Understanding Holland America Cancellation Policy and Fees

Holland America's cancellation policy can be complex, but understanding it is key to avoiding unexpected fees.

Holland America charges a cancellation fee, which can be up to 100% of the cruise fare if you cancel within 30 days of departure.

If you cancel your cruise, you'll also be responsible for any non-refundable expenses, such as flights and hotel stays.

To avoid these fees, it's best to purchase travel insurance, which can protect you against unexpected cancellations or interruptions.

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Holland America's cancellation policy varies depending on the length and type of cruise. For cruises of 6 nights or less, you'll start to incur cancellation penalties at 75 days prior to sailings.

If you're canceling a short cruise, here's what you can expect:

For cruises of 7 nights or more, the cancellation policy kicks in a bit earlier, at 91 days before sailing.

Here's a breakdown of the penalties for longer cruises:

If you're planning a longer voyage, such as a Grand World Voyage or a 30+ day Transatlantic sailing, the cancellation policy is a bit more restrictive.

For these types of cruises, you'll incur penalties at 121 days before sailing, with the following penalties applying:

Holland America Line offers two types of cancellation protection plans: the Standard Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP Standard Plan) and possibly other options. The CPP Standard Plan allows you to cancel your trip up to 24 hours prior to departure and receive an 80% refund of eligible amounts paid.

The plan is available to all guests, regardless of residency, and can be added to your reservation at any time before cancellation fees start to accrue. Payment is due at time of purchase, and the cost is non-refundable.

Here are some benefits of the CPP Standard Plan:

If you cancel 24 hours before departure, you don't need to file a claim, and Holland America Line will reimburse 80% of the eligible amounts paid (minus the plan cost).

Holland America offers a Cancellation Protection Plan that provides flexibility and peace of mind for your cruise vacation. The plan starts at $79 per person and can be purchased when booking a cruise.

The Standard Plan allows guests to cancel for any reason up to 24 hours prior to the start of their trip, receiving a refund equal to 80% of the cruise cost. This plan is available to all guests, regardless of residency.

The Platinum Plan is a more robust option that covers trip delays and interruptions, medical expenses, and worldwide emergency assistance. However, it is not available to residents of New York State, Quebec, and Puerto Rico.

You can cancel for any reason whatsoever by providing written cancellation notice up to 24 hours prior to the start of your scheduled travel arrangements made by Holland America Line with the CPP Standard plan. The cost of this plan is non-refundable.

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Here are the details of the Cancellation Protection Plans offered by Holland America:

Holland America's Cancellation Protection Plans can provide you with peace of mind and financial security in case of unexpected events.

The Standard Plan allows you to cancel for any reason up to 24 hours prior to the start of your trip and receive a refund equal to 80% of the cruise cost.

This plan starts at $79 per person and can be purchased when booking a cruise, providing flexibility and protection for your investment.

With the Platinum Plan, you can cancel anytime prior to departure and receive a 90% refund of cruise costs, as well as coverage for trip delays and interruptions, medical expenses, and worldwide emergency assistance.

This plan is not available to residents of New York State, Quebec, and Puerto Rico.

In addition to cancellation protection, Holland America's CPP Standard Plan also provides an additional $500 liability for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage.

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This coverage can be a lifesaver if you're traveling with expensive or irreplaceable items.

Here are some scenarios where Holland America's Cancellation Protection Plans can help:

Filing a claim can be a hassle, but you might not need to do it in some cases. If you cancel 24 hours before departure with the Standard Plan, you don't need to file a claim.

Holland America Line will reimburse 80% of the eligible amounts paid, minus the plan cost, so you'll still get some of your money back.

The cost of Holland America's Standard Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP Standard Plan) is non-refundable.

The per person, per cruise cost is listed with the cruise fares.

Payment for the CPP Standard Plan is due at the time of purchase.

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Starting at $79, you can get a Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP) from Holland America Line. This plan provides a refund of up to 80% of your total cruise vacation if you need to cancel for any reason.

The CPP Standard Plan is available to all guests, regardless of residency, and can be purchased prior to the date on which cancellation fees begin to accrue. Payment for the plan is due at time of purchase.

The cost of CPP Standard is non-refundable, and the per person, per cruise cost is listed with the cruise fares. You can receive a refund of up to 80% of the eligible amounts paid to Holland America Line if you cancel up to 24 hours prior to the start of your scheduled travel.

In addition to the refund, Holland America Line automatically assumes an additional $500 (USD) of liability for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage of guests who purchase the CPP Standard Plan.

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Holland America Line is offering a Future Cruise Credit for guests who cancel their cruise or Alaska Land+Sea Journey departing through May 31, 2020.

The credit is for the amount of the paid fare, which can be used for another cruise in 2020 or 2021, and must be booked by Dec. 31, 2020.

Guests can cancel with a minimum of 72 hours in advance of departure date, but no later than March 31, 2020.

However, those booked between now and March 9, 2020, can cancel under this new policy despite being within 72 hours.

For those who keep their cruise plans, an Onboard Spending Credit of $200 per stateroom/$100 per person will be automatically applied to their shipboard account for voyages longer than seven days.

The credit is $100 per stateroom/$50 per person for voyages less than six days.

Holland America Line is also offering a Book with Confidence program that allows for cruise and Land+Sea Journey cancellation.

Guests who make a new booking by April 30, 2020, for itineraries that depart on or before Oct. 15, 2020, can cancel for any reason and receive a Future Cruise Credit in the amount of any cancellation fees applied.

The cancellation must be made up to 30 days before departure.

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If you're planning a cruise to Alaska, be aware that Holland America has a specific cancellation policy for Alaska Cruisetours.

Cancellation charges for these sailings are based on the number of days prior to departure.

Here's a breakdown of the charges:

Note that fares for Alaska Cruisetours are also subject to certain restrictions, such as non-refundable fare codes and reduced deposits.

If you've booked a Holland America cruise and test positive for Covid-19 before departure, you'll be relieved to know that their Worry-Free Promise has got you covered.

This promise is valid for bookings made by September 30, 2022, and sailing on or before December 31, 2022, and will automatically refund you for any non-refundable cancellation fees in the form of a Future Cruise Credit.

Guests who are quarantined on board or disembarked early will also be eligible for this promise, as will those who are unable to travel to the country of embarkation due to governmental travel restrictions within 30 days of embarkation.

In the event of a cancellation, the remainder of what you paid for the cruise will be refunded to the original form of payment.

If you're planning a cruise to an all other destination, there are some important things to keep in mind. You'll need to cancel your booking at least 75 days prior to departure to avoid a cancellation charge equal to the deposit requirement.

Cancellation charges for all other destinations are as follows:

Please note that some fare codes are non-refundable, so be sure to check the specifics of your booking. Fares and deposits are in U.S. dollars, and taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional.