RynoWally

Guess I will find out next Thursday Morning, either way, I always like streaming straight from The Masters App, just because it allows for so many options like following certain groups or just watching certain holes which is pretty cool. I have been able to watch some of last year's highlights on the ship right now, so chances are good.

Scratch that, Netflix is not working, only Peacock and Paramount......Sorry, the Netflix that I was watching was already downloaded series/shows. Was surprised that Peacock and Paramount worked though. I'm hoping I don't run into a problem streaming The Masters....Should be fine.

Currently on Rotterdam in the Caribbean, and for the next 20+days and we have the premium package, so far I have had no trouble streaming Netflix, Peacock, nor video calls, or anything that I have needed to do for that matter, so you should be fine, I would guess.

This is very well said and thought out, I avoid spending much time in responses for the fear of someone adding no value with a "I would hate to be stuck with you at a party" or "I don't want you at my dining table" but I commend you with the educated response.

Abused? Such a harsh and misguided word for the circumstances. Taken advantage of is how I would word it, and it was only about 6 out of the 40 + stewards that we have encountered, but still, enough to warrant concern.

Thanks, that was the whole point of the analogy. Apparently receiving your gin and tonic or having turn down service is more important than having your kidney removed for gratuities, where does it end? Just because someone went to college for 8 years and gets paid more than a server at a lounge with no schooling, I'm supposed to feel guilty when they return with a receipt for my cocktail that already has 18% added to it when I don't write $1 in the tip amount? HAL needs to pay their employees what they are worth (and let them know when interviewing and hiring), plain and simple and pass it on to the consumer in their cruise fare right off the bat, stop passing it off under the guise of gratuities and the hope that they don't get taken off by the passenger. I spoke candidly with a couple of stewards as I gave them each $50 for a 7 day cruise(on top of the imposed gratuities) and honestly I felt bad for them. I felt they are being taken advantage of. Frankly, I don't even trust that HAL is forthright with their employees with the gratuities.

Iykyk, not meant for everyone, savvy?

Can't wait until I have my rotator cuff surgery next fall and along with paying my deductible there is a separate line for tipping the surgeon and staff for services rendered.

Well said

Completely agree. This add on here and add on there just creates more research for the consumer to see if "the juice is worth the squeeze" in comparison to other lines, it's a huge headache, but I will do the research.

Here in Minnesota, alot of restaurants are adding an Employee Wellness fee to your bill. Can't wait for HAL to look to us to start pitching in for their employees health insurance. I'm all for the 15-20% tipping for service, and have never taken gratuities off and always tip room stewards and alot of the Lido employees regardless of mediocre to great, but tipping for services has reached a maximum for me, and quite honestly getting fed up with the whole concept. I would like for the places I utilize to encompass everything into the price I am paying for the services and just pay the employees what they pay them. It's getting quite ridiculous.

Yes, we have done this as well, they have run oit on a couple of cruises, but yes mostly readily available.

And it is not from the lack of asking either, we have on multiple occasions asked the Lido chefs about sugar free, they always come back with there is some naturally occurring sugar, but no added sugar.

Been on 20 cruises with HAL, never seen a Sugar Free dessert, or a sugar free ice cream, if there is such a thing. Always see no added sugar, huge difference.

I will say this though, my wife being a lifelong vegetarian, and having type 1 for 27 years, will tell you there is no shortage of options for her when dining at MDR (she will ask for the vegetarian Indian menu) or in the Lido service. She much prefers HAL over Viking and Celebrity of which we have sailed a couple of times.

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but having cruised many times on HAL with a type 1 diabetic, I have seen some posts about ice cream and desserts being sugar free, we have never seen this. We have seen no sugar added Ice Creams and desserts, which I'm sure you know is a little bit different.

Surf was available (we never putchased) when we went to Alaska, but for this cruise there is only Premium and Streaming available for precruise purchase. Given that my wife only uses it for video calls, I'm sure the Premium will be enough.

Curious, seems like there are different plans now than when we were in Alaska last Summer. My wife does alot of video calls for work, which worked fine on the higher end program they had last summer. Seems from the wording on the package that the lower end would work for this now. Do you have the Premium or Streaming package that you are using, If Premium are you using it for video calls? Thanks in advance, Ryan

About 2 months ago, we had sworn off ever cruising with HAL again after we thought they reneged on their Worry Free Promise from last year's Norway cruise. We had to spend 10 extra days in Amsterdam, until my wife tested negative back in May 2022. Lo and Behold, went out to the mailbox toward the end of April 2023 and sure enough there was a very sizable reimbursement check in the box!

Cost was aprox $1200 for port taxes, fees, and whatever else. We get $200 of that back in OBC. We had vouchers for the airfare, but when I went online to check, it would have been around $1000 a piece for RT from MN on Delta.

Could be as simple as an answer to a end of cruise questionnaire! How likely are you to recommend Holland Line to family and friends....10 most likely....What is a little telling is that we will only be on a ship for 7 of the 14 days, with access to the casino. There has to be another facet involved other than casino spending for them to offer up all these land tours, hotels, and interstate flights at no cost...

Just booked the 14 day leaving on July 30th for this exact reason, everything was included. We just had to book RT to Vancouver and they will be taking care of the rest. If I hadn't looked at this post, it would have just passed by, offer expires tonight at 1159. So thank you.

Applied for 5k in covid reimbursement at the beginning of June, after receiving a couple emails (1 a month) from them over the next couple months asking for clarification or some paperwork. Finally got an email last week saying that the disbursement of our check should come in 8-10 weeks. Quite honestly, I'm almost in shock that it's happening, we had almost written HAL off, but are very happy they are making the situation whole. We will most likely be booking with them over the Holidays. That is about a 6 month turnaround for reimbursement though.

Hello, I was wondering if/how this has progressed at all? I sent them another email a couple of weeks ago and finally got a response today saying that they received the email and will be reviewing very soon, the original email was sent June 9th. Ryan

Ha, the call just disconnected or dropped right now. After seeing your post at 5 weeks, I'm a little worried we won't be seeing any reimbursement from HAL. Please let us know if you find out anything.