The Caribbean Tour & Trip Reviews

Holland America was the worst cruise line I have ever been on, I definitely do not recommend this cruise for any human on this planet including young people. Very unpleasant atmosphere and the staff are extremely unwelcoming and intimidating. Once you have left the port and your at sea, their attitudes start to change and they all start acting like thugs. I was shocked by the amount of unprofessionalism, but I guess people who have secure jobs on a major cruise line can treat their guests like crap and get away with it trip after trip. These losers are too immature and inhospitable for any human to enjoy their, “accommodations” and perhaps they should consider making a cruise line for wild zoo animals instead, because that’s how they treat their guests. Never again with Holland America!

The worst cruise company. Just don’t care and driven by pure greed. Hygiene poor and serving tongues left on food so cross contamination. Covid on board and many cases on board including our next door cabin had people confined to the room with Covid/19, which us hardly surprising.

Overcharged several times for wine package we had paid for. And charged us again on diverse occasions.

Although we booked many locations to visit, many cancelled en route and also pre-departure. Thefts from our cabin, expensive items stolen. Attempted unlawful withdrawals from our debit card in excess of 3700 usd.

Driven by greed. Dumped in many isolated areas and 60-79% we had to travel by tender. Many people suffering from disabilities could not use the tenders. Dumped in a rat invested town on one occasion. Having waited to board the tender for 2hrs, 40min travel in the sweat box, waited for coach 30mins with 40min travel to nearest town. Once there found the street could not be used dave for the roads and the Market was infested with rats. Thus typified many of the places we were dumped during the cruise.

Truly the worst company ever for a cruise. Customer service appalling leaving me now to sue the agent for this 33 day disastrous cruise.

The cruise should carry a Heakth warning relating to theft from cabin, unlawful transfers from customers account, not suitable for anyone suffering from disabilities. Covid friendly as the hygiene is appalling. Drinks over priced a typical bottle of beer 7 usd plus 18% service charge.

Staff hard working and food ok apart from hygiene snd coss contamination of food leading to the possible spread of Covid-19 virus

Totally disgusted. Dave your time and money, choose snd book with a good company such as Cunard, Celebrity, Pz&O but not this uncaring company designed to discriminate against those with disabilities

There is much to write.It would take pages and time to say.They don't care about customer satisfaction.I waited 6 months for a reply.
Very unhappy with the answer I received from them.
I will take my customer elsewhere.The one thing I can say the on board staff, cleaners, kitchen and food service you couldn't fault.They work hard.and always very helpful.

Cruise date 2-11-23
Extremely dissatisfied with Holland America Cruise Line not being straight forward about Turks and Caicos horrific vaccination policy.
The vaccination policy for Turks and Caicos should be clearly printed on the advertised destination! After refusing to let us disembark in Turks, Holland America informed us we could find their vaccination policy hidden in “frequently asked questions”. Beware, Holland America is deceptive in their advertising of cruises .
Currently, we are stuck on this boat not being allowed to visit Turks. The destination is why we booked this cruise. We might just be one unhappy customer because we didn’t lie when asked if we were vaccinated before boarding the ship, but I can guarantee Holland America has thousands of visitors who did lie and were not required to show vaccination cards.
Holland America, Turks and Caicos policy is complete BS!!!
The cruise line doesn’t advertise the policy of Turks and you’re not required proof of vaccination when boarding the ship . All You need to do is just lie , say you’re vaccinated and then you can disembark in Turks. It’s just smoke and mirrors. If cruise lines advertised that Turks required a vaccination, the island’s economy would collapse and the cruise lines would loose a popular destination.
If you’re a believer in freedom of medical choice, boycott Holland America and Turks!!!!

Ik heb op 19 okt een mail gestuurd en wacht nog steeds op antwoord, belachelijk dat het zolang duurt, nooit meer een cruise met de Holland America line

They charge me for two people when I travel solo - pure greed, selfish and low life.

Wonderful cruise with ms volendam departing in ft.lauderdale 3/1 till buenos aires on 12/2 special thanks to James and Wayan who wonderfull serviced our stateroom 6169 .
And special thanks to Rian and Mint from the main dining room table 156 for the very good service!!
The cruise was a wonderful experience !!
Regards William (wilhelmus)and monique from the netherlands.

My wife died - so I travel solo. Holland America is shameful in the way they treat solo travelers. One, even if you sail solo you are required to pay for two unless you accept (don't) the solo cabins which can only be compared to as slave quarters.

