The transformation of Oosterdam, the first of six ships scheduled for dry dock upgrades with Holland America Evolution, has been moved by up five weeks.

Holland America has announced that Oosterdam will now return to service on Oct. 31, 2027, following its refurbishment in Marseille.

The revised schedule will allow Holland America to add five new post-transformation cruises in the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Caribbean.

To accommodate the earlier dry dock, several previously published Oosterdam sailings between Sept. 11 and Dec. 9, 2027, have been cancelled. Holland America says affected guests and travel advisors are being contacted directly with rebooking options.

Guests booked on what had previously been the ship’s inaugural post-Evolution sailing and first transatlantic cruise in December 2027 will have the option to move to the corresponding newly added departures.

The US$500 million Evolution program will introduce a number of changes to Oosterdam, including new stateroom and suite categories, the Grand Dutch Café and a redesigned Ocean Bar.

Oosterdam’s first sailing following the transformation will be a 10-day cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Trieste, departing Oct. 31, 2027, with calls in Italy, Greece, Montenegro and Croatia.

“We’re very happy with the unprecedented response we’ve received to Holland America Evolution, and we’re thrilled we can move up Oosterdam’s dry dock to meet guest demand,” said Beth Bodensteiner, President, Holland America Line.

Four additional cruises have also been added: an 11-day Mediterranean sailing from Trieste to Piraeus departing Nov. 10; a seven-day Piraeus-to-Barcelona itinerary departing Nov. 21; a 13-day transatlantic crossing from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale departing Nov. 28; and an 11-day Caribbean cruise roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale departing Dec. 11.

The new voyages are scheduled to open for sale in early October.

Travelweek’s recent sailing on Oosterdam included a look at the cruise line’s upcoming 2027-2028 year-round Europe program.

Source: Travelweek
Lead image caption: Rendering of the outdoor space with the new Bridgeview Suites coming to Oosterdam and other ships as part of the US$500 million Holland America Evolution