fyrdusk8

We were lucky and never got charged... but can not count on it - We brought 4 last cruise and never got charged, but who knows other than that. 

We bought a little luggage cart to "carry on" and brought 8 cases of soda on it - we also had 2 bottles of wine in our back packs. Even one of our children grabbed one of our backpacks and carried a bottle of wine on board in our backpack. We have also purchased wine at a port and brought it back on board. 

Well put...Thanks.... from one of those older senior type that enjoys HAL as they don't tend to have so many children on bourd. ;)

We are late 50's. I'd hate to think we put people out because of our age.

IMO - I have sailed over 70 days with HAL - I LOVE the demographics. The advantages of the elder demographics on the cruise line are many. I have met some amazing people and learned so much from their stories throughout their life. Heck, a lot of them are more fun than the "younger" crowd. I started with HAL when I was in my early 30's and would not change it for anything. (have sampled other lines)!!!

Hello, does anyone know where I can find info on what is INCLUDED AT NO CHARGE on a HAL Koningsdam cruise? Can one access the Lido restaurant 24/7 for coffee/tea/... for free? can one take it out of the restaurant? I understand that room service is not free now in some cases? I find the Holland America website not very forthcoming with what is/is not included other than activities & particular dining rooms. Are there better cruise lines? I thought this was one of the better ones. Sorry for ranting. I'm booked but can cancel today. Would really appreciate your imput. Thank you!

All food and beverages can be carried out of the Lido. I have taken an entire meal before. I know the tea and coffee are always included. That being said, I have taken a wrapped sandwich for dinner and ended up not eating it and taking it to my room for a midnight snack.

Room service is free, there is a surcharge for certain items, certain hours. After 11pm any hot meals there is a surcharge. There is a surcharge for upscale things like salmon Benedict in room service.

I have ordered a club sandwich and chips at 2am with iced tea for no charge.

IMO HAL is one of the better cruise lines. I hope this gives you some help.

I'm traveling with my inlaws on the HAL Eurodam. Is there still smoking somewhere on the ship?

It is on the Lido deck, aft pool area, in a designated smoking area. Be careful, they frown about smoking on balconys and other locations.

I have sailed on the Oosterdam a few times. I noticed that the shows on the main stage have not changed the last two sailings (admittedly only a few months apart). Are the main stage performances different on different ships? How often do they change on one ship?

 

I do wonder if I should intentionally book different ships and/or different cruise lines if I start to cruise more often.

The performers contract usually run 3-6 months long. So, generally the show will change every 3-6 months or so. The crew show does not vary too much as their contracts are longer.

The main dining room, lido deck, and dive-in / ny pizza are all included. The Pinnacle Grill, Canneleto, Tamarind, and Sel DeMar (all depending on which ship) are an extra surcharge. However, I have found there is no real need to spend the extra for those restaurants as their food is amazing. There is a week pass for the hydro pool and thermo beds. All of the others items are separately billed (massages, pedicures, etc.). Once you are booked, you can go into HAL website and click on the tab to book these, it will show pricing and availability. I hope this helps some.

I will respectfully disagree. HAL's kids programmes are some of the best kept secrets around.

 

A CC friend who posts on the HAL boards (but not here) who travels with her children has posted several times that her children love Club HAL. They had done other cruise lines and this for her is the best. She literally has to tear them away.

 

I can't comment on their teen programme based on feedback from fellow roll call members but if it is anything like their HAL Club (which it should be), it should be very good.

 

Teens often make their own fun as well ;).

 

Granted HAL doesn't have rock climbing walls, etc., but that's not the be all to end all for many ;)

I totally agree, we could not peel our kids away until it closed. They got upset if we had to check them out early. They loved the HAL staff and all of the activities they coordinated.

I have three questions. First, how does HAL compare to Royal Caribbean? My wife and I are Emerald status on RC, but it seems that RC in 2018 isn't what it was, when we sailed on our first cruise in 2008. We are starting to think that we need to change cruise lines.

