Janderra

Hi

Thank you all for your help. I seem to be forever losing my posts on this forum. Need to read '"forums for Dummies"

Janderra

Hi

Thank you all for your information and help, I don't want any last minute hiccups on this cruise.

Janderra

Hi

Thank you for reply. So you said you checked in at 9.00am for a 4.00pm sailing, or am I reading that wrong.

I would like to check in as soon as I possibly can, as we need to check out the hotel at 10.00

Regards

Janderra

Hi

I am a newbie on this site. I did think I posted this last night but cant find it.

We are sailing 19/12 Ooosterdam out of Sydney (White Bay). Information says boarding sailing at 5.00 (thought itinerary says 4.00pm)

I have printed off the express boarding pass, the luggage tags etc.

Not sure how early we should arrive at the Port at check-in so we are not standing in line for hours, or miss sailing. 1hr or more or does everyone else have the same idea.

We drop the luggage off first is that right.

2nd question. Is there anywhere open for lunch or food if we board the ship at 2 or later. Otherwise we will need to try and have early lunch before we go to the Port.

Sorry if this has appeared before, but I can not find my post anywhere. We leave for Sydney in a couple of days so trying to get organised

Janderra

Thank you all once again.

If as the travel consultant said I could pay for one package and then just purchase soft drink, coffee for my husband it would probably work out worth it, however what a nasty surprise to purchase 1 package and then get billed for another after you have purchased the drinks all trip.

Thank you for the information regarding the menu, that really helps one make decisions.

Perhaps a non alcoholic drinks would be the way to go for my husband.

I can now make a decision.

We don't buy a bottle to have in the cabin as we enjoy a pre dinner drink in the lounge because of the atmosphere and also after dinner drinks.

Janderra

Hi

This is probably in another thread but I cant find it. Sailing out of Sydney on 19/12 on Ooosterdam and thinking about taking the beverage package.

However it is difficult to decide whether it is a good deal without knowing the price of drinks.

My husband only drinks soft drink or coffee (about 4 a day) so I presume it w it would not be practical for him. I only drink wine and coffee with maybe a scotch and coke occasionally. Not knowing how much these drinks cost and not being able to find a drinks menu anywhere on website, makes it very hard to decide whether it is practical at $750. Travel agent has said we can just book it for 1 and don't have to book for both.

Any information about this please. Also can we book it on board once we have seen a drinks list.

Time getting so close as we fly to Sydney first for a week and so many decisions to make

Thank you

Janderra

Hi

First time on HAL ships so need some questions answered please. We are sailing out of Sydney (White BaY) on the Ooosterdam on 19/12/2015.

Information given to me says boarding at 2.00pm, sailing at 5.00pm.

I have already printed my express boarding pass and luggage tags.

However I am not sure how early before 2.00pm we should get to the ship for check in, and if we drop our luggage off first. Is it necessary to go 1.5 hrs before so that we are not at the end of the line to check in.

Also if we are on board early is there anywhere open for lunch.

If not we will need to have early lunch before we arrive at the ship.

Also concerned about charging phones, tablet etc and using my hair dryer.

Are all the plugs American plugs. Can you use a 3 point power board to charge all your gadgets at once.

I like to use my own hairdryer as the ones in hotels are too strong.

Thank you for advice, so I can be organised.

Also ship docks at 5.00am on return to Sydney so what time do we need to be off the ship. Also do they work with the same system as European cruises where you have to have your luggage ready at midnight outside your cabin and only keep hand luggage. If so may have to have 2nd piece of hand luggage for toiletries, clothes from night before etc. etc.

Janderra

Well, I can't blame you for being upset at all. If your TA was given incorrect info by HAL then, to me, HAL has some responsibility here and the TA should be having a discussion with them to either get you some OBC to help correct the error or whatever. But that's just my opinion. I would probably ask the TA for confirmation in writing.

 

The HSC (hotel service charge/gratuity) does go to the crew. Not just to your cabin steward and waiters in the dining room but to the people behind the scenes who contribute to the cruise.

 

If you remove the HSC, you are basically not compensating any of the crew for the work they have done for you. Any tips that you pass on to them will be turned over to the entire pool if you remove the HSC.

 

Your TA is giving you advice that to me, is an easy out for them. They gave incorrect info. They should fix it IMO or at least, try.

Hi again

I went back to the Travel agent and again said I was given the wrong information and I had booked with them thinking that the gratuities were included at the price and this is why I chose them.

Also told her that not paying the gratuities was different to having them included in the price, and I did not want to take these gratuities off the staff.

I got an email back saying that yes she understood and HAL booking agent was still telling them that the gratuities do not have to be paid on Australian cruises.

However she told me in writing to go ahead and pay them and bring the receipt to her and she would reimburse out of her wages.

I agreed that was what I would do, but told her that her company should take some responsibility and she shouldn't have to pay from her wages.

However that is for her to sort out.

I will be paying the gratuities and presenting the receipt to her on my return for reimbursement.

Thanks for all the advice

Janderra

Hi

Doing this first Australia cruise, though have cruised on other lines in Europe.

Is there a drinks package available and if so, where/when do we purchase it, cost of it, what does it cover. Always before there have been details available on website prior to cruise but can not find anything on HAL site.

My husband does not drink anything but water and coffee, but I have been told you have to purchase a package for both people so not sure that this is a good idea for us.

I like to have a few wines at night, possibly a coffee or a soft drink during the day.

Plus we drink about 3 litres of water in our cabin every day. Found on last European cruise that water was so so expensive to buy.

Have read that we can take as much water on as like during the cruise, does this include sparkling water..

