A Pan Am anniversary cruise will give travellers a chance to revisit the golden age of aviation when Holland America Line launches a 28-day voyage inspired by the former airline’s history in October 2027.
The cruise, created to mark the centenary of Pan American World Airways, will depart from Miami, Florida, on 30 October 2027, travelling through the Caribbean and Central America along parts of the airline’s historic routes. Although passengers will not be flying with Pan Am, the experience will recreate elements of the airline’s distinctive travel culture, from its onboard dining to the private airport lounges associated with the brand.
Holland America Line plans to bring the era to life through aviation history talks, specially designed menus and a recreation of the Clipper Club, Pan Am’s private airport lounges. The programme is intended to connect the airline’s legacy with the cruise line’s own approach to travel.
“Pan Am helped redefine what it meant to travel, turning the journey into an experience filled with discovery, connection and a sense of occasion,” said Paul Grigsby, Holland America Line’s vice president of itinerary planning and deployment. He said the voyage would combine elements of Pan Am’s history with the cruise line’s established onboard experiences and destinations.
Food and drinks will play a central role in the anniversary programme. Rather than relying solely on the airline’s name and imagery, the cruise will feature menus inspired by dishes associated with Pan Am’s historic inflight service.
Planned dishes include cocktail de crevettes, made with jumbo shrimp, boiled egg, asparagus and Louis dressing, followed by broiled filet mignon Maître d’Hôtel. For dessert, passengers can expect soufflé Grand Marnier served with crème anglaise.
The themed drinks will also draw on the airline’s heritage. The Pan Am cocktail will combine white rum, Campari, orgeat, lemon juice and egg white, while the Clipper will feature rum, Dolin Blanc and grenadine, finished with a lemon twist.
The onboard programme will extend beyond food and drink. Passengers will hear from people with direct knowledge of the airline’s history, including Linda Freire, chair and co-founder of the Pan Am Museum Foundation, and David Kliman, a former Pan Am pilot. Their talks will explore the company’s culture and its place in the development of international air travel.
Shore excursions will connect the theme with destinations across the region. The itinerary includes Cartagena in Colombia, Colón in Panama, St. John’s in Antigua and Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago. Holland America Line plans to offer Pan Am-inspired activities at selected ports, linking the voyage’s historical focus with the places passengers visit.
The cruise is part of a wider revival of interest in the Pan Am brand, which remains closely associated with the expansion of international air travel during the 20th century. Although the original airline ceased operations in 1991, its name and visual identity continue to attract interest from businesses seeking to draw on its history.
In another effort to revive the brand, JP Hospitality announced plans to develop a collection of Pan Am-inspired airport hotels. The proposed locations span major cities in Europe, including Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Lisbon, London, Oslo, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris, Stockholm and Vienna. The plans also include international destinations such as Dubai, Bangkok, New York, Tokyo and Sydney.
Pan Am Hotels already operates a suite and lounge in Berlin featuring a mid-century design. The hotel initiative and Holland America Line’s anniversary voyage represent separate projects built around the same historic name, bringing Pan Am’s legacy into modern hospitality and travel experiences.
For travellers interested in aviation history, the 2027 voyage offers a way to explore that legacy without taking to the skies. Its combination of historical talks, period-inspired dining and Caribbean and Central American destinations places the airline’s story at the centre of a month-long cruise.