 

Second, we have a teenager who, back when he was young enough for RC's Adventure Ocean program, loved cruising. But ever since a 4-night cruise out of Miami, in which every teen program was cancelled due to lack of interest, he has resisted getting on a cruise ship. Would HAL have something for a teenager, or should we be waiting until he goes off to college?

 

Third, how is the quality of HAL's wi-fi, and how much does it cost. The teenager might be more willing to go, if he could stay in contact with his friends while traveling.

 

-

Our children were 2 of 18 on our cruise. They had a blast in the Club Hal and swimming, found some friends to hang out with. Our last cruise (without the kids) there was a group of about 20 teenagers that we saw everywhere. There aren't as many kids, but it makes it nice for us adults as well. The main difference I have seen is for the most part, children on HAL seem more respectful than other cruise lines (IMO). I even hunted down a parent to ask if a certain child was hers, she was worried about what he did and I wanted to just compliment her. I have only gotten the internet once and it was fairly priced. Usually, I would wait until port days and spend some time at a location that has free wifi.

We are sailing on the Veendam on Sept 15th. Can anyone tell me about this ship? We have sailed on the Volendam, the Rotterdam twice and the Zaandam. What is the difference in this ship. Also, what do you recommend on the sailing from Boston to Montreal. What ports did you like best?

It will be similar to the ships you have sailed on already.

Thanks all for the responses-- they really help. It looks like I may be spending some time in the Crow's Nest! And I'm super excited that there's a naturalist on board. The food looks good, and there seem to be a lot of options. The menus/images help to give an idea of what's going on. Anyone know what the average weight gain is for a 7-day cruise? :D

Ironically, I actually lose weight on every cruise I have been on. I often will opt for the stairs. I ended up walking 7 miles in Cozumel with my son. The cab other friends were getting would only hold 3-4 people. So, we opted to walk from the furthest port to downtown. (not realizing how far away it was - we were told it was only a few blocks away.) Also, you find you are walking the seemingly never-ending corridors to get to your room to elevators/stairs/etc.

Hi All-- My husband and I will take our first cruise (Seward to Vancouver on the Westerdam) in a little over 2 weeks. I've been reading through the many pages of this thread, but I still have some questions....

 

1/ Are there coffee makers in the staterooms? If not, no big deal, as it seems that the Lido and room service provide coffee 24/7. No there are no coffee makers. You can order it for free via room service.

 

2/ Does the Lido offer ethnic foods at lunch and dinner? It sounds like there's some sushi/rolls, but are there other international cuisines represented? Thai, Indian, Peruvian, etc.? A friend told me that he saw some Indonesian specialties at the Lido on one of his cruises, but I'm not sure if it's a daily thing. Yes, they generally gear the main courses towards the region you are visiting and always have sushi, pasta bar, and others regional flavors.

3/ I read that there is no longer a real library on board. Is this true? There is still a library on board.

4/ Are there any talks or lectures on 7-day trips like the Seward-Vancouver cruise? They do have lectures and presentations on every HAL cruises I have been on.

 

5/ How much are basic cocktails, like gin martinis and bourbon Manhattans? Are the bartenders equipped to make more advanced drinks such as Boulevardiers and Sazeracs? How much do they cost? One of our last bartenders actually looked up a recipe using his internet time but they seem to know A LOT of drink recipes. If you are drinkers, the beverage package is the way to go... 15 alcohol and specialty drinks included. Or bring the recipe with you and they can make it.

 

6/ I read that there used to be a lot of LGBT gatherings, but recently maybe 1-2 for each 7-day cruise. Is this the case? They do meet ups scheduled. We have met a lot of "family" on our cruises. Once we met other family, we would schedule other activities with them. Actually, we got married on HAL's Nieuv Amsterdam 4/1/18. Our next cruise is during our anniversary. 4/1/19

 

7/ What other kinds of meet-ups are there? They have bridge meet ups, trivia, Cruise Critic meet-ups. Just be sociable and talk to people and plan times to meet (i.e. meet at trivia, name that tune, etc.)

