Holland America Line Reviews 

We were very pleased with the cruise until our statement sprung a leak and they moved us to a different room and totally forgot about us. We were unable to receive our mail which included medical records, we received no clean towels or any help whatsoever. We had paid extra for a midship room and were pushed to the aft of the boat where it was extremely rough. We understand that there might have been no other rooms available but not to check on us, have a daily clean or acknowledge us once we were moved was absolutely incredible. I have been trying to speak with a representative and just held for an hour before I was disconnected. This will be the first of many negative reviews until someone gets back to me.

If I could give a negative star I would. We just lost $2800.00 with Holland America. We had to cancel our cruise due to a last minute medical emergency and Holland America has refused to do anything. We provided a written doctors explanation but they still refused. It's obvious they care absolutely nothing about their customer, or retaining a customer. It's sad this company only cares about money and has zero compassion for people. Buyer beware.

Just back from a Holland america cruise to alaska, we've been on better cruises and we've been on worse cruises. We can't comment on the booking procedure because we booked through a third party. The ship was very nice and clean, the cabin was nice, we had an inside cabin. The food had a good assortment and was of good quality. Only thing missing was a good English breakfast. The staff on board were really nice and helpful. Our cabin staff Anom and Wawan were superb and couldn't do enough for us. The only down time for us was the daytime entertainment apart from the glacier day which was very knowledgeable. Overall we enjoyed had a great time and would recommend the cruise to x anyone who likes the outdoors

I would not travel with Holland America. We were on a land sea cruise and were shorted a hotel for 1 group in our party. The hotel Westmark in anchorage Alaska was awful. We waited for a few hours to check in and then were shorted a room. Which we never received any refund for. Holland America was no help in resolving this issue

One Star Is Generous
What happened to Holland America? The website is dreadful. Since we have cruised with them years ago, decided to call and get information….appalling service. Asked if they had cruises to Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands, person had no idea where any of these places were. She was spelling Faroe “Furry”. Asked if the area was in South America? Spoke to 3 different people, 38 minutes on the phone and got zero information. Was told HAL doesn’t go the Arctic. One operator was in the Caribbean. Clearly no training for the job.
Just based on phone service, or lack thereof, we would never book with them.
Our travel agent assured us that HAL does go to the Arctic, again we will book with a different company, one that knows where the Arctic is on a world map.

If you like the smell of secondhand smoke, this cruise line is for you. Smoking is allowed in the casino. The smell drifts into the shops and up the staircase. I mentioned this problem to management and received the usual “Thanks for sharing your concern “ response.
It is a deal breaking for using this cruise line in the future.

My wife and I just got back from a 14night cruise to Alaska aboard Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam. It was our third cruise with HAL, but the first in over a decade. What a shock! While the first two cruises were “ok”, this was “oh gawd!” From the very start we knew we were in for a bumpy ride after receiving the first pamphlet of the schedule of events for the following day. At a quick glance, we noticed that there was to be no entertainment on board before 5PM. That’s right, nothing in the way of entertainment, no guitar player, violin player, piano player, singer, nothing. Now, we could have gone to origami folding, stretching classes, colouring for adults, line dancing or up to fourteen different promotional sales hoaxes, but nothing in the way of entertainment until at least 5pm. This was not just one day, but for the entire fourteen days of the cruise. If you are not a big drinker, and we are not, you had better make sure you take a deck of cards with you
Or there is “Nothing!” to do. Now, you might say, well at least you got fed well on the cruise. Guess again! Unless you are used to mediocre food served consistently cold, you won’t be too impressed with that either. On the second day of hell, sorry, cruise, I happened to mention the cold food to the “Hotel Manager”. He tried the food right away and agreed that it was indeed cold. I was impressed that he appeared to be concerned, until I realized that for the next twelve days the food was just as cold. Five days through the cruise we seriously considered catching a flight back home to Vancouver to end the nightmare, but felt we would be throwing good money after bad and stayed on board. If hard earned money means anything to you, please do yourselves a favour and book on Princess, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, hell, anything but Holland America and enjoy your cruise!

Have been trying for some months to obtain pre-cruise hotel reservations but website kept saying "too early." With only 39 days before sailing, I decided that it cannot be too early, so I phoned customer service. Representative maintained that it was still too early but because I was concerned, she suggested that I make my own reservations then call then back to arrange the transfer. I immediately obtained and paid for no-cancellation hotel reservations and called back to confirm the transfer only to be told that airport-to-hotel transfers were not available to me because I had not booked through Holland America. So, now I have to arrange for my own pre-cruise transfers and the insurance that I purchased through Holland America is devalued because it will not cover either the hotel reservations or any self-made transfers that I can arrange. I feel that HA representatives should be better informed, that their website should be updated more frequently, and that there should a way to track passengers who are unable to make reservations because it is "too early."

It took me quite some time to even find how to contact the customer service. It’s practically hidden. and then… there’s no reply from customer service.
I should have checked trustpilot before booking with this company. So very unfortunate.

