While HAL-Holland America continues to work with government and port authorities to develop plans to return to operation, the company announced it is extending its pause of European cruises to include departures through June 30, 2021.
The extension of the pause will impact voyages departing in May & June on ms Nieuw Statendam, ms Volendam, and ms Westerdam, along with Collectors’ Voyages associated with the cancelled sailings. Collectors’ Voyages combine nonrepeating itineraries for a back-to-back cruise experience.
Sailings affected by the pause in operation include:
- ms Nieuw Statendam: 8 departures from May 2 through June 27 that include 7- and 14-day Norway & Baltic itineraries, along with the 14- and 21-day Collectors’ Voyages of those trips.
- ms Volendam: June 19, 2021, 14-day Adriatic Dream along with the 24-day Adriatic Dream and Greek Odyssey Collectors’ Voyage on the same date.
- ms Westerdam: June 19, 2021, 12-day Greece and Adriatic Antiquities along with the 24-day Adriatic Antiquities and Mediterranean Romance Collectors’ Voyage on the same date.
Holland America is notifying all passengers and their travel advisors of the options. Those currently booked on the cancelled Europe departures are able to rebook on an equivalent voyage in 2022 at the 2021 fare with all cash and FCC (Future Cruise Credit) funds moved to the new booking. Customers will be offered a comparable trip in 2022 to replace the cancelled cruise and instructions on how to confirm the selection online.
If passengers decide not to accept a booking in 2022 by April 15, 2021, they automatically receive an FCC of 110% of any cash paid on the booking. The minimum FCC is US$25 and the maximum is an amount up to the base fare paid. Passengers retain any other FCC used for the cancelled 2021 booking with all FCC amounts moved to their loyalty account for use on a future booking. For bookings in 2022, standard cancellation policies apply.
Those who prefer a 100% refund of money paid to Holland America can visit the Cancellation Preferences Form to indicate the preference no later than April 15.
The FCC is valid for cruises departing through December 31, 2022. Noncruise fare purchases will be transferred to a new booking or automatically refunded via the method of payment used to buy the services.
The options are not applicable to customers booked on charter sailing. Other booking and cancellation policies may apply if the voyage was not booked through Holland America.
HAL previously paused global cruise operations and cancelled all departures on all liners through April 30, 2021; Mediterranean voyages through early June; all departures sailing to/from a Canadian port in 2021.