Holland America Line is planning new single-person balcony cabins and redesigned suites starting in Oosterdam in 2027.
Travelers enjoy traveling alone with strangers
Solo travel with strangers is gaining in popularity as travelers seek freedom, reflection, and authentic experiences.
Holland America Line customers will soon have new options when sailing solo.
Holland America Line is expanding its inventory of single-occupancy cabins as part of a $500 million-plus six-ship expansion. The multi-year ship-by-ship renovation process will begin in Oosterdam, with 30 solo verandah staterooms and other new amenities scheduled to debut in fall 2027.
“Our customers have been very clear about what they love about our ships and what they want to see more of, and Holland America Evolution is our answer to that,” Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line, said in a news release. “This investment allows us to introduce new experiences and venues to our fleet, add Pinnacle Class favorites like Grand Dutch Cafe, and create new stateroom categories designed for the way people travel today, while maintaining the perfect-sized ship experience that defines Holland America.”
The company has 12 solo ocean-view staterooms on each of its Pinnacle-class ships (Rotterdam, Nieuwe Statendam and Koningsdam), with the Oosterdam ships offering private balconies. The company made the change in response to “strong and growing guest demand,” according to the release.
According to the Cruise Lines International Association’s 2025 State of the Cruise Industry Report, solo travelers will account for 12% of cruise passengers in 2024, up from 6% the year before. Susan Guthrie, travel agent and owner of Cruisin’ with Susan and More, which is affiliated with Travel with Sparkle, said solo travelers are a “key growth segment” along with first-time cruisers.
She told USA TODAY that companies are changing the way they use space on new ships as a result of that trend. “Cruise lines see an opportunity to allocate smaller spaces to solo travelers,” Guthrie said in an email.
What other new features does Oosterdam have?
The new stateroom category includes more than just solo lanai cabins, each 200 square feet. The ship will be renovated to feature two 900-square-foot Bridge View Suites, named for the views that “emulate the perspective seen from the ship’s bridge,” according to the release.
The suites feature panoramic windows and wrap-around balconies.
The ship will also have 24 additional Vista Suites available on Pinnacle-class ships, with the Pinnacle Suite being “reimagined” with 1,550 square feet of living space. A total of 76 staterooms will be added to Oosterdam.
The Grand Dutch Café, popular with Pinnacle class passengers and offering coffee, sandwiches and more throughout the day, will also make its Vista Class debut in Oosterdam.
The company is also renovating it with sustainability in mind.
“With a focus on waste reduction and circular design, the line refreshes and replaces interiors, prioritizing upcycling and material reuse while delivering further weight savings and a sleek, timeless look and feel,” the release states.
Which other ships have been strengthened?
Other Vista Class ships, Zuiderdam, Noordam and Westerdam, will receive upgrades along with Signature Class ships Eurodam and New Amsterdam. Holland America plans to publish further information about Oosterdam on its website “in the coming weeks,” including details of the enhanced voyage. Travelers can also find updates on plans for other vessels as they become known.
This story has been updated to add new information.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.
