Service Animals

Holland America Line only permits service animals on board, defined as those animals that are individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. We do not permit our guests to bring pets, therapy/companion animals, and other animals that do not meet the definition of service animals. If you have any questions about whether the animal you wish to bring on board is, in fact, a service animal, you may contact our Guest Accessibility Department.

Guests who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

To help maximise the cruise experience for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing, Holland America Line has made the following items available:

• Stateroom kits that include a visual and tactile alert for someone knocking at the door, the phone ringing, or an alarm.
• Stateroom televisions capable of showing closed captioning (some satellite feeds do not transmit with captioning, so this feature is available only when the signal the ship receives has captioning).
• Telephones with amplified sound for staterooms.
• Assistive Listening Systems with portable receivers in the show lounges to assist guests who are hard of hearing to hear the shows.
• Written safety information and a copy of the lifeboat drill safety speech.

Guests who are Blind or have Low Vision

To help maximise the cruise experience for our guests who are blind or have low vision, Holland America Line has made the following items available:

• Screen reader computer software in the Explorations Café that allows guests to navigate the web by listening to the text.
• Downloadable daily activities, news, and menus for guests with laptops with screen reader programs. These items may also be downloaded to the screen reader-enabled computer in the Explorations Café.
• With 45 days notice, large print or Braille menus describing the inspired cuisine offered across a myriad of venues, from the elegant Dining Room to the casual Lido Market.
• A familiarisation tour of the vessel upon arrival.

Cruising for Children with Special Needs

At Holland America Line we do not discriminate against individuals on the basis of disability. We seek to the extent feasible to accommodate the needs of all individuals with disabilities, including children. However, due to the sensitivity of caring for any child, with or without a disability, we must first determine what the child's specific needs are so we may properly evaluate and determine the best and safest way to meet the child's needs. We encourage families to contact our Guest Accessibility Department prior to their cruise, to evaluate and determine what the child's specific needs will be and how best to accommodate those needs. Club HAL is unable to accommodate children requiring one-on-one care into programming. Special needs participants who meet eligibility requirements and require one-on-one care must have a parent or guardian present.

Personal Mobility Equipment

For the safety of all guests and crew and to enhance accessibility, Holland America Line strongly recommends that all personal electric mobility equipment meets the following criteria:

• Width: 23" maximum in order to be accommodated in a standard stateroom, unless collapsible to a width of 23" or less
• Weight: 100 lbs. maximum without battery
• Batteries: Must be Gel or Dry Cell or AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) only

They recognise that for some people, a larger scooter may be essential. If you believe you need a larger scooter, please contact the Access & Compliance Department so that you can discuss your requirements.

For guests with food intolerances or allergies that are not life-threatening, please contact our Ship Services Department at (800) 541-1576. For guests with life-threatening food allergies, we ask that guests provide detailed information to our Guest Accessibility Department by completing a Special Requirements Information (SRI) Form. Guests should indicate on this form which foods may potentially cause a severe reaction.

Guests with a variety of severe food allergies sail with Holland America Line regularly. Our galley staff on board is accustomed to and experienced in dealing with these types of needs. The galley itself has many different areas of food preparation, which can help reduce the possibility of cross-contamination. It is important to note, however, that meals are prepared in mass quantities on board, thus there is always the possibility of some cross-contamination. As such, Holland America Line cannot guarantee that a guest will not come in contact with those items. Although our Guest Accessibility Department will provide the ship with an advance notice of all food allergies detailed on an SRI submitted to them, it is recommended that guests also contact the Dining Room Manager upon boarding to review the details of these special dietary needs.

Guests under 21 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or chaperone that is at least 21 years old; one adult chaperone is required for every five people under the age of 21. Infants must be at least 6 months of age at the time of embarkation in order to sail. Children must be at least 12 months of age at the time of embarkation to sail on trans-ocean crossings and remote itineraries, where there are more than 2 consecutive sea days.

Guests must be 21 years of age or over to purchase or consume alcohol onboard. For voyages that depart from and return to Australia and/or New Zealand, Europe, China, Hong Kong, Singapore or Taiwan, this policy applies to guests 18 years and older. For Voyages that depart from and return to Japan, this policy applies to guests 20 years and older.

