Holland America Line Asia cruises add three Japan ports

Published on Oct 15, 2025, 4:18 pm CDTUpdated on Oct 15, 2025, 4:34 pm CDT

6 min read

Holland America Line has opened bookings for its 2027 to 2028 Asia season on Noordam, introducing three new ports in Japan, Hitachinaka, Nagoya, and Maizuru, plus a new scenic cruising experience in Maizuru Bay. From September 2027 to April 2028, the ship will operate 15 itineraries of 13 to 15 days with overnight stays in Halong Bay, Seoul, Bangkok, Manila, Osaka, and Shanghai. Many departures sail from Tokyo, with additional options from Singapore, Hong Kong, and Seattle. Have It All guests receive free prepaid crew appreciation, and upgrades to the Elite Beverage Package and Premium Wi-Fi. Mariner Society members can secure up to $400 in onboard credit per stateroom if booked by January 12, 2026.

Key points

Why it matters: More Japan access and longer city stays elevate Holland America Asia cruises.
Travel impact: New ports and scenic Maizuru Bay give repeat travelers fresh reasons to return.
What's next: Early booking bonuses run through January 12, 2026, while top cabins go first.
Noordam's size allows calls at smaller ports, including Jeju and Boracay.
North Pacific crossings add Seattle to Tokyo and Tokyo to Vancouver options.

Snapshot

The 2027 to 2028 program centers on Noordam with 15 distinct itineraries across Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. Highlights include maiden calls at Hitachinaka for seaside parks, Nagoya for castle heritage, and Maizuru with new scenic cruising inside Maizuru Bay. Overnight calls deepen time in marquee cities, from neon nights in Shanghai to late stays in Osaka. Departures are concentrated in Tokyo, with additional sailings from Singapore and Hong Kong, plus a Seattle to Tokyo crossing in September 2027 and a spring 2028 return to North America. On board, Destination Dining and pop-ups, Taste of Tamarind and Morimoto by Sea, showcase regional flavors. For broader brand context, see recent coverage of Holland America's 2027 Alaska cruises mark 80 years and Holland America Koningstafel debuts at $149.

Background

Holland America Line continues to lean into destination immersion, pairing mid-size hardware with longer, country-dense itineraries. Noordam's scale supports calls at smaller ports while preserving sea-day pacing that Japan and Southeast Asia repeaters value. Adding Hitachinaka, Nagoya, and Maizuru expands geographic coverage beyond the usual Tokyo, Kobe, and Hakodate arc, and the new Maizuru Bay scenic cruising adds a nature-forward element without sacrificing port hours. Overnights in Halong Bay, Seoul, Bangkok, Manila, Osaka, and Shanghai match a broader cruise trend toward slower travel, longer stays, and night access to cultural districts. The commercial offer stacks early-booking incentives on top of the line's Have It All package, which now includes free prepaid crew appreciation and upgrades to Elite Beverage and Premium Wi-Fi for eligible bookings.

Latest developments

New Japan calls and Maizuru Bay scenic cruising

Noordam will introduce three Japan ports in 2027 to 2028, Hitachinaka for coastal parkland and seasonal blooms, Nagoya for castle-district heritage, and Maizuru with a new scenic cruise inside its bay. Several Japan-heavy options appear, including Circle Japan routes roundtrip Tokyo or Yokohama, Southern Japan featuring Nagoya and an Osaka overnight, and multi-country arcs touching South Korea and China. The program keeps late-night calls at Hiroshima, Osaka, and Hakodate on select departures to extend shore time. Scenic Maizuru Bay adds a landscape component that fits Holland America's focus on unhurried viewing and photography without tendering constraints.

Longer city time through six overnights

Overnight or near-overnight calls return in six destinations, Halong Bay, Seoul, Bangkok, Manila, Osaka, and Shanghai, widening access to evening markets, waterfront promenades, and night-time city views. The scheduling meets demand from travelers who want deeper cultural time without a post-port hotel stay. Regional one-way segments between Hong Kong and Singapore recur, while Japan-centric segments keep convenient roundtrips from Tokyo. For transpacific planners, a September 12, 2027 Seattle to Tokyo crossing and an April 23, 2028 Tokyo to Vancouver return bracket the season.

Offers for early bookers and package buyers

Guests booking with the Have It All premium package receive the standard inclusions of shore excursions, specialty dining, a beverage plan, and Wi-Fi, plus free prepaid crew appreciation and free upgrades to the Elite Beverage Package and Premium Wi-Fi for eligible 2027 to 2028 Asia sailings. Mariner Society loyalty members have an early booking bonus up to $400 in onboard credit per stateroom, combinable during the first 90 days after launch, with bookings due by January 12, 2026 for this offer. The structure encourages early commitment on peak Japan months, when balcony and suite inventory usually tightens first.

Analysis

Holland America Asia cruises in 2027 to 2028 show a deliberate push to widen Japan depth while preserving the line's mid-size, port-rich identity. The three new ports create variety for repeat visitors who have already circled Honshu and Kyushu, and Maizuru Bay scenic cruising adds a low-friction way to showcase coastal landscapes. Six overnights answer a common pain point in Asia, short port days that compress museum time, dining, and evening culture into a narrow window. Competitively, Princess and other mass-premium players hold scale advantages, yet Holland America's smaller ship footprint opens Jeju and Boracay while maintaining comfortable sea days and destination-forward dining. Commercially, stacking the Have It All enhancements with a defined Mariner Society window rewards early planners, a smart lever as 2027 Japan demand builds around school calendars and autumn foliage. The transpacific brackets also make sense, tying Seattle and Vancouver gateways to the Asia season while offering convenient repositioning voyages for North American flyers.

Final thoughts

For travelers weighing a Japan or Southeast Asia cruise in 2027 to 2028, this program's new ports, Maizuru Bay scenic cruising, and six overnights deliver both novelty and depth. If your priority is extended time ashore and mid-size ship access to smaller harbors, Noordam's plan fits the brief. Consider locking in balconies or suites early during the Mariner window, then layer on specialty dining and shore excursions once schedules open. With Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong embarkation choices, and a Seattle crossing in the mix, these Holland America Asia cruises offer flexible planning paths for a wide range of travelers.