October 16, 2026 — Holland America Line (Carnival Corporation) has revealed Bar 1873, a new two-story bar that will anchor its Holland America Evolution ship makeovers, and marked its first Acapulco call in 17 years.
Bar 1873 debuts on Oosterdam
The venue wraps around Oosterdam’s central atrium on Deck 2, with an illuminated tulip sculpture, lounge seating and more than 200 heritage and repurposed objects, original artwork and a timeline of the company’s history. It was designed with London firm SMC. Oosterdam’s version is themed “May She Be Blessed,” after ship-christening traditions and the 1958 christening of the Rotterdam V by Queen Juliana, and has a signature cocktail of the same name that guests can customize. Live piano plays from pre-dinner cocktail hour into the evening, with occasional vocalists and Vivace musicians and evening sets of songs from the 1970s to today.
Each ship in the Evolution program will get its own Bar 1873 built around a different story from the line’s 150-plus-year history. Oosterdam will also debut a reimagined Crow’s Nest.
| Evolution program | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ships covered | All six Vista and Signature class ships |
| Order | Oosterdam and Zuiderdam first, then Arcadia |
| Debut dates | TBA (not published) |
| Bookings | Open for Oosterdam and Zuiderdam cruises after their transformations |
Eurodam back in Acapulco
Eurodam (86,273 tons) arrived in Acapulco with 2,039 guests and 874 crew on its first Holland America call there in 17 years; the exact date was not published. The port authority marked the visit with a welcome ceremony and plaque exchange. The ship is on a 16-night repositioning cruise from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale after its Alaska season, with stops in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Aruba. Carnival Firenze has two Acapulco calls scheduled for October and November 2026, and Norwegian Star and Norwegian Bliss are also due this year (dates TBA).
What it means for airline travelers
- Want the new look? Before booking Oosterdam or Zuiderdam, confirm with Holland America that your sailing is after the ship’s Evolution refit, since debut dates are not yet published.
- Repositioning cruises are one-way. A San Diego–Fort Lauderdale crossing like Eurodam’s means flying into San Diego (SAN) and home from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) or nearby Miami (MIA); price and plan both legs before you book.
- No change to interline or travel-industry cruise rates was mentioned.
Sources
- Cruise Industry News, “Holland America Unveils Bar 1873” — https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/10/holland-america-unveils-bar-1873/
- Cruise Industry News, “Holland America Returns to Acapulco After 17-Year Hiatus” — https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/10/holland-america-returns-to-acapulco-after-17-year-hiatus/
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