FAQs

Question: Will I need a passport?

Answer: Holland America Line highly recommends that all guests carry a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the completion date of your travel. Having a passport will enable you to fly from the U.S. to a foreign port in the event you miss your scheduled embarkation or to fly back to the U.S. if you need to disembark the ship mid-cruise due to an emergency.

Passports are normally surrendered on board and held by the pursers to facilitate clearances in ports of call. It is prudent to photocopy the identification page of your passport and pack it separately, in case of loss or damage to the original.

Your name on your travel documents (passport, Alien Resident card, birth certificate, etc.) must be identical to those on your cruise documents. Otherwise, proof of name change (e.g. a marriage license) with a valid driver's license (or other government issued photo ID) must be presented. Any discrepancies may prevent travel.

Q: What about motion sickness?

A: Modern ships have state-of-the-art stabilizers and availability of advance weather information. The ship's medical center also has preventive medicine available. We also recommend trying ReliefBands.

Q: Should I buy Travel Insurance?

A: We strongly encourage you to purchase Trip Cancellation insurance. We recommend Travelex or the Standard Protection offered by Holland America. Also, we suggest you include the Good Mourning Journeys Cruise Program Fee in the amount of insurance your purchase.

Holland America's Standard Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP Standard Plan) will allow you, for any reason, to provide written cancellation up to 24 hours prior to the start of your scheduled travel arrangements made by Holland America Line and receive a refund equal to 80% of the eligible amounts paid (90% if you purchase Holland America's CPP Platinum Plan).

Q: What items are not covered in the cost of the cruise?

A: The following items are not included: Items of a personal nature such as Internet access, laundry, etc.; Spa and beauty salon services; Gratuities; Dining at the Specialty restaurants; Shore excursions; Travel Insurance

Note: Beverage Packages are available for pre-purchase.

Note: The Good Mourning Journeys Cruise Program fee is additional.

Q: Are Gratuities required?

A: The Holland America crew works hard to make sure every aspect of your cruise meets the highest standard. This includes Dining Room wait staff and the stewards who service your stateroom as well as other who support their efforts such as galley and laundry staff. To ensure the efforts of all crew members are recognized and rewarded, a Daily Hotel Service Charge is automatically added to each guest's shipboard account.

The Daily Hotel Service Charge is $14.50 per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $16.00 per guest per day for suite guests. If services exceed or fail to meet your expectations, you may adjust this amount at the end of your cruise.

A 15% Bar Service Charge is automatically added to bar charges and Dining Room wine purchases.

In ports of call and on shore, we suggest you extend gratuities consistent with customary local practices.

Q: Is there a Dress Code?

A: Most evenings smart casual attire is appropriate. Shorts, pool/beachwear, distressed jeans and men’s tank tops are best left to the daytime and are not permitted in fine dining restaurants. Jeans without holes, tears or embroidery are welcome on most evenings in all restaurants, but on Gala Nights jeans are only allowed in the casual dining restaurants.

Gala Nights evoke the grand traditions of cruising as guests dress to impress for special events on board, including our five-course gourmet dinner in the Dining Room. For gentlemen, collared shirts and slacks are required in all fine dining restaurants. Jacket and tie is preferred, though not required. For ladies, dressy attire is appropriate. Dresses, skirts, and slacks are all acceptable

Q: Can I bring Alcoholic Beverages Onboard?

A: Each guest 21 years and older may bring one bottle of wine or champagne (no larger than 750ml) onboard in carry-on luggage at the beginning of the voyage. This bottle will not be subject to a corkage fee if consumed in the stateroom. Additional wine or champagne bottles (no larger than 750ml) in carry-on luggage are welcome, but will incur a US$18.00 (subject to change) corkage fee each, irrespective of where they are intended to be consumed. Guests are not allowed to bring beer, boxed wine, or other liquors and spirits onboard. Holland America Line reserves the right to remove all alcoholic beverages from any guest luggage that violates this policy. Any alcoholic beverage found will be removed and returned on the last evening of the voyage. Guests will not receive any monetary compensation for alcoholic beverages that were removed from luggage.

Q: Is Smoking Allowed?

A: For the comfort of all of our guests, all staterooms (cabins), showrooms and most other indoor areas are designated non-smoking. No smoking of any kind will be permitted on any stateroom verandah.

Smoking is permitted in designated smoking areas only on all ships. Smoking in the casino is allowed only on designated nights and only for active players onboard.

Electronic cigarettes, cigar and pipe smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the ship; it is only permitted on the outside decks where smoking is otherwise allowed.

Q: What about Internet Access?

A: Guests can purchase and connect to satellite internet 24 hours a day, either by accessing the wireless network or utilizing the workstations located in the Explorations Café. Internet Plans vary in price to accommodate individual needs and are interchangeable between the workstations in the Explorations Café and your wireless device.

Note that satellite connections may be adversely impacted by physical obstacles such as fjords and inclement weather and the speed is notably slower than shoreside connections.

Wireless Internet Service Packages

Social: Per day package, $14.99. (Access the most popular social websites and applications. May not allow for audio/video calling and streaming.)
Surf (most popular): $24.99. (Surf your favorite sites including e-mail, news, sports and more. May not allow for audio/video calling and streaming.)
Premium: $29.99 (From e-mail to streaming, receive the highest volume of data. Supports audio/video calling and streaming where coverage allows.)

Q: What are the Beverage Package Options?

ELITE PACKAGE

Only $59.95 per guest/per day*

Enjoy all the benefits from our Quench and Signature Packages and more! With the Elite Beverage Package you can enjoy all drinks menu priced $15 and under including Dale DeGroff’s Original Cocktails!

SIGNATURE PACKAGE

Only $54.95 per guest/per day*

Our Signature package includes everything from our Quench Package along with your favorite premium beers, spirits, cocktails, and wines by the glass priced $11 and under.

EVIAN™ WATER PACKAGE

12 liter bottles of Evian natural spring water delivered to your stateroom for only $42 per guest*

6 liter bottles only $24 per guest*

QUENCH PACKAGE (NON-ALCOHOLIC)

Only $17.95 per guest/per day* Includes an unlimited variety of premium coffees such as espresso and cappuccino, juices, Coca-Cola™ products, our signature mocktails, Red Bull, and bottled waters 500ml and under.

COCA-COLA™ PACKAGE

Only $8.00 per guest/per day* Includes unlimited fountain sodas.

* Prices are per person per day. A 15% service charge will be automatically applied to your purchase. Beverage packages must be purchased for the entire duration of the voyage. All adults of legal drinking age that are booked in the same stateroom must also purchase the package.

Q: Do you have any Disclaimers?

A: Yes. All content of this website is believed to be true and accurate at the time of publishing. Terms and conditions subject to change. Good Mourning Journeys assumes no liability for the cruise or program experience. Some presenters may offer additional services for a fee. Any transactions are between the guest and the presenter.