Holland America Health & Safety Protocols

Holland America Line Health & Safety Protocols

For more than 150 years, Holland America Line has prioritized the safety, security, and well-being of guests, crew members, and the destinations visited. Operating with signature service, the fleet adheres to comprehensive public health practices and modern safety standards to ensure a comfortable, relaxing, and worry-free experience at sea.

Fleetwide Public Health & Deep Disinfection

Holland America Line maintains a rigorous, continuous public health program that strictly aligns with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program standards. Dedicated environmental services teams carry out extensive cleaning and sanitation routines around the clock.

• Medical-Grade Sanitization: Staterooms, suites, and public areas are meticulously cleaned and disinfected using solutions proven effective against common pathogens.
• High-Touch Disinfection: Frequent touchpoints - including elevator buttons, handrails, card readers, and public lounge seating - are sanitized throughout the day.
• Hand Hygiene Infrastructure: Touchless hand-sanitizing dispensers and handwashing stations are highly visible and accessible fleetwide, with dedicated stations placed outside fine dining rooms, casual dining venues, and main entertainment areas.

Enhanced Air Quality & Ventilation

To optimize indoor air quality, Holland America Line has modernized climate control and air-handling infrastructure across all vessels. Shipboard HVAC systems utilize an engineered combination of maximized fresh sea air intake alongside commercial-grade air filtration, continuously exchanging air inside staterooms and public spaces to maintain a clean indoor climate.

Award-Winning Onboard Medical Care

Every Holland America Line vessel features a medical center staffed 24/7 by experienced, licensed physicians and registered nurses trained in maritime and emergency medicine. Onboard medical facilities are equipped to manage a wide array of medical needs.

• Clinical Equipment: Onboard facilities feature cardiac monitors, external defibrillators, X-ray machinery, oxygen systems, and point-of-care laboratory diagnostic tools.
• Shoreside Coordination: Onboard staff work in constant coordination with shoreside medical operations teams and global port networks to facilitate seamless medical logistics or shoreside transfers if specialized care is required.

Travel Documentation & Port Requirements

With global maritime travel rules returned to baseline operational standards, guests can cruise freely without public health mandates or entry testing restrictions on the vast majority of itineraries. Individual destination countries may occasionally maintain localized customs or health policies. Guests are responsible for securing and presenting valid travel identification required for their itinerary, such as valid passports, Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant documents, or visas.

Travel Protection: Because most domestic health insurance policies do not extend coverage into international waters or cover maritime emergency medical evacuations, Holland America Line strongly recommends adding a comprehensive travel protection plan prior to departure.

*Health and safety protocols change often. Contact us if you have any questions about current requirements.