Key Aspects:
- Holland America Line has opened bookings on its 2027-28 South America and Antarctica voyages.
- The line will increase capacity by adding a second ship to the deployment, offering sailings on Oosterdam and Zuiderdam.
- Eight departures will feature voyages from 15 to 31 days.
From the misty rainforests of the Amazon to the Galapagos and Antarctica, Holland America Line has multiple opportunities for cruisers to explore the iconic destinations of South America in the fall and winter of 2027-28.
Apparently expecting a boost in demand, the cruise line is returning to a two-ship deployment for the 2027-28 season, with the 1,916-guest Zuiderdam and the 1,964-guest Oosterdam sailing a total of eight voyages. Three of the itineraries depart from Florida ports — PortMiami and Port Everglades.
Holland America last deployed two ships, Oosterdam and Zaandam, to the region for the 2024-25 season. In the current 2025-26 season, the line is operating in South America with just one ship, Oosterdam.
Itineraries in 2027-28 will vary from 15 to 31 days, offering explorations of cities and destinations on the east and west coasts as well as scenic cruising near Antarctica, although the ships do not feature any landings on the White Continent.
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Besides three departures from US ports, other embarkation options include Buenos Aires, Argentina, and San Antonio (Santiago), Chile.
“Our South America and Antarctica itineraries are designed for travelers who want to go beyond the ordinary,” said Paul Grigsby, vice president of itinerary planning and deployment at Holland America Line.
“Whether you’re standing on deck as the ship glides past the Pío XI Glacier, riding the Train to the End of the World in Ushuaia, or walking among the wildlife of the Galápagos, every moment is crafted to deliver a sense of wonder and connection,” added Grigsby.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the voyages, including the longest one, a 31-day “Panama Canal, Inca & South America: Chilean Fjords” cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Buenos Aires.
Departing on November 16, 2027, Oosterdam transits the Panama Canal and heads to Fuerte Amador, Panama, before arriving in Ecuador, where Overland Adventure tours are offered to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands.
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From there, the Vista-class ship travels to Peru and Chile, where guests can view the rugged mountains of the Chilean fjords. Guests will get their fill of glacier viewing as the ship sails through the so-called Avenue of the Glaciers in Tierra del Fuego’s Beagle Channel.
Rounding Cape Horn, Oosterdam will call at the Falkland Islands and Montevideo, Uruguay, before arriving in Buenos Aires.
Oosterdam to Sail Along the Dramatic Antarctic Peninsula
A shorter option, the 22-day “South America & Antarctica Holiday,” begins in Buenos Aires on December 17, 2027 and ends in Santiago, Chile.
Also operated aboard Oosterdam, the cruise features a close look at Antarctica with scenic cruising in the Palmer Archipelago, located off the Antarctic Peninsula.
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Adventure seekers looking to visit the Amazon can sail aboard Zuiderdam’s 28-day “Legendary Amazon Explorer,” which sails roundtrip from Miami on February 5, 2028. The itinerary features four days of sailing on the exotic river before the ship calls at four ports in Brazil.
Other highlights include several Caribbean destinations on both the southbound and northbound portions of the sailing. Islands on the itinerary include Martinique, Barbados, and St. Lucia, among others.
All of the line’s South America and Antarctica voyages are open for booking, and guests can take advantage of the Have It All premium package for a limited time.
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Benefits include some shore excursions, specialty dining, a beverage package, a WiFi plan, and prepaid crew gratuities, among other amenities and services.
Holland America Line, a premium brand of Carnival Corporation, also is offering an early booking bonus of $400 in onboard credits per stateroom is offered to Mariner Society members.
