Standby Program

Guests are charged when they sign up for the Standby List. If you are not selected, you will be refunded. Refunds are processed in 4 to 6 weeks. If you are selected and you choose not to sail, you will not be refunded.  

Guests are confirmed within the week of sailing (7 to 2 days prior to departure) in the order of when you are added to the Standby List. Guests may not remove themselves from standby once added, so if you prefer more flexibility, we recommend you book a fare that offers immediate confirmation or request to be added to the standard waitlist, if available.

Guests may select to be added to the Inside/Ocean View Standby List for $99 per person per day, or the Verandah Standby List for $129 per person per day. If a guest is on the Verandah Standby List and no Verandahs are available, they will be offered an Inside or Ocean View stateroom, if available, for the reduced cost of $99 per person per day. The guest may choose to not take this alternate option for a full refund. If offered a stateroom in their original Standby List category, the fare becomes non-refundable.

Yes! The more the merrier. 3rd and 4th guests are eligible to travel for free* when booked in a stateroom with guests confirmed through the Standby List (*Cruise Fare is $0. Price shown reflects all non-Government Fees and Expenses).

Yes! Solo travelers can be added to the Standby List for $99 per day in an Inside or Ocean View stateroom, or $129 per day in a Verandah stateroom.

Yes. Cancellation Protection Plans must be added at the time of sign up for the Standby booking and paid in full.  They are non-refundable.

Holland America Line will notify you and/or your travel advisor by email or phone. Please ensure that we have the most up to date and best email address and phone number for your booking by going into Online Check-in, once you have added yourself to the Standby List.  Guests who are selected for the “Standby List” but do not ultimately travel, will not be entitled to a refund.

The below information is current as of October 11, 2024. Because government travel requirements change periodically, we recommend that you check with your travel advisor, a visa service or the consulate of each country being visited.

2025 124-DAY GRAND WORLD VOYAGE
 

As a courtesy, Holland America Line provides the following information for guests holding a passport from the U.S., Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Austria, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Romania, and Mexico. For guests holding a passport from nations other than the above list we recommend you inquire with CIBTvisas or your local consulate.

• Nationals of Brazil and Mexico will require a visa for the United States.
• Nationals of the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Austria, Romania, and United Kingdom will require an ESTA or Visa for the United States, please review the United States section below for entry requirements. 
• An e-visa for Chile is required for nationals of Australia; e-visas may be obtained via https://tramites.minrel.gov.cl/
• An eTA is required for entry to Australia. For more information visit Subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority. An Australian eTA is not required for nationals of Australia or New Zealand.
• All nationalities we advise will require a visa for Indonesia, local immigration officials will issue a visa to guests arriving with the ship for a nominal fee.  Fees will be charged to your on-board account in USD.
• All nationalities we advise will require a visa for Sri Lanka, for more information please visit www.eta.gov.lk.  It is issued within 90 days of entry, the first eligible date to apply is Sunday, December 8, 2024. If you apply directly through the official government site it will ask for an address in Sri Lanka, guests can input name of the Ship (Zuiderdam) and port (Colombo, Sri Lanka).
• All nationalities we advise will require a visa for Maldives, local immigration officials will issue a visa to guests arriving with the ship. Currently no Fee.
• Nationals of Mexico will need a visa for South Africa, please visit South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs for more information.
• All nationalities we advise will require a visa for Tanzania, local immigration officials will issue a visa to guests arriving with the ship for a nominal fee.  Fees will be charged to your on-board account in USD.
• Nationals of Mexico and Romania will need a visa for Namibia.
• While the European Union does plan on the implementation of their required ETIAS for multiple nationalities throughout 2025, an implementation date for the twelve nationalities listed above has not yet been announced.  As implementation plans are solidified, we recommend you check ETIAS (europa.eu), regularly for updates.

UNITED STATES

A United States visa is required for certain nationalities. If you are an eligible passport holder from a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) country, you will be able to enter/exit the U.S. without a visa provided you are in possession of a biometric passport AND pre-register online for the VWP through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

ESTA applications may be made online at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/.  Applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel; however, DHS recommends that applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel.

If you have travelled to Cuba since January 2021, you are not eligible to participate in the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP). You cannot enter or transit the US on an ESTA, including for medical evacuations. You will need to apply for a visa from the nearest US Embassy. 

NOTE: Every country has its own entry requirements, and guests assume personal responsibility for having the necessary documents when boarding.

Don’t put your travel plans at risk; Holland America Line recommends that you use a visa service to secure your required documentation. We have partnered with CIBTvisas to assist with the collection of necessary documents.

Contact CIBTvisas by phone: 
U.S. & Canada residents: 866-935-8472  
Netherlands residents: 08003202233  
Germany residents: 800 3202233  
Australia residents: 1300964164  
United Kingdom residents: 0800-1218239  
Belgium residents: 32 2 775 8912  
Singapore residents: 66031096
Spain residents: 902 113 829  
Switzerland residents: 41 (0) 31 313 20 20 and 41 (0) 22 884 18 70  
France residents: 0144107272

Contact CIBTvisas by email:
HollandAmerica@cibtvisas.com

Learn more about CIBTvisa.