Holland America Cruises Policy

Holland America Cruises Policy—As of 7/7/21

NEW!—Announced July 7^th

Holland America Line Announces Fall Cruise 2021 Plans With Departures From San Diego And Fort Lauderdale

Koningsdam to make West Coast debut with cruises to Mexico, Hawaii and California coast; Rotterdam sails maiden season in Caribbean. Itineraries moved from Oosterdam to Westerdam.

Holland America Line is gearing up to restart cruising out of Port of San Diego in California beginning with a season of cruises to Mexico, Hawaii and along the California coast aboard Koningsdam and Zuiderdam. The season is expanding with the addition of six new cruise departures for Zuiderdam and two new cruises on Koningsdam, offering a total of 40 cruises from San Diego from September 2021 through April 2022.

With the resumption of service on the West Coast, Holland America Line also is looking toward cruising in the Caribbean with four ships. All sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the season will begin Oct. 23, 2021, with Nieuw Amsterdam. The ship will be joined by the new Rotterdam Nov. 3, Eurodam Nov. 14 and Nieuw Statendam Nov. 21. Caribbean cruises range in length from four to 14 days, span the entire region and include a call at Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s award-winning private island.

As a result of these changes to our deployment schedule, some planned voyages are now moving to a new ship of the same class on a matching itinerary. Guests affected by this change will be notified and automatically rebooked by July 23, 2021.

Cruise And Stay Healthy

These Holland America Line cruises in 2021 are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination. Holland America Line will continue to monitor the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as local, state and federal officials in the homeports and ports of call. Onboard protocols and vaccination requirements will be adjusted as necessary. Shipboard crew vaccinations will also be in accordance with CDC guidelines.

A Cruise Experience That Is A Cruise

The on-board cruise experience will offer amenities that are a hallmark of the brand. Dining will be available in all restaurants and specialty venues, as well as room service. Entertainment will be in full swing in the main show lounge, and live music and dancing will be featured in Lincoln Center Stage, B.B. King’s Blues Club, Billboard Onboard and Rolling Stone Rock Room. Guests may choose to explore port destinations independently or on ship-sponsored tours, following the local ports’ health guidelines.

Announced March 16^th

While Princess Cruises continues to work with various United States and Canadian government officials to try to preserve a portion of the Alaska 2021 cruise season, the company is extending its pause of cruise vacations for sailings from Seattle through June 27, 2021. The pause in operation affects 7-day Inside Passage cruises on Emerald Princess and Majestic Princess.

For guests booked on a cancelled voyage, Princess will offer to move guests to the equivalent cruise in 2022. The rebooking process will have the added benefit of protecting the guests’ 2021 fare on their 2022 voyage.

Alternatively, guests can choose a future cruise credit (FCC) equivalent to 100% of the cruise fare paid plus an additional non-refundable bonus FCC equal to 10% of the cruise fare paid (minimum $25 USD) or a full refund to the original form of payment.

Announced February 1^st

As Holland America Line continues to prepare and develop its plans to meet the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the company is extending its pause of cruise operations for all departures through April 30, 2021. This includes Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Pacific Coast, Caribbean, Mediterranean and Canada/New England departures.

The line also will cancel all Alaska cruises through mid-May, Alaska departures on three ships through early June, any Land+Sea Journeys connected with canceled Alaska sailings, Mediterranean cruises through early June and Zaandam’s Canada/New England itineraries through August.

Cruises impacted by this pause in operation are:

All cruise departures through April 30, 2021.
Alaska: Eurodam and Oosterdam through the first week of June (roundtrip from Seattle); Koningsdam through mid-May (roundtrip from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada); Nieuw Amsterdam and Noordam through mid-May (roundtrip Vancouver and between Vancouver and Whittier, Alaska); and Zuiderdam though early June (roundtrip from Vancouver).
Mediterranean: Volendam cruises through early June (between Venice and Civitavecchia [Rome], Italy); Westerdam though early June (roundtrip from Venice or between Venice and Piraeus [Athens], Greece).
Canada/New England: All Zaandam cruises through August (between Boston, Massachusetts, and Montreal, Quebec, Canada).

Guests and their travel agents are being notified of the cancellations and options for Future Cruise Credits (FCC) and rebooking.

Holland America Line is closely following the protocol set forth by the CDC, and is preparing ships and implementing procedures to meet all requirements for approval to sail following the pause.

