Exploring the World of Standby Cruise Fares

Having flexible travel plans is key to finding a great cruise fare, especially to book a last-minute trip.

Although it can often be effective strategy, waiting to pounce on last-minute deals might not always yield results, as the itinerary of your choosing could sell out. Plus, the burden of monitoring cruise fares falls on you.

To provide an alternative, Holland America Line created a program that allows you to get on a standby list for select last-minute cruises. Better yet, the cruise line has set a fixed fare for these cruises of $49 per person, per day, which is lower than most last-minute cruise deals.

How Do I Get on Holland America’s Standby List?

The way the program works is that you identify a sailing from a list posted on Holland America’s website, then call the cruise line at 877-724-5425 to request to be placed on the standby list for the itinerary of your choosing.

At the time of writing, the list of eligible cruises included sailings to Alaska, Hawaii and the Caribbean on voyages ranging from four to 22 days. The list of embarkation ports for these eligible itineraries includes Seattle, Fort Lauderdale and San Diego.

What are the limitations of Holland America’s Standby Program?

Holland America’s Standby Program is available to passengers 21 or older and, according to the cruiser line, it’s intended for people residing within driving distance from the port of embarkation of their cruise of choice.

The $49 per person per day fare does not include taxes, fees and port expenses, which will be the responsibility of the passenger if approved for the cruise.

It’s also important to note that once you’re added to the standby list, you won’t be able to remove yourself. So if you clear the standby but can’t make it on the cruise, you won’t get a refund for the money paid upfront.