8/ I imagine I'll do quite a bit of reading, especially on days at sea, but some of the reading I do is more like studying (I'm studying Japanese, so will have a textbook, workbook, paper to write on, etc.). Will there be places (with desks or appropriate tables) other than the stateroom where I can spread books/paper out and study/write? The Crows Nest will be your best choice. They have tables, quiet area, and a great view. Other than that, explore the ship, there are many areas with tables and chairs in a quiet atmosphere.

 

9/ I've read that there's a classical music / chamber music ensemble performance every night. Is this true? Can you just show up, or do you have to reserve seats? What other music venues are there on board? No need to make reservations for the Lincoln Center, it is a smaller venue, so get there early. My wife and I love sitting at the Dueling Piano bar and trying to stump them with odd songs. The BB Kings is also more of an upbeat, club type atmosphere.

10/ What kinds of entertainment is there on board? I've read that there are "shows," but not sure what kind. Does someone have a sample activities/entertainment program to share? My last cruise, they had a comedian, a magician, and their own dance/singing crew. Normally, they have 2 contracted performers, then their own staff performing. One year, I experienced an act with a dog, a ventriloquist, and other variety shows.

 

11/ Does anyone happen to know if interesting birds (or even other animals) can be seen from the ship? I love birdwatching, and our pre-cruise itinerary as well as our port excursions will (I hope) lead us to some interesting sightings, but I'm curious if people have seen interesting birds or other creatures while at sea. My last cruise, my best man for the wedding and his wife actually had an injured bird that they reported and got released healthy. I have seen several birds, dolphins, and other creatures while on our cruises. (I have only done Caribbean and Panama Canal itineraries.

 

Thanks for any help/info you can provide!

I hope this helps you out.

We will be on our first cruise on the Amsterdam to Alaska in August. I drink coke zero but my husband doesn't. Would we both have to purchase the beverage package. Also do they only have fountain pop or do they have it in cans too. Their literature says they will give you a cup you can keep that is used for fountain drinks. Are you using the same cup for the entire trip? Also, are there lockers by the pools?

No lockers are by the pool. However, I have never had problems even leaving my phones/belongings pool side on HAL. I did find out on one of my recent cruises, that you can talk to the front desk and not BOTH would have to pay for the package. Our children are not allowed to have soda and my wife can not drink alcohol. Therefore, I was able to purchase the beverage package solo. Also, we took 5 of the 12 packs on board on a luggage cart with no problem.

Thanks very much for the reply! So since it's a 20-night cruise, I guess we'll go from 0 status to two-star Mariners in one fell swoop. LOL!

 

I did read up on the cabins before we booked, and the extra space of the Signature Suite on a 20-night cruise definitely seemed to be a big plus. We'll be on the Zuiderdam, and it looks like they've really spruced up those suites in the recent dry dock.

 

We are veteran cruisers, but are very excited to be trying HAL. (And it's all thanks to the ban on smoking on balconies. HAL was never on our list before that.)

 

Thank you again.

Also, you earn extra points for any money you spend on board. When I just got married in April on a 7-day cruise we both bought the beverage package, booked excursions through the ship, and did some gambling. We ended up getting 14 cruise credits for a 7 day cruise. So, if you are considering any excursions, book via the ship. Every $300 you spend on board, you get extra cruise day credits.

My family of 7 are cruising to Alaska in June. My 18 and 21 yo are with us. Will there be anything for them to do? A "floating nursing home" doesn't sound good.

My friends have called it the "Q-tip" cruise because the clientele is generally larger. However, I have sailed many HAL cruises and find the food, service, and activities plenty. My last cruise there were several "teens" that formed a bond and hung out all around the ship.

Does anyone know what portion of the $18 corkage fee goes to the server? Inquiring minds......

If you can open your own wine bottle, I have never had to pay the corkage fee. I brought 3 bottles of wine my last trip and was not charged at all for an extra bottle corkage fee. (I never took the bottle to dinner, just poured my own on the way to dinner.)