Announced November 10^th

Holland America Line has reviewed the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Framework for Conditional Sailing and is seeking additional clarification to fully understand the requirements. While we await further information, we have (temporarily) stopped selling all cruises eight days and longer which call upon a U.S. port and depart January 1 through November 1, 2021. For those who are currently booked on one of these cruises, we ask for your patience to receive further information from Holland America Line on whether your cruise is impacted.

With the continuation of travel and port restrictions due to global health concerns, Holland America Line is extending its pause of cruise operations and cancelling departures on all ships through Dec. 31, 2020. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Framework for Conditional Sailing Order that introduces a phased approach for the safe and responsible resumption of passenger cruises.

Announced May 7^th

Holland America Line Extends The Pause Of Ship Operations For All 2020 Alaska, Europe And Canada/New England Sailings

With travel restrictions continuing for the near future due to global health concerns, Holland America Line has decided to extend its pause of global cruise operations and cancel all Alaska, Europe and Canada/New England cruises in 2020. In addition, Amsterdam will not operate the 79-day Grand Africa voyage that would have departed on October 3. All guests will be automatically notified if their cruise departure has been cancelled, and what options are available to them.

Having sailed to destinations around the globe for 147 years, all of us at Holland America Line share in your disappointment of this news. We would love to welcome those guests who have been impacted by cancellations on board a future Holland America Line cruise. These guests will be automatically credited with a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) in the amount detailed in the letters sent to each impacted guest, which can be applied toward any future cruises booked within 12 months of issue and sailing by December 31, 2022. Non-cruise fare purchases through Holland America Line, at the guest’s request, can be transferred to a new booking or will automatically be refunded via the method of payment used to purchase the services

Guests with impacted cruises cancelled on May 6, 2020, will receive a Future Cruise Credit per person as follows:

Not Paid in Full: those guests with bookings not paid in full will receive a Future Cruise Credit of double the amount of the deposit. The minimum Future Cruise Credit is $100 and the maximum will be an amount up to the base cost of the cruise fare per person. For example, a $200 deposit receives a $400 credit.
Paid in Full: those guests paid in full will receive 125% Future Cruise Credit of the base cruise fare paid to Holland America Line.

The Future Cruise Credit is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and may be used to book sailings departing through Dec. 31, 2022. The sum of non-cruise purchases, at the guest’s request, can be transferred to a new booking or will automatically be refunded via the method of payment used to purchase the services.

Guests who prefer a 100% refund of monies paid to Holland America Line can visit the Cancellation Preferences form to indicate this preference no later than June 15, 2020. This includes Holland America Line’s Flight Ease air, Cancellation Protection Plan, Holland America Line pre- or post-cruise hotel packages or transfers, prepaid shore excursions and amenities purchased through Holland America Line, and taxes, fees and port expenses.
Please note:

The above options are not applicable to guests booked on a charter sailing. Other booking and cancellation conditions and policies may apply if the cruise was not booked through Holland America Line.
The above options do not apply to EURO zone guests notified of a change to their sailing on or after April 14th, 2020. Please refer to the offer detailed in the letter you received.

Guests impacted by previously announced cancelled voyages have the following options (on sailings that were scheduled to depart through June 30, 2020, plus all 2020 Alaska Land+Sea Journeys and 2020 Alaska cruises on the following ships: Maasdam, Volendam, Oosterdam, Noordam and Westerdam):

Option #1 — Defer your refund and receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) for 125% of the base cruise fare paid plus an Onboard Credit (OBC) of US$250 per person for bookings that have been paid in full. For bookings not yet paid in full, receive an FCC of 125% of the amount paid (up to 125% of the base cruise fare) plus an OBC of US$250 per person. These credits can be applied toward any future cruises booked within 12 months of issue and sailed by December 31, 2022. Non-cruise fare purchases through Holland America Line can be transferred to a new booking or refunded via the method of payment used to purchase the services. All future cruise credits expire 12 months from the date of issue and are subject to published terms.
Option #2 — If you do not choose the 125% FCC plus US$250 per person OBC, a 100% refund of all monies paid will be reimbursed to the original form of payment. This includes Holland America Line’s FlightEase air, Cancellation Protection Plan, Holland America Line pre- or post-cruise hotel packages or transfers, prepaid shore excursions and amenities purchased through Holland America Line, and taxes, fees, and port expenses back to the original form of payment.

