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1.2 97 Reviews

Holland America Line Complaints Summary

4 Resolved
93 Unresolved
Our verdict: If considering services from Holland America Line with a critical resolution rate, extra caution is advised. Examine detailed customer feedback to understand the severity and nature of unresolved issues. Be prepared for the possibility of unsatisfactory responses and have contingency plans, including seeking assistance from consumer advocacy groups if necessary.
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Holland America Line reviews & complaints 97

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10:35 pm EDT
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Holland America Line Misrepresented what the military appreciation included.

On June 2, 2022 we booked a 51 day cruise from Seattle to Australia (Booking #XNDR5Q) When booking with the agent over the phone, my husband asked if they had any discounts/promotions for the military/veterans. The agent told us to look under “cruise deals” then again underneath “cruise deals”. At that point he told us that we were entitled to the “Have it All Package” plus $100. I then asked how do we redeem this offer. He then asked my husband what branch of service he was in and said he would redeem the offer for us. I called today, June 6, 2022 to see if that offer was put in our booking. I was told that all we were entitled to was a $100 onboard credit. We booked this cruise upgrading our room with the understanding we would get the “Have it All Package” as the military appreciation. We are in our 70’s and have been on many cruises and have never had any cruise misrepresented before. I would hope that someone at Holland America could check the phone recording of our booking to see how we were misinformed about the veterans appreciation. We then proceeded to see what would happen if we canceled this cruise and were told that we would lose our deposit. In conclusion, we hope that someone from Holland America listens to the recording of our conversation when we booked this cruise. Thank you!

Desired outcome: We would like the “Have it All Package” as represented when we booked our cruise.

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8:46 pm EDT

Holland America Line Lack of food onboard

We travelled on the Nieuw Statendam in May to Europe. This was our very first cruise. We loved the experience, however the one thing I have always heard about (cruises) is that there is an abundance of food. There was not! The (limited choice) Buffet opened at 5:30 PM and closed at 8:30 PM, there was seemingly nowhere to get anything during the rest of the day except a Dutch café that served about five items, two restaurants by the pool one served two types of hamburger the other served two types of hotdog. I believe there was one that served pizza. So essentially, food was really hard to find especially during the main part of the day and after 8:30 PM. Of course there was room service but the menu was very small. We took breakfast in our room each morning from room service just to make sure we got a good meal. Most people say they gain weight during a cruise, I lost it. Very disappointed.

Desired outcome: I would like some type of refund. A discounted future trip would be the only way I would use Holland American again.

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4:50 pm EDT
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Holland America Line Payment not credited

I paid for an Alaska cruise in January 2020, in full in the amount of7670.64 for my husband and I. The booking # was CDHWDQ. This cruise was cancelled due to Covid. I was offered an FCC at 125% of my payment, so I re-booked for 2021. This booking # was CVXWSJ. This cruise was also cancelled, so I re-booked in May for July 2022. The new booking # is XRCQGL. In June 2020 my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I was hopeful he would be well enough to travel, but this is not the case. I called Customer Relations to let them know he would not be going, but my sister Janet L. Massa would be going instead. They did not indicate this would be a problem, except that I would lose the shipboard credits.
I received a new invoice in the amount of $4,392.50. The original $3835.32 that was my husband's half of the original payment had been removed. In the letter I received regarding the cancellation in 2020 stated that if one was unable to use the FCC, that any money paid in full would be refunded. I do not want a refund. I just want the $3835.32 I paid credited back to my account, leaving a balance of $557.18 which I would be happy to pay.

Customer Relations has told me in so many words that my money is just gone!

Desired outcome: I would like the $3835.32 that I paid for my husband credited to my sister'saccount - booking #XRCQGL - leaving July 27th this year.

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8:55 pm EDT

Holland America Line Requited Covid-19 shot

I have just been notified that my wife and me can not go on the 28 day cruise to Hawaii this next February unless we receive the covid vaccination. We can not take the shots due to allergic reactions that we will get from the ingredients in the vaccine. I would like to know why we will be discriminated against because we can not take the shot. We have spent quite a bit of money for this cruise and when we booked it there was no such requirement. Please get back to me A S A P. Thank you.

