Being on a budget shouldn’t stop you from getting to travel the world. Just look to Holland America Line’s new program as the perfect, wallet-friendly solution.
Over the last several months, people have caught on to the fact that Holland America Line offers a unique solution for those looking to cruise for less with its Standby Program. The program offers guests the chance to sign up to be on standby to cruise on eligible sailings for just $49 per person per day. However, with the program, you will never know if you’re guaranteed a stateroom until just a few days before embarking. Still, if you’re willing to gamble, the price is unbeatable.
“We see Holland America Line’s Standby Program as a win-win for guests and our business. Circumstances may arise for booked guests where they have to cancel a cruise the week before sailing. The Standby Program allows us to fill those cabins with people who have already committed to going and who presumably live close enough to the port that they can make last-minute travel arrangements,” Dan Rough, vice president of revenue management for Holland America Line, told Travel + Leisure. “For those guests with flexibility to travel, it means access to an unforgettable cruise vacation at $49 per day which is an exceptional value.”
As for the fine print, the program is available only to guests 21 years of age or older and is intended for those residing within driving distance from a port. But if you really want to fly out at the last minute, that’s up to you.
To get on the standby list, you need to call 877-724-5425 and provide the agent with the information for the sailing for which you would like to join. If the sailing is eligible, you will be required to make full payment on the cruise’s reduced rate of $49 per person per day at the time you are placed on the standby list. However, payment does not guarantee you’ll actually get on board. You’ll only be cleared from the standby list once you receive official confirmation about a week before the cruise’s departure.
Additionally, the $49 per day does not include taxes, fees, or port expenses, and guests on the standby list cannot request certain staterooms. Essentially, it’s a “you get what you get” situation. And once you add yourself to the standby list, you cannot be removed. If you do not clear the standby list, you will be automatically refunded.
Examples of eligible cruises include the line’s four-day Pacific Northwest sailing, its 11-day Mexico Riviera and Sea of Cortez trip, and its 16-day Circle Hawaii Holiday. Ready to give it a try? Visit hollandamerica.com for all the standby details.