A popular U.S. cruise destination is about to get a major update.
Holland America Line will soon invest more than $70 million to enhance and expand its cruise tour offerings in Alaska, with a significant investment in its popular Denali Lodge, the cruise line shared exclusively with Travel + Leisure.
Located near the base of the 20,000-foot Mount Denali, the Holland America Denali Lodge is a sprawling hotel, restaurant, and base camp. Many cruise guests choose to stay overnight near Denali National Park to take full advantage of the sprawling slate of outdoor activities on offer. Because Holland America Line owns the 60-acre Denali Lodge, they can provide a more seamless experience for on-land excursions.
With the growing interest of cruise guests booking Alaska cruises, Holland America Line is making a significant investment to modernize the property and provide additional amenities.
Patrick J Endres/AlaskaPhotoGraphics.com/Courtesy of Holland America Line
The multimillion-dollar project will renovate guest rooms and update common spaces which include hiking trails, fire pits, and more. Best of all, HCL will expand partnerships with local small businesses and artisans from Alaska to offer cruisers richer experiences (and shopping opportunities) around the lodge.
The updates will be constructed in waves between 2025 and 2027 to minimize guest disruptions. Throughout 2025, guests will notice updated the public space improvements at both the Cottonwood and Canyon Lodge guest room buildings, according to HCL. The updates will continue throughout 2026 with a remodeled Karstens Public House restaurant, new coffee shop, and additional guest room renovations. In 2027, Holland America Line plans to open a new 120-room building with additional dining options. The cruise line currently has dozens of Alaska cruises available for sale on their website.
“It’s truly special that we can bring guests to a lodge at the doorstep of Denali National Park,” Holland America Line’s President Beth Bodensteiner shared in a statement sent to T+L. “Enhancing and expanding the Holland America Denali Lodge will help meet the growing interest in combined land and sea Cruise tours for our 49th state and further support the Alaska tourism industry.”
Learn more about Holland America Line’s Alaska cruises here.
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