In late August 2026, Holland America Line announced the opening of bookings for the Alaska 2028 season. The company offers six ships and itineraries ranging from seven to 18 days, including new options from San Diego and a rare sailing through Nootka Sound.
Alaska has long been synonymous with cruise tourism, where glaciers, whales, and bears attract millions of guests annually. However, the growth in demand for short cruises has led to overcrowding in popular ports and the risk of losing the very wild atmosphere that draws people north. Holland America, positioning itself as a leader in wildlife viewing, is betting on longer and less standard itineraries in 2028.
Among the new offerings is the 11-day cruise "California to Alaska: Shores, Fjords & Glaciers" aboard the Zaandam from San Diego to Vancouver, with calls at Glacier Bay and rare stops. On select sailings, scenic cruising through Nootka Sound in British Columbia will be featured, as well as expanded Great Bear Rainforest and Great Alaska Explorer programs with visits to Kodiak, Homer, and Anchorage. Oosterdam, after refurbishment, will debut in Alaska in a refreshed state.
These changes reflect a broader trend: cruise lines are forced to balance between the growing number of passengers and the need to preserve the region's authenticity. Longer cruises allow for a deeper immersion into the landscape, rather than being limited to the standard seven days of the Inside Passage. At the same time, the company offers the Have It All Early Booking Bonus with credits for shore excursions and Wi-Fi, encouraging early reservations.
For travelers, this is a chance to see Alaska not only from the deck but also through the lens of lesser-known bays and forests. Amid climate change and pressure on ecosystems, choosing rare itineraries becomes not just a marketing move but a way to rethink the very format of the cruise.
Bookings for 2028 are already open, and early bookings traditionally sell out first.
