You’ll begin your extraordinary holiday by flying to Amsterdam, the ‘Venice of the North’. A vibrant city bustling with bikes, character, and 180 different nationalities, Amsterdam is the ultimate home-away-from-home. Its great public transport makes it easy to traverse this city, so you could discover one of its 75 museums including the Rijksmuseum for art and history, or the Heineken Museum for a chilled pint.

You’ll embark the remarkable Zuiderdam, Holland America’s first Vista-class cruise ship, boasting classic nautical lines and finishes, modern amenities and a spectacular art and antique collection. It’s a superb choice for those looking for a leisurely pace of life at sea in exquisite surroundings and, as a smaller vessel, it allows for a more intimate cruise experience.

Entertainment has always been the heart and soul of evenings on board Holland America Line, and, on Zuiderdam, that promise continues with Music Walk: three stages presenting a variety of live music nightly from the Lincoln Center Stage, B.B. Kings Blues Club, and the Rolling Stone Rock Room where you could dance the night away to all your favourite chart-topping hits from the last 50 years.

Your first call will be Ålesund, a quaint fishing town, home to one of Norway's largest fishing harbours. Best known for its striking Art Nouveau architecture, here, you’ll discover numerous spires, towers, and elaborately ornate buildings. Regarded as Norway’s most beautiful city, Ålesund is admired best on foot to discover its dreamy turrets and ornate carvings of dragons and mythical figures. Head to nearby Mount Aksla’s viewpoints to savour surreal vistas or head to the Atlantic Sea Park – one of Northern Europe’s largest saltwater aquariums – to marvel at seals, otters, Humboldt penguins, crabs, and more.

From the traditional Dining Room to the poolside Dive-In, Zuiderdam offers a fantastic range of dining options. In the Lido Market, you’ll find a buffet style venue serving dishes including salads and herb-roasted chicken, while the Dining Room offers delights such as New York strip loin, grilled salmon, veal cordon bleu, chocolate avalanche cake, and cherry pavlova. There’s also a selection of fee dining available for anyone who wishes to treat themselves to something a little more special.

Today you’ll visit Iceland’s second largest city, Akureyri, known as the ‘Capital of the North.’ Originally settled in the 9^th century, this small but vibrant harbour city presents several interesting attractions to discover, such as the Akureyri Church and Museum, botanical gardens and an array of buzzy cafés, restaurants and galleries. Akureyri also serves as the perfect hub to explore the dramatic landscapes beyond, nestled at the southern end of the 64-kilometre-long fjord, Eyjafjörður – Iceland’s longest fjord – which boasts some of Iceland’s most memorable landscapes. Get set for an incredible scenic cruise through the dramatically beautiful Eyjafjörður, surrounded by snow-streaked mountains and lined by peaks that descend to the water’s edge.

Bordered on three sides by dramatic mountains that form a natural harbour, Iceland’s lovely Ísafjörður is a charming jumble of tin and old wooden buildings with a reputation as a cultured and urbane town. Explore the Westfjords Heritage Museum, housed in a renovated 18^th-century building, where you could learn about the town’s maritime history. Ísafjörður also serves as a charming exploration hub for the surrounding rugged and remote Westfjords peninsula. Today, you’ll relish a fantastic scenic cruise through Isafjardurjur, a large fjord in the Westfjords region, which translates as ‘Ice Fjord Deep.’

Reykjavík is a city of contrasts – a cosmopolitan capital with a small-town feel, vibrant and modern yet full of historic charm. Take time to stroll among the quirky, colourful buildings, explore the galleries and cafés, or take a dip in one of the many geothermal pools and spas. A trip to Reykjavík won’t be complete without a journey to the beautiful countryside or a day trip to the teal thermal waters of the world-famous Blue Lagoon.

Next, you’ll explore the quaint fishing town of Grundarfjörður, nestled on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, that juts out to sea in Western Iceland. You could admire Grundarfjörður’s surrounding natural wonders of black lava beaches, crystalline waterfalls, and massive glaciers, along with Kirkjufell, the town’s landmark and ever-present backdrop. This is purportedly Iceland’s most photographed mountain, even taking a starring role in the popular TV series, Game of Thrones.

With its two-storey, 270-degree wraparound LED screen surrounding you in high-definition, the World Stage combines innovation and entertainment. Showcasing music, song, dance, and more, you’ll find a fantastic choice of dazzling performances and presentations that are sure to entertain and inform throughout your voyage.

