I share with most cruisers the dismay of arriving aboard ship only to learn that my stateroom isn’t ready.   I can head for the buffet or a lounge to hang out until it’s ready.

And, it’s not uncommon for luggage to arrive in the stateroom AFTER the ship has left port.    And, since I’m typically flying to meet a ship I’m stuck for hours in travel clothes while it may be 90 degrees outside.

Holland America Line has launched a new program, “Stateroom Direct Service” that significantly speeds up the process by giving passengers immediate access to their staterooms upon embarkation.

Under the program, staterooms will be ready as early as 11:30 a.m., and cruisers will no longer have to check their carry-on bags and wait in public areas while their staterooms are being prepared. Additionally, arriving guests will receive their luggage earlier, allowing them more time to unpack and settle into their rooms. Guests also will have the opportunity to enjoy lunch at their leisure in the line’s Lido restaurant, which features a full-service buffet.

Bravo Holland America!   Let’s hope the other cruise lines follow suit.

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Holland America Line has launched “The View & Veranda Sale”  featuring special savings on ocean-view and veranda staterooms.    From now through February 28, 2011, discounts of up to 50 percent on select cruises, reduced deposits and free or reduced rates for third and fourth guests.

Cruise destinations featured in the “View & Veranda Sale” include Alaska cruises and cruise-tours, Europe, Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico, Canada/New England, Panama Canal, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Hawaii/Tahiti and South America.

For additional information on the sale and HAL itineraries, visit Holland America’s website or contact travel agent.

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If you are even considering a 2010 Christmas or New Years cruise, Holland America (HAL) is offering very tempting prices worth considering.    How does $1598 (plus tax) sound for a family of four?  And, on six dates you’ll find free or $199 rates for the third or fourth guest in a stateroom.

Caribbean, Panama Canal & Mexico Cruises

Between Dec. 17 and Dec. 31 seven ships — ms Westerdam, ms Maasdam, ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Ryndam, ms Prinsendam and ms Noordam — sail the Caribbean departing from Fort Lauderdale or Tampa, Fla., over one or both holidays.  Most itineraries feature a visit to Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s exclusive private island experience with white sand beaches, aqua waters and shore activities ranging from horseback riding to a stingray adventure.

Panama Canal sailings depart from Fort Lauderdale, San Diego or Los Angeles, Calif., in mid to late December, five cruises feature distinct itineraries that visit different collections of warm-water ports along the Mexican Riviera, Central America, Panama Canal and Caribbean. The Sunfarer Caribbean Holiday cruise is a 10-day trip from Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 23 aboard ms Zuiderdam in the southern Caribbean with Christmas Eve at Half Moon Cay, a partial transit of the Panama Canal and New Year’s Eve at sea, returning Jan. 2, 2011.    Two more cruises visit the Panama Canal beginning with a 14-day cruise that departs Los Angeles Dec. 22 aboard ms Amsterdam in time for Christmas Day at sea and stops in Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica before traversing the Canal en route to Fort Lauderdale.  Or guests can opt for the 14-day Panama Canal Holiday Cruise on ms Statendam departing San Diego on Christmas Eve.

Mexican Riviera cruises depart from Fort Lauderdale, San Diego or Los Angeles, Calif., in mid to late December, five cruises feature distinct itineraries that visit different collections of warm-water ports along the Mexican Riviera, Central America, Panama Canal and Caribbean.

Christmas and New Years holidays along the Mexican Riviera can be particularly memorable on an eight-day cruise from San Diego aboard ms Oosterdam departing Dec. 18, or a seven-day sailing Dec. 26 that visits Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Or guests can opt for a 12-day cruise departing Dec. 22 on ms Rotterdam that features Christmas Eve in Cabo San Lucas, Christmas Day at sea and New Year’s Eve in Mazatlan.

Visit Holland America’s website or contact your travel agent for fares and additional information.

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I’m sure there are people who eschew cruises entirely because “what if …?”   That is, they get freaked out by thinking about all the things that can happen that would cause them to cancel the cruise — and loose a great deal of money.    After all, the average booking period is four to six months prior to departure.

