Holland America Line (HAL) has announced it is pausing all cruise operations until May, with some suspensions to run into the summer.
The move covers various Alaska, Mexican riviera, Pacific coast, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Canada and New England departures.
All Alaska cruises due to depart through to mid-May are off, as are Alaska departures on three ships up to early June, as well as any Land+Sea journeys connected with cancelled Alaska sailings.
A number of Mediterranean cruises due to depart in early June, and Zaandam’s Canada and New England itineraries scheduled for August, have also been cancelled.
HAL said the decision reflected its efforts to comply with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new framework for conditional sailing order, which will guide the resumption of cruising in the US under strict new Covid health and safety rules.
Guests and travel agents are being notified. Guests who have paid in full will receive future cruise credit worth 125% of the base fare paid.
Those with bookings with outstanding payments will receive FCC worth double the amount of their deposit. The minimum FCC payable is US $100 with the maximum being that of the base cruise fare paid.
HAL guests can also request a full refund, but must indicate their refund/FCC preference by 15 February or they will receive the FCC offer.
The full impact on HAL’s cruising schedule in terms of cancellations involves: