General
Information
- New Passport Requirements
Very important! Please read the following information regarding changes to passport requirements. These changes impact U.S. Citizens and non-U.S. Citizens. For more information, please see the U.S. State Department website for passport information. Expired passports are not acceptable.
WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND CARRYING A PASSPORT VALID FOR SIX MONTHS BEYOND THE DURATION OF YOUR TRAVEL.
U.S. and Canadian citizens: Air Travel: As of January 23, 2007, with the implementation of the first phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), all persons, including citizens of the United States, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda will be required to have and carry a valid passport or WHTI-compliant document to enter or re-enter the United States by air. This is an important requirement for our cruise guests booked on Alaska and Eastern Canada/New England cruise itineraries. In addition, this requirement impacts our Canadian guests that travel by air to or from any of our U.S. embarkation ports. The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport.
Holland America Line recommends that all guests travel with a valid passport during their cruise. This will enable guests to fly from the U.S. to meet their ship at the first port should they miss their scheduled embarkation and allow guests that must disembark the ship before their cruise ends due to an emergency to fly back to the U.S without significant delays and complications.
Land and Sea Travel: Beginning on June 1, 2009, with the implementation of the final phase of the WHTI, in addition to the passport/WHTI-compliant document requirement for air travel, all persons, including citizens of the United States, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda will be required to have and carry a valid passport or WHTI-compliant document to enter or re-enter the United States by land or sea.
For more information, please see the www.travel.state.gov/passport or call the National Passport Information Center toll free at 1-877-487-2778 or TDD/TYY at 1-888-874-7793. Prior to June 1, 2009, the final implementation date, U.S. and Canadian citizens may travel without a passport on itineraries that do not require re-entry to the U.S. by air. In these cases, all U.S. and Canadian citizens must carry the following documents as proof of citizenship for travel within the western hemisphere countries listed above: 1) picture identification issued by an official government agency AND an original or certified copy of birth certificate from the state or province of your birth; or 2) picture identification issued by an official government agency AND a U.S. or Canadian Naturalization Certificate.
For travel outside of the western hemisphere countries U.S. and Canadian citizens must have and carry a passport valid for six months beyond the duration of the cruise.
Non-U.S. or -Canadian citizens:
You must have and carry a passport valid for six months beyond the duration of the cruise. Please carefully verify the existing identification requirements for your particular travel situation. In addition, non-U.S. citizens who have previously been admitted to the United States for permanent residence must carry their Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), commonly known as a Green Card. Resident aliens not in possession of this must obtain one at the nearest office of the U.S. Immigration Service.
Visas: Some countries require that you obtain official authorization (called a visa) before entering the country. Usually a fee is required. You are responsible for obtaining any necessary visas. If you do not hold proper visa documents, you could be denied boarding without compensation.
NEW Visa Waiver Program Requirements:
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is undergoing changes. The US government plans to implement the Electronic System for Travel Application (ESTA) by January 12, 2009. ALL VWP travelers to the U.S. will be required to have an approved electronic travel authorization via ESTA.
Guests who are citizens of following VWP countries:
Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
- Online Check-In (must be completed in English)
We strongly encourage you to expedite your check-in by completing the Online Check-In at least 30 days prior to departure. New U.S. government security regulations require us to submit certain guest information to law enforcement authorities at least 60 minutes prior to departure. To meet this requirement, we must have the necessary information in our records at least 90 minutes before departure. If we do not have your information by this deadline, you will be unable to sail. Guests are urged to complete the Online Check-in process before leaving home. Guests who wait to check in at the terminal risk being unable to sail even if they arrive at the terminal before the vessel leaves. You will be responsible for all costs you incur to join the vessel at the next port.
Online Check-in will allow you to submit your Immigration Form and print out your Signature Preferred Boarding Pass, which will speed your embarkation process at the pier.
Please use a computer with Internet access and a printer to complete Online Check-in.
Airlines, limousines and other transfer vehicles have luggage allowance policies which may limit the amount and/or weight of luggage you may take with you and/or impose excess luggage charges. You are responsible for complying with the policies. Please keep this in mind when packing.
Traveler advisory - Baggage fees and other charges may be directly assessed by airlines or airports. Once you are notified of your flight details, please contact your airline.