Then there are those of us who are skittish because of an uncertain economy: companies downsize, people get fired and something can happen that would make it tough to make the mortgage payments.

Whether you’re just naturally paranoid or concerned about the uncertain economy, Holland America’s new, “Cancel Protection Plan”(CPP), may be the tipping point between taking a cruise vacation or staying home.    You can cancel your cruise for ANY reason. (Note:  at the bottom of the article are other travel insurance carriers which offer the same protection).

Holland America offers two basic plans.   CPP Standard reimburses 80 percent of eligible amounts paid for cancellations for any reason up to 24 hours prior to the cruise or CruiseTour departure.  Plus, the plan provides an additional $500 (for a total of $600) for lost, damaged or delayed baggage.

CPP Platinum features a 90 percent refund upon cancellation for any reason prior to departure.  Other benefits under the expanded plan include increased baggage protection for lost or damaged luggage up to $1,600 total, delayed baggage coverage up to $1,100, trip-interruption protection if a guest must return home unexpectedly and trip-delay coverage.    Medical coverage under the CPP Platinum plan covers emergency medical expenses for illness or injury occurring during the voyage, emergency medical evacuation and 24-hour emergency hotline assistance for legal, passport, cash transfer, medical and documentation assistance.

CPP Standard and CPP Platinum are available to U.S. and Canadian residents, and must be purchased prior to the date cancellation fees begin.  The cost varies by cruise fare and is nonrefundable.

The Bottom Line: CPP coverage for a guest paying up to $1,000 for a seven-day Caribbean cruise is $79 for CPP Standard and $99 for CPP Platinum per person.

Optional Insurance Coverage

You don’t have to sail on a Holland America ship to get travel insurance that protects you from the myriad problems that may keep you from taking your cruise.   And, I personally prefer an insurance company not affiliated with the company selling it.  The two largest insurers of cruise travel, Travel Guard and Access America, also offer plans that protect your vacation investment in case you must cancel.

Access America’s trip cancellation protection plan has a list as long as your arm of eventualities ranging from getting fired to a relative getting ill.  Travel Guard sells its own “cancel for any reason” add-on.

But one of the best websites for comparing travel insurance policies and prices is Insure My Trip which lists individual companies which, for a surcharge, allow you to add this coverage.

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* Holland America’s new 86,000-ton Nieuw Amsterdam was christened in Venice yesterday by Queen Maxima of The Netherlands before setting sail on its inaugural Mediterranean voyage.    A sister ship of the popular Eurodam, the vessel boasts a new feature,  a chef’s table, available for 18 guests nightly. It’s priced at $89 and includes many courses of fancy food with accompanying wines.   The ship also boasts a $3 million art collection ranging from antiques by traditional Dutch masters to creations by renowned contemporary artists.  Adorning the ceiling of Nieuw Amsterdam is an abstract sculpture of the New York skyline made from clear translucent blocks that hang upside-down.   Following a season in the Med, the ship repositions to Fort Lauderdale and a series of seven- and 14-day Caribbean voyages.  On April 3, 2011, Nieuw Amsterdam sails from Fort Lauderdale to Barcelona to resume Mediterranean cruising.   Check out Fran Golden’s on-the-scene report by clicking here.

* Passengers boarding Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, Celebrity Eclipse, in Southampton described the ship as “stylish and brilliant”.  The cruise line is targeting  upscale, sophisticated cruisers and, like sister ships Solstice and Equinox, has added  features like the Hot Glass Show, a glassblowing show and studio developed with The Corning Museum of Glass; 10 dining venues; Celebrity iLounge, a hip computer center stocked with Apple products, including 26 MacBook Pros; suites with concierge service; “AquaClass” staterooms with spa amenities and access to the healthy dining restaurant Blue and A freshly manicured lawn on the highest deck of Celebrity Eclipse. Following its European season, Celebrity Eclipse heads to Miami where, starting in November, it commences a series of alternating 7- night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages through April 2011.   See Anita Durham-Potter’s report by clicking here.