On May 1/2024 we were on a 13 day cruise thru New England and Canada beginning 4/21/24. On this day, we entered the elevator and there was fumes coming from the ship being painted. I am highly allergic to petroleum, paint and deisel products, which I informed staff when this cruise was booked. The room was selected mid ship because of problem. After I was exposed, I went to the service desk and they Called the medical center which I was instructed to go to. I received an EKg and blood work was done. My blood pressure is elevated having tightness in chest, and chest pain. I was never offered a breathing treatment but given a inhaler, and tolf to come back if my symtoms got worse. I informed them, I get a severe headache and become very tired. We stayed in my room for the next 2 days and lost out on seeing Quebec City. I received a bill for $806.00 which had to be paid before I received my reports and summary. The bill was paid received summary that said dx allery (unspecified)I questioned this and it was added exposure to toxic fumes. We spoke to hotel manager( who I might add was very sympathetic) who said he also questioned the strong odor. He called Seattle to ask if they would drop the charges, which was denied. I am still experiencing chest tightness, and feel we were treated unfair. This was our 16th cruise, 5 on Holland America

Absolutely disgusted with Holland America at the moment! First cruise with them and probably the last! Due to sail with them from Boston to Montreal in August. Looking at shore excursions but a boat trip in Corner Brook seemed very expensive so I looked for alternatives and found a small company offering a half hour longer boat trip for less than half the price but when I tried to book the day we needed it was greyed out so I contacted the boat company. They told me they were offering a boat trip through HA. I replied I had seen that trip but it was over twice the price and half an hour shorter than the trip on their website. They responded that HA decide on the prices. As such I have been trying to contact HA. What a joke! I've spent over 3 hours on the phone with them in total whilst they have informed me that they can't get through to the shore excursions team as there are having difficulties at their end. Also, the UK phone number was given for shore excursions does not exist! To add further frustration, when, after two hours, I finally got through to the Shore Excursions team my query was dismissed with a load of crap about a contract blah blah blah. There was no apology for the long wait, no promise to look into the issue for me etc. I asked to be put through to the Customer Support team but she refused to put me through. Overall a disgusting way for HA to treat their customers! I have very little faith in the company now due to them seemingly ripping off their customers with over inflated prices for their shore excursions and not giving two hoots about their customers when they ring to enquire about something! NOT A HAPPY CRUISER!!

Took a one day over night from Vancouver to Seattle. What a disappointment. Casino closed (I know why they just don’t tell you) short staffed, wine bar closes at 10pm. Private function at the Rolling Stones bar ( so no night time entertainment) . Lots of passengers just no service. Just a complete waste of money. Quite a con.

if you are looking at a HAL cruise please know that you will not receive any customer service. they give you a supposed "personal cruise consultant" once you've booked, they don't answer their phone, don't call you back and if you email you'll get an email back with yet another number to call. Their APP (Navigator) is a joke.
It doesn't work and when you call they tell you to use a computer, well I don't carry that around with me everywhere. Beyond frustrating

Beware of the word 'escalate'
We have found it to be their vehicle to avoid doing anything about a complaint.
Their on board administration is poor, causing my wife being manhandled and stopping us leaving the ship. All because their staff entered our details incorrectly.
An absolute disgrace, no apology , especially on a European registered ship.
Needless to say we have heard nothing back following our frequent complaints so can only assume they have escalated it into 'no man's land.'!

cannot even contact them only one way email changed itinerary at the last minute no refund on shore excusrsions just on board ship credit so you get to pay 50 for a 10 dollar bottle of wine with the money that should be back on my credit card. I cannot begin to tell you how dissapointed I am do not ever book with these crooks !!!!!

Since HAL cruise line started saving money on their staff, I noticed a difference in the service, its way worse than before.
Poor restaurant managers, tables not clean ...
Dont book with them !

i made an online reservation on the Holland America website on February 16, 2024 for a cruise leaving March 16 2025. The online site called the fare "best available price". Who wouldn't choose that? I paid a $600 deposit for two fares. The site indicated the usual cancellation schedule of 120 days before cruise cancellation is full refund. In March 2024 - a month later-- they wrote me outlining major changes in the cruise's itinerary which made it absolutely unsuitable for me (more excursions on Saturday, which I observe as Shabbat and don't travel). I asked to cancel my reservation and was informed it was a nonrefundaable category! They even refuse to transfer the deposit to another cruise. It's fraud.

No Cape Horn.
Bland and unremarkable food in Lido and Dining Room generally.
Entertainment........not really.
Old, crotchety and obese Americans wondering what they were doing most of the time, not knowing what queueing means and clogging up poorly laid out Lido seating.
Good seamanship.
Excellent but overworked staff.
Generally boring........

Again the Customer Service on the phone is substandard.

I have been forced to sit on hold waiting for a human sometimes over 30 minutes!

First time cruise traveller with Holland America.
I recently booked a cruise for next year for my partner and I and after booking we saw they had better promotional deals a month later (i.e now you can receive $300 onboard credit). Unfortunately none of the customer service reps would allow us to speak to their supervisor to see if we could get this offer retrospectively. The only answer we got was, since we had already paid our deposit, we would not be able to get a refund or additional promotions to our current offer.
Honestly with other cruise lines we've been with, they would at least be reasonable and offer you some additional credit knowing that their promotion is now better compared to 1 month ago. Holland America is NOT flexible and do not value their cruise members or customers. Would not recommend for this reason.