The 2,600-passenger Grand Princess launch was delayed 12 days last year.
Many cruise lines compensate inconvenienced ticket-holders with several future offers.
Until two years ago, this didn't happen. Hundreds of ships were delivered on time. Holland America is the latest casualty in a string of industry-wide delayed inaugurations. Construction problems have pushed the debut of the line's ninth ship, the Volendam, from June 6 to Aug. 24 to Nov. 12, and its 10th ship, the Zaandam, from Feb. 25 to March 26, 2000. As the company scrambles to rebook inaugural passengers on two of its existing ships, the Maasdam and Rotterdam, nearly 16,000 vacationers have seen their travel plans disrupted.