is the 2025 Pole to Pole Grand Voyage?
This voyage is 133 days making it the longest of Holland America Lines 2025 sailings. It sails roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 25th, 2025 and will return on June 7th.
Is the Pole to Pole Grand Voyage Offered in Segments?
Long voyages of multiple months such as World Cruises or Grand Voyages are sometimes offered as segments, or portions of the voyage. The Pole to Pole voyage with Holland America Line is not currently being sold in segments. Sometimes over time this will change – if the voyage is undersold they might release cabins to be available for segments. However, due to the one-of-a-kind nature of this voyage and it’s current sales so far it does not seem likely.
Where Will Holland America Line’s Pole-to-Pole Grand Voyage in 2025 Go?
While the name of this itinerary gives you a good guess as to where it’s going, there is so much more than meets the eye. The big draw of this voyage is that it will in fact go from pole to pole and is roundtrip from the continental United States. This is meaning the South Pole and the North Pole circumnavigating South America, going to Antarctica all the way to heading to the furthest points north in Norway and beyond into the Arctic circle – the North Pole. While the “Pole-to-Pole” part might be the name of this itinerary, there are so many incredible places along the way.
This voyage will start in Fort Lauderdale, Florida before transiting the Panama Canal, heading south along the west of South America, including overnight stops Fuerte Amador, Panama and Lima, Peru, cruising the Chilean Fjords before cruising through Antarctica. Continuing north along the west side of South America with overnight stops in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil before cruising on the Amazon River with an overnight stop in Manaus, Brazil.
Following more stops in South America and a stop at Devil’s Island, the ship will begin crossing the Atlantic ocean to make its way to Africa. A nice mix of ports along the north west of Africa await you before heading into the Mediterranean and starting the European portion of this journey with an overnight in Barcelona, as well as stops in Portugal (including an overnight in Lisbon), France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Continuing north, it’s time to head to Norway. Norwegian adventure continues all the way north into the Arctic circle to Honningsvag, Norway. Sailing in Norway is an experience that is as much about the places you visit as it is about the landscapes and fjords you will sail through and by. It is gorgeous.
After cruising through northern Norway the ship will cross the north Atlantic to Iceland including an overnight stop in Reykjavik, several stops in Greenland, before continuing west and south to Canada, New England, and then finally sailing down the coast of the United States, returning 133 days later to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
How Many Overnight Ports Are There on Holland America Line’s Pole-to-Pole Grand Voyage?
One of the great things about a Grand Voyage is that there is more time to explore in port. A great way that these longer voyages does that is through overnights.
An overnight is when the ship gets to a port and stays there as the name says, overnight. Sometimes it might be that the ship gets to port early in the morning and doesn’t leave until evening the next day. Sometimes it might be an afternoon arrival, other times it might a full day the first day and the second day it has a lunch time departure. The big point is that the ship is there overnight allowing guests an opportunity to enjoy and explore the city at night. It could be to enjoy the nightlife, or maybe it’s for a private showing in a museum, or maybe having a late dinner. It gets you a chance to see a side of the city you might not see normally.
There are 8 Overnight Ports On the Pole-to-Pole Grand Voyage:
- Fuerte Amador, Panama
- Callao (Lima), Peru
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
- Manaus, Brazil
- Barcelona, Spain
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Reykjavik, Iceland
How Much Does the Holland America Line’s Pole-to-Pole Cruise Cost?
Holland America Line’s 2025 Pole-to-Pole Grand Voyage costs $26,399 per person, double occupancy – not including port fees (up to $3230). And, while this is still a big price tag, it is half of the next cruise option offering an even somewhat comparable itinerary. And, additionally – it’s for a 133 night cruise. In just over four months this voyage will visit 68 ports in 28 countries.
There is a big range in prices though depending on cabin category. $26,399 will get you on the ship in the lowest currently available cabin – a “guaranteed” inside stateroom, meaning that your cabin will be designated for you by the cruise line. On the top end there is the Pinnacle Suite – let’s call it the Penthouse – starting at $218,899 per person.
In between this inside cabin and Pinnacle Suite options there are numerous other cabin categories, including outside, lanai, Vista Suites (verandah), and Neptune Suites.
What’s Included on a Holland America Line Grand Voyage?
One of the fun things about a Grand Voyage is all of the “extras”. Those extras include several pillow gifts throughout the voyage (ranging from external chargers, customized plates and wall hangings, to small duffle bags, custom bowls, and luggage tags), there are also grand themed parties, specialty dinners, cultural ambassadors, and more.
Some fares with also include practical things like luggage shipping. This means that before you leave home your luggage is sent to the ship and when you leave the ship rather than bringing your luggage to the airport with you, it will be shipped through a service such as Fed Ex.
In the base fare there will dinner in the main dining room, buffet area, basic teas, coffees, and things like iced tea and lemonade. Grand Voyages will also include an afternoon tea service on days at sea and will often include a Sunday brunch when the ship is at sea. There are also production style shows in the main show lounge, as well as live music, games, and activities. Some of these activities are expanded from the traditional offerings on a Holland America Line cruise and may include things such as book club or choir.
On Grand Voyages it is not uncommon to expand the activities to include additional activities provided by what is known as “supplemental staff”. These are people that come onboard for the Grand Voyage, do not work for the cruise line but do offer a specific or event or activity. This includes things like bridge instructors, arts & craft instructors, knitting clubs, a priest, and sometimes things like watercolors, dance instructors, or Tai Chi. It depends which Grand Voyage is sailing exactly which extra activities are offered but rest assured there will be plenty to do.
In addition, an effort is made to bring on local shows for the regions that the ship sails. This brings a more full cultural experience right onboard the ship with you.
Is a Grand Voyage a bit too long for you? Take a look at Cruises to the Amazon River – ranging from a few weeks to a few months.
What Ship is Holland America Line’s Pole-to-Pole Grand Voyage in 2025 On?
This Grand Voyage will take place on the charming Volendam. The Volendam is one of the smallest ships in the Holland America Line fleet, being one of two ships left in their R-Class series. This ship is known for its wide promenade decks, smaller size, and with that – less passengers and an ability to make it into some smaller ports.
The Volendam was built in 1999 in Fincantieri in Italy. It is 60,906 gross registered tons and holds around 1,400 guests at double occupancy but can hold well into the 1,500’s when all third and fourth berths are used (or even over 1,600).
She has a variety of public rooms, such as the World Stage (the main show lounge), bars and lounges featuring live music. There is also a movie theater, card room and library as well as a casino. There are a number of shops from your classic apparel to fine jewelry and liquor. Additionally there is a spa and fitness center, two pools including one underneath a retractable dome and a kids club. Please note though that during Grand Voyages the kids club is not typically open as there are not usually many kids onboard.
Holland America Line’s Pole-to-Pole Grand Voyage in 2025 is a One of a Kind Itinerary – And Holland America Line’s Longest Itinerary in 2025
Holland America Line offers a yearly World Cruise. This Grand World Voyage begins and ends in Fort Lauderdale circumnavigating the globe in the process. Interestingly though, this pole-to-pole itinerary is actually longer than their Grand World Voyage which will only be 128 days.
This itinerary is a one of a kind gem amongst the ultra-long voyages offered really giving a new and interesting glimpse to the world. Holland America Line offers a variety of Grand Voyages – including South America and Antarctica, Africa, Australia, occasionally a Grand Asia and Australia, but this is the first of the Pole-to-Pole variety.
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