San Diego (California USA) has been a West Coast homeport for HAL-Holland America since the 1990s. Season 2023-2024 is highlighted by two solar eclipse voyages (on the ships ms Koningsdam and ms Zaandam) to Mexico for total viewing during the April 8th, 2024, eclipse.
A special departure in December 2023 explores Sea of Cortez ports.
Now open for booking, passengers can set out to explore the Pacific Coast, Mexico, Hawaii, and Panama Canal on 6 ships across 39 departures. Cruises are roundtrip from San Diego CA or begin/end in the California port.
MS Zaandam's 14-day Solar Eclipse Cruise sets sail on March 30th, 2024, and is positioned for a total view of the solar eclipse over Mexico. Roundtrip from San Diego CA, the ship is at Mazatlan on April 8th.
MS Koningsdam's 22-day Solar Eclipse Cruise is positioned along the coast of Mexico for a total view prior to crossing the Pacific to Hawaii. The San Diego-Vancouver BC Canada itinerary departs on April 5th and heads south to Cabo San Lucas prior to spending the day at sea on April 8th for the total eclipse. MS Koningsdam then makes her way to Puerto Vallarta and then crosses over to Hawaii.
MS Volendam's 12-day "Historic Baja & Sea of Cortez" voyage departs on December 10th, 2023, and explores Baha Peninsula on a roundtrip from San Diego CA to Mexico that features La Paz, Loreto, and Puerto Vallarta. The trip follows in the footsteps of ports visited by John Steinbeck and biologist Ed Ricketts back in 1951 when they collected marine specimens on the expedition that resulted in 2 books about their experiences.
Highlights of the 2023-2024 Mexico Cruise Season include:
- all Mexico sailings are roundtrip from San Diego CA.
- 3 ships offer Mexico itineraries: ms Koningsdam, ms Volendam, and ms Zaandam.
- all 7-day "Mexican Riviera" voyages feature calls at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas.
- all 10-, 11- and 12-day itineraries include the ports on the 7-day voyage, plus a combination of Guaymas, Loreto, Manzanillo, La Paz (Pichilingue), Santa Rosalia, Topolobampo, Zihuatanejo.
- a 5-day trip calls at Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas.
Highlights of the 2023-2024 Hawaii Cruise Season include:
- cruises to Hawaii are all onboard ms Koningsdam and ms Volendam.
- the itineraries are roundtrip from San Diego CA/Vancouver BC, or between Vancouver-San Diego.
- "Circle Hawaii" voyages range between 16-18 days:
17-day roundtrip from Vancouver BC with calls at Lahaina, Hilo, Honolulu, Kailua-Kona, and Nawiliwili, Hawaii. The 17-day roundtrip from San Diego CA also includes Ensenada.
16-day with calls at Lahaina, Hilo, Honolulu, Kona, and Ensenada.
18-day with calls at Lahaina, Hilo, Honolulu (overnight), Nawiliwili, Kona, and Ensenada.
Highlights of the 2023-2024 Pacific Northwest & Coast Cruise Season include:
- 6 cruise ships sail along the US' West Coast: ms Eurodam, ms Koningsdam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Noordam, ms Volendam, and ms Zaandam.
- Itineraries are roundtrip from San Diego CA, roundtrip from Vancouver BC, or between Vancouver-San Diego.
- 2 one-day "Pacific Northwest" getaways are offered in October 2023 & May 2024 between Vancouver-Seattle aboard ms Eurodam.
- "Pacific Coast" itineraries are 4- and 5-day. The 4-day offers a call at Avalon (Santa Catalina Island CA), Astoria Oregon, or 3 days at sea. The 5-day visits are a combination of Monterey CA, Santa Barbara, San Francisco CA, and Victoria BC Canada.
- "Classic California Coast"/"Wine Country and Pacific Northwest" are 6- or 7-day. Ports of call include a combination of Ensenada, Monterey, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and Victoria BC.
- a special 5-day itinerary roundtrip from Vancouver BC on April 30th calls at Ketchikan AK and Prince Rupert, BC Canada.
Highlights of the 2023-2024 Panama Canal Cruise Season include:
- 4 ships transit the Panama Canal: ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Volendam, and ms Zaandam.
- voyages sail between Vancouver BC/Seattle WA/San Diego CA and Fort Lauderdale FL.
- Transits range between 14-22 days and visit Aruba, California, Canada, Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Turks and Caicos.
- most Panama Canal sailings include a call at Half Moon Cay, HAL's private island in the Bahamas.
- passengers enjoy a daylight transit of the canal, with commentary on the open decks.