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Here’s how you can cruise out of Boston for $49 a day
Travelers must be comfortable with short-notice trips.
Are you a flexible traveler? Then a last-minute cruise out of Boston with Holland America Line can save you money.
The Seattle-based cruise line announced that its standby program — in which hopeful cruisers can take trips with little notice for a fraction of the price — are now available in Boston for $49 per person per day, excluding taxes, port fees, and extras.
The program, designed to maximize ship occupancy, was initially launched for the company’s Alaska itineraries in August and has since expanded to include eight boarding ports. The initiative is unique to Holland America Line, according to The New York Times, though other cruise lines do offer last-minute deals.
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“We see Holland America Line’s Standby Program as a win-win for guests and our business,” said Dan Rough, vice president of revenue management at Holland America Line, in a statement. “Circumstances may arise for booked guests where they have to cancel a cruise the week before sailing. The Standby Program allows us to fill those cabins with people who have already committed to going and who presumably live close enough to the port that they can make last-minute travel arrangements.”
Hopeful travelers sign up for a “standby list” and are charged in full for the cruise — $49 per person per day based on double occupancy. Standby guests can add a third and fourth guest for free but must pay taxes, fees and port expenses.
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Between two and seven days before the cruise, the company reaches out to standby hopefuls to fill empty spots left by cancellations. If standby travelers are not selected, the cruise line refunds the charge within four to six weeks. However, those who are chosen but decline the opportunity are not refunded. Travelers cannot choose their stateroom category and cannot upgrade their accommodations, the company noted.
The eligible cruises out of Boston for standby guests are: the seven-day Canada & New England Discovery from Boston to Montreal; the 11-day Newfoundland & New England Discovery from Boston to Montreal; the 17-day Voyage of the Vikings from Boston to Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and the 35-day roundtrip Voyage of the Vikings out of Boston.
Other embarkation ports for the standby program are: Seattle; Vancouver, British Columbia; Whittier, Alaska; San Diego; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Montreal; and Quebec.
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