* Luisa Frey Gaynor is my pick as the best authority on cruising with kids and gives invaluable tips on Hawaii family vacation including recommending shore excursions, when to go, which age groups are best (leave infants and toddlers at home!),  sightseeing you can do independently, how to save money and family photo ops.   See her invaluable advice by clicking here.

I don’t know about you, but seeing cruise deals makes me want to pack my bag.  Here are a few I found today trolling the internet:

*  Celebrity Solstice Eastern Caribbean cruise sailing round-trip from Fort Lauderdale starts at $599 per person, double occupancy, balconies start at $799, on the Sept. 19, Oct. 17 and 31 departures.   Ports of call are San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Maarten.  For details visit Cruises Only.

* MSC Cruises is offering a 13-night fall foliage cruise, sailing round-trip from New York,  for less than $70 per day or $899 per person (plus government fees and taxes, GFTs) through August 31. Best of all, kids under 17 sail free.   See your travel agent.

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While those of us in the cruise industry focus on the surfaces of the world’s oceans and seas,  Holland America Line is making a serious commitment to protect marine ecology.  The cruise line has partnered with Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI) in a three-year program that includes adopting sustainable seafood purchasing onboard and giving annual grants to MCBI graduate students in marine ecology.

Founded in 1996, MCBI is a nonprofit organization that brings scientists together to diagnose threats to the oceans and works with scientists, conservationists, fishermen, government officials and the media to fashion  sustainable solutions compatible with healthy living oceans.

The educational element begins with the launch of a video program series in summer 2010 to be aired on all ships introducing ocean issues and highlighting  important marine conservation topics that relate to the ships’ itineraries.    A final program will address marine spatial planning – an ecosystem-based approach to benefit ocean life and the ocean economy that MCBI, leading marine scientists, ocean policy experts, the United States and a growing number of governments around the globe are advocating.

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There’s a minor glitch in the itinerary of Holland America’s  Veendam, which sails on one-week New York Bermuda cruises.

The HAL ship is slated to start a series of 24 Bermuda cruises in April, 2010, sailing round trip each week from New York.   Veendam was scheduled to dock in two ports, Hamilton (two nights) and St. George (one night), a big plus for this cruise line since other cruise lines sailing on this itinerary had to dock in the inconvenient Dockyards.

On Holland America Line’s 2010 Bermuda sailings, the ms Veendam will anchor and tender in to St. George’s on local ferries that carry 700 guests. This operational change was made due to challenges with the Town Cut and the narrow entrance to St. George’s Harbour.   The cruise line says “we believe this will be a very efficient tender process for our guests who are sailing to experience Bermuda and Holland America Line.”

But this cruiser would still opt to board Veendam on the Bermuda itinerary.  Spending an extra night docked in Hamilton still beats being stuck in the Dockyards, where the other Bermuda-bound ships must go.

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In a time of mounting job losses, we applaud Holland America for adding insurance that allows you to book in advance without worry of future events.

Passengers who purchase Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP) can cancel their cruise for any reason whatsoever to receive a refund of up to 90 percent of the cruise fare paid. Two variations of the plan allow cancellation of a cruise up to 24 hours prior to the cruise or cruisetour departure for Standard CPP and right up to departure for CPP Platinum.

For most sailings, Holland America Line’s standard cancellation policy allows guests to cancel in writing without penalty up to 76 days prior to the departure date.

Two Levels of CPP
Standard CPP reimburses 80% of eligible amounts paid for cancellations for any reason up to 24 hours prior to the cruise or cruisetour departure. Plus, the plan provides an additional $500 liability (for a total of $600) for lost, damaged or delayed baggage.

CPP Platinum features a 90% refund upon cancellation for any reason prior to departure. Other benefits for the expanded plan are increased baggage protection for lost or damaged luggage up to $1,600 total, delayed baggage coverage up to $1,100, trip interruption protection if a guest must return home unexpectedly and trip delay coverage.