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1:48 pm EDT

Holland America Line confusion of registration

I give my password and booking number and you state that it is not found..I have been cancelled from my Hawaii trip in Nov and expedia rebooked and you don't recognize..told I would be given the rebooking at the same cost, yet you send a texted, I need to pay to keep my cabin...
What is going on? The right hand does not know what the left hand is doing...Please correct..My name Robyn O'Driscoll old booking number XRVRCV, new # XKGXXL

Desired outcome: to correct my booking reservation..improve communication to the customer

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10:06 am EDT

Holland America Line Covid vaccine requirement

WE have booked a cruise for July, 2021 to Norway. When will Holland America decide they are requiring a vaccine? When will they get a backbone and make a decision? We are fully vaccinated and would like an answer. I really don't want to be stuck on a ship with unvaccinated people, riding around with a bunch of sick people in the middle of the ocean! Make a decision so we can decide if we are going or not!

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9:58 am EST

Holland America Line Crew management -Talent Acquisition Nautical & Technical Seagoing

Holland America Line what used to be a great Dutch company how treats its employees well, unfortunately, became a big corporation that has lost its passion and values on the way.
Treating new Dutch Deck/ Engine Cadets not ethical by not responding to their applications or direct emails to the designated Talent Acquisition manager.
As the saying goes you have one chance to make a first impression. Unfortunately, Holland America Line and Seabourn failed big time.
In one word, don't spend your hard-earned money with a company how treats its employees not respectfully. And that does not answer her emails or contact requests.

Desired outcome: Anser your future Talent/Crew when they spend there time to send a application.

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1:45 am EDT
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Holland America Line not getting refund

My booking nu. is:CC5HK, I had booked months ago, suddenly at the airport to fly to FLL to get the cruise, got an e-mail saying the cruise was canceled, at Fort Lauradle airport nobody from Hollan America cruise to help, since them try to get to HAL with no result. I am no in Thailand and asked them to send my refund of 8553 +expences of 1367, 08, d. to my account in Thailand, but they simply do not answer. I got stuck in Thailand and need my money. Behrouz Yaghoobi

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4:41 pm EST

Holland America Line refund of cruise payment

My wife and I booked a Holland America cruise, Westerdam ship (cruise line confirmation CCVKHM) Jerry & Sharon Beckman, to leave Shanghai China on Feburary 15, 2020. The reason for booking was to spend time in Shanghai and Beijing. Because of the coronavirus, the ship has deleted all Chinese ports and decided to replace them with Japanese ports. From Yokohama, Japan and ends up in Yokohama. Our trip was based on visiting China, not Japan as we have previously visited those ports two years ago.

We want a refund of our money ($3, 240.00). Also the Visa to China cost an additional $500.

My wife and I are senior citizens, 80 and 77 years old. This is a matter of corporate greed.

I do understand that ships can change ports of call, but in this case, they no longer resembles what we purchased. It is more like a bait and switch game.

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9:31 am EST
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Holland America Line Experiment n' terror cruising

Our 09/28/16 Oosterdam 12nt Mediterranean Dreams cruise experience follows.

Part 1 - Petri Dish Experiment

We gave ample monetary consideration in the form of time off, airfare, transfers, excursions and the cruise itself, only to be subjected to a lack of hygienic common sense or a virus known as stupidity on the part of HAL ship side management.

To be clear, in 34 cruises taken over a 50 year span, I have never been exposed to such unsanitary conditions and unhygienic practices. In 34 cruises, 31 ships, 9 lines, 122 ports, this was the first time I have contracted any type of illness on a cruise. Many were afflicted as witnessed by multiple conversations with passengers and crew who were impacted and aware of the situation.

Aside from the "hacking" going on all over the ship, outbreaks of diarrhea and influenza were brought to my attention by several crew and passengers in the know. Two passengers made the unsolicited comment which I cannot take credit for, "this ship is a floating petri dish". Some of HAL's guests suffered, my wife and I to the tune of 14 days of downtime (including the last 6 days of the cruise), misery and inconvenience from influenza. HAL may have violated CDC health regs, but most importantly, common sense which violated their guests trust.

The cause? In the prior 33 cruises, I have never seen beverages or ice dispensed in such a haphazard fashion. From the beginning of the cruise, the non touch ice beverage dispensers in the Lido buffet were occasionally non functional, i.e. did not dispense ice or water. When they were functional, unprotected pitchers were often positioned on the drip tray blocking their usage, forcing unnecessary manual usage of make shift ice chests and pitchers.

