Before Cruising

• Travel Documents: U.S. citizens sailing on a closed-loop cruise departing from and returning to the same U.S. port may generally travel with an original or certified birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID. A valid passport book is still strongly recommended in case an emergency requires you to return home by air from a foreign country.
• International Itineraries: Cruises beginning or ending in different countries, along with many international itineraries, require a valid passport book. Some destinations also require passports to remain valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates.
• Non-U.S. Citizens: Passport, visa, and residency document requirements vary depending on your citizenship, residency status, itinerary, and ports of call. Review the latest requirements well before your sailing date.
• Name Matching: The name on your reservation must exactly match your government-issued identification. If your name has changed because of marriage, divorce, or another legal reason, carry the appropriate supporting documentation during your trip.
• Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is strongly recommended, particularly for international cruises. Third-party policies often provide broader medical, cancellation, baggage, trip interruption, and emergency transportation coverage than plans purchased directly through the cruise line.
• Research Your Ship: Holland America ships are known for classic design, spacious public areas, destination-focused venues, and live music spaces. Reviewing your ship's deck plans before sailing will help you locate restaurants, lounges, theaters, pools, and your stateroom more quickly once onboard.
• Pre-Cruise Savings: Have It All, specialty dining, shore excursions, Wi-Fi, spa treatments, and other onboard experiences may be available before sailing. Booking in advance often provides the best selection and can help you plan your cruise budget.
• Luggage Tags: Print your Holland America luggage tags before leaving home and attach them securely after arriving at the cruise terminal to help prevent damage during your travels.
• Carry-On Essentials: Pack medications, passports, valuables, electronics, swimwear, and a change of clothes in your carry-on luggage. Checked bags may not arrive outside your stateroom until later in the afternoon.

Holland America Navigator App

• Your Cruise Companion: The Holland America Navigator App is the main tool for managing your cruise before and during your vacation. Download it before sailing and sign in with your Holland America account to access current trip details.
• Before You Sail: Use the app or Holland America website to complete online check-in, review boarding documents, manage reservations, purchase shore excursions, book specialty dining, and prepare for embarkation.
• Once Onboard: The app provides your daily schedule, dining information, deck plans, onboard account, port details, reservations, and ship information throughout the cruise.
• Daily Planning: Holland America cruises often include enrichment programs, destination talks, live music, cooking demonstrations, and other scheduled events. Checking the app each day helps you plan around activities that match your interests.

Tipping / Gratuities

• Crew Appreciation: As of July 2026, Holland America charges daily Crew Appreciation of $18.00 per person, per day for non-suite staterooms and $20.00 per person, per day for suite guests. These gratuities recognize crew members across the ship, including those working behind the scenes.
• Prepay or Pay Onboard: Crew Appreciation may be prepaid before sailing or automatically added to your onboard account during the cruise. Guests wishing to discuss adjustments may do so through Guest Services before disembarkation.
• Additional Service Charges: A 20% service charge is automatically added to beverages, specialty dining, mini-bar purchases, spa services, and many other onboard purchases. These charges are separate from your daily Crew Appreciation.
• Exceptional Service: While never required, many guests choose to provide additional cash tips to crew members who provide exceptional service during the voyage.

Embarking

• Online Check-In: Complete online check-in through the Holland America Navigator App or website before arriving at the terminal. During check-in you'll upload travel documents, receive your boarding information, and select your arrival time where applicable.
• Arrival Time: Plan to arrive during your assigned Port Arrival Time for the smoothest boarding experience. Club Orange guests and many suite guests may receive priority embarkation where available.
• Carry-On Beverages: Guests of legal drinking age may bring one unopened 750ml bottle of wine or champagne per person in their carry-on luggage on embarkation day. A corkage fee applies if consumed in public dining venues. Beer and hard liquor are generally not permitted.
• Carry-On Essentials: Keep medications, travel documents, valuables, electronics, swimwear, and a change of clothes with you. Checked luggage may not arrive at your stateroom until later in the afternoon.
• Embarkation Day Lunch: Lido Market is often the busiest dining venue immediately after boarding. Many ships also offer complimentary lunch in the Main Dining Room, providing a quieter way to begin your cruise.
• Explore The Ship: Once onboard, take time to familiarize yourself with your ship's restaurants, lounges, theaters, pools, fitness center, and Music Walk venues before the ship departs.
• Airplane Mode: Switch your phone to Airplane Mode before sailing and connect only to the ship's Wi-Fi if you've purchased an internet package to avoid expensive international roaming charges.
• All-Aboard Time: Holland America strictly enforces all-aboard times at every port. Plan to return at least 30 to 60 minutes before the published departure time.

