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.

Return to cruise index