Minors under the age of 18 traveling to foreign countries must be accompanied by both parents or have a notarised letter of consent signed by the parent(s) not traveling. If the other parent is deceased or the child has only one legal parent, a notarised statement must be obtained as proof.

All minors under the age of 18 must travel with all proper identification documents in addition to the signed letter of authorisation. Minors who are U.S. citizens should have an original, photocopy or certified original of their government-issued birth certificate or another form of proof of citizenship. Children 16 or older are also required to have a photo ID. If traveling outside of the Western Hemisphere, a passport is required for guests of any age. Your travel advisor can provide additional information about this requirement.

Please Note: In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry and exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child’s travel from the parent(s) or legal guardian if not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry or departure. For specific information regarding the country to which you are traveling, please visit U.S. State Department website for country-by-country information.

Parents, guardians and chaperones are responsible for overseeing the conduct of minors in their care. As such, minors may not be left unsupervised on board the ship. Minors should receive the same oversight that would be provided when visiting locations such as a large resort or theme park. A parent or legal guardian MUST accompany all children under the age of 18 on all tours for safety and liability reasons. For activities and programs for children age 3-17, please refer to the CLUB HAL YOUTH PROGRAM section.

Minors Going Ashore

Parents and guardians are responsible for deciding whether or not minors under age 16 are allowed to go ashore without adult supervision. If you want to permit a minor traveling with you to go ashore without an adult companion, please discuss this in advance with the ship's Security Officer so that they can make a notation of this in our gangway control system software. Absent this approval, our security personnel will generally prohibit minors from leaving the ship without an adult companion although we cannot provide absolute assurances in this regard. It is ultimately the responsibility of parents and guardians to ensure that minors traveling with them act in accordance with their instructions.

Most evenings smart casual attire is appropriate. Shorts, pool/beachwear, distressed jeans and men’s tank tops are best left to the daytime and are not permitted in fine dining restaurants.

Gala Nights evoke the grand traditions of cruising as guests dress to impress for special events on board, including our five-course gourmet dinner in the Dining Room. For gentlemen, collared shirts and slacks are required in all fine dining restaurants.

Q: Why the change from “Formal” To “Gala” night?
A: To many, the “Formal” term was misleading as it implies a specific type of dress (black tie or tuxedo) that has never been a requirement. “Gala” still implies festive or dressy without misleading guests to bring attire the majority of guests don’t wear.

Q: What about ladies’ gala attire?

A: Dressy attire is appropriate. Dresses, skirts, and slacks are all acceptable.

Q: Are a jacket and tie required for men?

A: Jacket and tie is the preferred attire in all fine dining restaurants on Gala Nights, though it is not required. Guests without a jacket and tie were allowed in the fine dining restaurants before the new wording so this is not a policy change.

Q: Are jeans allowed?

A: Jeans without holes, tears or embroidery are welcome on most evenings in all restaurants, but on Gala Nights jeans are only allowed in the casual dining restaurants.

Q: Can I wear shorts in the main dining room?

A: Not at dinner. The dining room is considered a fine dining restaurant and shorts are not permitted.

Q: Is the dress code the same on Grand Voyages?

A: Yes. The policy applies to all Holland America Line voyages.

For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins), showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated non-smoking. No smoking of any kind will be permitted on any stateroom verandah.

Smoking is permitted in designated smoking areas only on all ships.

Designated Smoking Areas

Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Oosterdam, Westerdam, Zuiderdam

• Sea View Bar area
• Oak Room (Noordam only, including cigar and pipe smoking)

Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam

• Sea View Bar area
• Casino (designated nights, active players only)

Volendam, Zaandam

• Sea View Bar area
• Sports Deck, outside Crow's Nest
• Casino (designated nights, active players only)

Cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the ship; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking is otherwise allowed.

Electronic cigarettes are not permitted in staterooms or in other public areas of the ship other than designated smoking areas.

Any guest who smokes inside staterooms or on verandahs in violation of our policy will be charged a US$250 cleaning fee per day of violation and will risk being removed from the ship for repeated violations.

Holland America Line reserves the right at any time to modify the smoking policy onboard or alter the locations where smoking is permissible.

*Due to the current health and safety protocols in our continuing effort to minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19, smoking will be temporarily prohibited in all casinos until further notice.

