Unofficial cruise line guide
Holland America Line Dress Code, Prohibited Items & Luggage Policy (2026)
Before you sail: Holland America prohibits firearms, explosives, fireworks, illegal drugs and other dangerous items at embarkation. Holland America publishes no fleet-wide cruise-luggage count or size box and asks guests to follow airline limits where relevant. The official source list and review date are collected at the bottom of the page.
Your Holland America Line kit, built for your sailing
Which nights are formal, what the stateroom already supplies, what security takes off you at the pier, and the forecast for every port on your dates.
Holland America Line prohibited items
Holland America prohibits firearms, explosives, fireworks, illegal drugs and other dangerous items at embarkation.
- Screening is similar to airport screening and may lead to denied boarding for weapons or dangerous devices.
- Hoverboards, drones, personal satellite receivers and personal routers are also prohibited.
Holland America Line luggage policy
Holland America publishes no fleet-wide cruise-luggage count or size box and asks guests to follow airline limits where relevant.
- Carry passports, medication, valuables, fragile items, CPAP equipment and first-day clothing instead of checking them.
- Terminal-checked bags begin loading at 1:00 p.m. and are delivered to staterooms later that afternoon.
Holland America Line dress code by night
Most evenings are Smart Casual. Sailings under 4 days have no Dressy Nights; 4-6 days have 1; 7-13 days have 2; 14-20 days have 3; 21-28 days have 4, with one more for each additional 10-day band through 88 days.
- Table-service restaurants prohibit shorts, beachwear, tank tops and distressed jeans.
- Dressy Nights are never scheduled on embarkation day or the final night, and their exact placement can change.
- Dressy means elevated attire rather than required black tie or a tuxedo.
Holland America Line what the stateroom supplies
Staterooms provide shampoo, conditioner, soap, a hair dryer and standard US 110V and European 220V outlets.
- Most ships have bedside USB outlets; Volendam and Zaandam are the published exceptions.
- Full laundry and valet services are available fleet-wide, but travel irons, steamers and electric kettles may not be used in staterooms.
The bags and gear that fit those rules
A compact embarkation bag keeps documents, medication, valuables and first-day clothes with you while the tagged cases are screened and delivered to the stateroom.
Narwey
Foldable Travel Duffel (Thick Series)
18 x 13 x 6 in · compact embarkation bag
HOMIEE
Ryanair Personal Item Travel Bag (20L)
16 x 8 x 10 in · compact embarkation bag
MATEIN
Travel Laptop Backpack (15.6 in)
18 x 12 x 8 in · compact embarkation bag
Packfits may earn commissions from purchases made through these links.
More cruise line rules
Official sources
These operator pages support the rules summarized above. Last checked Aug 31, 2026.
prohibited items, luggage policy, dress code by night, what the stateroom supplies, what the stateroom supplies.
This unofficial guide summarizes Holland America Line's published cruise line rules. Confirm the official sources before you travel. See our Terms of Service.