Key Aspects:
- Holland America Line has unveiled the “Pan Am 100th Anniversary Legendary Voyage,” featuring an itinerary inspired by Pan Am’s Great Circle Route of decades past.
- The 28-day cruise will sail roundtrip from PortMiami on October 30, 2027, calling at 18 destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.
- Pan Am’s “flying boats” pioneered the concept of island-hopping across the Caribbean in the mid-20th century, which cruise ships now do.
Airline enthusiasts know all about Pan Am’s Clipper ships — aircraft that came to prominence nearly a century ago with their ability to land on water. Now, Holland America Line is set to re-create that golden age of travel in a new way.
The cruise line has designed a 28-day voyage inspired by popular routes operated by Pan Am’s so-called “flying boats,” featuring 18 popular cruise port destinations across the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.
The sailing aboard Zuiderdam will operate roundtrip from PortMiami on October 30, 2027, and is modeled on Pan Am’s former Great Circle Route.
The 1,964-guest ship will call at Nassau and Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; while Caribbean ports will include those in the Dominican Republic; Puerto Rico; USVI; Antigua and Barbuda; Saint Lucia; and Trinidad and Tobago, among others.
In Colombia, the ship will visit Santa Marta and Cartagena, along with Colon, Panama, and Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. Belize City and Cozumel round out the port calls before the ship returns to Florida.
“Pan Am and Holland America Line both helped pioneer modern travel—Pan Am in the skies and Holland America Line at sea,” said Paul Grigsby, vice president of itinerary planning and deployment for Holland America Line. “This collaboration is a tribute to the golden age of travel and humanity’s enduring drive to explore.”
Pan Am, officially known as Pan American World Airways, was founded in 1927 and reached its heyday in the 1960s. It ceased operations in 1991 but is in the process of being resurrected as a scheduled air carrier by brand owner Pan American Global Holdings.
Read Also: Eastern vs. Western Caribbean Cruise: Which Will I Prefer?
Holland America’s 2027 cruise, the “Pan Am 100th Anniversary Legendary Voyage,” will visit nine destinations that were originally part of the airline’s Great Circle Route. These include Nassau; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; St. John’s, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia; Port of Spain, Trinidad; Colon, Panama; Progreso, Mexico; and Miami.
Great Circle Route Cruise Itinerary (Image Credit: Holland America Line)
At its peak, Pan Am’s clipper ships pioneered travel across the Caribbean in the 1950s and 1960s, with the ability to land in sheltered harbors since many islands did not yet have airports. Typically, guests stayed in island hotels overnight before going on to the next island on the plane’s itinerary.
Special Cruise Is a Nod to 250th Anniversary of US
The partnership between the cruise line and Pan Am is one element of Holland America’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the US. Other highlights include a special voyage from Boston on July 4, 2026.
“As a cruise line with more than 150 years of history sailing, we have a deep appreciation for brands that helped shape the American story,” said Kacy Cole, chief marketing officer for Holland America Line.
Holland America is itself a brand that helped to shape the American story. In October 2022 the cruise line celebrated its 150th anniversary by recreating a transatlantic crossing between Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and New York.
The 12-night cruise aboard Rotterdam VII retraced the route of the line’s 1827 crossing, with calls in France and England.
Themed cruises are abundant across the industry. Many offer celebrations of music and culture, plus special events such as eclipses. Indeed, many cruise lines position their ships for ideal viewings of eclipses.
Princess Cruises, for instance, invites cruisers to join Sky Princess in Europe for the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. The ship will be positioned off the coast of northern Spain in the path of totality for the 2-minute, 18-second eclipse.
Meanwhile, MSC Cruises will mark the arrival of MSC Seascape in Galveston, Texas, in November 2025 with special onboard activities tied to Texas music, culture, and traditions. The ship, which will homeport seasonally in Texas, will feature a house band offering country music, line dancing events, and a Texas-themed sailaway party.
Appeared first on: Cruisehive.com
