• Experiential Travel Focus: The new tours prioritize hands-on activities like cooking, crafting, and direct dialogue with residents over passive sightseeing.
• Support for Local Economies: The “Community Connections” tours are designed to give back by utilizing local businesses and supporting cultural preservation.
• Global Reach: These 150 experiences are distributed across a wide variety of international ports, including locations in Europe, Australia, and the South Pacific.
• Artisan Engagement: The “Meet the Maker” series grants rare access to private workshops and kitchens to learn time-honored techniques from specialists.

Holland America Line has introduced more than 150 new shore excursions through two curated collections: “Meet the Maker” and “Community Connections.” These programs are designed to provide travelers with deep, authentic engagement by moving beyond standard sightseeing. According to Carole Biencourt, vice president of onboard revenue, the initiative responds to a growing guest desire for meaningful interactions with the people and traditions that define a destination.

The “Meet the Maker” collection focuses on direct relationships with local artisans, chefs, and producers. Examples include visiting family-owned estates like the Magna Grecia Farm in Greece, where guests can participate in olive oil and wine tastings while engaging with the owners. Other tours, such as the “Tassie Tasting Trail” in Tasmania, allow participants to meet producers of handcrafted chocolate and sustainable salmon. These experiences emphasize the personal stories behind regional flavors and crafts, fostering a unique connection between the traveler and the local heritage.

Complementing this is the “Community Connections” series, which prioritizes social impact and cultural immersion. These tours are built on real relationships, such as cooking a traditional Irish lunch in a private home in Cobh or participating in a Maori Waka canoe experience in New Zealand. This collection is specifically aligned with Holland America Line’s sustainability mission by supporting local businesses and cultural stewards directly. By integrating these new tours with existing partnerships from National Geographic and The HISTORY Channel, the cruise line aims to offer a comprehensive portfolio of immersive travel experiences across its global itineraries.

Cruises Available for Booking  

Community Connections and Meet the Makers tours are featured across a wide range of ports on numerous Holland America Line cruises. For a limited time, guests booking with Have It All can choose from select itineraries with a $25 deposit and a free balcony upgrade — including: 

·       7-Day Norwegian Fjords with Scotland, departing May 3, 2026, on Rotterdam, starting at $236 per person per day 

·       34-Day Legendary South Pacific Crossing: Seattle to Sydney, departing Oct. 11, 2026, on Noordam, starting at $134 per person per day 

·       11-Day Mediterranean Splendor: Greece, Italy & Provence, departing Oct. 24, 2026, on Oosterdam, starting at $252 per person per day  

·       14-Day Wild British Isles: Belfast Evening Stay, departing July 11, 2026, on Nieuw Statendam, starting at $208 per person per day  

·       14-Day South Australia Discovery Holiday, departing Dec. 20, 2026, on Noordam, starting at $167 per person per day 

For more information about Holland America Line’s shore excursions or to book a cruise, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.