Rather than no touch, the process required a minimum of eight full hand to surface contacts on three different surfaces; chest lid; ice scoop; pitcher. In addition, the ice chest was compromised by the complete insertion of a hand during the scooping process. These conditions were mysteriously allowed to persist for the duration of the 12 night cruise. An email to the Office of the President at HAL, solicited the following response.

"Interestingly enough we had our public health specialist on board this cruise. Non-touch beverage/ice machines were functional during the cruise and not disabled as suggested. There was no outbreak of influenza or diarrhea as suggested. We are not in a position to provide you with a monetary refund."

HAL's Office of the President shot a clear message across my bow regarding the complaint. Their response was nothing more than a complete denial of circumstance and refutation of my on board experience. The response left my family feeling cheated, deceived and lacking future trust in the HAL brand.

If you think that's the end of this story, sadly it only gets worse. I thought paying to unsuspectingly participate in a covert infectious disease or immunization program, was hitting rock bottom for HAL. Not even close, after reading below, plunging to new depths with U-boat Captain Lehmann-Willenbrock (Das Boot) will seem like a step up from HAL.

Part 2 - Terrorized Guests

We also had the extreme displeasure of witnessing a family of six with toddler, having their twelve night vacation completely ruined by HAL's front office and immigration administration. Some one in HAL's shipboard administrative office spotted a clerical error on a Visa, measured in mere hours and decided to flex their authoritative muscle in threatening to throw the mother of the toddler off the ship.

Shortly into the cruise, HAL staff informed the family that the mother must debark the ship, a night prior to the cruises termination in Rome. HAL claimed that the mothers Schengen zone visa would terminate during the family's privately arranged post cruise transit to the Rome airport. The following day, HAL claimed the administrative error or visa oversight had been resolved.

The next day, HAL staff reversed course again and like Schettino's Costa Concordia ran aground, insisting that the mother would have to debark in Naples. The husband made continued attempts to appeal to common sense. After a long weekend, the husband finally put his foot down and informed HAL staff that they would have to "physically remove" the whole family from the ship, along with their possessions. Magically, HAL staff finally "resolved" the administrative "problem" with "port authorities" and said all was well.

The emotionally wrought disruption of this families vacation by HAL was unconscionable. Worse yet, for nine out of twelve nights, we watched this poor family being held hostage and terrorized by HAL's administrative Yo-Yo's (not ok, ok, not ok, ok) as they whimsically waved the sword of Damocle's over this poor families heads. Sailing with distemperate Captain Queeg (The Caine Mutiny) would be a step up from HAL.

Bottom line, HAL administrative staff exhibited a complete lack of common sense and misguided application of policy and authority. Paying to be a guest, then being held emotional hostage, replete with psychological torture, redefines hospitality and service as well as taking it to new depths.

This is how HAL treat their paying guests? Perhaps HAL should change their name to SSC or Stockholm Syndrome Cruises? Being Christian Fletcher and suffering the harsh punishment, criticism and abuse of Captain Bligh (Mutiny on the Bounty) would be a better fate.

HAL is in the hospitality service business, at least that is the rumor which their hygienic practices, shipboard administration and post cruise customer service rapidly dispels. In hospitality and service, misrepresentation should not be rife and "caveat emptor" should not be the maxim of the day, but HAL sure seems to have taken it to heart.

HAL's upper management attitude and level of customer satisfaction for problem resolution, during and post cruise, has left this formerly satisfied customer feeling like, sailing with Capt. Jack Sparrow on the Black Pearl (Pirates of the Caribbean), would be an upgrade from HAL.

In an effort to deny reality and just recompense, I shudder to imagine what HAL's professional deflection tactics and denial system aka "wall of non stick voodoo teflon" at the Office of The President, will cook up and attempt to serve these poor victims. And of late, that is exactly what the HAL experience leaves you feeling like.

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6:56 pm EDT
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Holland America Line Upgraded room not very appeasing.

We wanted a window in our cabin. We got the window with cabin directly above a cargo hold door. Several times we were awakened be heavy chains clanging that sounded like a chain saw in our cabin between 3:30am and 4:15am several nights. TV not working when we checked in. Several telephone calls between 12:30 am & 1:30am asking if we wanted room service. We could hear laughing in background (crew we expect) accents obvious.

We paid for entire cruise, excursions etc. prior to cruise. Half way thru they billed us for excursions again.

Would not suggest using this line as we are aware of other lines with far superior travel.