I was wondering if the Veendam has a spa pass daily/weekly and cost? anything like a chef's dinner offered? anything needed to be signed up for the day of departure that most people don't know about or is in high demand? I love using the spa's off and on throughout the week as well attending the chef's dinner if they offer them. What are the specialty activities they offer like cooking demo's, computer classes, etc. I saw online something like that Any other tidbits would be very welcome my first time on a HAL ship I am looking forward to a more laid back, quieter, stimulating, ship.Thanks!!!

The Veendam does have the test kitchen cooking demonstrations. They also do offer a lot of computer classes. The spa does offer a day pass (my friends did it on my last cruise). During embarkation, they usually offer a free tour of the spa and a place where you can sign up to win a free pass/treatment at the spa. The crows nest is a good place to relax and have a great view. The schedule for your next day is left on your bed every night at turn down. (I always bring a highlighter and decide my plans for the next day).

Does HAL have an app you can download to iPhone

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

When I was on in April 2018, you could bring up the navigation site and actually send text messages via that site to others on board at no extra charge. It would show you what the daily schedule was and itinerary.

I am not new to HAL, but I am new to flex/open/"As You Wish" dining. We have always done fixed seating before on HAL.

 

My question is: Does HAL make it easy to join a group (share) a large table with flex/open dining?

 

We are a couple (2), travelling without friends or family on this particular voyage, and we are NOT looking for a table-for-2 every night. We have generally enjoyed meeting new voyage-long tablemates and having the same waitstaff, but the flexibility of flex/open dining is sometimes attractive.

When you book dining, I would recommend the "set time" dining time and tell the cruise line/travel agent you are open to a table for 8 with random other guests. I have met some great guests this way at dinner. You will have the same wait staff. Upon boarding you can always find the dining reservation staff near the front desk booking specialty dining as well. You can find out which table is yours and how many it seats.

We will soon embark on our first HAL cruise, and I have a question about the color-coding on HAL's luggage tags -- how important is that the tags be printed in color? I imagine that the color is a great visual for the porters and crew sorting the luggage, but I'm now retired and we don't own a color printer. (Previously, I printed all our color-coded luggage tags in my office! :D) I suppose I could download the tags onto a thumb drive and find a Staples or something, but failing that, is a B&W luggage tag a problem?

 

Thanks for any advice!

On my last cruise, I got to the port early and used their complimentary tags and filled them out at the port. They are more sturdy and "free" (no use of printer ink/paper).

Hello to all. I will soon be saying hello to HAL for the first time.

On this site there is a lot of chat about where to have lunch on embarkation day. Many suggestions are given and all helpful.

The MDR is mentioned and it seems it is open from approx. 12 noon to 1.30. So far so good.

 

Now here's the subtlety. HAL send out suggested times for embarkation. Most are well into the afternoon and way beyond 12 noon.

 

This illogicality is remarkable. On the majority of cruise lines embarkation begins around 11.30 or just a little later. Even for non suite guests.

 

So are these times a ploy by HAL to save money on lunches (under the guise of being helpful and making all guests more comfortable) or are these times often ignored and guests who turn up at say 11.30, perhaps just off a flight, can board at a time other than HAL say.

 

At first sight I must say it seems very "dictatorial" to write as they do.

 

After the website and emails sticking.....first impressions are not fantastic!!

 

Perhaps others know the truth of these embarkation times??

 

Thanks

 

Deeko

I am usually on board by noon when I disembark. I have plenty of time to grab lunch and explore the ship prior to sail away.

Has anyone experienced the XPlor park? Good or bad?

https://www.xplor.travel/en/xplor-activities/

My wife and I just got married on the Nieuw Amsterdam this month. The staff and fellow cruisers were welcoming and made our whole wedding even more amazing!!

Yep, how very nice! I got the email and called Ship's Services and made a reservation for Easter Brunch at the Pinnacle, they have times available for reservations from 10am - 1pm. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out, a nice touch for the holiday. Yes, I am on Nieuw Amsterdam for Easter.

We are not normally breakfast eaters. So, you will have to let us know how it goes. Maybe we will cross paths on board. I am getting married that same day on board.

On what ships/s?

 

Couldn’t be on a Sunday departure, could it?

It is the Nieuw Amsterdam departing 3/31/18.