Cabin

• Stateroom Amenities: Holland America staterooms include a private bathroom, individually controlled climate settings, television, mini refrigerator or mini-bar, hair dryer, in-room safe, closet space, and under-bed luggage storage. Available amenities vary by ship and cabin category.
• Stateroom Steward: Your stateroom steward services your cabin each day and can assist with extra towels, pillows, blankets, ice, and other reasonable requests throughout your cruise.
• Room Service: Room service is available throughout the day. Continental breakfast is generally complimentary, while certain menu items or delivery options may carry an additional charge depending on current Holland America policies.
• Storage Space: Store suitcases under the bed after unpacking to maximize available floor space. Holland America cabins generally provide generous closet, drawer, and shelf storage for longer voyages.
• Balcony Cabins: Keep the balcony door completely closed whenever the air conditioning is operating. Opening the balcony door disables the air conditioning system on many Holland America ships until the door is fully closed.
• Club Orange: Available as an optional upgrade on many sailings and included with select suite categories, Club Orange provides priority services, an exclusive dining venue or dedicated dining area where available, and additional onboard benefits.

On Deck

• Pools & Relaxation: Holland America ships feature multiple pools, hot tubs, spacious sun decks, and comfortable outdoor seating designed for relaxation rather than high-energy attractions.
• The Retreat: Available on select ships, The Retreat offers a quieter adults-focused sundeck with premium loungers, attentive beverage service, and private cabanas available for an additional charge.
• Crow's Nest: Located high above the bow on most ships, the Crow's Nest observation lounge offers panoramic ocean views, comfortable seating, and one of the best locations onboard for scenic cruising.
• Sports & Recreation: Depending on your ship, you'll find walking tracks, pickleball, basketball courts, fitness centers, pools, and recreational activities throughout the day.
• Chair Etiquette: Holland America asks guests not to reserve lounge chairs for extended periods without using them. During busy times, unattended belongings may be removed to make seating available for other guests.
• Music Walk: A signature Holland America experience, Music Walk combines several live music venues including B.B. King's Blues Club, Billboard Onboard, and Rolling Stone Lounge on many ships, offering live performances throughout the evening.
• Classic Atmosphere: Holland America emphasizes destination-focused cruising, enrichment, exceptional dining, and live music rather than large amusement-style attractions, creating a more refined and relaxed onboard experience.

Dining

• Main Dining Room: Holland America offers both Traditional Dining with fixed seating and As You Wish® Dining for greater flexibility. Both feature multi-course meals with rotating menus, regional specialties, and Holland America favorites.
• Sea Day Breakfast & Lunch: On most sea days, the Main Dining Room remains open for breakfast and lunch, providing a quieter alternative to the buffet with full table service.
• Specialty Dining: Depending on your ship, specialty restaurants may include Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto, Tamarind, Rudi's Sel de Mer, Morimoto By Sea, and other ship-specific venues available for an additional charge.
• Club Orange Dining: Guests with Club Orange enjoy priority dining benefits, including access to an exclusive dining venue or dedicated dining section where available, along with additional menu selections.
• Dietary Requests: Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, low-sugar, kosher, and many other dietary needs can usually be accommodated. Notify Holland America before sailing whenever possible and remind your dining team once onboard.
• Reservations: Specialty restaurants and popular dining times often fill before sailing. Booking early through the Navigator App provides the greatest choice of dining times.

