Dear Travel Partner,
I have some exciting news to share!
We know you and your clients have been eager for more information about our upcoming cruises to Alaska, and I am very pleased to let you know that based on recent guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and positive discussions with government authorities in the United States, we are announcing our plans to restart cruising to Alaska with roundtrip Seattle cruises later this summer. Our first 2021 Alaska voyage will set sail on Nieuw Amsterdam on Saturday, July 24, 2021.
Due to CDC guidance, these cruises to Alaska are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination. We will be communicating more information regarding health and safety protocols and requirements in the coming weeks.
For our shortened Alaska summer season we will be sailing one ship, Nieuw Amsterdam. She will be sailing 7-Day Alaska Explorer voyages that begin and end on Saturdays. As a result of this change, your clients' bookings on Oosterdam for voyages sailing from July 25 to September 26 will be transferred to Nieuw Amsterdam, and their cruises will now depart one day earlier. You will receive new booking confirmations with new booking numbers and the updated itinerary by June 1, 2021. For more information about the new itinerary, please click here.
Due to current guidance regarding vaccination age requirements, if your clients' booking includes children who are younger than 12 years of age, we will be transferring the booking to the comparable 2022 voyage.
Bookings will be automatically transferred with cruise fare and promotions protected, in the same or equivalent stateroom category.
For your clients’ affected bookings on these voyages, we will be sending system-generated notifications later tonight to provide you with your specific client booking information per voyage. Please note that these notifications are generated by our reservation system and will be emailed to the address associated with your travel agency profile.
Air booked through Holland America Line's Flight Ease will be automatically transferred to the new embarkation and disembarkation dates. Guests with independent arrangements should book their air to arrive at Seattle International Airport (SEA) no later than 1:30 PM on embarkation date, and to depart no earlier than 11:00 AM on disembarkation date.
If your clients booked a Holland America Line pre- or post-cruise transfer between the airport and the pier, we will transfer that to the new booking. Other non-cruise-fare purchases, such as shore excursions, specialty dining, spa, or gifts will be transferred to the new booking or refunded to the original form of payment.
To facilitate their check-in and ensure that you’re receiving updated information and guest notifications related to their sailing, please encourage your clients to download the Holland America Line Navigator App to their smart phone, tablet or laptop. Required pre-cruise check-ins and their paperless boarding pass will be done using the app. On board, we’ll be converting many of our publications and handouts to paperless distribution. With Navigator, guests can plan their daily activities, browse and purchase shore excursions, view restaurant menus, make dining reservations, check their account balance and more. There is no charge to use Navigator on board, and your clients can download the app on Apple's App Store or Google Play.
Additional preventive health measures under Holland America Line’s Travel Well program will be in place. Please check that page regularly, as our protocols are subject to change as work continues in collaboration with medical experts and government bodies to ensure the practices evolve in line with the latest advice.
All guests will be required to comply with all health and safety protocols at the time of departure for travel to and from the ship, as well as onboard protocols and the procedures in place for the destinations we visit. Travelers should check on travel requirements regularly, for both travel to the cruise and their return home, since policies continue to change.
We know you and your clients are both eager for more information regarding our return to service and these voyages. We anticipate significant interest in these itineraries and you may experience potential extended on-hold wait times when calling the Reservations Call Center, so we appreciate your patience as we work to assist each caller. Should you need assistance, please reach out to us at the appropriate office:
Seattle Office (USD/CAD currency):
Contact us at 1-800-577-1728 or 206-626-7395.
We are available Monday – Friday, 6:00am – 6:00pm PT.
Saturday – Sunday 7:00am – 4:00pm PT.
Southampton Office (GBP currency):
Contact us at 0344 338 8600.
We are available Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:30pm.
Rotterdam Office (EUR currency):
Contact us on 00800 1873 1873.
We are available Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:30pm.
For Netherlands contact us on 0800 724 5425.
We are available Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:30pm.
Sydney Office (AUD currency):
Contact us at 1300 987 321.
We are available Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 7:00pm.
Thank you again for your partnership. I am delighted that your clients will be among the first of our guests to be back on board our ships. On behalf of our entire team, we cannot wait to welcome them on board.
Warm Regards,
Gus Antorcha
President, Holland America Line
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