Holland America Line: Why Early Bookings Lead to Big Rewards

Special offers bring a myriad of benefits, too. When you book early for 2025 with HAL, you are on track for taking advantage of special packages that elevate your cruise experience, both on and off the ship. The perks can include free suite upgrades, special in-suite amenities, credits for the specialty restaurants and discounted beverage packages, even shore excursion credits – little fringe benefits that can disappear for those who book closer to departure day.

Booking early, of course, brings better availability and choice. Popular routes sell out quickly, so planning ahead can get you what you want – especially true during peak sailing seasons. You are able to choose your precise location of cabin, its size, the associated amenities and the view – particularly helpful when sailing to Alaska.

Timing plays a part here, too. Early HAL booking gets you to the destinations you want at precisely the right time of year, so you can enjoy the best weather, witness the wildlife at its most prevalent, get in on cultural or seasonal events and festivities, or perhaps even plan your vacation around a sporting event, before or after the cruise.

The peace of mind? Well, it’s hard to put a price on how good that feels. Once you are all set in the HAL booking system, you can just relax and let the cruise roll out as planned. You also have the time to fine-tune your trip, researching the destinations in advance, carefully deciding on shore excursions and – as mentioned – polishing up those pre- and post-trip plans.

Regional highlights of HAL itineraries

With HAL, you are spoiled for choice, but they wouldn’t have it any other way. Cruises through Eastern Canada and New England are hazy, lazy times spent connecting with the seaside towns and the people who live there. Take an afternoon to help a lobsterman pull in his traps or engage in historic walking tours. The pastoral ports can be mesmerizing and the scenery – particularly in the autumn – beyond beautiful. HAL routes give you the best of Maine, Quebec and Atlantic Canada in as few as seven days, while a month-long sailing lets you linger longer, sailing to Canada, New England, Greenland and Iceland.

An Alaska cruise with HAL delivers the sights and sites of the fabled Last Frontier, combining gold mining history with indigenous heritage. Charming coastal towns are surrounded by incredible natural beauty, magnificent wildlife, majestic glaciers and the fecundity of thousands of acres of forest.

Europe, too, should definitely be on your list at some point, regardless of the season. From the famous fjords of Norway to the azure waters of the Mediterranean , HAL’s European itineraries reveal the best the Continent has to offer, including must-see landmarks and more than 100 UNESCO World Heritage sites. On a 2025 cruise with HAL, you immerse yourself in the plethora of European cultures and see each region like a local – royal palaces, famous bridges, archaeological wonders and all.

It's definitely time to seize the day.

The Tully Travel Designers are ready to book you now with Holland America Line. The countless benefits of reserving early can deliver the world at your feet, with the added value that only a true professional can actualize. Truthfully, this could be one of your best ideas yet.