News

Holland America extends pause in cruise operations

SEATTLE — Holland America Line is extending its pause of cruise operations for all departures through April 30, 2021.

According to the cruise line, the extension was necessary as it continues to prepare and develop plans to meet the CDC’s ‘Framework for Conditional Sailing Order.’ This latest extension includes departures to Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Pacific Coast, Caribbean, Mediterranean and Canada/New England.

Holland America is also cancelling all Alaska cruises through mid-May, Alaska departures on three ships through early June, any Land+Sea Journeys connected with cancelled Alaska sailings, Mediterranean cruises through early June and Zaandam’s Canada/New England itineraries through August.

Holland America Line previously paused global cruise operations and cancelled all departures on all ships through March 31, 2021.

The full list of cruises impacted by this latest 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 through early June (roundtrip from Vancouver)
• Mediterranean: Volendam cruises through early June (between Venice and Civitavecchia (Rome; Westerdam through early June (roundtrip from Venice or between Venice and Piraeus (Athens)
• Canada/New England: Zaandam cruises through August (between Boston and Montreal)

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

Impacted cruises will automatically be cancelled and no action is needed when opting for the FCC. All guests will receive an FCC per person, as follows:

• Paid in full: Those who have paid in full will receive 125% FCC of the base cruise fare paid to Holland America Line
• Not paid in full: Those with bookings not paid in full will receive an FCC of double the amount of their deposit; the minimum FCC is US$100 and the maximum will be an amount up to the base cruise fare paid

FCCs are valid for 12 months from the date of issue and may be used to book sailings departing through Dec. 31, 2022. Non-cruise fare purchases (shore excursions, gifts, dining, spa, etc.) will not be transferred to a new booking and will be refunded to the original form of payment. Other funds such as airfares paid to Holland America Line may 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 can visit the Cancellation Preferences Form to indicate their preference no later than Feb. 15, 2021.

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.