Holland America Line brings back classic standby cruise deal
These days when a cruise line advertises cruise fares as low as $99, there’s usually a catch. Even if the cruise fare truly is $99 per day, taxes and fees get added on, hiking up your total cost.
If you do find a great deal on a cruise, you should also keep in mind that daily gratuities will be added to your final cruise cost. These cruise line service charges range from $14.50 - $25 per passenger per day and will be added to the bill at the end of your cruise, unless you prepay them.
Related: Popular Carnival Cruise Line discount no longer being offered
Optional extras like WiFi, drink packages, specialty dining and shore excursion will also increase your cruise costs significantly, if you choose to add them to your vacation.
Cruising for a low cost is not impossible, however, especially if you live close to a cruise port and have the ability to travel on short notice. Although standby cruising is not as common as it once was, it’s still a possibility with one cruise line that’s rewarding lucky, last-minute travelers with truly low cruise fares.
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Holland America Line offers standby cruise savings
Holland America Line’s standby program offers a chance to cruise for just $99 per person per day, with taxes and fees included. When the cruise line has unsold staterooms available on certain sailings departing within the next week, it uses its standby list to fill them.
Intended for cruisers who live within driving distance of a cruise port, the program offers travelers the ability to sign up to be on standby to cruise on select sailings. The cruise line posts a list of sailings eligible for standby bookings on its website.
Related: Holland America, Oceania Cruises add new culinary experiences
If Holland America Line has space available to confirm bookings from its standby list, the cruise line lets travelers who have joined the list for that sailing cruise for a reduced cruise fare. Standby cruisers can sail for $99 per person per day for an inside or oceanview stateroom or $129 per person per day for a verandah stateroom.
The standby program also allows third and fourth passengers in a stateroom to cruise for free when booked as a third and/or fourth guest in a stateroom with first and second guests booked on select cruises via the program.
Payment is required to join the cruise standby list
Right now, Holland America Line cruises eligible for standby bookings include a variety of itineraries departing from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, San Diego, and Vancouver between January and April 2025. To join the standby list for one of the eligible itineraries listed on the Holland America Line website, travelers can call the cruise line at 877-724-5425.
If the cruise you’re interested in is still accepting standby bookings, you will be required to make the full payment on the cruise’s reduced standby fare in order to join the standby list. If you’re not selected to sail, your payment will be refunded. However, if you are selected to cruise and you choose not to sail, your payment will not be refunded.
ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise
If you’re on the standby list for a verandah stateroom and no verandah staterooms are available, you will be offered an inside or ocean-view stateroom, if available, for the reduced cost of $99 per person per day. In this case, if you choose not to accept this alternate stateroom category option, you will receive a full refund.
Holland America Line begins reviewing its standby list for eligible cruises about seven days before the departure and up until the cruise embarkation date. If the cruise line has space available to confirm your standby booking, you will be notified by email or phone.
If the cruise line is unable to clear your standby booking, you will be notified no less than two days prior to the cruise’s departure.
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This story was originally published January 4, 2025 at 9:30 AM