Information You Need Before You Board
Passports (these
rules are under review)
The following documents are required for U.S. citizens on cruises to Alaska,
Mexico, Hawaii or New England.
1) A valid passport or
2) A U.S. government-issued picture identification; plus an original or
certified copy of a United States birth certificate, U.S. Naturalization
Certificate.
All other cruises: A passport valid for six months beyond the duration of the
cruise and necessary visas. Expired passports are not acceptable.
Please note: Although passports are not required for some cruises,
Holland America highly recommends that you carry one while traveling. The
unforeseen possibility of a medical disembarkation or early cruise termination
may require that you have a valid passport to enable you to continue travel.
Shipboard Account
Our cashless society is designed to make your life on board as simple as
possible. When you board the ship, your account has already been activated and
you may make purchases by simply showing your guest identification card and
signing a receipt.
On embarkation day, you will need to register your credit or debit card (Visa®,
Mastercard®, American Express®, Discover®) in order to use your onboard account
for shipboard purchases. Your card will be pre-authorized for $60 per person
for each day of your cruise. At the end of your cruise, you will receive a final
statement, and your card will be charged only for the actual amount of your
purchases. Please inform your credit or debit card issuer in advance that your
card will be used on a Holland America ship. This will help prevent delays in
obtaining pre-authorization on board. Some banks may keep the pre-authorization
in place for up to 30 days. If you do not want to use a credit or debit card,
the ship will collect a cash deposit from you at time of boarding in the same
pre-authorization amount. Any excess deposit will be refunded to you at the end
of the cruise. Traveler’s checks may be cashed at the front office to make your
deposit. Personal checks are not accepted on board.
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