Food & Beverage

• Included Dining: Complimentary dining varies by ship and may include the Main Dining Room, Lido Market buffet, Dive-In, New York Pizza, Grand Dutch Café on Pinnacle Class ships, and other casual venues. Dining options vary throughout the Holland America fleet.
• Complimentary Beverages: Coffee, hot tea, iced tea, lemonade, fountain water, and select breakfast juices are available throughout your cruise at no additional charge.
• Specialty Coffee: Explorations Café serves premium coffees, espresso drinks, teas, pastries, and specialty beverages throughout the day. These beverages may be included with eligible beverage packages.
• Hydration: Spending time in the sun, participating in shore excursions, and consuming alcoholic beverages can quickly lead to dehydration. Drinking plenty of water throughout your cruise will help you feel your best.
• Late-Night Snacks: Depending on your ship, several dining venues offer light meals or snacks into the evening, making it easy to enjoy something after a show or late-night performance.

Have It All Package

• What's Included: Have It All bundles several of Holland America's most popular amenities into one package, typically including the Signature Beverage Package, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, and shore excursion credit.
• Excellent Value: Guests planning to purchase beverages, internet access, specialty dining, or shore excursions often find Have It All provides significant savings compared with purchasing each item separately.
• Pricing: Package pricing varies by sailing and promotional offers. Purchasing before your cruise generally provides the best value.

Signature Beverage Package

• What's Included: The Signature Beverage Package includes a wide variety of cocktails, spirits, beer, wine by the glass, soft drinks, coffees, teas, and other eligible beverages up to the package's current per-drink value limit.
• Where It's Accepted: The package is accepted at participating bars, lounges, restaurants, and beverage venues throughout the ship. Certain premium beverages and specialty items may require an additional charge.

Soda Package

• Unlimited Soft Drinks: Guests who primarily enjoy fountain soft drinks may find the Soda Package a cost-effective alternative to the more comprehensive Signature Beverage Package.

Private Destinations & Beach Stops

• Half Moon Cay: Holland America's award-winning private island in The Bahamas is widely considered one of the finest private cruise destinations in the Caribbean. Guests can enjoy white-sand beaches, crystal-clear water, swimming, horseback riding, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, beach villas, and numerous optional shore activities.
• Complimentary Lunch: A complimentary island barbecue is typically served during your visit, allowing guests to spend the day ashore without returning to the ship for lunch.
• Beach Towels: Complimentary beach towels are available onboard and may be taken ashore. Remember to return them before the end of the day to avoid replacement charges.
• Beverage Packages: Beverage package acceptance at Half Moon Cay varies depending on your package and Holland America's current policies. Verify current benefits before sailing.
• Internet Access: Internet availability ashore may differ from onboard service. Check current Wi-Fi availability before relying on internet access while visiting the island.

Onboard Planning & Reservations

• Navigator App: The Holland America Navigator App serves as your daily planner throughout the cruise, displaying activities, entertainment, dining reservations, deck plans, onboard account information, and your daily itinerary.
• Entertainment: Holland America offers production shows, live music throughout Music Walk, destination lectures, cooking demonstrations, game shows, and enrichment programs that change daily.
• Spa Appointments: Sea days are generally the busiest at the Greenhouse Spa & Salon. Booking treatments early in the cruise or choosing a port day often provides the greatest availability and occasional discounts.
• Daily Schedule: Review the daily program each evening to plan the following day's activities. Destination talks, culinary demonstrations, and live performances often become some of the most memorable parts of a Holland America cruise.
• Reservations: Specialty dining, shore excursions, spa treatments, and certain onboard experiences are best reserved before sailing or early in your cruise for the greatest availability.

Ports / Shore Excursions

• Holland America Shore Excursions: Booking directly through Holland America provides additional peace of mind because the cruise line coordinates your return if a Holland America-sponsored excursion is delayed through no fault of your own.
• Independent Tours: Independent operators often provide smaller group sizes and unique local experiences. Research operators carefully and always allow sufficient time to return before the published all-aboard time.
• Ship Time vs. Local Time: Some destinations observe a different time zone than the ship. Always verify whether Holland America is using ship time or local time before exploring independently.
• Return Early: Plan to return to the ship at least 30 to 60 minutes before the published all-aboard time. Ships cannot delay departure for late-arriving guests.
• Destination Expertise: Holland America is especially well known for Alaska, Northern Europe, Canada & New England, South America, Australia, and Grand Voyages, with many itineraries featuring scenic cruising and destination enrichment programs.

