Cruising with Holland America is one of the most pleasurable, relaxing vacations imaginable. Perhaps this is your very first cruise. Or perhaps it's your twenty-first.

In either case, you probably have a question or two about your upcoming voyage. To help you make the most of your adventure and in anticipation of any special concerns you may have, holland america has gathered all of the important information in the following sections.

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Call 1-800-942-3301 or Email for Availability & Reservations

Baggage Tags
You will find your baggage tags in the top pocket of your documentation wallet. Please fill them out completely and attach one to each piece of your luggage before you leave home. These bag tags enable us to immediately identify you at airports and hotels and reunite you quickly with your luggage once you board the ship. To expedite this last process, we suggest you write your last name and stateroom number in large, bold letters on your bag tag.



Bon Voyage Gifts & Gift Packages
If you would like to send a bon voyage gift to one of your fellow guests, or set up your own private bon voyage toasting, you may certainly do so. Your travel agent has information about our gift order items, which include a variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, gift baskets, clothing, gifts for children, casino chips and flowers at very reasonable prices.

Holland America Line also offers a variety of gift packages for guests celebrating a birthday, anniversary, honeymoon or other special event. "Celebrations," "Total Indulgence" and "Just for Us" gift packages include a variety of services and mementos to commemorate your special occasion. Also available is the popular Renewal of Vows package, for couples that want to reaffirm their commitment in an elegant shipboard setting. Click here for information on Gift Order selections..

Gift orders must be prepaid and received two weeks in advance of sailing. Last-minute gift orders may be charged to your VISA, American Express, MasterCard, or Discover card up to two working days before sailing.




Dining Requests
Although Holland America Line offers open seating for breakfast and lunch, there are two seatings for dinner. Dinner hours are 5:45 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. for Alaska cruises, and 6:00 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. for non-Alaska cruises. You may request either sitting time, table size and with whom you wish to sit. All such requests should be made in advance of sailing through your travel agent. Requests for early or late sitting will be confirmed or waitlisted at the time of booking. Table numbers and table size are on request only and will be assigned by the Maitre d' on board.

The status of your seating request is listed on your Cruise Contract. A confirmation card with seating assignment and table numbers will be waiting for you in your stateroom upon boarding. If for some reason your dining request was not submitted before your cruise date, the Maitre d' would assign you to the sitting that is available

What are different meal seatings?
Holland America has two seatings which differ only by time. To choose, just decide whether you prefer to dine early or late then request your preference when you book. Which ever seating you choose, remember that one of the best ways to make new friends is to ask for a large table.


Is cruise ship dining as good as I've been told?
Everything you've heard about cruise ship dining is true. You'll find a varied selection of entrées (appetizers, salads, soups, vegetables, and desserts, too) every time you sit down. And there's virtually no limit on what or how much you can order.

Just because your cruise ship offers plenty of delicious food doesn't mean you'll come home out of shape. You can choose low-cal, spa, or fitness menu selections that are just as tempting as the regular menu. You can also jog, do aerobics, work out in the gym, swim, golf, play tennis, and much more. 


Special Diets and Meals: Kosher*, gluten free, salt free, fat free, baby food, diabetic and other special dietary needs can be accommodated only if we are notified in advance. While we shall do our utmost to fulfill all requests, agricultural and perishability restrictions may apply. Special dietary requests received less than 60 days before sailing may be impossible to fulfill. Please reconfirm any special requests with the Maitre d' after you board. You may also preorder wine, or the Wine Navigator Package if you like.

* Kosher meals are prepared off the ship in a Kosher kitchen, frozen and brought to the table sealed in their original containers. There is no Kosher kitchen on board. We also do not have Kosher dishes, utensils, pots or pans on the ship.

• Have the Post Office hold your mail.
• Stop your newspaper delivery, or have a friend or neighbor take them in for you.
• Refill your medicine prescriptions sufficient for the duration of the cruise and bring them with you in your carry-on bag.
• Leave copies of your passport, airline tickets, traveler checks and any credit cards you plan to use with a family member or trusted friend.
• Distribute your ship communications cards to friends and relatives.
• Place a card with your name and address inside your luggage, as well as on the outside. At this point, you should also attach your completed Holland America Line baggage tags.
• Bring your travel and health insurance information and have it handy at all times.
• Bring your immunization records.

Verify that your identification and travel tickets are in your carry-on bag and will be available at all times.


Medication
Your prescription medication should be kept close at hand in your purse or carry-on bag rather than in your checked luggage. Be sure to bring a sufficient supply of medication and transport it in the original container. It is also a good idea to carry a written list of your medications in case they are lost. The list should include the name of the drug, dosage, and times taken. In case of emergency Holland America will assist in filling prescriptions. However, please note that additional charges apply.



Packing Advice
The right clothing can make a big difference in the enjoyment of your cruise. First and foremost, dress for comfort. Daily life aboard ship and in ports of call is laid-back and casual. We encourage you to wear whatever makes you feel most comfortable-sportswear, shorts, slacks, sundresses and so on.

Warmer temperatures call for clothing made of lightweight, breathable fabrics. You also may wish to bring two or three outfits for the water, since you'll be spending so much time in and around it. For cooler temperatures we suggest casual clothes that can be layered easily. On some days you may need a raincoat and waterproof hat or umbrella. Gloves are a good idea as well.

Footwear should include comfortable walking shoes for visits ashore and sandals or rubber-soled shoes for strolling on deck. Finally, if you'd like to jog on deck or work out in the fitness center, bring workout gear.

Evening dress falls into three separate categories-casual, informal and formal. Each night, a daily program will be delivered to your stateroom announcing the suggested dress for the following evening.

Comfortable, relaxed clothing is fine for evenings designated as casual; however, t-shirts, jeans and shorts are not allowed in the dining room or public areas. During informal nights, dresses or pantsuits for women and lightweight jackets (tie optional) for men are the standard.

On festive formal evenings, women usually wear cocktail dresses or gowns and men usually wear business suits or tuxedos. There are approximately two formal nights per week. (Gentlemen: Though business suits or tuxedos are suggested attire for formal evenings, they are certainly not required. You are welcome to wear a jacket and tie on formal nights.) If you would like to leave some space in your luggage for purchases during the cruise, Formalwear for ladies and gentlemen can be pre-ordered and will be ready in your stateroom when you board. Just call Cruise Line Formalwear at 800 551-5091 to reserve.

In order to complement your fellow guests, Holland America Line asks that you observe the suggested dress code throughout the entire evening.

Disembarkation Procedures
Guests will be requested to complete a disembarkation form at the beginning of the cruise to coordinate transfers and luggage handling with the post cruise arrangements. Please fill out the form and return it to the Front Office as soon as possible.

A disembarkation talk will be given shortly before the end of your cruise, outlining important procedures regarding customs formalities, baggage handling, travel arrangements, etc. It is essential that at least one member of your party attend.

On the last night of your cruise, you will need to place your luggage, with the provided luggage tags, outside your cabin before you retire. Keep your baggage tags on your luggage as they contain your departing flight information. Gather together your personal identification, airline tickets, customs forms, medications, and other important items along with the clothes and shoes you intend to wear the next day. Place them in your carry-on bag or on your person so you can access them easily.

After the ship docks, it must be cleared by local authorities before any guests may disembark. You should plan on being able to leave the ship two to three hours after the time of docking indicated on your Cruise Contract. Outbound flights should be scheduled with plenty of time for transfers from the ship to the airport. The amount of time you allow depends on the disembarkation port.

Call 1-800-942-3301 or Email for Availability, Pricing & Reservations