Please note:

For guests who recently sailed on an affected or shortened voyage and were directed to this page to choose your compensation option, the examples above are for fully canceled cruises and will not exactly match your offers. Please enter your information where directed and select "Option 1" for the higher value future cruise credit offer you received, or "Option 2" for your refund plus future cruise credit offer as outlined in the letter you received.
The above options are not applicable to guests booked on a charter sailing. If any portion of your travel was not booked through Holland America Line, other booking and cancellation conditions and policies may apply.
The above options do not apply to EURO zone guests notified of a change to their sailing on or after April 14th, 2020. Please refer to the offer detailed in the letter you received.

For those guests who require a refund in lieu of the FCC offer, please visit the Cancellation Preferences form to make your selection by June 1, 2020. Submit one request, and include one guest name, per booking. To the extent a guest does not elect either Option 1 or Option 2 by June 1, 2020, guest will be deemed to have accepted Option 1 (which is a higher value than Option 2).

The deadline for making your cancellation preference selection is June 1, 2020.

Please note: Refunds are being processed by sailing date of the cancelled voyages with the earliest departures being refunded first. We ask for your continued patience in affording us the time to work through the refunds properly. Because we are not able to use our usual automated process, our team is manually handling a large volume of requests while working from home.

As always, we thank you for your understanding and hope you and your loved ones are staying healthy and safe.

Announced April 21^st

Holland America Line Pauses Ship Operations Through June 30

Due to continued travel restrictions, port closures, and surrounding global health concerns, along with the recent recommendation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to extend their previously announced “No Sail Order,” Holland America Line has made the difficult decision to delay the start of the Alaska, Europe, and Canada & New England cruise seasons through June 30, 2020. In addition, we have also made the decision to cancel all 2020 Alaska cruises on the following ships: Maasdam, Volendam, Oosterdam, Noordam and Westerdam. All 2020 Land+Sea Journeys are also cancelled.

Option #1 —If you are paid in full, you may choose to defer a refund and instead receive a future cruise credit for 125% of the base cruise fare paid PLUS an onboard credit of US$250 per person, which can be applied toward any future cruise(s) through December 31, 2021. Non-cruise fare purchases from Holland America Line will be refunded to the method of payment used for the original purchase. The terms and conditions of the Future Cruise Credit appear below. If you haven’t yet paid in full, you will receive a Future Cruise Credit for 125% of the amount paid Holland America Line – plus an onboard credit of US$250 per person, which can be applied toward any future cruise(s) through December 31, 2021 .
Option #2 — If you do not choose the 125% future cruise credit plus US$250 onboard credit per person, a 100% refund of all monies paid to Holland America Line will be reimbursed to the original form of payment. This includes Holland America Line’s FlightEase air, Cancellation Protection Plan, Holland America Line pre- or post-cruise hotel packages or transfers, prepaid shore excursions and amenities purchased through Holland America Line, and taxes, fees, and port expenses.

Please note: The above programs are not applicable to guests booked on a charter sailing. If any portion of your travel was not booked through Holland America Line, other booking and cancellation conditions and policies may apply. The above options do not apply to EURO zone guests notified of a change to their sailing on or after April 14th, 2020.

The internet portal for selecting the option you prefer is now active: https://book2.hollandamerica.com/cp/

The deadline for making your selection online is June 1, 2020. If you do not respond by June 1st, you will be deemed to have elected the respective Option #1 above. Please note, guests who select option 1 may cancel the future cruise credit at any time and the value, less the 25% bonus amount and US$250 onboard credit per person, will be refunded. Most airlines and other travel-related services such as hotels, transportation, and tours are allowing refunds or waiving change fees due to the COVID-19 pandemic; please work directly with those operators regarding their charges.

Please note that due to the unprecedented volume of bookings impacted by cancellations, processing your election of Option 1 or 2 may take up to 60 days as our team works through each booking. Should you have any questions, please contact us.

Announced April 14^th

Dear Valued Travel Partner,

Due to continued travel restrictions, port closures, and surrounding global health concerns, along with the recent recommendation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to extend their previously announced “No Sail Order,” Holland America Line has made the difficult decision to delay the start of the Alaska, Europe, and Canada & New England cruise seasons through June 30, 2020. In addition, we have also made the decision to cancel all remaining 2020 Alaska cruises on the following ships: Maasdam, Volendam, Oosterdam, Noordam, and Westerdam. In addition, all 2020 Land+Sea Journeys are also cancelled.