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2:25 pm EDT
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Holland America Line LOST BAGAGGE

Dear Sir,

This is a second times i write my complaint, until now i never get a response from your side. so, i need you to responsible about my lost.

File reference : CGKEK41454 / 20 Aug 12 / 1041 GMT
Name : SIGIT INDRI IRAWAN
Flight / Date : B61015 / 18AUG / EK202 / 19AUG / EK356 / 20AUG
Number of bags : 1
Ticket Number : [protected]
Colour / Type : YW01HWX
Tag Number : B63064517

it's more than a month and I been patient enough about this. So, I want my ###ing bag...!

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3:07 am EDT
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Holland America Line Unsanitary eating conditions

My wife and I took a 7-night Alaskan cruise from Seattle on the Westerdam. From day one I noticed some dirty dishes in the dining areas and I mentioned this to the staff. By day seven nothing had changed and the dishes were still dirty. Three times I saw lipstick on a glass/cup at my dining table, once I found a Sweet n Low wrapper stuck to the bottom of my spoon, several times I saw dirty cups on the Lido deck where the buffett-style foods were offered, and on several occasions plates and bowls were dirty. On my last day of the trip I brought some of the evidence to the front desk and they basically argued with me and refused to do anything about the problem. I wrote to Holland America's Office of the President, but to date I'm still waiting for a response. This cruise line is overrated and I would not recommend it to anyone. Not only were the dishes dirty, the food is the worst I've ever had on any cruise, and I've been on several. Avoid Holland America.

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John Clay
Melrose, US
Jun 13, 2016 10:35 am EDT

My wife and I took a cruise on the Maasdan beginning on May 03, 2016. On or about the 7th of May, I complained to medical about diarrhea (watery stools). I was quarantined to my room for 4 days and later reported to medical for evaluation. At that time I was forced to leave the ship. I was transported to a medical facility called Hospital CIMA San Jose Estado. Charge for this transportation, emergency room and doctor $3, 000.00. Charge for hospital stay an additional $5, 381.00. Now I have the cost of transportation to San Diego Ca, where the ship is scheduled to dock, another $1, 085.80. We also left over $100.00 in the casino bank we could not retrieve because when we left the ship, the casino was closed. My complaint is we were forced to leave the ship and in doing so we were also forced to pay additional expenses, over $9, 000, not including the $688.11 bill from the ship for the medical attention I received. Are we going to be compensated for any of the extra expense we paid plus we only were aboard the ship for 4 day of a 15 day cruise? The reason I was sick was because I was stricken with E.coli, which I caught while aboard this ship.

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turtlemom
Chicago, US
Nov 11, 2011 2:53 am EST

I have been very happy with Holland America. My wife and I really enjoy travelling on Holland America. We will definitely go again. I am sorry you did not receive a response. In my experience everything has been very good. I did request a price for them and I did check around and I was happy with the price I received. Sometimes I book with travel agents but in this case it was a great deal. I alwasy say to do your own research before you buy.

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7:16 pm EDT
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Holland America Line Guest Relations staf

Great cruise, great food etc, just do not work with "Guest Relations" to solve a problem that Holland America created. Problem: Airline connections that were arranged by Holland America. Make your own arrangements !

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Andrew T Smith
Palm Beach Gardens, US
Sep 08, 2014 2:25 pm EDT
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To whom it may concern:

My wife had heart surgery in the last minute and we were inside the 15 day window. Yes I know you legally can keep the money paid.

But I really could not understand why you not reconsider after I offered to book an additional cruise if you would allow me to postpone the trip until May 2015.

Andrew Smith
at54smith@att.net

I booked through Discover Alaska

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Fe dela Cruz Santos
El Sobrante, US
Sep 23, 2013 6:12 pm EDT
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Left my iPhone in my stateroom 9/2013 07:30 am upon disembarkment. I can't go back to get it. The customer info. Just radio someone in the cruise & just said it's not there. I am 110% that I left it on the couch. I emailed & called guest relation 9/20/13 but I don't know how long they answer. I'm positive it is in the room or less the crew took it.

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$200,000+ later
Niceville, US
Feb 02, 2012 8:05 pm EST
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It is most disappointing that as a 4 star mariner with a guaranteed HH catagory booking, I would not get even one upgrade and am left with a full obstructed view! HAL told my travel agent that the ship was sold out and this was highly unusual to have a 4 star passenger not get an upgrade. I have always had good luck with this but not this time. A three week cruise, not a good cabin, no dance hosts, and no bridge director. What a bummer! I wish I had my money back but too late. Be careful with gurantees, no matter u have cruised with them forever! Dont believe the literature that says 4 stars upgrade - 35 cruises!