Guests are not allowed to bring alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages on board for consumption or any other use except as follows:

Guests 21 years and older may bring Wine and Champagne onboard, however a corkage fee of USD $20.00 (which is subject to change without notice) will be applied to each bottle (max 750 ml in volume or less). Limitations apply. Wine brought in quantities deemed to be excessive by the vessel or security will be refused.

Wine purchased during company-sponsored shore excursions that visit local wineries are exempt from the on-board corkage fee (offer limited to one bottle of wine per person).

For voyage that depart from and return to Australia and/or New Zealand, this policy applies to guests 18 years and older. For voyages which depart from and return to Europe, China, Hong Kong, Singapore or Taiwan, this policy applies to guests 18 years and older, and for voyages which depart from and return to Japan, this policy applies to guests 20 years and older.

Items such as sodas, energy drinks or other non-alcoholic items are not allowed on board in any form. Plastic water bottles are not allowed. However, an allowance of six litres, twelve (12) cans or cartons (500 ml in volume or less) or six (6) cans or cartons (1 litre in volume or less) of water are allowed per stateroom. Any amount in excess of this allowance will be not be allowed onboard. Water in plastic bottles will not be allowed onboard in any quantity, including in ports of call. Guests will be asked to discard open beverages in plastic containers prior to boarding.

All checked and carry-on luggage will be scanned and any prohibited items, including alcoholic/nonalcoholic beverages will be removed, confiscated, and discarded. If Your luggage is locked, the lock may be removed by security or, alternatively, the luggage will be held by security until you can be present for an inspection and any items in question further identified and/or surrendered. Holland America Line shall not be responsible for any loss, cost, disappointment or damage of any kind as a result of any luggage lock removal, alcoholic/nonalcoholic items, or other prohibited items removed and discarded in violation of the policy. You agree to surrender alcoholic beverages that are purchased duty free from the ship's gift shop, or at ports of call, to Holland America Line, which will be delivered to your stateroom just prior to disembarking the voyage. Any wine or champagne supplied by the Holland America Line to you is not subject to a corkage fee. Purified or distilled water in factory-sealed containers (including plastic containers) for use in conjunction with medical device(s) are allowed in checked luggage and must be packed with the device(s). Distilled/purified water in factory-sealed containers (including plastic containers) for the reconstitution of infant formula is allowed in checked luggage for staterooms with infant bookings. Limitations apply. Allowances are subject to change without notice and remain subject to situational assessments by both security and the vessel.

An 18% Service Charge is automatically applied to all Beverage Purchases, Bar Retail Items, Specialty Restaurant Cover Charges and all For Purchase A La Carte Menu Items. Local Sales Taxes Applied where required.

Buying Tobacco & Alcohol

A traveler may include up to 100 cigars and 200 cigarettes (one carton) in the US$800 exemption from duty. U.S. residents on State Department-licensed travel to Cuba may no longer bring cigars or other goods back with them from their visit. Additional cigars and cigarettes may be brought into the country, but they will be subject to duty and taxes. Cigarettes may also be subject to a tax imposed by state and local authorities. Bidis - essentially flavoured cigarettes - are not generally permitted entry.

Generally, one litre of alcohol per person may be entered into the U.S. duty-free by travellers who are 21 or older, although travellers coming from the U.S. Virgin Islands or other Caribbean countries are entitled to more. Additional quantities may be entered, although they will be subject to duty and IRS taxes.

Yes, our vessels have specially designed staterooms for guests who require mobility assistive features. If you have not booked one of these accessible staterooms but instead will be using a standard stateroom, you need to know about some limitations that adversely impact manoeuvrability, especially ingress and egress into bathrooms. For example, bathroom dimensions, doorsills, and the height of bathtubs in standard staterooms are often difficult to negotiate for guests who have mobility limitations. Additionally, standard stateroom doors and hallways may be too narrow for a wheelchair or scooter to manoeuvre into and out of the stateroom. Note: For safety reasons, these mobility devices must be stored and charged in the guests' staterooms. There are three types of accessible staterooms on our vessels.