Medical coverage under the plan provides for emergency medical expenses for illness or injury first occurring during the voyage, emergency medical evacuation and 24-hour emergency hotline assistance for legal, passport, cash transfer, medical and documentation assistance.

Standard CPP and CPP Platinum are available to U.S. and Canadian residents and must be purchased at the time of deposit. The cost varies by cruise fare and is non-refundable. For example, CPP pricing for a guest paying up to $1,000 per person for a seven-day Caribbean cruise would be $79 for Standard CPP and $99 for CPP Platinum.

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If your heart is set on a traditional Bermuda cruise from New York, you’ll welcome Holland America’s news that it will increase 2010 Bermuda cruises from 11 to 24 beginning on April 25, 2010.   The 1,350-passenger Veendam will sail on one week Bermuda cruises from Manhattan

Holland America’s Veendam will be the only cruise ship visiting the more popular ports of Hamilton and St. George’s since other cruise ships dock in the more inconvenient dockyard facility.  Veendam’s passengers will spend roughly two days in both Hamilton and St. George’s.

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Aboard Holland America’s newest ship, the Eurodam, cruise line executives made two major announcements:  the cruise line will offer New York/Bermuda cruises in 2010 and five ship will undergo major renovations and receive enhancements. 

BERMUDA CRUISES

Beginning in 2010, HAL’s Veendam will sail on ten Bermuda cruises from New York.  Starting in late August, the 1,350-passenger ship will call on both Hamilton and St. Georges, the island’s cultural and shopping hubs, instead of King’s Wharf, where larger vessels must dock.

Holland America’s return to Bermuda will increase the number of cruisers to the island because of the convenience of docking in the islands’ most popular ports.  Previously, passengers had to disembark in the Dockyards, a significant distance from Hamilton and St. Georges.  In addition, passengers using the Dockyard port facility had to travel by ferries to reach the two towns. 

Holland America said the cruise line will increase the number of Bermuda cruises to 20 in 2011.  Reservations may be obtained from local travel agents.  Additional information may be obtained by visiting Holland America’s web site.

FIVE HAL SHIPS TO UNDERGO $200 MILLION UPGRADES

Holland America Line has announced that five ships will get $200 million in enhancements starting in 2009 and ending in late 2010.   The Statendam, Ryndam, Maasdam, Veendam and Rotterdam will undergo extensive dry docks to create new pool and entertainment facilities, new decor and additional staterooms.

The Retreat will be added to the aft portion of the ship becoming a resort-style pool area with shallow area where passengers may lounge in chairs while being served cocktails in or out of the water.  The area will boast a new pool bar and “Slice”, a pizzeria, plus a canopy and wind screen. 

Stateroom Enhancements
All staterooms will receive new décor, carpeting and soft goods. Each ship also will have an additional 44 to 46 staterooms, 32 with verandas and the remaining will be inside staterooms. On the four S-class ships, twelve staterooms near the spa (on Deck 9) also will have verandas added, and along with three inside staterooms, become ‘spa staterooms’ featuring a variety of enhanced spa amenities. On the Rotterdam, 23 staterooms on Veranda deck will become spa staterooms. On the five ships, forty-six new lanai staterooms will be created by replacing existing windows of 42 staterooms (on Lower Promenade Deck 6) with lanai doors that open directly onto the walk-around promenade, and adding four additional staterooms.

Martini & Champagne Lounge
New to the ships will be a lounge called Mix with three separate bars: Martinis, Champagne and Spirits & Ales. The main show lounge will become “Showroom at Sea” and decorated like a nightclub.

Enrichment Programs
A new Explorations Team employs cruise staff, each specializing in a particular area, to educate and entertain guests with an expanded menu of activities including flower arranging, hands-on cooking, dancing and working with digital photos, blogs and movies. Each team consists of a party planner, a travel guide, dance directors and a “techspert.” On longer cruises, a book club leader joins the team to lead lively group discussions.

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