SEATTLE, June 14 (Our Washington Times) — A Times Media Service review of Holland America Line’s public FAQ pages found that the cruise company now lists automatic daily “Crew Appreciation” charges of $18 per guest for non-suite staterooms and $20 per guest for suites. Because the fee is charged per guest, the posted rates add $252 to a seven-night trip for two people in a non-suite room and $280 for two people in a suite.
For Washington travelers comparing cruise costs, the charge is separate from the cabin rate shown at booking. Holland America says Crew Appreciation is a daily gratuity that is automatically added to a guest’s onboard account.
The company’s own language explains where it says the money goes. In an onboard FAQ page updated June 9, Holland America says Crew Appreciation is meant “to recognize the many Holland America Line team members who make your cruise feel effortless.” The same page says the charge “is pooled to support team members across the ship who contribute to your experience, including roles you see every day, and those working quietly in the background.”
A second Holland America FAQ page, updated June 14, lists the same daily amounts: $18 per guest per day for non-suite staterooms and $20 per guest per day for suites. That booking FAQ also says the rates are subject to change.
The company pages reviewed by Times Media Service confirm the current amounts, but they do not state in the provided text when the current rates began or what the previous amounts were. Fox News reported June 13, citing Holland America company materials, that the higher daily charges took effect June 1. Fox News also reported that guests may adjust the daily gratuity amount while onboard.
In the same report, a Holland America spokesperson told Fox News that “100% goes directly to our shipboard team” and that the charge is “in line with the cruise industry competitive standards.”
The materials reviewed for this story did not include Washington-specific complaint records, state regulatory action, or a primary-source industry table showing how Holland America’s current charges compare line by line with other cruise operators. Holland America’s current public FAQ pages, however, do document that the company is automatically adding daily Crew Appreciation charges of $18 and $20 per guest, depending on cabin type.
