Fewer Crowds, Cooler Temperatures: Holland America To Sail Late-season Europe Cruises

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• Holland America Line is extending its European cruises into early December 2026.
• Four new sailings have been added, including Mediterranean and Norway itineraries.
• The extended season offers opportunities to experience the Northern Lights and less-crowded Mediterranean destinations.
• The new cruises depart round-trip from Rotterdam, Netherlands, aboard the Nieuw Statendam.

Holland America Line is extending its stay in Europe in 2026. 

The cruise line will sail in and around the continent six weeks longer than planned, into early December. Major cruise lines often reposition ships to the Caribbean from around November until March. The longer season marks the latest Holland America has stayed in Europe in seven years. 

As part of the extension, the cruise line will offer four additional sailings to the Mediterranean and Norway, round-trip from Rotterdam in the Netherlands. “By extending our Europe season, we’re providing our guests further chances to explore the region with us,” Paul Grigsby, the line’s vice president of deployment and revenue planning, told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. 

“The voyages we built in were designed specifically to take advantage of the later timeframe we’ll be sailing: for example, the Mediterranean in November will be temperate, and fewer crowds will enable guests to connect in a different way than in the popular summer months. And for those hunting the Northern Lights, the later months mean fewer hours of daylight – and more chances to see the aurora.”

The season will run from April through December. 

The new cruises, all aboard the line’s nearly 2,700-guest Nieuw Statendam, include an additional departure of the line’s 14-Day Arctic Journey and Northern Lights with History Channel cruise. The cruise – curated in partnership with the TV network – will depart on Nov. 7, 2026. 

Guests will explore Norway, crossing the Arctic Circle in the process, and stay the night in Alta, known as the city of Northern Lights, with a stop in Lerwick, Scotland, on the way back. Passengers can also opt into wake-up calls in the event of an aurora borealis sighting.

The 14-Day Mediterranean and Atlantic Treasures: Lisbon Overnight itinerary will depart Nov. 21. The cruise gives guests extra time in the Portuguese capital, along with stops in Cadiz and Malaga in Spain and Gibraltar, among others.

Holland America also added a 7-Day Norway with Nordfjord voyage and a 15-Day Cultural Crossing with England and Normandy.

Starting prices for the cruises currently range from $749 to $2,429 per person based on double occupancy, including taxes and fees. Holland America Line fares include accommodations, many meals on board, entertainment and more.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.