While Aussies cannot leave Australia yet, Holland America Line says that while it continues to work with government and port authorities to develop its plans to return to cruising, it is extending its pause of European cruise operations to include departures through to June 30, 2021.
The pause will impact cruises departing in May and June on Nieuw Statendam, Volendam and Westerdam, along with the Collectors’ Voyages associated with those cancelled cruises, with Collectors’ Voyages combining non-repeating itineraries for an extended, back-to-back cruise experience.
Cruises affected by this pause in operation are:
- Nieuw Statendam: Eight departures from May 2 to June 27, 2021, that include 7 and 14 day Norway and Baltic itineraries, as well as the 14 and 21 day Collectors’ Voyages of those cruises.
- Volendam: June 19, 2021, 14 day Adriatic Dream cruise and the 24 day Adriatic Dream and Greek Odyssey Collectors’ Voyage departing the same date.
- Westerdam: June 19, 2021, 12 day Greece and Adriatic Antiquities cruise and the 24 day Adriatic Antiquities and Mediterranean Romance Collectors’ Voyage departing the same date.
All Guests Able to Rebook in 2022 on a Comparable Cruise and Holland America Line is notifying all guests and their travel advisors of their options.
Guests currently booked on the cancelled Europe departures will be able to rebook on an equivalent cruise in 2022 at the 2021 fare, with all cash and Future Cruise Credit funds moved to the new booking and guests will be offered a comparable cruise in 2022 to replace the cancelled voyage and instructions on how to confirm this selection online.
If guests decide not to accept a cruise booking in 2022 by April 15, 2021, they automatically default to receive a Future Cruise Credit of 110% of any cash paid on the booking, with the minimum FCC is USD $25 and the maximum will be an amount up to the base cruise fare paid.
Guests will retain any other FCC used for the cancelled 2021 booking with all FCC amounts moved to their loyalty account for use on a future cruise booking. For all bookings in 2022, standard cancellation policies apply.
A full refund option is also available, with guests who prefer a 100% refund of monies paid to Holland America Line to visit the Cancellation Preferences Form to indicate their preference no later than April 15, 2021.
The FCC is valid for sailings departing through Dec. 31, 2022. Non-cruise fare purchases, that is shore excursions, airfare, gifts, dining and spa will be transferred to a new booking if possible or automatically refunded via the method of payment used to purchase the services.
The above options are not applicable to guests booked on a charter sailing and other booking and cancellation conditions and policies may apply if the cruise was not booked through Holland America Line, so guests should see the terms and conditions in the Cancellation Preferences Form for all details.
Holland America Line previously paused global cruise operations and cancelled all departures on all ships through to April 30, 2021, Mediterranean cruises through to early June and all departures sailing to or from a Canadian port in 2021.
Holland America Line is closely following the protocols set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other authorities and is preparing ships and implementing procedures to meet all requirements for approval once a restart date is determined.
A report by John Alwyn-Jones
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