Holland America Line wants to give consumers the confidence to make travel plans over the next several months, so it has extended its Flexible Cancellation Plan to September 30.
The line has also announced that as part of its "Worry-Free Promise," it will continue to implement best practices for COVID-19 health safety including operating vaccinated cruises and requiring a medically-supervised negative COVID-19 test prior to cruising.
Under the Flexible Cancellation Plan, originally offered for cruises departing through the end of April, guests who make a new booking by March 31, 2022, for itineraries departing on or before September 30, can cancel for any reason and receive a Future Cruise Credit in the amount of any cancellation fees that normally would be incurred.
Cancellations must be made up to 30 days before departure. Additionally, final payments for cruises through May 31, 2022, are due at 60 days instead of 75 or 90.
"We want our guests to feel confident when they book a cruise," said HAL president Gus Antorcha. "We've seen so much excitement from guests who have cruised with us since our return. We want everyone who is looking forward to that next adventure to feel comfortable making those plans, and our 'Worry-Free Promise' offers that comfort."
For additional reassurance, HAL's Cancellation Protection Program can be purchased for new cruises or Alaska Cruisetour bookings or existing bookings as long as it is purchased before the date cancellation fees begin to accrue.
Offered as a Standard or Platinum plan, guests can cancel for any reason up to 24 hours before cruise departure with Standard and right up to departure under Platinum and receive refunds between 80% to 90% of eligible amounts paid. The cost varies by cruise fare and is non-refundable.
Holland America Line has joined others in pledging to operate with health and safety protocols for COVID-19 guided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization and the company's medical team and health experts. This news comes despite the fact that CDC protocols went from mandatory to optional as of January 15.
"By operating our cruises with protocols that are based on the latest advice and guidance of our global experts, we have seen a very low rate of cases, and in almost all instances, with mild or no symptoms," Antorcha said. "We will keep these best practices in place because we know they are working to protect our guests, our crew, our homeports and the communities we visit."
Holland America Line returned to cruising in July 2021 following the industrywide pause with ships in operation in the Caribbean, Mexico and California coast, having successfully completed seasons in Alaska and the Mediterranean. The line's remaining ships will restart cruising in spring 2022.
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