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Paul of Heber Springs AR (08/21/08)
all arrangements, insurance purchas3ed through Holland. carrier late. no luggage. no prior warning virus on ship. contracted virus. left early. insurance paid approximately 20% of cost of cruise. holland offered $400 credit on future cruises.
Jrita of Mesa AZ (06/13/08)
I have been on many cruises and enjoyed Holland America in the past because they have large suites. However, my 2007 cruise on Holland to Hawaii was terrible. Very geriatric crowd and nothing to do while at sea. Food was not as good as in the past, whole ship seemed depressed and a bit dirty.
I am planning my next cruise so I spent hours pouring over on-line cruise offers and found a Holland America sale, on the Holland America web site. I thought I would give Holland a second chance, so I called to book. Holland would not honor the sale, and the sales rep tried to increase the cost to triple the stated price. Called a travel agent, she tried to get the sale price, but Holland would not honor the sale. Agaent talked to management, but they refused to honor the sale. Same week received post card from Holland with a big sale. I called to inquire, but they also refused to honor the post card sale. I am very unhappy with Holland America.
Wasted time, effort in hunting for a cruise deal.
Lisa of Algonquin IL (06/03/08)
We researched several cruise lines for our honeymoon. We had each cruised on Carnival, RC and NCL. We thought Holland would be a nice luxury cruise to the Panama Canal for 10 days on the Volendam. We didn't want any kids screaming and running around. We got the opposite. It was like a floating nursing home
Our cabin was dirty. There was something smeared all over the wall (don't even want to guess what it was). The food was the worst I had ever had. First cruise I have been on where I didn't gain weight. There were so many old people on the ship we were the yougest at 43. There was no music by the pool, no fun activites. The employees on the ship would sit in the back of the ship and smoke.
We went to the movie theater every night because there was nothing else to do. The Las Vegas styled shows were horrible. they had the crew do a talent show. They were all philipino. You could understand anything. The food was so bad that we ate at the pool bar everynight. Hamburgers and pizza for 10 days. It was really bad.
They screwed up the stop in the Canal. The ports that we went to were dirty and there was nothing to do. It was the worst cruise we have ever been on. We filled out the survey at the end of the cruise and we are still waiting for someone to contact us.
We will never cruise with Holland ever again. We spent alot of money for this honeymoon that was not romantic or memorable in the least.
M of Edmonds WA (04/08/08)
I got a job with Holland America during the summer, working as a maid in their hotel in Skagway Alaska. When I got there, the working conditions were far from the wonderful picture they gave when visiting my college. And I had a horrible sinus infection, which I had never had before.
It was early in the season and they had too many housekeepers for that time. Guess what they told me to do? Prepare the lunches for the ship! They were fully aware that I was sick (and obvious to anyone who saw me), and I was too naive to think I could refuse. I had just spent alot of money flying up there, and didn't know if they would get rid of me. So if you're all wondering why you get sick, maybe the person preparing the meals is sick. I didn't even have a food handlers permit.
After that horrible experience (I ended up quitting and sucking up the cost of airfare back home), I will NEVER use Holland America and will NEVER recommend them. And by the way, while working as a maid, they expected 6 rooms to be cleaned in an hour. I tried, but there was no way that could be done. Guess what that means? The rooms might look clean, but they aren't. Look closely at the sheets and rub your finger on the bathtub to check for soapscum!
One way ticket to Alaska. One way ticket home from Alaska. Cost of charter plane from Skagway to Anchorage. Losing the bonus you get if you stay the season (I left because they lied and the living conditions and working conditions were so crappy). As a person who wants to do a good job, it was impossible.
Darryl of Tucson AZ (12/18/07)
In Sept, 2007, we enjoyed an Alaska cruise on the Holland America Zaandam from Vancouver, BC to Alaska and disembarked in San Diego. We paid Holland America for our return air from San Diego to Tucson. Our return air was by a tiny propeller driven airplane that was noisy and very uncomfortable not to mention safety concerns. We paid HAL top dollar for our airfare and they booked this aircraft because it was cheap and they increased their profit at our expense. We will never again allow a cruise line to book our airfare. We could have booked this airfare on jet service for much less than HAL charged us.
Very uncomfortable and nervous return flight home.
Timothy of Quinton VA (11/04/06)
My wife and I researched cruise lines. In September, we discovered an Expedia.com special rate for a ten day eastern carribean cruise on the Noordam, from Holland America Cruise Lines. This cruise is scheduled to depart from New York in January. We noticed that the Expedia rate was exceptionally good and similar to last minute rates that one may obtain when booking a cruise. We decided to pay in full and book the cruise. About a month later, we were notified by Expedia.com that Holland Amercica advised them that they were refusing to honor our reservation for the price paid. Holland America stated that we had one week to pay an additional $710 or elect to receive a full refund.
However, since we had just booked non-refundable air fare from Richmond to New York to catch the cruise, we felt compelled to have to pay the additional money. Prior to booking our cruise,I read a complaint from a prior Holland Amercia customer about them pulling something similiar. At this point, I am concerned that Holland America may be refusing to honor ticket prices as it becomes convenient for them to do so. Beware of their pricing integrity.