In light of this extension, we are offering two forms of compensation from which you can choose:

Option #1 — We would love to welcome you onboard a future Holland America Line cruise. As an incentive to plan another voyage, if you were paid in full, you can choose to defer a refund, and instead receive a future cruise credit for 125% of the base cruise fare paid PLUS an onboard credit of US$250 per person. The Future Cruise Credit can be applied toward any future cruise(s) booked by December 31, 2020 for cruise(s) that sail by December 31, 2021. If your client(s) had not yet paid in full, you will receive a Future Cruise Credit for 125% of the amount paid Holland America Line, PLUS an onboard credit of US$250 per person, which can be applied toward any future cruise(s) through December 31, 2021. Non-cruise fare purchases from Holland America Line will be refunded to the method of payment used for the original purchase. The terms and conditions of the Future Cruise Credit appear below.

Option #2 — If you do not wish to receive the 125% future cruise credit plus US$250 onboard credit per person, a 100% refund of all monies received by Holland America Line will be reimbursed to the original form of payment. This includes Holland America Line’s FlightEase air, Cancellation Protection Plan, Holland America Line pre- or post-cruise hotel packages or transfers, prepaid shore excursions and amenities purchased through Holland America Line, and taxes, fees, and port expenses.
Please note: The above programs are not applicable to guests booked on a charter sailing. If any portion of your travel was not booked through Holland America Line, other booking and cancellation conditions and policies may apply. Most airlines and other travel-related services such as hotels, transportation, and tours are allowing refunds or waiving change fees due to the COVID-19 pandemic; please work directly with those operators regarding their charges.

We have incredible offers that you can take advantage of on a cruise later this year or in 2021 — with only 50% deposit. Offers include:

FREE drinks
FREE gratuities
FREE signature dining package
Plus, free WIFI for suites

We recognize that for some clients, choosing the future cruise credit may not be financially possible. That is why we are presenting two options, and have an electronic form available here where guests who are booked during this specific time period can request a cash refund.

The deadline for selecting your compensation choice is June 1, 2020. If you do not respond by June 1st, you will be deemed to have elected a 125% future cruise credit plus US$250 onboard spending money as outlined in Option 1 above. Please note, fully paid bookings may cancel the future cruise credit at any time and the value, less the 25% bonus amount, will be refunded.

Please note that due to the unprecedented volume of bookings impacted by cancellations, processing your election of Option 1 or 2 will take up to 60 days as our team works through each booking.

Should you have any questions, please contact your travel agent.

Having sailed to destinations around the globe for 147 years, all of us at Holland America Line share in your disappointment of this news. We extend our most sincere apologies for this cancellation and we truly appreciate your clients’ patience and understanding during these circumstances.

Thank you for your loyalty and we look forward to our continued partnership.

Warm Regards,
Orlando Ashford
President, Holland America Line

Announced March 30^th

Holland America Line Extends Temporary Pause of its Global Ship Operations for 30 Additional Days

Cruises departing through May 14 are now cancelled

Seattle, Wash., March 30, 2020 — Due to the continued port closures and travel restrictions surrounding global health concerns, Holland America Line has made the decision to extend its pause of global cruise operations for an additional 30 days, cancelling sailings scheduled to depart through May 14, 2020.

Guests currently booked on cruises from April 14 through May 14 and their travel advisors will receive notification from Holland America Line in the coming days regarding options for selecting either a Future Cruise Credit for 125% of their booking value plus an additional $250 shipboard credit or a full refund.

“As the world addresses global health concerns, travel has come to a temporary standstill as communities take necessary precautions to protect themselves,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “All of us at Holland America Line are wishing everyone the best during this unprecedented time.”

All bookings will automatically be cancelled through May 14. Guests do not need to call to cancel, however, they may visit hollandamerica.com to indicate their preference for a 125% Future Cruise Credit with the bonus $250 shipboard credit or 100% refund. Holland America Line will reimburse cancellation fees for air and other arrangements for travel to and from the cancelled cruise. (This does not apply to chartered sailings.)

Holland America Line kindly requests that all those booked on cruises from April 14 through May 14 do not call reservations for assistance as hold times are expected to be very long, and their booking will automatically be cancelled over the coming week.

Recognizing the vital role travel advisors play in the success of the cruise industry, Holland America Line will protect travel advisor commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full and for the total amount of the Future Cruise Credits when guests rebook.

For more information, contact a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.

Announced March 15^th

Holland America Line Announces A Voluntary And Temporary Pause Of Its Global Ship Operations For 30 Days

Due to the continued port closures and travel restrictions surrounding COVID-19 and in an abundance of caution, Holland America Line has made the decision to voluntarily pause global cruise operations of its 14 ships for 30 days, impacting sailings scheduled to depart through April 14, 2020.

