A cruise vacation is a fantastic opportunity to explore new destinations, and cruises are well-known for the great choice of food and drink on offer. But did you know that you can also enjoy an exciting program of entertainment and enrichment experiences on board a cruise ship?
In September 2025, I was invited to travel as a guest of Holland America Line on a cruise from Rotterdam in Holland to the Norwegian Fjords. This was my first cruise experience, and I was excited to explore a part of Europe that I’d never visited before.
I soon discovered that the MS Rotterdam was fully equipped with everything I could need for a fun-packed and relaxing vacation, from the comfortable stateroom to the luxury spa, specialty restaurants, and even a 1,700-book library.
Of course, the shore excursions on my Norwegian Fjord cruise were a highlight of the voyage, but there was plenty to keep me entertained during the evenings and on the two sailing days.
Read on to discover what’s on offer when you step on board a Holland America cruise ship.
Welcome Aboard
The new “Welcome Aboard” show sets the tone for your cruise, providing a high-energy preview of the vast choice of entertainment and enrichment activities available on board. This new show takes place in the World Stage theater on the first night of each cruise, offering a fun evening filled with energy and excitement.
I highly recommend going along, as it will give you a taste of the unforgettable experiences to come and help you decide how to fill your time during your cruise.
One note here – not every show is offered on every ship, nor on every sailing, so check your programming for what your specific sailing offers.
Entertainment
The Holland America cruise line has recently enhanced and revitalized its line-up of entertainment offerings, with fantastic shows and a wider variety of live music performances guaranteeing a lively onboard atmosphere.
The entertainment program includes something to suit every taste, from classical music and contemporary dance to rock bands, authentic local music, and more.
More than half of the fleet now has a dedicated Cruise Director who acts as your host throughout the cruise, supported by an Assistant Cruise Director and a top-tier entertainment team.
World Stage
World Stage is the largest theater on board the MS Rotterdam. It has a massive, two-story LED screen and hosts innovative shows and performances by day and in the evening.
World Stage productions held during the day include Q&A sessions, destination talks, and the EXC® Talk lecture series hosted by the Cruise Director.
By night, the venue transforms into an exciting entertainment venue, featuring sensational live performances from professional groups such as the contemporary Step One Dance Company, vocal quartet Cantaré, and more.
Bars and Lounges
The Rolling Stone Lounge’s live band plays a great mix of rock, pop, country, and more, while Billboard Onboard combines chart-topping hits with trivia questions presented on screens throughout the room.
On Pinnacle Class ships like the Rotterdam, you can also head to the B.B. King’s Blues Club music venue for Memphis-style Rhythm and Blues straight from Beale Street. It also has a wood dance floor for any passengers who feel the urge to get up and dance.
Live music and surprise cabaret performances are also available every night of the cruise in live music venues like the Ocean Bar, Lido Pool, and Crow’s Nest observation point.
Enrichment Experiences
There’s a wide range of exciting shore excursions on a Holland America cruise, but the expanded activities crew make sure there’s plenty to keep you occupied on board the ship as well. This includes themed parties, like the Cake Me Away dessert event and the Dutch-inspired Orange Party, as well as game shows, food and drink tastings, and a range of demonstrations and classes.
I thought this aspect of the cruise was excellent, because there’s just so much to choose from!
You can take part in daily art classes, crafting sessions, creative writing workshops, and much more. These sessions are led by expert instructors and offer a fun onboard experience on the cruise’s sailing days.
There’s a massive choice of other enrichment activities available, from cooking demonstrations to computer workshops. I really enjoyed the mixology class where we learned to mix delicious cocktails with one of the bar’s mixologists.
I’d highly recommend attending the “City on the Sea” presentation, which takes place in the World Stage venue. This immersive storytelling event takes you behind the scenes on your cruise ship through a combination of video footage, interviews with crew members, and live narration by the Cruise Director. I found it fascinating to see how much work goes into keeping this “floating city” running smoothly.
And if you enjoy that event, you might also like to sign up for one of the new behind-the-scenes ship tours, which provide exclusive access to areas of the ship that most passengers never see. You’ll visit the bridge, engine control room, galley, and more, and get a chance to meet some of the ship’s senior officers in person.
The Wrap-Up
Holland America ships offer an exciting choice of non-stop entertainment, from musical performances and hands-on classes to expert lectures and exclusive behind-the-scenes views.
And when you include the afternoon teas, sports and fitness facilities, luxury spa, and much more, you can be sure that you’ll always find something exciting to fill your time.
In fact, your main problem might be trying to decide which activities to leave out – the FOMO is real on a Holland America cruise!