My wife and I sailed on a trans-Atlantic cruise from Fort Lauderdale in April 2022. Thought we had to endure a second Covid-19 test before boarding, that was the last problem that we encountered during our 21-day cruise. The veranda cabin on the cruise was comfortable and the shower very good. The food was first-class and the tours excellent, with only one exception. The trans-Atlantic portion of the cruise was one of the most pleasurable experiences I have ever had and the staff were memorable. I have read several of these reviews and I wonder whether they were actually on Holland America ships or their expectations ridiculously high. This is a fine, well-established cruise line and I would definitely recommend it.

We had two cruises with HAL in 2022. They were great. Good food, great service. Nice smaller ships. We are sailing with them again in 2024. On the first we did not get HIA as it was a 7 day Alaska cruise. On the second we did as it was a 14 day Panama canal cruise. We felt that we had good value for the money.

Unfortunately cruising is not the same post covid. The entertainment was minimal and everything is scaled back. The food was just ok. At the time of my cruise, masks were mandatory although most people won't wear them and the staff doesn't enforce it. We purchased covid insurance and trip interruption insurnace in case we did get covid.... and we did. spent over a week in quarantine. At least they fed us which was nice. But not much help other than that. Also had to quarantine once back in Vancouver. Upon return, we submitted our documents to insurance to cover the cost of cancelled flights and quarantine costs in hotel etc. We have yet to receive any money back and it's six months later, meanwhile.... interest charges are adding up. We cannot get a response from anyone as to why it's taking so long. It has been a horrible experience. They tell you it's safe on cruise line but it's just not. I'll never travel with them again. What's the point of purchasing insurance if they are not going to honor it?

Ik heb gewerkt bij de Cruise terminal van Holland America Line in Rotterdam en in Amsterdam en gezien hoe gezinnen met kinderen geschoffeerd werden. Alle kinderen vanaf 5 jaar moest verplicht een vaccinatiebewijs tonen en zij moesten verplicht een test ondergaan. Mijn hart brak voor deze mensen omdat zij dolgraag met het gezin op cruise wilden gaan. Er zijn tal van voorbeelden te noemen waarbij de staf onbeschoft handelde. Ik zou nooit met Holland America Line willen varen omdat ze kleine kinderen die gezond waren in groot gevaar heeft gebracht. Hier is een artikel, maar ik kan tal van artikelen vinden in de media die dit beaamt. Gezond kind onder 12 heeft geen coronaprik nodig, zegt Gezondheidsraad

The enticing advert read - Holland America Line 'Have It All' (HIA) but, you can't actually HIA.
As with many cruisers, much of the motivation when selecting a cruise is Itinerary. When you study and select because of Itinerary, and you're further encouraged by 'Shore Excursion Credit' included in the HIA package but then, the ship either doesn't make it to one or more of your desired ports or your desired Port Excursions are fully sold out, it's maximum frustration but too late, they've got your money HaHa. This is especially so when you can't even turn your 'Paid For' credit into on board spending money. After much appealing at the Shore Excursion on board desk, we were informed that the shore excursion group were contractors and weren't actually HAL but hey, they advertised under the HAL banner ???
Be very careful when booking with HAL. Don't believe all the advertising jargon, get promises in writing and if they don't want to give you that, but you still go ahead and book, you could be in for some major disappointments.
I have written and forwarded to Holland America Line Customer Relations, a very full and lengthy review regarding my latest cruise experience but have received a heart breaking apology of how inundated they are with customer reports, it may take several weeks before they can respond to my submission. Based on the false advertising that has brought me to this stage, I somehow find it a bit hard to sit patiently and accept that.

I contracted food poisoning on my cruise. They also didnt let us know during the booking process that we will be in a interconnecting cabin. This really placed a cloud over the positives. I wont be rushing to return.

The best thing about the cruise was the amazing staff. So many excellent workers, with such genuinely sweet temperaments. Really lovely. In comparison with other cruises I've taken, I would not sail Holland America again. Cruise ports were ill planned, with absurdly short layovers. Daily activities were the most limited I've ever experienced, and anything worth attending was greidiously over crowded. Rooms were small,,but again, the room attendants were exceptional. Room service was ridiculous. Ecxept for breakfast. Try another ship if it's your 1st, or even 5th cruise. Older crowd as well.