The line will be automatically working through the bookings of all impacted guests based on departure date and will send communications in the coming week regarding their options. We sincerely thank everyone for their patience and understanding.

Announced March 11^th

To protect the health and safety of all onboard, Holland America are closely monitoring the evolving situation with respect to COVID-19. Our medical experts are coordinating closely with international health authorities and together, Holland has developed enhanced screening, prevention and control procedures for our ships to keep guests and crew safe. Those individuals identified as high-risk groups are required to undergo enhanced screening measures and additional prevention and control procedures.

These measures include:

Any individual who has traveled from or through mainland China, Macau, Hong Kong, South Korea, Iran, or Italy within 14 days of the start of their cruise (including transit through their airports) will not be permitted to board the ship.
- For itineraries that call in the Bahamas, Holland will, consistent with Bahamian regulations, adopt a 20-day restriction for embarking travelers from these countries.
- Shipboard staff will be scanning guest passports to verify transit through any of the prohibited areas. PLEASE NOTE: Given the serious nature of these circumstances, false responses on pre-boarding documents will result in immediate disembarkation at the next opportunity. Guests who do not disclose travel through prohibited areas may also face additional legal consequences.
Crew members countries where there have been internal lockdowns or where the CDC has declared a level 3 travel advisory will be delayed from joining any ship until further notice.
Any individual who has been in contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, or a person under monitoring for COVID-19 within 14 days of the start of the cruise, will not be permitted to board the ship.
Additional pre-boarding screening of all guests and crew, including temperature checks, who have visited areas with community spread of COVID-19 and for individuals reporting illness.
Standard pre-boarding health reporting for all guests advising them of their obligation to report any symptoms of illness.
Medical screening for COVID-19 on all individuals who visit our onboard Medical Center with symptoms of respiratory illness or fever.
Reporting of all cases of fever and respiratory illness, and any patients with suspected COVID-19 infection, to local health authorities. .
Enhanced environmental sanitation onboard with a disinfectant that kills coronaviruses within 30 seconds.

As with all respiratory illnesses, particularly during cold and flu season, you can take steps to reduce your risk of illness:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
Supplement hand washing by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid close contact with people suffering from respiratory illness.
Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze using a tissue or your bent elbow.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Get vaccinated against seasonal influenza.

While onboard, if you experience any symptoms of respiratory illness, which may include fever, chills, cough, or shortness of breath, please contact the Medical Center. Updated information on the illness and travel advice, can be found at the CDC website.

Please be aware that as this public health situation continues to evolve rapidly, you may be required to undergo additional health screening measures by local health officials before you disembark at any of the ports Holand America visits, and entry requirements are subject to change. If any revisions need to be made to our itinerary due to travel restrictions, or to protect the health and safety of our guests and crew, Holland will update you as soon as possible.

The above is subject to change at any time based on the interests of health and safety of our guests and crew and any other requirements that may be imposed by local authorities.
*14-days is the accepted standard incubation period of COVID-19 recognized by the WHO and US CDC.

Announced March 6^th

Short term cancellation policy for EXISTING bookings:

For all departures between now and May 31, 2020, guests can cancel their booking no later than March 31, 2020, with a minimum of 72 hours in advance of their departure date.
However, this new cancellation program will apply to sailings departing through and including March 9, 2020, which are now within the 72-hour window.
Any cancellation will receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) for the amount of their cancellation fee that can be used for another cruise in 2020 or 2021.
The FCC must be booked by December 31, 2020.
This applies to bookings on spring 2020 Land+Sea Journeys and cruises for all destinations.
FCCs are nonrefundable, non-transferrable and do not have to be used on the same destination that was cancelled.
As a thank you to currently booked guests who join us for their cruise as planned, up to and including departures through May 31, 2020, Holland America will provide an Onboard Credit of US$200 per stateroom/US$100 per person for voyages longer than 7 days and US$100 per stateroom/US$50 per person for voyages less than 6 days. This credit will be automatically applied to each eligible booking so you do not need to take any action.

Book with Confidence Policy: For NEW bookings made March 5th through April 30, 2020 (on sailings April 1 through October 15^th) the following applies:

Guests may cancel up until 30 days prior to departure (additional restrictions may apply) and receive a Future Cruise Credit.
The FCC is valid for 90 days from cancellation and is equal to the non-refundable portion of their deposit and any cancellation fees.
The FCC is only valid on cruises sailing in 2020 or 2021.