Holland America Line and A+E’s The HISTORY Channel have teamed up for a first-of-its-kind collaboration that will allow guests to experience a destination’s history more deeply. The Holland America and History Channel partnership elevates cruises with curated custom itineraries and shore excursions which will transport guests to ancient ruins and legendary landmarks, all while revealing the stories of the civilizations that shaped them.
“With us, history isn’t just told, it is experienced,” said Kacy Cole, chief marketing officer for Holland America Line. “As two iconic brands rooted in storytelling, we are uniquely positioned to bring history to life through custom itineraries and shore excursions. This partnership further differentiates our brand and allows us to deliver to our guests experiences that are too good to hurry through.”
Several cruises will be curated in partnership with The HISTORY Channel. These worldwide itineraries are rich in destinations that have played a part in historical moments or have a deep-rooted history.
Themed departures will include the eastern Mediterranean with a focus on ancient empires; northern Europe and its Viking heritage; Arctic encounters and the region’s history of polar exploration; and more.
Holland America Line offers thousands of shore excursions around the world, many of which focus on the history and culture of the destination. Guests are able to not only learn about history, but to experience it through these thoughtfully designed tours. Through the partnership with The HISTORY Channel, guests can enjoy dozens of shore excursions such as Giza Pyramids, Sphinx & the Pyramid of Sakkara; Insider’s Pompeii & Naples Archeological Museum; Kings & Vikings: The Viking Ship Museum & Roskilde Cathedral or Stavanger Old & New. Guests on these tours will take a deep dive into the location’s historical significance, visiting important sites that played a role in the background of the locale.
Here are some of the exciting regions to explore on these immersive itineraries and shore excursions.
Sail the Mediterranean to the lands that the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians called home. Stroll through the timeless ruins of Olympia in Greece, discover Pompeii’s miraculously preserved frescos in Italy, and marvel at the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, Turkey.
Among the options to delve deeper into history are a chance to see where the Colossus of Rhodes once spanned the harbour and explore the Temple of Athena Lindia. Explore the island of Delos with an archeologist and see how the Greek ruins looked thousands of years ago or visit the sacred and monumental wonders of Ephesus, where religion, mythology, and architecture converge. Step into the past on a guided journey through Pompeii, the world’s most preserved ancient Roman town or delve into the oldest underground temple and necropolis ever discovered at the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum in Malta.
Cross into the Arctic Circle, discover the region’s history of polar exploration, and experience majestic fjords. Retrace the route of Vikings through breathtaking landscapes, rich traditions, and timeless tales.
See where Viking King Harald Haarfagre founded the Kingdom of Norway and ponder the mystery of the Doomstones or traverse the Troll Path and gaze down on the ancient road built in 1028 by Viking King Olav.
Explore Tromsø, Norway, the starting point for many Arctic expeditions and considered the Gateway to the Arctic, and step back in time in the picturesque village of Seyðisfjörður, Iceland where Viking settlements once thrived.
From Alaska to the Amazon, discover awe-inspiring wild landscapes, history-revealing artifacts, and beautiful cultural traditions. Experience the places and pivotal moments that shaped United States history from the Klondike Gold Rush to Pearl Harbor.
Relive Juneau, Alaska’s mining heritage and pan for gold outside what was once the world’s largest gold-producing mill or follow the original route to the Klondike gold fields aboard a vintage train.
Delve into Curaçao’s historical significance as a hub of Leeward Island expansion and trade, or explore World War II history at Pearl Harbor and step aboard the living museum of the USS Missouri battleship.
Voyage through time from the Bronze Age to the Medieval Period as you explore Celtic history and the trade routes of The Hanseatic League. From mythical Stone Henge to Stockholm’s Royal Palace, visit storied destinations too good to hurry through.
Visit the remains of five Viking longboats and Roskilde Cathedral, Scandinavia’s earliest brick Gothic cathedral and uncover the intersection of Viking ingenuity and Hanseatic trade routes at the Fyrkat Ring Fortress in Denmark.
Marvel at Scotland’s gorgeous coastal vistas, visit Dunluce Castle, and walk the mythology-seeped Giant’s Causeway, or experience the air of mystery surrounding the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge and learn its 5,000-year history.
