Holland America Line Reviews - 5

Oosterdam cruise was not great.

Oosterdam cruise was not great. Even before getting on board, they messed up our details like names. There were 8 of us on the cruise, and we faced a long delay to board. The luggage tags were ruined, as the label holders were cut off. Many passengers were affected by Covid, but the safety measures were not very strict. Medical treatment was poor and overpriced. We had vouchers that we couldn’t use, and haven’t been refunded, even for ones we paid for. They only offered a replacement for the same year, which wasn’t helpful. The air conditioning was not working well, and they only had American plugs. Some of the entertainment was not very good. Our emails were ignored, even by the CEO. They didn’t seem to care. I won't be traveling with them again.

We sailed on the Koningsdam cruise ship from

We sailed on the Koningsdam cruise ship from Vancouver to Alaska. You must provide a credit card number, which is mandatory. We mainly enjoyed coffee and reserved one excursion with them on the Skagway railway for 119 dollars each. We also had a mobile internet connection. When our credit card bill arrived, they charged us £711.84. There is no detailed statement provided, and we suspect this happens to everyone, allowing them to earn a lot from interest. I've sent many emails, but only got an automated response. Calling leads to being transferred from one department to another. Terrible customer service, AVOID THEM.

The cruise went smoothly in some areas

The cruise went smoothly in some areas, yet there were a few letdowns. The cabin carpet showed signs of wear, and room service often missed details of our requests. Several excursions got canceled because of the weather, and even now, a month after the trip, HAL has not yet returned the fees for these. My emails about the final bill and refund delays have gone unanswered. HAL is certainly quick to process payments, but I might need to contact my card provider for help recovering these funds since they were each over £100. This approach has been reliable in the UK

Be careful with cruises to the Faroe Islands

Be careful with cruises to the Faroe Islands, consider other options. In Faroe, there is the Grindadrap, and you might unexpectedly witness the beach killing of whales, turning the sea dark red. The locals are very protective of their traditions and may act aggressively if asked about it.

I had some pictures taken during my trip

I had some pictures taken during my trip, but they ended up losing them before I could buy them. They promised to deliver them by printing them again and leaving them at my door the night before we docked, but I had to pay upfront. Unfortunately, I never received them. I contacted them for a refund, but they refused, claiming the pictures were left outside my door and were likely stolen. I couldn't believe it. In the end, they told me that they wouldn't reimburse me, and the loss was my problem.