HAL-Holland America Line will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Pan American World Airways with a 28-day cruise aboard Zuiderdam, combining aviation history-themed onboard programmes, special dining experiences and exclusive shore excursions. The Pan Am 100th Anniversary Legendary Voyage will depart roundtrip from Miami on October 30th, 2027, visiting destinations across the Caribbean and Central America associated with the airline’s historic routes.
The itinerary is designed to explore the legacy of Pan Am’s Clipper era, integrating aviation history with HAL's onboard services and destination-focused excursions. The programme will examine the airline’s influence on international travel through presentations by aviation historians and former industry professionals, themed culinary offerings and experiences inspired by its former airport lounges.
Paul Grigsby, HAL’s vice president of itinerary planning and deployment, explained that the voyage would combine elements of Pan Am’s history with HAL's established onboard experiences. He noted that the programme would reflect the role Pan Am played in shaping international travel, while connecting its heritage with the destinations visited during the cruise.
Onboard programmes explore Pan Am’s aviation legacy
The voyage will feature presentations by aviation specialists, historians and individuals with direct experience of Pan Am’s operations and passenger services.
Actor and storyteller Willie Aames will examine the airline’s development, highlighting the people and innovations behind its expansion into a global carrier, as well as the Pacific Clipper’s journey during the Second World War. Linda Freire, chair and co-founder of the Pan Am Museum Foundation, will draw on her experience as a flight attendant, recruiter, manager and aviation executive to discuss the airline’s workforce, corporate culture and contribution to international travel.
International speaker Steve Gray will explore Pan Am’s Flying Clippers, its pioneering South American routes and the development of its distinctive visual identity. David Hinson, vice chairman of the Pan Am Museum Foundation, will focus on the airline’s service standards, staff training and influence on modern aviation hospitality. Travel and hospitality industry executive David Kliman will share experiences from decades of flying with Pan Am, supported by his collection of airline memorabilia and perspective as a frequent passenger and aviation enthusiast.
The programme will also recreate aspects of the Clipper Club, Pan Am’s network of private airport lounges. These facilities provided passengers with dedicated spaces for dining, relaxation and socialising before and between flights. On board Zuiderdam, themed experiences will draw on the lounges’ hospitality and premium-service concept.
Special menus and cocktails inspired by the Clipper era
HAL will introduce a selection of dishes inspired by the cuisine associated with Pan Am’s period of prominence in international air travel. The menu will include cocktail de crevettes with jumbo shrimp, boiled egg, asparagus and Louis dressing; cream of tomato soup; broiled filet mignon Maître d’Hôtel with croquette potatoes and jardinière vegetables; eggplant cannelloni Parmigiano with asparagus risotto; sole en croûte filled with crabmeat; and Grand Marnier soufflé with crème anglaise.
A dedicated cocktail selection will complement the themed dining programme. The Pan Am Cocktail will combine light white rum, Campari, orgeat, lemon juice and egg white, finished with aromatic bitters. The Clipper Cocktail, inspired by drinks served aboard the airline’s flying boats, will feature Mount Gay Eclipse rum, Dolin Blanc and grenadine, garnished with a lemon twist.
Craig Carter, chief executive officer of Pan Am Global Holdings, said the anniversary voyage would reflect the airline’s early Flying Clipper operations and its role in the development of international travel. He added that the collaboration with Holland America Line would bring elements of that period into the onboard experience.
Exclusive shore excursions linked to Pan Am’s historic routes
The cruise will include specially developed excursions connecting destinations visited by Zuiderdam with Pan Am’s aviation history, while also exploring their cultural and historical attractions.
In Cartagena, Colombia, the Pan Am’s Golden Age: Cartagena’s Jet Set excursion will feature tours in classic roadsters, local food experiences and an introduction to the city’s reputation as a centre for emerald trading during the airline’s golden age.
In Colón, Panama, passengers will be able to visit the Agua Clara Locks and travel on the Panama Canal Railway. The excursion will examine the transport infrastructure that helped establish connections across the region and supported the development of international travel.
In St. John’s, Antigua, a tour of Shirley Heights will follow in the footsteps of Pan Am navigators, with views across the harbour offering a perspective on the geography used in early aviation navigation.
In Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the Pan Am’s Caribbean: Wings of Trinidad excursion will explore the airline’s role in Caribbean aviation. The tour will include Chaguaramas, the former Pan Am flying boat base where the Clippers once landed, and the Chaguaramas Military History and Aerospace Museum, linking the airline’s regional operations with the wider history of aviation in the Caribbean.
Through the combination of historical presentations, themed dining and destination-specific excursions, the 28-day voyage will incorporate Pan Am’s aviation heritage into Holland America Line’s Caribbean and Central American itinerary.