Dear Travel Advisor,
Our success is driven by your continued support, and we recognize that you’ve been working harder than ever during this uncertain time for travel. We greatly appreciate your commitment to Holland America Line and value your partnership.
Please join me for a Holland America Line webinar where we’ll provide a business update.
Date: March 12, 2020
Time: 9:00 AM PT/12:00 PM ET
Registration Link: Register Here
We also want to help you reassure clients who have current bookings or who want to book a future cruise so we have made some temporary changes to our booking policies. Below is what we are doing to support you and your clients:
For Existing Bookings: To give your clients peace of mind, Holland America Line is introducing a new Short Term Cancellation Policy on select cruises. For all departures between now and May 31, 2020, we are allowing guests the option of cancelling their booking no later than March 31, 2020, with a minimum of 72 hours in advance of their departure date. However, this new cancellation program will apply to sailings departing through and including March 9, 2020, which are now within the 72 hour window. Any cancellation will receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) for the amount of their cancellation fee that can be used for another cruise in 2020 or 2021. The FCC must be booked by December 31, 2020. This applies to bookings on spring 2020 Land+Sea Journeys and cruises for all destinations. FCCs are nonrefundable, non-transferrable and do not have to be used on the same destination that was cancelled. FCCs are non-commissionable; however, we will offer a $50 bonus re-booking commission per person. We have also made the decision to give your clients longer to make final payment for June 2020 sailings. For all June departures, final payment will now be due at 60 days prior to sailing date.
We also know that there are people with specific individual health situations that impact their ability to safely travel during these times. For those guests who are able to provide supporting documents from their health care provider, Holland America Line will issue them a Future Cruise Credit. For information on submitting a request with documentation under this “Compassion Policy,” please contact our Reservations Department. This offer is available for guests booked on any sailing, regardless of departure date.
As a thank you to currently booked guests who join us for their cruise as planned, up to and including departures through May 31, 2020, we will provide an Onboard Credit of US$200 per stateroom/US$100 per person for voyages longer than 7 days and US$100 per stateroom/US$50 per person for voyages less than 6 days. This credit will be automatically applied to each eligible booking so you do not need to take any action.
For New Bookings: Holland America Line has announced a new “Book with Confidence” program for 2020 cruises. On bookings made from March 1 through April 30, 2020, on sailings departing April 1 to October 15, 2020, your clients may cancel for any reason (up to 30 days before departure; additional restrictions apply) and receive a Future Cruise Credit in the amount of their full deposit and cancellation fees. In addition, this offer is combinable with all of our promotions, including the “Pack These Values” promotion, giving them even more reasons to book their cruise vacation with you today.
And as a thank you for your support during this challenging time, on new bookings made between March 1 and April 30, 2020, you can earn an additional 4 percent bonus commission. This offer is applicable to all of our 2020 sailings.
For more details, please see our Question & Answer document.
We always advise that you encourage your clients to purchase one of Holland America Line’s Cancellation Protection plans (Standard or Platinum). While we have always encouraged guests to protect their vacation investment, it is now more important than ever. Our Cancellation Protection plans allow guests to cancel for any reason, and we also have recently confirmed the policy covers today’s circumstances. That is not the case with many travel insurance plans, so it is important that you direct your clients to a plan like ours that will fully cover them and provide the greatest flexibility.
For the most updated information and for all we are doing to protect guests sailing on our ships, please visit and encourage your clients to visit the Travel Health Advisory page on our website. We also suggest watching the videos on this page from our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Grant Tarling, on ways to stay healthy.
We sincerely appreciate your ongoing partnership, especially in these extraordinary times.
If you have any questions, please contact your Business Development Manager, call 1-800-544-0443 (select option 4) or email sales@hollandamerica.com.
Thank you again for your business and your loyalty to Holland America Line. As always, we remain committed to your success.
Orlando Ashford
President, Holland America Line
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