Nieuw Statendam will sail from Dover in summer 2026, marking a strategic move by Holland America Line.
- The Pinnacle-class ship will offer cruises from Dover between April and September 2026.
- Karen Farndell highlights the significance of this move as a confident investment in the UK market.
- The 2025 season from Dover proved popular, prompting a repeat in 2026.
- Enhanced itineraries aim to strengthen the brand’s presence among UK and international cruise passengers.
Nieuw Statendam is to homeport in Dover in the summer of 2026, marking a significant move by Holland America Line towards enhancing its presence in the UK market. According to UK sales and marketing director, Karen Farndell, the Pinnacle-class ship will feature sailings from April to September. This strategic decision follows a successful season from the same port in 2025, validating the company’s confidence and commitment to the region.
Farndell expressed pride in this achievement, emphasizing it as a reaffirmation of Holland America Line’s dedication to growing its business within the UK. “It’s a real investment in our confidence in the UK market,” she stated, underscoring the collaborative effort with travel agents to bolster growth collectively. The decision to extend the ship’s homeporting in Dover follows positive receptions to the previous year’s itinerary offerings.
For 2025, Nieuw Statendam’s cruises, particularly the 14-day Canary Islands and 28-night Arctic Circle itineraries, have been favourites among both UK and international travellers. The success of these voyages has led to the enthusiasm surrounding the ship’s upcoming 2026 season from Dover.
Nico Bleichrodt, vice-president of international sales, noted the scarcity of European homeports for the brand, expressing optimism that a prolonged season of sailings from Dover would amplify the cruise line’s visibility within the region. “We have a ship sailing out of the Netherlands, but that doesn’t appeal to our UK customers, so this Dover homeport will help boost our British customer base,” he explained.
There are discussions regarding possibly expanding the UK trade sales team to offer more robust support to agents, a move that Farndell is considering. Bleichrodt acknowledged the cruise line’s smaller footprint within the UK market but reiterated its substantial potential for growth. “We need to give better support to the travel trade,” he concluded, indicating a commitment to reinforcing their position in the market.
Holland America Line’s decision to homeport Nieuw Statendam in Dover reflects a strategic commitment to expanding its UK presence and market share.
