Deal alert: Book a Holland America cruise now and get some major perks

Holland America is out with a new promotion for 2024 cruises that brings some major perks.

The monthlong Explore with More offer, which kicked off Friday, gives customers who book select 2024 sailings to such destinations as Europe and Alaska a credit of $500 per person for flights to reach their ships.

That's $1,000 per couple staying together in a cabin — a significant sum.

Bookers also will get a shore excursion credit of $100 per person, which will be on top of any shore excursion credit they're already getting through other programs.

But perhaps the biggest perk, at least for those with children, is that the promotion comes with a "kids cruise free" rider.

That means a family of four could cruise for a significantly lower total cost than is the norm.

One notable caveat: The offer only is available to passengers paying up for one of Holland America's premium Have It All fares. Have It All fares are higher than Holland America's regular fares but bring several inclusions, including some shore excursions, specialty dining, a beverage package and Wi-Fi.

Related: Cruise line all-inclusive packages: Everything you need to know

The fine print

The offer will be available to book through Nov. 15.

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As is typical for Holland America promotions, the Explore with More offer does not apply to all sailings. It's available only for select 2024 sailings between April and October. It excludes Holland America's long Grand Voyages and cruises of three or fewer days.

Related: The 4 types of Holland America ships, explained

In addition, the promotion's three components come with the following fine print:

• The $500 air credit will only be available to the first two passengers booked in a cabin. If more than two passengers are booked in a cabin, the additional passengers after the first two will not receive the credit.
• The $500 air credit can only be used for select flights when booked through Holland America's Flight Ease program.
• The $100 shore excursion credit is per person and is only available to the first two passengers booked in a cabin.
• The $100 shore excursion credit is in addition to the standard shore excursion credit of $300 per person available to customers booking a Have It All fare on many sailings. That gives cruisers booking under this promotion a shore excursion credit of $400 per person on many sailings.
• The "kids cruise free" offer applies to children ages 5 to 18 who travel as a third or fourth passenger in a cabin with adults.
• While the fare for kids is zero as part of the "kids cruise free" piece of the promotion, kids (or, more likely, their parents) still will have to pay the taxes, fees and port expenses that would normally be associated with such a booking.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Holland America ship

As noted above, these extra perks are in addition to the standard inclusions that come with Have It All fares. These include a Signature Beverage Package that lets you order as many as 15 drinks per day, a specialty dining package that offers up to three nights of dining at extra-charge restaurants (the exact amount depends on the ship and duration of the cruise), a shore excursion credit and a Wi-Fi Surf Package.

Cruises available as part of the promotion include voyages to Europe, Alaska and the eastern coasts of Canada and New England.

Fares for the trips included in the promotion start at $869 per person for a seven-night Alaska sailing.

Related: The ultimate guide to Holland America cabins and suites

Fares for Europe sailings included in the promotion start at $1,499 per person.

By taking advantage of the "kids cruise free" component of the offer, a family of four could pay as little as $1,738 for a room on a seven-day Alaska sailing, Holland America said.

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