Holland America Standby Program: Benefits and Drawbacks

The Holland America Standby Program is a unique opportunity for travelers to save money on their cruise.

You can save up to 80% on the published fare through this program.

To be eligible, you typically need to be flexible with your travel dates and itinerary.

Keep in mind that you won't have a choice of cabin category or location, and you may not be able to stay in a suite.

To get started with the Holland America Standby Program, you'll first need to find an eligible sailing that appeals to you on the Holland America website. You can choose from a variety of destinations, including Vancouver, Seattle, Boston, Montréal, and others.

To get on the standby list, you'll need to call 877/724-5425. You'll be charged the standby amount, starting at $99 per day, right away.

You'll be notified by phone or email if a vacancy has opened for you within days of departure. If you're not selected for the cruise, the amount you paid will be refunded.

Suggestion: Holland America Vancouver to Alaska

If you are selected and choose not to go on the cruise, no refund will be issued. So make sure you want to do this.

Guests are selected from the standby list in the order they were added. You can't remove yourself from the list once you're on there.

Here's a quick rundown of the process:

The Holland America Standby Program is a unique way to sail at a fraction of the cost of a full-price cruise. It's perfect for people with flexible schedules who aren't picky about where their stateroom is on a cruise ship and can travel at a moment's notice.

The program works similarly to an airline's standby list, but with less uncertainty. You'll know if you're confirmed on the cruise before embarkation day, so you don't have to travel to the port in hopes of getting a space.

Standby offers a variety of cruises to destinations such as Alaska, the Caribbean, Panama, Canada, and New England from major United States cruise ports.

The ideal candidates for the Standby program are people who don't mind uncertainty for a period of time, living close to the key departure homeport markets, or those who can make quick arrangements for others to care for their homes on short notice.

Individuals with remote jobs or remote capabilities can also benefit from the program, as they can work on Wi-Fi alone. However, it's essential to consider the spotty nature of Wi-Fi on cruises and how much your day-to-day job responsibilities rely on it.

Here's a list of the ideal passenger characteristics for the Holland America Standby program:

The Holland America Standby Program offers a chance to cruise for just $99 per person per day, with taxes and fees included.

Only staterooms on select sailings departing within the next week have space available for standby bookings. These sailings are typically posted on the Holland America website.

Standby cruisers can sail for $99 per person per day for an inside or oceanview stateroom or $129 per person per day for a verandah stateroom.

Take a look at this: Holland America Cruises from Seattle

Holland America Line's Standby Program is a game-changer for travelers with flexible schedules. The program allows guests to sail for a fraction of the cost of a full-price cruise, with fares starting at $99 per person per day.

To be eligible for the program, you must be willing to book a cruise with a departure date within the next week. Guests are confirmed within 7 to 2 days prior to departure, in the order of when they were added to the Standby List.

The program is ideal for cruisers who live within driving distance of a cruise port, as it allows them to sign up to be on standby for select sailings. If space is available, travelers can cruise for a reduced fare.

Here are some key benefits of Holland America Line's Standby Program:

Traveling solo with a single occupancy room is a great option, and it's surprisingly affordable.

You can be added to the Standby List for a single occupancy room, which is a fantastic way to save some money.

The cost is $99 per day in an Inside or Ocean View stateroom, or $129 per day in a Verandah stateroom.

This is a great way to travel solo without breaking the bank, and you'll still get to enjoy all the amenities and activities on board.

The Holland America Standby Program has its pros and cons. A solo traveler can save up to 64% on a cruise by booking through the Standby Program, as seen in the example of a weeklong cruise from Québec to Boston, where a solo traveler would pay $693 instead of $1,578.

The Standby Program is especially appealing to solo travelers who don't have to pay the dreaded single supplement fee. This fee is a penalty for missing out on opportunities to upsell phantom impulse buys to your phantom cabin mate.

The biggest catch of the Holland America Line Standby Program is that you may not know if you're going on the cruise until two days before departure, and you must be able to travel at a moment's notice. However, if you do get selected, you'll save a significant amount of money.

Here are some key things to keep in mind when considering the Holland America Standby Program:

To join the Holland America Line cruise standby list, you'll need to make a payment for the cruise's reduced standby fare. This payment is non-refundable if you're selected to cruise and choose not to sail.

The cruise line begins reviewing its standby list about seven days before departure and up until the cruise embarkation date. If space is available, you'll be notified by email or phone.

You'll be required to make the full payment on the cruise's reduced standby fare if the cruise you're interested in is still accepting standby bookings.

On a similar theme: Hamburg Amerika Line

A weeklong "Canada & New England Discovery" cruise from Québec to Boston starts at $1,578 for an interior cabin, while a solo standby cruiser would pay only $693, a savings of 56%.

Solo travelers can save big with Holland America's Standby Program, which eliminates the dreaded "single supplement" fee.

The same per-person standby rate applies whether you're traveling solo or with a partner, making the standby option especially appealing to solo cruisers.

For example, a Verandah cabin on the same cruise would cost $2,678 with taxes and fees for a guaranteed rate, but just $959 for a solo standby cruiser, a 64% discount.

Cruising YouTuber Ken Bryan of My Travel Window calls Holland America's Standby Program "one of the best values for a solo traveler", but notes that you'll need to be okay with the uncertainty of possibly not sailing.

A unique perspective: Holland America Alaska Ships

The Holland America Line Standby Program can be a great way to save money on a cruise, but it's not without its drawbacks. The limited cabin options are a major consideration, as you'll have zero avenues for finagling your way to a more desirable cabin if you end up in cramped quarters.

You'll also need to be prepared for the possibility that you won't be selected for the cruise. If selected, the cruise is non-refundable, so you must be sure you can and want to go when you sign up.

The standby rate excludes gratuities, which you'll need to factor into the entire cruise cost for budgeting. If you're not confirmed on the cruise, Holland America Line will refund you, but it could take between four to six weeks to receive the refund.

Some itineraries may not be available for standby bookings, and you'll need to check the Holland America Line website for a list of currently offered ports of embarkation. You'll also need to be able to travel at a moment's notice, as you may not know if you're going until two days before the cruise.

If you're not selected to sail, your payment will be refunded. However, if you are selected to cruise and you choose not to sail, your payment will not be refunded.

Here are some key things to keep in mind when considering the Holland America Line Standby Program:

The Holland America Standby program is a unique way for the cruise line to fill vacant cabins on short notice. It's perfect for those with flexible schedules who aren't picky about where their stateroom is on the ship.

You'll travel at a fraction of the cost of a full-price cruise, making it a great option for those on a budget. The program is similar to airline standby, but with a twist - you'll know if you're confirmed on the cruise before embarkation day.

The Standby program offers a variety of cruises to destinations like Alaska, the Caribbean, Panama, Canada, and New England from major US cruise ports.

Here are some key facts about the program: