SEATTLE -- Holland America Line-Westours agreed to issue travel
discount vouchers of up to $50 to eligible past passengers to
settle a class-action suit over its alleged misrepresentation of
port charges.
Without admitting wrongdoing, the line reached a settlement with
a Seattle law firm in Washington State Court to provide a sliding
scale of discounts off future cruises for those who sailed between
April 19, 1992 and April 30, 1996. Those who took a cruise of fewer
than 14 days during 1992 and 1994 will be entitled to a $10
voucher; 14-, to 21-day passengers, a $15 voucher, and those on
cruises longer than 21 days, $20. In 1995 and 1996, the discounts
rise to $25, $37.50 and $50, respectively.
Subject to certain blackout conditions, these may be used to
lower the prices of cruises on Holland America or its affiliate,
Windstar Cruises in the next three years. The deal covers all
U.S.-based passengers who cruised at prices generally available to
the public, not to special rate guests such as employees, travel
agents and others.
A Holland America spokesman said that the line had mailed out
475,000 notices of the settlement to potentially eligible
passengers but had no way of knowing how many would file claims or
how much the final tab would be.
"We have maintained throughout that our advertising and pricing
practices are not misleading," he said.
The law firm that brought the suit, Hagens and Berman, charged
that HAL's brochures and advertising misrepresented the true nature
of the port taxes and charges it assessed consumers.
Interested parties should call (888) 425-1737.