To celebrate the iconic airline’s 100th anniversary, a Pan Am-inspired cruise will set sail in 2027, retracing some of the carrier’s most famous routes through the Caribbean and Central America.
Holland America Line, the Dutch-founded cruise operator, has unveiled a programme inspired by Pan Am’s history, from its pioneering flying boats to the jet age of the 1950s and 1960s, an era epitomised by the airline, which became America’s unofficial flag carrier and a symbol of the American dream in the skies.
The Pan Am 100th Anniversary Legendary Voyage will feature themed onboard entertainment, dining and activities inspired by the glamour of the airline’s legendary Clipper era, with specially curated excursions extending the experience ashore.
“Pan Am helped redefine what it meant to travel”, said Paul Grigsby, Holland America Line’s vice president of itinerary planning and deployment. “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.”
The 28-day cruise aboard the Zuiderdam will depart from Miami, Florida, on 30 October 2027, and return to the same port.
Pan Am was synonymous with exclusivity, from its hospitality in the air to the Clipper Club, its network of private airport lounges where passengers could relax and dine between flights. Holland America Line intends to recreate elements of both on board.
Onboard passengers will be entertained by historians, aviation experts and former Pan Am employees sharing stories of the airline’s fascinating history and global legacy.
Actor Willie Aames will recount the extraordinary journey of the Pacific Clipper during the Second World War, while former flight attendant Linda Freire, now chair of the Pan Am Museum Foundation, Steve Gray, David Hinson and David Kliman will share stories of Pan Am’s pioneering routes, legendary service and lasting influence on modern aviation, some of which may have been lost on today’s low-cost carriers.
Food will also take centre stage, with menus inspired by dishes once served at 30,000 feet, including Cocktail de Crevettes, Broiled Filet Mignon Maître d’Hôtel, Sole en Croûte, rounded off with a Soufflé Grand Marnier with crème anglaise.
To wash it all down, two new cocktails were created as a tribute to the airline’s legacy: the Pan Am Cocktail, which combines white rum, Campari, orgeat, lemon juice and egg white; and the Clipper Cocktail, once served aboard the flying boats, mixes rum, Dolin Blanc and grenadine.
“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 of 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.”
The excursions have been carefully designed to evoke the same sophistication and sense of adventure. In Cartagena, Colombia, passengers will explore the city in classic roadsters and learn about its world-class emeralds. In Colón, Panama, they can visit the Agua Clara Locks and the Panama Canal Railway, while in Antigua, a tour to Shirley Heights offers harbour views similar to those Pan Am navigators once used to guide their aircraft into port. In Trinidad, visitors will discover Chaguaramas, a former base for the airline’s flying boats.
The Pan Am brand has been enjoying something of a comeback lately, with a luxury nostalgia flight in 2025 and plans for branded airport hotels across Europe and beyond, from Dubai and Bangkok to New York, Tokyo and Sydney.
The cruise is the latest attempt to bring the iconic airline’s legacy back to life.