Casino

• Casino: Holland America's casinos feature slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, poker tournaments, and other popular table games. Gaming is generally available only while the ship is sailing in international waters.
• Casino Rewards: Guests earn casino rewards while playing, with qualifying players receiving promotional offers, future cruise discounts, complimentary cruises, and other casino benefits.
• Smoke-Free Areas: Many Holland America ships provide designated non-smoking casino areas, although availability varies by ship.
• Cash & Charges: Casino transactions may be completed using cash or eligible onboard account charges. Additional fees may apply to certain account advances.

Wi-Fi / Internet Access

• Internet Plans: Holland America offers several internet packages ranging from basic browsing to premium plans that support streaming and video calls. Available plans vary by ship and itinerary.
• Have It All: Wi-Fi is included with the Have It All package, making it an excellent value for guests who plan to stay connected throughout their cruise.
• Performance: Internet speeds continue to improve across the fleet with expanded satellite connectivity, although performance varies depending on your ship's location, weather conditions, and the number of guests online.
• Pre-Cruise Savings: Internet packages purchased before sailing often provide better value than purchasing onboard.
• Airplane Mode: Keep your mobile devices in Airplane Mode while at sea and connect only to the ship's Wi-Fi to avoid international roaming charges.

Families & Kids

• Club HAL: Holland America's complimentary Club HAL youth program offers supervised activities for children ages 3 to 17, with games, arts and crafts, science activities, sports, themed events, and age-appropriate entertainment led by trained youth staff.
• Age Groups: Activities are divided into age-appropriate groups, allowing younger children and teens to enjoy experiences designed specifically for their interests and maturity levels.
• Family Activities: Families can enjoy pool games, trivia, movies, sports courts, game shows, crafts, destination activities, and live entertainment together throughout the cruise.
• Youth Registration: Register children for Club HAL soon after boarding to avoid delays and ensure they're ready to participate when activities begin.
• A Relaxed Family Experience: While Holland America is not primarily marketed as a family cruise line, many families appreciate its quieter atmosphere, destination-focused itineraries, excellent dining, and enriching onboard activities.

Complimentary Extras

• Music Walk: One of Holland America's signature experiences, Music Walk features multiple live music venues including B.B. King's Blues Club, Billboard Onboard, and Rolling Stone Lounge on many ships, offering complimentary performances throughout the evening.
• Destination Enrichment: Many itineraries include complimentary destination lectures, cultural presentations, cooking demonstrations, naturalist talks, and other enrichment programs that help guests better understand the places they're visiting.
• Fitness Center: Modern fitness centers are available aboard every Holland America ship with cardio equipment, weight machines, and free weights. Specialty fitness classes may be available for an additional charge.
• Live Entertainment: Throughout each cruise you'll find live music, production shows, trivia contests, arts and crafts, dance classes, culinary demonstrations, and numerous activities included with your cruise fare unless otherwise noted.
• Crow's Nest: The Crow's Nest observation lounge offers panoramic ocean views and is one of the best places onboard to relax with a book, enjoy scenic cruising, or simply watch the world go by.
• EXC Talks: Many itineraries feature complimentary EXC Talks, destination presentations, cultural lectures, cooking demonstrations, and naturalist programs that help guests better understand the places they'll visit throughout the voyage.

Disembarking

• Express Walk-Off: Guests carrying all of their own luggage may choose Express Walk-Off, allowing them to leave the ship earlier than standard departure groups.
• Standard Departure: Guests placing luggage outside their stateroom the night before departure receive luggage tags with an assigned departure group. Wait in the designated public area until your group is called.
• Final Morning: Staterooms are generally vacated early on disembarkation morning. Breakfast is available before leaving the ship, and public lounges remain open while departure groups are called.
• Customs & Immigration: Many U.S. cruise terminals now use facial recognition technology to speed arrival for eligible travelers. Guests traveling with passports often experience the quickest processing.
• Porters: Porters are available inside most cruise terminals to assist with luggage. A gratuity of approximately $1-2 per bag is customary for this service.
• Ground Transportation: Whether using Holland America transfers, ride-share services, taxis, rental cars, or personal vehicles, review your transportation plans before leaving the terminal to help ensure a smooth trip home.
• Before You Leave: Before leaving your stateroom, check the safe, closets, drawers, charging outlets, and under the bed one final time. Taking a few extra moments can help prevent accidentally leaving behind passports, medications, electronics, or other valuables.