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Holland America Line Nightmare

My husband and I took a cruise the week of March 20-27 on the Holland America Oosterdam to the Mexican Riviera. Our laptop computer and camera were among our luggage that was found to be missing after being entrusted to Holland America staff's care on a 10 minute ride from the airport to the ship via their subcontracted transport vehicles. We didn't realize these items were missing until we boarded the ship. We were continually prevented during the cruise by the management at the front desk from escalating a report to the hotel manager and the security on the ship who may have been able to initiate an investigation early after the incident occurred. This was a frustrating and frightening experience and certainly not one we expected aboard a Holland America Cruise ship. Upon disembarkation, we have filed complaints with Holland America Guest Relations, Holland America President and CEO Stein Kruse, Holland America Lost Luggage and AAA Travel Agency with whom we booked the cruise. We are also

filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and on multiple web sites. We want everyone to be aware of the hazards of cruising and that there may exist policies, procedures and processes established by cruise lines but they are not always followed and there is poor management on some of these ships. Stein Kruse, the President and CEO of Holland America may have an Advanced Management degree from Harvard but sadly, some of his manager employees don't know the first thing about management or service.

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cruiserneveragain
, US
Feb 03, 2013 5:25 pm EST

me and my wife just suffered thru a week on the nieu amsterdam, this was also a cruise from hell they had the main dining room closed 3 times for lunch. forcing you to go to there buffet which has very long lines filled with the help, getting there food ahead of us.finding a seat was also a problem.we waited hours for room service, who finaly came with cold food and no silverware to eat it wit h said he be right back and we never heard from him again. never mind the fact the food was not what we ordered.this happened every time we called for room service.we asked the crew for directions on the ship seven times we were told i dont know.this was our 11th cruise and i wish we had stopped with ten.

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JeniferLyn
Puya, US
Dec 10, 2010 9:35 am EST

I 100% believe you, & feel your pain as I also had the cruise from hell on Holland America. From the second my husband & I stepped foot on the Oosterdam, I was shocked at the well worn patio furniture, the inability to find anyone on the Lido Deck who would point you in the right direction to get a cool drink, & the unbelievably sad, even remorse look on the crews faces. Where were the people holding the trays of tropical cocktails, as on every other cruise I've been on? Why was I corraled, like a cow to slaughter, in an enormous building to sit & sweat with the hundreds of other people, dodging walkers, wheelchairs, canes, & scooters...& no tray of drinks?
Obviously I am trying to make light of the WORSE vacation of my life, & being a child of two pilots, I've been on quite a few thru the years! But while on the cruise & after contacting them, I was made to feel as if I had just crawled out from a rock & had never been out of my county before.
Our story is full of how awful the entire experience played out. From having a dilapidated in bad need of repair, life boat blocking the entire floor to ceiling window, then finding a worker inside the boat looking inside our room as I was putting on a shirt. This room was smelly, very warn, & also desperately needed to be either deep cleaned or the drapery/carpets/sofa/bedspread replaced. But we figured we'd be busy & we'd live with it.
After waiting until almost 8pm, my luggage appears & Im able to put on my own clothes. Off to a HORRIBLE dinner at the Pinnacle Grill, raw filet mignon returned to me burnt on the outside, raw in the middle. The hollandaise sauce had separated, ruining the asparagus, & the potato was ice cold. We left hungry & unaware the Lido Deck does not serve food after 8pm, so then began our roomservice cruise from hell!
Sitting in the room one thing kept going off in my head. It's 10:30pm, where is everyone? This is a Mexican Riveria cruise & yes the average age was around 65, but does the entire ship board up when the sun goes down? I read the itenary, as the next two days were at sea & realized we were in big trouble. We are in our late 30s, celebrating our five year anniversary on a ship which had activities, such as beginners computer classes, Bridge, Friends of Bill W, & how to play canasta.
I'm writing too much & should stick to the major concerns! I ended up paying to upgrade our room, due to the fact that we spent all of our time sitting watching tv & complaining about how awful this truly was. Then, after packing up all of our things, which were scattered everywhere, we moved to room 5025 which had a deck, & a toilet which didn't function.
I called information, which by the way, we probably spent a total of one day of our cruise on the phone, on hold. A plumber came, said It was fixed, but never was. I called information again, after being on hold about 20min & explained how the toilet still would not flush. The woman said, "Please ma'am, we would appreciate it if you did not call unless the contents have went over the rim." This was an hour & a half after my husband had waded thru my fecal matter!
After that experience I used the Lido Decks bathroom, & only recently found out my husband was urinating in the shower!
The crew lied to us over & over, we were turned away from the dinning rm due to not having a jacket, then was placed into a three sizes too small one. I counted eleven men, eleven white men, as I walked to use the restroom, all without ties or jackets. Mind you, I called HA, as well as Mother, twice asking if he needed to bring a dinner jacket. My husband is a quarter Filipino, & was horribly embarrassed by the dinning room manager, & was treated just as bad as all the lower ranking Filipino crew were treated by the higher ranking non Filipino crew members. We witnessed multiple incidents of scoldings of such crew, & honestly I feel as if they were over worked, treated terribly, & did not want to be on the Oosterdam. Just imagine how wonderful it felt, from the second we arrived? Not good at all!
I lost six pounds on this cruise, as the food was awful, that is if you could get to any of it. The lines were long & when you include the canes, walkers, scooters, & wheelchairs...good luck! I felt sorry for all of them as well, because they were just as hungry as us. That is why I stated this was our room service cruise from hell!