If Holland America Line, due to any cause whatsoever, is liable for loss of, damage to or delay of your property, the amount of Holland America Line's liability will not exceed US$100 (US$600 for passengers who have purchased Cancellation Protection Plan) unless you have specified to Holland America Line in writing the true value of your property and paid to Holland America Line before departure of the Cruise, CruiseTour or HAL Land Trip, 1% of the value in excess of US$100 or US$600, as applicable. In that event, Holland America Line's liability will be limited to the amount so specified. Please contact the ship's Front Office immediately upon embarkation for forms and additional details; you must have your luggage with you when making these arrangements. Holland America Line's baggage policy is further detailed in the baggage section of your Cruise Contract.
IMPORTANT: Do not pack your passport, medications, cruise documents or airline tickets. Keep them close at hand in your purse or jacket pocket. We also strongly suggest that you carry or otherwise keep with you important items such as perishables, medicine, liquor, cash, credit or debit cards, jewelry, gold, silver, or similar valuables, securities, financial instruments, records or other valuable or business documents, laptop computers, cellular telephones, cameras, hearing aids, electric wheelchairs, scooters, or other video or electronic equipment, binoculars, film, videotape, computer disks, audio disks, tapes or CDs. (Remember that checked baggage might not be accessible at all times.) Holland America Line assumes no responsibility for the items listed above.
Use a carry-on bag. Keep your travel documents, identification, medication, jewelry, camera, film, cash and other valuables with you at all times.
Do not pack your passport, medications, cruise documents or airline tickets in your checked luggage. (Remember that checked luggage might not be accessible at all times.) Keep these items close at hand in your purse or jacket pocket. We also strongly suggest that you carry or otherwise keep with you important items such as perishables, cash, credit or debit cards, jewelry, gold, silver or similar valuables, securities, financial instruments, records or other valuable or business documents, laptop computers, cellular telephones, cameras, or other video or electronic equipment, hearing aids, electric wheelchairs, scooters, binoculars, film, videotape, computer disks, audio disks, tapes or CDs. Holland America Line assumes no responsibility for the items listed above.
Clothing & Dress Code 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 relaxed and casual. Warmer climates call for clothing made of lightweight, breathable fabrics. For cooler climates, we suggest casual clothes that can be layered easily and possibly a raincoat and waterproof hat or umbrella and gloves. Certain shore excursions may require particular attention to clothing. For example, certain churches or other places of worship may not allow tank tops or short pants. Bring a swimsuit as all of our ships have pools and whirlpools. You may wish to bring more than one outfit for the water. We ask that you wear shoes and a cover-up over a bathing suit when walking through the interior of the ship. If you would like to jog on the sports deck or work out in the fitness center, bring workout gear. Footwear should include comfortable walking shoes for visits ashore and sandals or rubber-soled shoes for strolling on deck.
Evening dress falls into two distinct categories: Formal or Smart Casual. Smart Casual can be defined as slacks and collared shirts for men and casual dresses, slacks and informal evening wear for women. T-shirts, swimsuits, tank tops and shorts are not allowed in the restaurants or public areas during the evening hours. On festive Formal evenings, ladies usually wear a suit, cocktail dress or gown and gentlemen wear a jacket and tie, dark suit or tuxedo. There are approximately two formal nights per week.
In order to complement your fellow guests, Holland America Line asks that you observe the suggested dress code throughout the entire evening.
Holland America Line cautions against the use of garment bags with hanger hooks protruding from the top. We also suggest that you consider placing articles in clear plastic bags inside your luggage to minimize handling by airport security screeners. Pack shoes on top of other contents in your luggage to expedite the screening process. Finally, make sure that you label the inside of your carry-on and checked luggage with your name and contact information. Bear in mind that the screening process for any point of embarkation is similar to that at an airport. As such, all weapons and dangerous devices are prohibited and may result in denied boarding. For complete, updated information regarding travel, please check the official website of the Transportation Security Administration.
Please Note: Firearms, explosives, fireworks and illegal drugs of any kind are prohibited without exception. Important: Do not pack your passport, medications, cruise documents or airline tickets in your checked luggage. (Remember that checked luggage might not be accessible at all times.) Keep these items close at hand in your purse or jacket pocket. We also strongly suggest that you carry or otherwise keep with you important items such as perishables, cash, credit or debit cards, jewelry, gold, silver or similar valuables, securities, financial instruments, records or other valuable or business documents, laptop computers, cellular telephones, cameras, or other video or electronic equipment, hearing aids, electric wheelchairs, scooters, binoculars, film, videotape, computer disks, audio disks, tapes or CDs. Holland America Line assumes no responsibility for the items listed above. If Holland America Line, due to any cause whatsoever, is liable for loss of, damage to or delay of your property, the amount of Holland America's liability will not exceed US$100 (US$600 for guests who have purchased Cancellation Protection Plan) unless you have specified to Holland America Line in writing the true value of your property and paid to Holland America Line before departure of the cruise or cruisetour, 1% of the value in excess of US$100 or US$600, as applicable. In that event, Holland America's liability will be limited to the amount so specified. Please contact the ship's Front Office immediately upon embarkation for forms and additional details for declaring additional value; you must have your luggage with you when making these arrangements. Holland America's luggage policy is further detailed in the luggage section of your Cruise Contract.
You will find your luggage tags in the top pocket of your documentation wallet. Please refer to the Arrival Advice section of your Travel Documents book for instructions on when to attach them to your luggage.
On board our ships, U.S. dollars is the only currency accepted. We also accept U.S. travelers checks. A currency exchange service will be available for selected itineraries, such as our European and World Cruise programs. In most ports of call you may easily exchange your U.S. dollars into the local currency at banks, airports and major hotels. In many countries, you can use your ATM card to obtain local currency. Most locations will accept major credit cards and some will even accept U.S. dollars. If you choose to use U.S. dollars, carry smaller denominations--ones, fives, tens and twenties.
Please note: Foreign currencies cannot be accepted or exchanged by the Front Office.
Cash Advance
Cash advances are available at the Front Office. All cash advances are subject to restrictions. A 3% service fee will be added to your onboard account for all cash advances.
Our crew works very hard to make sure that every aspect of your cruise meets the highest standards. This includes those crew members who serve you directly, such as our dining room wait staff and the stewards who tend to your stateroom each day. There are also many others that tend to your care that you may never meet, such as galley and laundry staff. To ensure that the efforts of all of our crew members are recognized and rewarded, a daily Hotel
Service Charge of US$11 per passenger is automatically charged to each guest's shipboard account. If our service exceeds or fails to meet your expectations, you are free to adjust this amount at the end of the cruise. The Hotel Service Charge is paid entirely to Holland America Line crew members, and represents an important part of their total compensation package. A 15% service charge is automatically added to bar charges and dining room wine purchases. In terminals, airports, ports of call and on shore excursions, we suggest that you extend gratuities consistent with customary local practices.
Our cashless society is designed to make your life on board as simple as possible. When you board the ship, your account has already been activated and you may make purchases by simply showing your guest identification card and signing a receipt. On embarkation day, you will need to register your credit or debit card (Visa®, Mastercard®, American Express®, Discover®) in order to use your onboard account for shipboard purchases. Your card will be pre-authorized for US$60 per person for each day of your cruise. At the end of your cruise, you will receive a final statement, and your card will be charged only for the actual amount of your purchases. Please inform your credit or debit card issuer in advance that your card will be used on a Holland America Line ship. This will help prevent delays in obtaining pre-authorization on board. Some banks may keep the pre-authorization in place for up to 30 days. If you do not want to use a credit or debit card, the ship will collect a cash deposit from you at time of boarding in the same pre-authorization amount. Any excess deposit will be refunded to you at the end of the cruise. Travelers checks may be cashed at the front office to make your deposit. Personal checks are not accepted on board.
Embarkation times are printed on the front of your Cruise Contract. Generally, however, early embarkation will commence at 11:30 a.m. There may be certain exceptions due to local governmental procedures. Due to new port security requirements at Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, we are unable to provide our guests with access to the cruise terminal prior to 11:00 a.m. Keep in mind that you must be on the ship at least one hour before departure, and the gangway will be pulled 30 minutes before sailing.
New U.S. government security regulations require us to submit certain guest information to law enforcement authorities at least 60 minutes prior to departure. To meet this requirement, we must have the necessary information in our records at least 90 minutes before departure. If we do not have your information by this deadline, you will be unable to sail. Guests are urged to complete the Online Check-in process before leaving home. Guests who wait to check in at the terminal risk being unable to sail even if they arrive at the terminal before the vessel leaves. You will be responsible for all costs you incur to join the vessel at the next port.
Prior to boarding, you will pass through a security checkpoint. Next, you will be required to complete ship check-in formalities. Please note: Except for wine and champagne, alcoholic beverages may not be brought on board during embarkation or in ports of call. Bottles and other containers will be collected for safekeeping and delivered to your stateroom on the last day of the voyage.
Upon completion of check-in, you will receive a guest identification card equipped with a bar code. This card serves as your identification for security procedures when embarking and disembarking the ship and for making purchases on board. It is also your room key. Please have your card and photo identification ready and available whenever getting on or off the ship, as you will need to scan your card at the optical monitors located at the gangway.