Fully Accessible rooms are designed for use by guests with highly limited or no mobility who require regular use of a wheelchair, scooter, or other similar assistive devices and provide accessible elements including turning space, accessible routes throughout the cabin, and accessible bathrooms.rooms are designed for use by guests with highly limited or no mobility who require regular use of a wheelchair, scooter, or other similar assistive devices and provide accessible elements including turning space, accessible routes throughout the stateroom, and accessible bathrooms.

Fully Accessible – Single Side Approach rooms are also designed for use by guests with highly limited or no mobility who require regular use of a wheelchair, scooter, or other similar assistive devices. These rooms provide accessible bathrooms along with an accessible route and clear floor space on only one side of the bed in a stateroom configured to provide one bed and between the beds in a stateroom configured to provide two beds.

Ambulatory Accessible rooms are designed for use by guests with mobility disabilities who do not require the regular use of a wheelchair, scooter, or other similar assistive devices. These rooms provide some accessible features.

Accessible bathrooms in guest staterooms will provide one of three types of bathing facilities: roll-in shower, transfer shower, or accessible bathtub.

Roll-in Showers provide the turning space necessary for a wheelchair to manoeuvre within the showering area.

Transfer Showers provide the manoeuvring clearance alongside a shower stall to allow for transferring to the shower bench from a wheelchair.

Accessible Bathtubs provide the manoeuvring clearance alongside a bathtub to allow for transferring to a seat in the bathtub from a wheelchair.

Details regarding accessible rooms on each ship are listed below and can be found on each ship’s Deck Plan.

Internet Access

Guests can purchase and connect to satellite internet 24 hours a day on each ship in the Holland America Line fleet, either by accessing our wireless network or utilising the workstations located in the Explorations Café. Internet Plans vary in price to accommodate individual needs and are interchangeable between the workstations in the Explorations Café and your wireless device.

Note that satellite connections may be adversely impacted by physical obstacles such as fjords and inclement weather and the speed is notably slower than shoreside connections.

Wireless Internet Service

Each Holland America Line vessel offers wireless access throughout the ship. Guests may use their laptop computer or other wireless internet enabled device to purchase and connect to the wireless internet service on board.

Connect:

1. Put your device in airplane mode.
2. Turn Wi-Fi “on” and connect to your ship’s network.
3. Open your web browser and type “Login.com”.
4. Within Holland America Line Navigator™, choose “Connect to Paid Internet” from the selection options.

Available Packages:

1. Social: Per day package, $14.99. (Access the most popular social websites and applications. May not allow for audio/video calling and streaming.)
2. Surf (most popular): $24.99. (Surf your favorite sites including e-mail, news, sports and more. May not allow for audio/video calling and streaming.)
3. Premium: $29.99 (From e-mail to streaming, receive the highest volume of data. Supports audio/video calling and streaming where coverage allows.)

Keep in Mind:

1. Satellite transmissions are inherently slower than shore-side connections.
2. You’ll find a select number of free sites under “Complimentary Browsing.”
3. For more information please see the Frequently Asked Questions or one of our Guest Relations team members.
4. Each package comes with a daily volume of data for a superior experience. Volumes vary by package and subject to change. For a current listing of the daily volume soft caps, see the Internet Plan Selection page.

Powered by The New York Times

The Explorations Café, powered by The New York Times offers a comfortable, coffee house environment where you can purchase and connect to the internet using provided workstations or by using your own wireless internet device, such as a laptop computer, iPad or mobile phone.

AT&T Mobile Packages

Guests with AT&T service may choose from a selection of packages offering discounted rates for international calls, texts and data while on board. Choose from options for calling only, calling and messaging or calling, messaging and data. Click here for complete details on plans and full terms and conditions.

Mobile Phone Service

Holland America, through an agreement with Wireless Maritime Service, proudly offers an advanced roaming network onboard all Holland America ships allowing you to make and receive calls, send and receive text messages and access emails and surf the web while at sea using your own mobile phone and telephone number.

The Wireless Maritime Service system is available for use when the ship is in international waters. When user’s phones pick the shipboard signal, their phone will usually display “cellular at sea”, “Ship Roam”or “901-18”. Depending on the handset and the carrier the user may be required to select “Roam” on the handset.

For frequently asked questions about cell phone service on board, please go to www.wmsatsea.com.

For questions about your service or about billing, please contact your home network customer service.

Webcams

Holland America Line does not publish webcam information online.