Holland America Line Announces a Voluntary and Temporary Pause of its Global Ship Operations for 30 Days

Due to the continued port closures and travel restrictions surrounding COVID-19 and in an abundance of caution, Holland America Line has made the decision to voluntarily pause global cruise operations of its 14 ships for 30 days, impacting sailings scheduled to depart through April 14, 2020.

“These are unprecedented times, and while no guests or crew have tested positive for COVID-19 on any of our ships, we must take a leadership position as a global citizen and ensure that we are doing everything we can to help stabilize the situation,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “We know this decision will be disappointing and also inconvenience guests currently in transit, and for that we sincerely apologize. All of us at Holland America Line are fully committed to supporting all our guests through this change.

“Holland America Line operates 14 ships on all seven continents and we thank all of our guests, travel advisor partners, employees and business partners for their support during this challenging time,” added Ashford. “We look forward to welcoming our guests back on board soon.”

Three cruises that were scheduled to depart this weekend are now cancelled. Booked guests and their travel advisors are in the process of being notified. Guests on these three cruises cancelled this weekend will receive a 100% refund and 100% Future Cruise Credit.

The cancelled cruises are:

• Oosterdam: originally scheduled to embark Saturday, March 14 in San Diego, California.
• Nieuw Amsterdam: originally scheduled to embark Saturday, March 14 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
• Koningsdam: originally scheduled to embark Sunday, March 15, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

All other cruises will debark in various ports. Please check HollandAmerica.com for updates.

Guests who have booked their own air should first contact their airline to make ticket changes. Holland America Line will rebook all guests who purchased their air through the Flight Ease program and will endeavor to help others who booked their own air if they are encountering issues.

Guests currently booked on cruises beyond this weekend that will now not be operating will receive a communication from Holland America Line in the coming days regarding their options.

To fully support guests on the cruises that were cancelled for this weekend and who are in transit, Holland America Line kindly requests that all those booked on cruises next week or later do not call reservations for assistance this weekend as hold times are expected to be very long. The line will be automatically working through the bookings of all impacted guests based on departure date and will send communications in the coming week regarding their options. We sincerely thank everyone for their patience and understanding.

Recognizing the vital role travel advisors play in the success of the cruise industry, Holland America Line will protect travel advisor commissions on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full and for the total amount of the Future Cruise Credits when guests rebook.

Holland America Line’s corporate employees remain working and will focus on supporting guests and travel advisors impacted by these changes and preparing for cruise operations to resume. As more details become known about future cruise itineraries, they will be communicated.

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36 Comments

  1. Ellen Tymoshik May 6, 2021 at 11:49 pm - Reply

    We are scheduled to sail on Sept. 12 for a 24 day Greece cruise. Round trip from Venice. Will we be notified soon on whether or not this cruise will take place?

    Will you notify us as to whether we will be able to leave the ship to walk around in the different ports?

    This will be our first cruise with Holland America so very excited to go.

  2. john bright April 21, 2021 at 5:12 pm - Reply

    Does HAL have any information as to the status of the 20 Day Best of the Mediterranean cruise scheduled for Sep. 29th 2021??

  3. Bryon R MacDonald August 16, 2020 at 7:50 pm - Reply

    Where is latest Global PAUSE information?

  4. Stephen Burton July 29, 2020 at 12:04 pm - Reply

    Is Westerdam cruise 27th October 2020 from Santiago to Buenos Aires still taking place?

  5. Gill Pszczola July 24, 2020 at 6:02 am - Reply

    We received notification on 21 Feb. that our cruise on 11th April on Westerdam out of Yokahama had been cancelled, and that we would receive a full refund plus future cruise credit.
    Since then we have heard nothing and it is now the 24th of July. Hopefully this will be resolved very soon.

  6. Frances Gelven July 20, 2020 at 11:49 pm - Reply

    Have asked many times about cruise from SAN Diego to Hawaii November 3 2020.A reply of some sort would be appreciated

  7. Danny July 15, 2020 at 9:09 am - Reply

    Why am I still waiting for a refund 16 weeks after my cruise was cancelled?

  8. Michael Ironside June 26, 2020 at 6:57 pm - Reply

    booked and paid in full November 2019. Cancelled early March 2020 and have heard nothing from Holland America. Very frustrating.

  9. Dora Magdaleno June 23, 2020 at 3:08 am - Reply

    I scheduled and I booked the 7-day Mexican Cruise. I cancelled my cruise due to COVID 19, and soon after the company cancelled the cruise. I was given credit for what I paid for. Most recently, I wanted to reschedule my trip and I was told that prices when up –
    I don’t think that is fair – that I have to pay the difference. I will be contacting the Better Business Bureau and see if this is right? I do feel that I am being taken advantage.
    Please respond?

  10. SARAH J BROOK June 20, 2020 at 10:30 am - Reply

    My cruise on MS Noordam scheduled to depart Auckland on March 19, 2020, was cancelled. All paperwork has been submitted and accepted. Still awaiting refund 90+ days later. This was one of the first cruises subjected to cancellation. Kindly expedite my reimbursement without further delay.

  11. Constance Primosic June 16, 2020 at 7:31 pm - Reply

    I appreciate you canceling cruises. It has been 60 days since I requested a refund. I am really in need of this money.