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justiceforallhere
, NL
Apr 14, 2010 6:25 pm EDT

everything i have read about this company pales in comparison to the dirty truth. i have first hand experience with what REALY goes on behind the closed doors on these ships. the hair on your neck would stand stiff if you knew truths such as what you were really eating, and who prepared it. what about where the deceased body were really kept and what the continual offender hotel manager was up to.

your friend, The dirty door keeper.

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1:31 pm EST

Holland America Line Food Quality

Just returned from a cruise on the Oosterdam arriving in San Diego on November 1. We had taken the same cruise last year in December and had a good experience. The food quality has substantially decreased since our cruise a year ago.
a few examples: Caesar Salad dry and lacking enough dressing, cold pancakes in Vista Dining room in the morning, chef's specialty banana french toast was merely horridly fried banana bread, escargo was bland, lobster thermador bad tasting, lobster bisque thick and tasted terrible, cold tomato soup tasted like a can of tomato juice, most meals were dry, pasta dishes were heavy on pasta and so light on the sauce that most of the pasta just went to waste for lack of sauce. Link sausages floated unappealing in some sort of yucky water at the Lido restaurant. The scooped ice cream they served was soft and mostly melted at the ice cream station.
The best meal the entire trip was a cheeseburger and fries on the pool deck.

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5:26 am EDT
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Holland America Line Fraud and cheating

On May 29th, I phoned up a Holland America Booking Agent and asked for their best deal Mediterrnian Cruise. I wanted the bottom line price, everything included, no surprises. I booked for a party of four, was told over the phone the final price, where upon I used my credit card to pay in full.

One week later, on June 4th, a message is on my machine from Holland America asking for an extra 750.00 as they couldn't get us on the flight they said, and now that would be the cost of a hotel room (for EACH) couple. When asked if I could find my own hotel, we were discouraged from doing so and said we would lose our transfer fees that we had already paid from the airport to the ship.

Who can tell you that you have paid in FuLL and then one week later change their minds~!? On principal I said I wanted a refund . They gave back everything except 627.00 (per couple!) which was cancellation fees. We wanted to be on that trip and only canceled because they did not come through with their agreement.

I searched on the internet and found SEVERAL similar stories to ours. I proceeded with a complaint to the Better Business Bureau. Holland America did not respond. They were given an unsatisfactory rating. I finally got the VP on the phone and she said that it is in their brochures and on the internet that they have the right to add a hotel booking later. brochures and internet?

What about the people that book on the phone, and NO mention is made. Miss VP only apologized for that and said something should have been said. THEN she says after meeting with the upper management staff they DECIDED to give us a 600.00 credit towards our next cruise? Ok, so they have 627.00 of my money and think that giving me a credit for a next cruise is compensation? Not only is it MY money they are using the credit for, I have NO intention of ever cruising with this company after the shoddy treatment we received.

I further wrote back and suggested that what a REASONABLE offer would have been was to offer us that cruise again at the PRICE they agreed on. Their management in their infinite wisdom and commitment to 'excellent ' service apparently don't agree.