Edward & Geraldine of Sarasota FL (02/09/06)
I made reservation for a definite cabin and was charged extra to assure that I received that cabin...email stated as such. Have Medical problem and told use middle of ship to avoid sea sickness. The cabin (I was told #756 by email)was in middle of ship.(I have the coppy of it) Get to ship -cabin is not available-they wanted to put us at the very rear of ship. I got sick on a previous Holland voyage and cabin had to be changed-and was.
The main lobby desk on ship told me I had no option, that if I did not take the rear of the ship I could get off-then they proceeded to escort me and my 80 year old husband off the ship with our luggage. Now the travel agent claims he has contacted the main office of Carnival Cruises -the mother company--and they have refused to refund me my $2000. They have not offered a replacement cruise and have not refunded anything to me. We are elderly and only live off our Social Security.
Louise of Hesperia CA (06/14/05)
We were traveling on a 12-day land tour/cruise. During our stay at Denali National Park, I booked a jeep tour of the park through Holland America. During the tour, we stopped for a prepared meal. Twenty minutes after eating the meal my son began to vomit everything up. We got him back into the jeep, and began heading back to the starting point of the tour. During the trip back, I began to feel very queasy etc. After returning to the hotel, we boarded a bus for a 10 minute ride to the train station, for the trip to Anchorage. My son was sick again just before boarding this bus.
After boarding the train, both myself and my son began to vomit numerous times on the train. When we arrived at Anchorage, we were told that we would not be able to board the ship until we were symptom free for 24 hours, and that the cruise ship doctor had the last say whether or not we would be allowed to board the ship at all. After being driven to the emergency room we were given a card with representative's name and number and the cab company phone number on it. that is when we were told that we would have to call them to get to the hotel.
When asked about continuing on the cruise since it was food poisioning from a tour booked through them, we were told it would be unlikely. The rep told us she would call in the morning with more information so we would be able to determine the best course of action. The doctor seen at the emergency room determined it was most likely food poisioning, there were other travellers on same tour who were sick on the train as well, and his suggestion was to not continue on the trip, have the cruise line rebook the trip or refund the difference as he said it could be two days before our symptoms would completely disappear.
We tried to contact the rep again to no avail. I will definitely say that after having spent several thousands of dollars on this cruise,2 rooms for 4 people, we got absolutely no information or help when we needed it most. I will not be using this cruise line again.
Andrew of Hamilton Ontario (3/24/05)
My wife and I booked a cruise with HAL that advertised a stay in Antigua from 8am to 11pm. We wanted to visit Montserrat for the day and this was the only cruise line that stayed in Antigua late enough for the return ferry from Montserrat (6.15pm). The downside with this particular cruise was that it sailed out of Norfolk VA hence had a long open-water crossing at each end to get to/from the Caribbean. Our tickets arrived mid-February, confirming the times in Antigua.
On boarding the ship we were given a revised schedule showing that the departure time from Antigua had been brought forward from 11pm to 7pm - tight, but still enough time. The night before our arrival in Antigua we received the program for the next day which showed that the departure time had been brought forward another hour - to 6pm.
Due to the bringing forward of the departure time from 11pm to 6pm we were unable to visit Montserrat - a significant reason for going on this cruise. Had we been told ahead of time that the boat would depart at 6pm we could have booked on the helicopter back from Montserrat rather than the ferry. It would have given us less time there but at least we would have been able to visit. We tried to book the helicopter on the day of our arrival in Antigua but, by then, it was full.
We have subsequently found out from HAL staff that (1) that cruise hasn't left Antigua as late as 11pm for many months - so why are they still advertising that time - and (2)the reason for the early departure is so that they can open the shops and casino on board. Changing a schedule for weather reasons etc. is valid. Changing for commercial reasons - and not telling anyone in advance - is not. I have sent two e-mails to HAL but have not received a reply. Had I known that the ship would leave at 6pm - the same time as all of the other cruise lines - I should booked on a cruise out of Miami or Puerto Rico that avoided the three days of open water sailing as I knew I would suffer from sea sickness.
Howard of Clovis CA (03/24/02)
Last August we had a wonderful Alaskan Cruise on Holland America. We traveled from Vancouver B.C. to Anchorage, Alaska. I would rate the Cruise 5 stars. The ship and crew were GREAT!!!The problem was that long after we paid for the entire vacation (Cruise, airfare, etc.) and just a few weeks before sailing (When I understood we could not get a complete refund should we change our minds) I was informed by Holland America that I still owed about $400 to $500 for the vacation package.
I called since I understood the travel agent had charged 100% of the vacation to my credit card which had already been paid in full many months prior. I was informed that there was a forced stay-over for one day in Anchorage and that we would have to stay one night in Anchorage at a specific hotel chosen by the cruise line. I told them that I had not been informed of this by the travel agent. Holland America blamed the travel agent. I told them I thought the price of the hotel was exhorbitant for only one night.
They told me that was what the hotel charged them and they were merely passing the cost on to me. They also told me they were in the cruise business, not the hotel business. It turned out that the hotel was about the quality that one would expect to pay about $65 to $100 for. In addition an employee at the hotel told me they were actually owned by Holland America. I felt taken advantage of. I have to wonder how many other passengers have been treated this way and how much extra money they have had to pay under similar circumstances.
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