    May 23 Zandam to Canada

  12. Barbara Mathews June 15, 2020 at 2:04 am - Reply

    Has SAN Diego -Hawaii 3/11/20 cruise been cancelled as yet

  13. H Taylor May 11, 2020 at 9:55 am - Reply

    We were due to take an Alaskan cruise/land tour starting from Vancouver on 30th May. This was booked through Tui. We have not heard anything from either yourself or Tui. Who do we contact to discuss this holiday with.

  14. Ellen Hanley May 9, 2020 at 6:36 pm - Reply

    WE just received a credit to my credit card for partial reimbursement of our March 11, 2020 on the Rotterdam from San Diego to Ft Lauderdale.
    I don’t know any details . Could you please help us
    The first days of the cruise were great but c’est la vie the rest got cancelled

  15. Paul Shellenbarger & Paulette York May 5, 2020 at 2:45 pm - Reply

    This is are second requests for our refunds on the Koningsdam cruise out of Fort Lauderdale Florida March 15, 2020. You stated that we would get a 100% refund and a 100% future cruise credit. Also you mentioned helping with the cost of returning home. We sent you a itemized sheet on those cost.
    Again no word from you.

  16. Cristin Finch April 30, 2020 at 8:48 pm - Reply

    We have an Alaskan cruise out of Vancouver for the first sailing in July 2020. Really needing to know if it will be cancelled or not.

  17. mary a dorsey April 14, 2020 at 5:56 pm - Reply

    I want to thank you for suggesting I watch wonderful shows on lincoln center. I just listened to an artist named stjepan hauser a cellist. I have never heard music more beautiful in my life. This has made my day. I am calling all my friends to let them know how kind holland america is to think of us at this time. I have been on several hollland america cruises and will definitely will be with you again. God Bless

  18. Karen Anderson April 1, 2020 at 2:27 am - Reply

    We are so sad as our extended family was so looking forward to our cruise from Montreal to Boston June 27 on Zaandam. And so devastated that the ship is having so much trouble even in US finding a port. Since Canada is closing its borders until July, our cruise has been canceled. However, though an announcement was due yesterday about refunds, we have not heard a word. What is the plan? And some of us have trip insurance but most don’t. Thank you.

  19. David Franklin March 31, 2020 at 12:01 pm - Reply

    When will I get my refund for the cruise that was canceled

  20. Allen & Laura Hall March 30, 2020 at 7:14 pm - Reply

    Our HA Alaskan cruise was cancelled due to the Coronovirus.
    It was to take place from May 30 to June 6, 2020
    It was paid in full. Do we receive a full refund?
    Also, if we re-book, do we HAVE to take an Alaskan cruise?

  21. Marilyn Ibach March 30, 2020 at 6:31 pm - Reply

    We were scheduled to sail on the Rotterdam on March 11th. We called HAL on Saturday, March 7th to cancel based on world health events. After the cruise embarked, it ended early with offers of 100% refund and 100% future cruise credit. We did NOT get that. We lost the airline costs and more. A future cruise credit is a sad hope in the light of world events. Very disappointed in HAL’s response to a very grave health crisis.

  22. AURELIO PALOMINO March 30, 2020 at 10:14 am - Reply

    Deseamos anular crucero del 27.Sep.2020 New Founderland and New England, pero quisieramos
    tomar otro similar para el año 2021.-
    Mariners 414165200 y 414567198.

  23. jenny March 30, 2020 at 7:12 am - Reply

    can you please let me know what the planning is for the cruise dep 17th April from Barcelona are you or can we cxd that cruise because we can not get to spain and on top of that Spain has a lot of deaths because of corona and a total lockdown

  24. Elaine Davis March 29, 2020 at 10:20 pm - Reply

    We have a cruise scheduled to depart April 28 out of Barcelona Spain ending in Venice Italy May12 on the Nieuw Amsterdam. It is very obvious that due to the current COVID 19 situation, this cruise should be cancelled. When can we expect to be officially notified?
    Thank you

  25. Audrey Mezyk March 29, 2020 at 3:23 pm - Reply

    My husband and I have our very first cruise coming up in June to Alaska. We feel confident you will cancel cruise if it comes to that.

    Sincerely
    Audrey Mezyk

  26. Jim Ashbrook March 29, 2020 at 3:03 pm - Reply

    We are scheduled to leave Buenos Aires April 2 on the Koningsdam. We got no notification and they will not give us our money back. Not happy!

  27. Rhonda and Bob Rinninsland March 17, 2020 at 10:54 pm - Reply

    Thinking of the Zaandam crew.
    We just sailed with them to Antartica. Please tell them they are in our thoughts and prayers.

  28. Lillian March 17, 2020 at 6:44 pm - Reply

    I want to thank you for your thoughtfulness and concern towards your fellow man. You have put humanity before profit and this is an admirable quality for a business. I have a trip coming up in May to Alaska. I now feel better that Holland America will put my health concerns at ease. I feel confident that you will cancel the cruise if it comes to that before putting us at risk. I want to thank you for this. My family and I are truly grateful.

    Sincerely,
    Lillian Hobbs

  29. James McCurdy. 036606218 March 17, 2020 at 6:23 pm - Reply

    Dear HAL, I think your decision to cancel your cruises was not only a bold move, but the correct move. Having been on 17 cruises and counting, you “did good”.
    Jim McCurdy

  30. Elaine stark March 17, 2020 at 4:50 pm - Reply

    What does it look like for thr Voyage of the Vikings. Do you think that it is go?

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