IMPORTANT: For this procedure, you will need to present your travel documents, including your Cruise Ticket portion of your Cruise Contract, a completed Immigration questionnaire (one per person), the Bahamian Immigration questionnaire (one per person, if applicable) and the required proof of citizenship. You can expedite your check-in by completing the Online Check-In prior to leaving home.
For more information on this and the documentation you will need to have with you, please see Documentation. You may also receive arrival documentation from Immigration when arriving at the airport. Please keep these available for check-in. The Front Office on board may require the collection of passports for cruises that travel from country to country to prepare for immigration formalities. You will receive a passport receipt upon collection of your passport, and will be advised on board when the passports will be redistributed.
When embarkation commences, our previous sailing guests will have just disembarked and we will still be in the process of preparing the vessel for your cruise. We anticipate that your stateroom will be ready at approximately 1:00 p.m. Therefore, we kindly ask you not to visit your stateroom until an announcement that the staterooms are ready has been made via the Public Address system. For security reasons, the loading of luggage, which you checked in at the terminal, will not commence until 1:00 p.m. Your luggage will arrive in your stateroom later in the afternoon, via your cabin steward. Please feel free to relax in the Public and Pool Areas. The Lido Restaurant embarkation buffet and the Pool Grill shall open at 12:00 noon.
Our embarkation procedures are smooth and easy; you carry nothing but your hand luggage, and everything is beautifully organized so you will have no worries. It is truly a suitable prelude to your carefree holiday. Don't miss the sail away festivities with our entertainment staff!
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.
- 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.
- Last-Minute
Checklist
To ensure peace of mind while you are away, why not run over this
last-minute checklist of things to do before you go? Then you're
off, without a worry in the world!
- 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.
Holland America does not discriminate against persons on the basis
of disability. They seek, to the extent feasible, to accommodate
guests with disabilities. Holland America has a limited number of
staterooms designed to be wheelchair and scooter accessible.
Certain ship transfer operations (i.e., during tendering and at
the gangways) may not be fully accessible to wheelchairs or
scooters. Some guests with limited mobility may find it difficult
to embark or disembark the ship at certain times while at dock or
while tendering due to steep gangways and steps, particularly
during low or high tide. The decision whether or not to provide
mobility assistance to a guest and their mobility assistance
device (wheelchair, scooter, walker, etc.) up or down a ship's
gangway, or on or off a tender boat, is at the sole discretion of
the Captain and will be made based on his evaluation of guest and
crew safety. The Captain will try to reasonably accommodate
passenger needs. For persons not capable of walking on their own,
the use of a wheelchair will be the primary mobility assistance
aid. In some situations, mobility assistance will involve carrying
passengers. Situations may occur in which mobility-impaired guests
may not be able to go ashore at the time they desire or are unable
to go ashore at all in certain ports. For the safety of all
concerned, the Captain shall make the final determination
regarding the carrying of mobility-impaired guests, taking into
account all appropriate matters including, but not limited to,
weather conditions, ship's location, weight of the passenger,
etc.
Guests must also be aware that certain transfer and shore
excursion facilities may not be fully accessible to guests with
disabilities. Although we endeavor to make sure other companies
providing transfers and shore excursions comply with legal
requirements, we cannot guarantee all of these companies are able
to provide facilities that are accessible to persons with
disabilities. For detailed, up-to-date information on
accessibility issues involving shore excursions, we strongly
recommend visiting the Shore Excursion Office on board.
In limited situations (either on board or ashore), where an
individual with a disability would be unable to satisfy certain
specified safety and other criteria, even when provided with
appropriate auxiliary aids and services, we may find it necessary
to ask the individual to make alternative travel arrangements.
Guests who are unable to care for their basic needs (e.g.
dressing, eating and attending safety drills) MUST have a capable
traveling companion. It is essential that we be notified of any
special medical, physical or other requirements you may have as
soon as possible.
Wheelchairs: Due to a limited number of wheelchairs on
board, guests who require the use of a wheelchair should plan to
bring their own rather than relying on the availability of Holland
America Line's equipment. Wheelchairs and scooters must be stored
inside the cabin and cannot be parked in the corridors. Holland
America's wheelchairs are for onboard use only and are not allowed
off the ship.
Oxygen: Any guest needing continuous oxygen for chronic
conditions must make their own arrangements prior to travel.
Please contact your travel agent for more information. Please make
sure you bring the service company's address and their local
contacts in foreign countries, as applicable.
Call 1-800-942-3301
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