Holland America Line marks 80 years in Alaska with new heritage tour collection - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

Holland America Line is preparing to celebrate eight decades of cruising in Alaska with the introduction of Alaska Heritage Tours, a collection of excursions inspired by experiences that have shaped the company's presence in the region since the 1940s. The programme will be available on selected Alaska cruises and combined land-and-sea itineraries during the 2027 season.

The collection brings together more than 35 tours highlighting Alaska's historic railways, national parks, glaciers, wildlife and local communities. Some of the experiences trace their origins to the earliest years of Holland America Line's operations in the region. Although the excursions have evolved to meet contemporary expectations, their historical and geographical connections remain central to the programme.

The anniversary initiative also reflects the cruise line's established approach to Alaska tourism, combining voyages along the coast with opportunities to explore the state's interior. Travellers can choose from scenic railway journeys, glacier excursions, wildlife observation and visits to destinations associated with Alaska's transportation history and the Klondike Gold Rush.

Historic railways and wilderness experiences

Rail travel plays a prominent role in the Alaska Heritage Tours collection. The McKinley Explorer takes passengers through Alaska's interior aboard panoramic railway carriages with glass-domed roofs, offering views of mountains and wilderness landscapes along the route.

Another featured excursion is the White Pass Summit Scenic Railroad, which follows the historic railway route through the mountains above Skagway. Built during the Klondike Gold Rush era, the line remains one of the region's best-known historical attractions.

Natural landmarks are equally important to the anniversary programme. The Mendenhall Glacier Explorer introduces visitors to the glacier near Juneau, while cruises through Kenai Fjords National Park provide opportunities to observe tidewater glaciers and marine wildlife, including whales and sea otters.

The Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour takes visitors into Denali National Park, where the landscape combines extensive tundra, mountain scenery and opportunities to encounter Alaska's characteristic wildlife.

Carole Biencourt, vice president of onboard revenue at Holland America Line, says the enduring appeal of these experiences reflects the destination's distinctive character.

"One of the most remarkable things about Alaska is that many of the experiences travelers seek out today are the very same ones that first inspired visitors decades ago."

Heritage tours integrated into cruise itineraries

The new collection is available across several types of Alaska itineraries, allowing travellers to combine coastal cruising with inland exploration.

Holland America Line's Alaska Cruisetours offer particularly extensive access to the programme. All include a journey aboard the McKinley Explorer and either the Denali Natural History Tour or the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour. Selected itineraries also offer additional heritage experiences in Seward or Fairbanks.

Yukon Cruisetours combine the McKinley Explorer with the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, bringing together two historic railway experiences within one journey.

Passengers travelling on Alaska Explorer and Inside Passage cruises can explore Mendenhall Glacier during calls at Juneau. The 28-day Legendary Alaska Arctic Circle itinerary offers further excursion opportunities through port visits including Haines, Valdez and Anchorage.

Glacier Discovery cruises beginning or ending in Whittier provide access to excursions in Southcentral Alaska, extending the range of experiences beyond the better-known ports of Southeast Alaska.

Eight decades of destination development

The heritage collection forms part of Holland America Line's wider Alaska programme, which currently includes more than 200 shore excursions. Activities range from whale watching and bear observation to glacier exploration, cultural encounters and wilderness adventures.

The company also incorporates destination-specific information into its voyages through presentations by onboard specialists, National Park Service rangers and local and Indigenous contributors. These programmes introduce passengers to Alaska's natural environment, history and cultural traditions.

Glacier viewing remains a defining feature of the cruise experience, with destinations including Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier, Tracy Arm and College Fjord. Regional cuisine also forms part of the offering, with seafood dishes and other specialities inspired by Alaska.

For the travel trade, the anniversary programme provides an additional way to position Alaska cruises beyond the traditional combination of scenic sailing and wildlife observation. The historical connections between individual excursions and the development of tourism in the region offer opportunities to appeal to travellers interested in railway heritage, cultural history and more extensive destination experiences.

The Alaska Heritage Tours collection is already available for booking on selected cruises and Cruisetours departing in 2027.

Image Credit: © AI generated illustration using material courtesy of Holland America Lines