The vast network of spectacular fjords and mountains of Prince Christian Sound has separated the mainland of Greenland for thousands of years. Prince Christian Sound presents beautiful scenery for cruising, with mountains reaching 4,000 feet, glaciers inching toward the sea, and tidal currents that limit the formation of ice. Keep your eyes peeled for icebergs and a weather station that is nestled in the mountains. Wildlife lovers will fall in love with the local wildlife including minke, blue whales, seals and majestic birds.

The largest town in South Greenland is also one of the most charming and beautiful. Its colourful houses are congregated around the town square containing Greenland’s oldest fountain. The views of the clear blue sea and the lush green landscape are striking. Here, you could take a guided sightseeing tour to discover the history of the town.

Your next stop is Nanortalik, Greenland’s southernmost town, which, along with the island of the same name it’s located upon, translates as ‘the place with polar bears.’ There may be little chance nowadays of glimpsing these furry creatures, but what you will find is a place of majestic beauty and a warm welcome from the friendly residents. From the Tasermiut Fjord, where rocky summits soar above a narrow glacial inlet, to the Qinngua Valley, Greenland’s only forest, Nanortalik is brims with natural wonders.

For a relaxing experience, don’t miss the Greenhouse Spa & Salon^®. Home to an incredible thermal suite that boasts a relaxation room, ceramic lounge with heated loungers, saunas and steam rooms with outward facing views across the ocean, aromatherapy room, horizontal shower, rain shower and a huge hydrotherapy pool; it’s the perfect place to enjoy a bit of pampering – after all, that’s what holidays are all about!

Near the northern tip of Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula, tiny St. Anthony is a charming town with fortunes that have been long tied to the sea. Here, history and scenery meld to form a landscape that will capture your imagination. And while Saint Anthony himself might be the patron saint of the lost, this bustling little town has been hosting visitors for generations.

One of the oldest English-founded cities in North America, St. John’s is a unique destination of colour, culture, and charisma. You could enjoy a walk around Downtown where you’ll find a beguiling array of a colourful row of houses, head up to Signal Hill and overlook the scenery from Cabot Tower, or explore the impressive Basilica of St. John the Baptist.

During your days and nights at sea, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to pursue new interests on board Zuiderdam. Learn some culinary tips and tricks in America’s Test Kitchen, discover more about the wonders of the world at BBC Earth Experiences, attend a cooking class, or even create your own blend of wine to enjoy later at dinner.

Next, you’ll explore Charlottetown, a city best known as the Birthplace of Confederation, leading to the creation of the Dominion of Canada. Today, Charlottetown reveals an impressive number of Victorian houses and buildings and wonderful parks waiting to be explored. Key attractions within downtown Charlottetown include quaint Victoria Row and other historic buildings, some of which are now museums.

Your next charming port of call is Sydney, the largest city on Cape Breton Island, linked by a causeway to the rest of Nova Scotia. Some of the historic houses and churches date back to the 1700s and 1800s and are open for tours. You’ll also discover many of Sydney’s attractions on and around the harbour, where you could shop for artisan crafts and purchase art works by local artists at fine galleries. At the restaurants, savour seafood freshly caught from nearby waters, or listen to live fiddle music. Beyond, Cape Breton's natural wonders lie including the spectacular scenic drive, the Cabot Trail.

Halifax is a vibrant, modern hub with excellent nightlife and a number of great restaurants. As striking from the water as it is from its quaintly traditional old town, the city bustles thanks to its five universities, shopping opportunities, and festivals. Haligonians – the city’s local population – are famously proud of their quality of life and are very welcoming to visitors.

While in Bar Harbor, you’ll find a destination brimming with romance and dramatic scenery, where soaring granite cliffs guard pebble-beaches. Bar Harbor has some of the look of Old England about it with visions of Cornwall evoked by the rugged coast, but Main Street is reminiscent of classic small-town America. While here, you could go on a whale-watching tour or take the shore path across meadows and over streams.

Boston is America’s most glamorous historic city filled with museums, galleries, shops, and friendly locals. Boston offers history, culture, charm, and glamour all within walking distance of the port. Whether you want to visit the fashionable shops or follow the Freedom trail learning more about this city’s ancient history, Boston offers it all.

All good things must come to an end; today you'll check out of tour hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. Use your travel time to reflect upon the many memories you've made, ready to recall to loved ones on your arrival home.