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Gerald Kajander
, US
Mar 14, 2023 7:04 am EDT

Upon committing to a Holland America cruise, if you feel the compulsion to purchase trip insurance, DON'T BUY IT FROM Holland America. They use AON who's very name let's you know how quickly they pay your claim (At Once, Never) or how much of your claim they will pay (All Or Nothing).

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Henry Nicholson
Osprey, US
Nov 07, 2022 11:26 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Hi,

Many of us are so unhappy with the temperature on the ship we will not rebook another HAL cruise. Captain seems to be totally unresponsive to our demands for a warmer ship.

Henry Nicholson

Four-star

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$200,000+ later
Niceville, US
Feb 02, 2012 8:09 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Write to the President of HAL and continue these emails till u get a satisfactory answer. It worked for me. When his assistant got tired of email bombardment, I got results.

Holland America Line In-depth Review

Overview: Holland America Line is a renowned cruise line company with a rich history in the industry. Founded in 1873, it has established itself as a leader in providing exceptional cruise experiences. The company's mission is to offer guests unforgettable journeys filled with comfort, elegance, and personalized service.

Fleet and Destinations: Holland America Line boasts a fleet of luxurious ships, each offering a unique experience. With ships ranging in size from intimate to grand, they cater to different preferences and group sizes. The spacious accommodations and top-notch amenities ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay on board. The company offers a wide range of destinations and itineraries, including breathtaking Alaskan cruises, exotic Caribbean getaways, and culturally rich European tours. The variety and quality of destinations available are truly impressive, catering to all types of travelers.

Onboard Experience: The onboard experience with Holland America Line is nothing short of exceptional. The accommodations are elegantly designed, providing a cozy and luxurious retreat for guests. The dining options are diverse, with a range of restaurants offering delectable cuisine prepared by world-class chefs. From casual eateries to fine dining establishments, there is something to satisfy every palate. The entertainment options are equally impressive, with live performances, music, and engaging activities throughout the day. The ships are meticulously maintained and kept clean, ensuring a pleasant and hygienic environment for all guests.

Customer Service: Holland America Line prides itself on its outstanding customer service. The staff is responsive, helpful, and professional, always going above and beyond to meet guests' needs. The company's policies and procedures for handling customer inquiries, complaints, and requests are well-established, ensuring prompt and satisfactory resolutions. Overall, customer satisfaction and feedback are consistently positive, reflecting the company's commitment to providing an exceptional cruise experience.

Value for Money: Holland America Line offers excellent value for money. The pricing is competitive, considering the high-quality amenities and services provided. When compared to competitors, Holland America Line stands out for its exceptional value and included amenities. The company is transparent about any additional fees or hidden costs, ensuring that guests can make informed decisions about their cruise experience.

Safety and Security: Holland America Line prioritizes the safety and security of its passengers. The company has implemented robust safety measures and protocols to ensure passenger well-being. From emergency drills to advanced security systems, every precaution is taken to provide a secure environment on board. Holland America Line adheres to industry safety standards and regulations, giving passengers peace of mind during their cruise.

Environmental Responsibility: Holland America Line is committed to environmental sustainability. The company actively manages waste and promotes energy efficiency on its ships. Through partnerships and initiatives, Holland America Line aims to preserve the destinations it visits, minimizing its environmental impact. The company's dedication to environmental responsibility sets a positive example for the cruise industry.

Reputation and Awards: Holland America Line has established a strong reputation within the cruise industry. It is highly regarded for its exceptional service, luxurious accommodations, and memorable experiences. The company has received numerous awards and recognition for its excellence, further solidifying its position as a leader in the industry. Customer testimonials and online reviews consistently praise Holland America Line for its outstanding cruise experiences.

Accessibility and Inclusivity: Holland America Line strives to accommodate passengers with disabilities or special needs. The company has implemented various accessibility features on its ships, ensuring that all guests can enjoy a comfortable and inclusive experience. During excursions, efforts are made to provide accessible options, allowing everyone to explore and enjoy the destinations. Holland America Line's commitment to inclusivity and diversity is commendable.

Future Outlook: Holland America Line continues to innovate and improve its offerings. The company has exciting plans and developments in the pipeline, aimed at enhancing the guest experience. With a focus on adapting to changing industry trends and customer preferences, Holland America Line is well-positioned to continue providing exceptional cruises for years to come.

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