Go for the Entertainment! – Seven Nights on Holland America Line’s Canada & New England Discovery Cruise  

In 2023, 31 million people chose to embark on cruises, making it a popular vacation option. While this number represents just two percent of the global travel and tourism market, the incredible onboard entertainment offered by Holland America Line could help that figure grow as more travellers learn about it.

While cruising, a vast array of activities are available day and night, featuring intimate performances in cosy venues such as the RollingStone Lounge, Billboard OnBoard, and the Ocean Bar. However, it’s the big shows on the Zuiderdam, presented in the World Stage—a stunning two-story theatre impressively sizable for its location at the bow of the ship (the forward section for those unfamiliar with nautical terms)—that truly make cruising with Holland America Line an exceptional value.

A few years ago, I spent an evening enjoying cocktails while watching the sunset from the promenade deck of Holland America’s S.S. Rotterdam, now a hotel in Rotterdam’s harbour. The experience sparked my curiosity about the history of the Holland America Line.

On our first night at sea, the theatre hosted the “Origin Story”, a multi-media presentation on the history of Holland America Line narrated by the company’s Cruise & Travel Director, Kimberly Wells. She descriptively conveyed the 150-plus-year story of the company to a comfortably ensconced audience as we sat in the richly adorned theatre with its deep-coloured plush velour fabrics, sleek curves and just the right amount of soft indirect lighting. It’s an impressive venue that exudes a sense of comfort, grandeur and style.

On day two, I returned to the theatre to see “Class Act”. From the 1940s hit “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by the Andrews Sisters to Pink’s 2001 “Get the Party Started,” vocalist Sebastian Sowell belted out tunes from female chart-topping singers across the decades. She was accompanied on stage by six professional dancers, reminiscent of the choreographed dancers on the 1980s television show Solid Gold.

The show debuted in February 2024 and is quite the production; each song is accompanied by new costumes for Sebastian and the dancers. I was on the lower end of the ship’s age demographic, and, like the balance of the audience, I found myself humming along to all the songs and enjoying the choreographed dance routines.

Holland America Line thinks of everything. The Zuiderdam’s three specialty restaurants—Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto, and Morimoto by Sea—offer early or late reservations so diners can attend either the 7:30 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. nightly shows on the World Stage.

It’s worth noting that Holland America Line does not hire existing groups or bands to perform on its ships; it crafts each show from the ground up to ensure that it reflects an authentic experience for passengers while also presenting a “local experience.” 

The newest addition to their entertainment lineup, Breton Thunder, is truly top-notch. After hearing from passengers who wanted more East Coast music, the team set out to Cape Breton in search of talented musicians. In a place as musically rich as Nova Scotia, they knew they’d find the perfect performers to bring this new act to life.  

As Bill Prince, vice president of entertainment and enrichment at Holland America Line, recounted, the idea was to “Search around Cape Breton; hang out at a couple of bars; find a band— It’ll be super easy”. They did find plenty of musical talent, but few wanted to head off to sea for five or six months of the year.

ABOVE: Breton Thunder perform both the Heritage and Unleashed shows twice on the Zuiderdam’s Seven-Day Canada & New England Discovery Cruise.

Plan B was enacted, and before long, auditions began. When it was over, two acts were created under the moniker Breton Thunder, who perform simultaneously on sister ships. With family from the East Coast, I can assert that their “Heritage” show is akin to being at a “right fun kitchen racket” with songs by Rita McNeal, The Rankin Family, The Corrs, and more.

Breton Thunder’s second show, “Unleashed,” includes performances of pop favourites with an East Coast twist. The goal, according to Prince, is “. . . to build a franchise that will have a very long and successful life”.   

The next night, I peeked in to see another of the new shows, “Hey Mr. DJ,” an “American-Top 40” countdown-like performance with multiple singers and dancers. It, too, was fabulous, but the draw of watching a supermoon from the back poolside deck as the ship sailed was too strong. The warm late summer night breeze was slightly cool but glorious, and the camaraderie, chatting with fellow cruisers, and comparing experiences from our day spent ashore in Halifax was perfect.

The next evening, I took in comedian Kevin Flynn, who was headlining on the World Stage. Flynn’s career in the entertainment industry includes acting, directing and Founder and Executive Director of the Nantucket Comedy Festival- but most will recognize him from his role as Bram Walker, Charlotte’s boyfriend in the HBO series Sex in the City. His act is highly polished and thoroughly fun.

The Seven-Day Canada & New England Discovery Cruise, which travelled from Quebec City to the Maritimes and on to Boston, Massachusetts, was my maiden cruise. I was among the 23 percent of new-to-cruising travellers enjoying their first trip this year. While there are countless reasons to become a repeat customer—not least because it’s deemed the safest and most responsible way to see the world—a primary motivation for cruising again will undoubtedly be the entertainment!

For information about cruising with Holland America Line, consult a travel advisor, visit hollandamerica.com or call 1-877-SAIL HAL.

The photo of the Zuiderdam at sea is courtesy of Holand America Line.