Holland America Plans Themed Cruise for Pan Am's Centennial in 2027

Holland America Line unveiled details of its Pan Am Centennial Legendary Voyage, a 28-day round-trip cruise aboard the Zuiderdam departing from Miami on October 30, 2027. The itinerary will retrace portions of Pan Am's historic routes through the Caribbean and Central America, calling at 18 destinations linked to the airline's golden era.

During the voyage, passengers will be able to attend presentations by historians and aviation experts, including actor and narrator Willie Aames, Linda Freire, president and co-founder of the Pan Am Museum Foundation, speaker Steve Gray, David Hinson, vice president of the same foundation, and David Kliman, a travel industry executive. Each will cover different aspects of Pan Am's history, from the airline's development and the voyage of the Pacific Clipper to its service culture and the frequent flyer experience. The cruise will also recreate the Clipper Club, Pan Am's former network of private airport lounges, bringing back its pre- and between-flight hospitality atmosphere.

The dining offerings will include menus inspired by dishes served on Pan Am flights, such as shrimp cocktail, cream of tomato soup, grilled filet mignon Maître d'Hôtel, eggplant parmigiana cannelloni, and sole en croûte stuffed with crab, along with Grand Marnier soufflé. A themed cocktail list will also be featured, including the Pan Am Cocktail, made with white rum, Campari, orgeat, lemon juice, and egg white, and the Clipper Cocktail, made with Mount Gay Eclipse rum, Dolin Blanc, and grenadine, inspired by the drinks served aboard the flying boats.

The cruise will feature exclusive shore excursions designed around the airline's historic routes. In Cartagena, Colombia, the 'Pan Am's Golden Age: Cartagena's Jet Set' excursion offers rides in classic cars and a look at the city's reputation as an emerald destination during that era. In Colón, Panama, passengers will visit the Gatun Locks and ride the Panama Canal Railway. In St. John's, Antigua, a tour to Shirley Heights will offer views of the harbor from the vantage point used by Pan Am navigators, while in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the 'Pan Am's Caribbean: Wings of Trinidad' excursion will include a visit to Chaguaramas, the airline's former seaplane base, and its Military and Aerospace History Museum.

Paul Grigsby, vice president of itinerary planning and deployment at Holland America Line, said the voyage aims to blend elements of Pan Am's history with the cruise line's own distinctive experiences, joining the legacies of both brands from the ship to the destinations visited. Meanwhile, Craig Carter, CEO of Pan Am Global Holdings, noted that the itinerary recalls the early days of the Flying Clippers and that the onboard experience developed together with Holland America will bring a special moment in travel history to life.