SEATTLE, 09 October 2026 – Holland America Line has unveiled a programme of Pan Am-inspired onboard experiences, dining, guest speakers and shore excursions for its Pan Am 100th Anniversary Legendary Voyage aboard Zuiderdam.
The 28-day cruise will sail round-trip from Miami, Florida, on 30 October 2027, retracing portions of Pan Am’s historic routes through the Caribbean and Central America.
Programming will draw on the airline’s Clipper era through aviation-focused presentations, recreated elements of the former Clipper Club, themed menus and cocktails, and destination experiences connected with Pan Am’s history.
“Pan Am helped redefine what it meant to travel, turning the journey into an experience filled with discovery, connection and a sense of occasion,” said Paul Grigsby, vice president of itinerary planning and deployment for Holland America Line. “With this cruise, we’re bringing that era to life while merging elements of Pan Am’s storied history with Holland America Line’s signature experiences, giving guests a chance to see how the legacies of two travel brands come together in ways that feel authentic to both, from the ship to the destinations along the way.”
Aviation experts to explore Pan Am history
A series of onboard programmes will examine the people, aircraft and destinations associated with Pan Am.
Actor and storyteller Willie Aames will discuss the airline’s pioneering history and the Pacific Clipper journey during World War II. Linda Freire, chair and co-founder of the Pan Am Museum Foundation, will share perspectives drawn from her career with the airline, while international speaker Steve Gray will focus on Pan Am’s Flying Clippers, South American routes and visual legacy.
David Hinson, vice chairman of the Pan Am Museum Foundation, will cover the airline’s service culture and influence on air travel. Hospitality and travel industry leader David Kliman will also share experiences from decades of flying Pan Am as a pilot and passenger.
Zuiderdam will additionally recreate aspects of the Clipper Club, Pan Am’s network of private airport lounges, through onboard moments inspired by the original spaces.
Menus draw on Pan Am’s aviation era
Special dining menus will feature dishes inspired by those served during Pan Am’s era of international air travel. Examples include Cocktail de Crevettes, Cream of Tomato Soup, Broiled Filet Mignon Maître d’Hôtel, Eggplant Cannelloni Parmigiano, Sole en Croûte and Soufflé Grand Marnier.
A themed cocktail menu will include the Pan Am Cocktail, made with light white rum, Campari, orgeat, lemon juice, egg white and aromatic bitters. The Clipper Cocktail, which was served aboard flying boats, will combine Mount Gay Eclipse rum, Dolin Blanc and grenadine with a lemon twist.
“We’ll be marking 100 years of Pan Am at the start of this cruise, and I can’t think of a better way for our biggest fans and new fans to celebrate,” said Craig Carter, CEO, Pan Am Global Holdings. “Not only is the cruise itinerary reminiscent of our early days of the Flying Clippers, but the onboard experience we are creating with Holland America will bring to life a special time in the history of travel.”
Shore excursions follow historic Pan Am routes
Holland America Line has also developed tours specifically for the anniversary voyage in destinations associated with Pan Am’s former routes. In Cartagena, Colombia, guests can explore by classic roadster, sample local food and learn about the city’s prominence for emeralds during the Pan Am era.
A Colón, Panama, excursion combines the Agua Clara Locks and Panama Canal Railway, while a St. John’s, Antigua, tour visits Shirley Heights, offering views similar to those once used by Pan Am navigators approaching the island. In Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, an excursion will visit Chaguaramas, Pan Am’s former flying boat base, and the Chaguaramas Military History & Aerospace Museum.
The voyage will use these onboard and shoreside programmes to mark Pan Am’s centenary while following portions of the airline’s historic Caribbean and Central American network.
Source: Official Press Release from Carnival Corporation / Holland America Line on 09 October 2026, Seattle.
