Holland America Protecting Travel Agent Commission on Cancelled Coronavirus Sailings

Travel companies are not the only ones suffering because of coronavirus. Advisors are also feeling the pain, not only with an increase in workload as they rebook clients, but in their bottom line with lost commissions due to a growing list of travel complications in Asia. The good news – some suppliers are helping.

According to a statement from a Holland America Line spokesperson to Travel Market Report, all commissions on cancelled Westerdam sailings will be protected.

Holland America made the decision this week to cancel the Mar. 13, Mar. 28, Apr. 11, and Apr. 25 departures of the Westerdam “due to uncertainty of ports accepting cruise ships in Asia.”

The line is making sure that all guests receiving a full refund and a future cruise credit of 25% to 50% of the fare paid. Holland America is also reimbursing all travel cancellation fees.

Westerdam originally made news after it was denied from docking by a number of countries, including Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Guam, and Thailand, during its Feb. 1 sailing out of Hong Kong earlier this month because of coronavirus concerns.

Ultimately, the ship was permitted to dock in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, last week, and guests onboard were tested for coronavirus.

One guest tested positive for Coronavirus during the trip home trhough Malaysia while the rest of the ship’s guests, and all 747 crew members onboard, had tested negative, according to the Cambodian Ministry of Health.