Want to be as organised as I can before we leave on 19/12/2015 and enjoy everything, but like others have remarked paying $49 plus for a bottle of wine and perhaps leaving some of it at dinner every night becomes very expensive.

Plus I enjoy a glass of wine before going to dinner, 1 or 2 after dinner or 1 in the cabin if my husband is asleep.

Advice welcome from anyone who has done the Australia cruises, most of the info seems to be the European/ America cruises

Janderra

Hi

New to this Australia cruising and I want to get it right. If anyone has done one of these cruises please advise. I don't want to pack too much of the wrong thing.

I am thinking that coming out of Sydney for the first 2 days it will be warm enough to wander around in shorts during the day or sit by the pool. However not sure how cold the air conditioning on the ship will be at night and if I will need long sleeves, jacket etc. If so taking sleeveless cocktail or casual frocks are a waste of time.

I imagine the further south we go the colder it will get on deck, will we need jeans a coat to sit on deck.

I know when we dock in NZ will probably need jeans, jumpers and coats but more worried about night in the dinning room. I have purchased new outfits for evening but now worry that I am going to be cold and then need to put a coat on and cover them up.

Need lots of advice as 14 days before we leave for Sydney and I am stressing.

Janderra

Hi

We have always cruised in Europe but never in Australia. We are booked on the Xmas/New Year cruise from Sydney to NZ on Oosterdam. When we booked with TA we were told that the price quoted included all gratuities because they didn't like their customers to have any nasty surprises.

This surprised me, and also the price quoted, because if it included gratuities it was a very good price (having checked around and also on HAL site), so I booked. I was there when travel agent spoke to the booking agent and she quoted me word for word what was being said, as I queried this part twice.

So paid the cruise in full and went away felling very happy as always when cruising in Europe you have this extra charge every day that you need to pay before you leave the ship. After reading more and more about HAL on this site I rang back and the agent who booked it for me wasn't there, but her collegue said yes that is right and it is all paid. Then I went down with passports etc and again saw someone else said yes it is paid and if they add it at the end tell them to take it off.

Went down a few days later and spoke to another person in the office who said no it is not paid and you need to pay it separately. By this time I was a bit agro as I wasn't getting what I was told I had paid for.

Then the original TA rang and said that she had been told it was all paid (I heard her) but now the booking agent was saying that no it wasn't and that it didn't have to be paid all I needed to do was go on the first day and say I didn't want to pay it.

I explained that it wasn't that I didn't want to pay it as I know these staff rely on this payment, but I had been told that it was included.

Again she told me that no one has to pay it and everyone goes and asks for it to be take off, and so on and so on etc.

I told her I didn't want to deprive the staff of this payment and I had been told on this thread "DON'T TRY TO HAVE IT REMOVED"'. I know on mediterrean cruises I saw lots of people hazzling and arguing over their bill at the last day.

However again she and lots of other people have said they cant force you to pay it or to tip on board.

You say in one thread Don't try to have it removed. Tell me what you mean please about what happens, as this TA and from what I can gather the booking agent in Australia is telling everyone go and tell them you aren't paying it. Just for my own information and lots of others on this thread.

Just a matter for thought, I don't know how many crew on this cruise I presume about 1000, and 1900 passengers at $11.50 a day pp. which is $21,850 or more per day, which works out to be $305,900 for for the trip which is a lot of money for gratuities, lets hope it all gets to the staff.

Please give me your comments on all this and what the TA is saying, as a cruise expert.

Janderr

Hi Everybody

Thank you all for your help. I will double check with the travel agent again about the tips, but I know she said it is all inclusive as they don't want there to be any nasty surprises at the end.

Xmas Eve, Xmas day, New Years Eve and New Years will all be spent at sea.

Always before I was able to find out about formal nights prior to leaving, how do you know what to pack if you don't find out until you are on board.

Has anyone done this cruise to NZ 14 nights with Oosterdam please.

Janderra

Hi

Thanks for the replies. I was told it would be $800 each charged to the card when I gave them the number, but the travel agent could not tell me if US or Australian until I had given them the number. This is for 14 days cruise Also that the cruise line may also charge a credit card fee but couldn't tell me what it will be.

Travel agent has said that all gratitiues already paid in the cost of the cruise, so will be very unhappy if this is not the case.

Also wondering what happens Xmas Eve, Xmas Day and New Years eve on this cruise, as no details anywhere in the itinery. So don't know what dress is required. Is there a formal night and if so, must the men wear a suit to attend.

Cant find any of this information to plan ahead.

Janderra

Hi

First time cruisers in Australia and have booked on Holland America Oosterdam cruise on 19/12/2014, 14 days to N.Z for Xmas and New Year.

Chose this cruise mainly because of destinations and also very few cabins on any cruises left when we booked recently.

Now I am not sure we made the right choice because the travel agent took the full price at the time of booking. That was fine.

Now says that the cruise company want $800 each security on our credit card now (a month before), before they will issue the paper work for the cruise.

I have never had this before. Always pay it just before boarding or on day of boarding. I think taking that much money a month before sailing is a bit rich.

The travel agent says she thinks this may also be charged in US dollars but she isn't certain, and will only know when she puts the credit card details in and gets the paperwork. I cant find this information anywhere even though I have searched their webpages.

Why would this be they are sailing in Australia, New Zealand waters so why aren't they charging in AU Dollars, or even NZ dollars.

This means not only will I be paying their exchange rates, but also a overseas transation fee of 3% on everything.

When we sail in Europe we pay by Euro, when we sail in America we pay in US dollars. That makes sense. But this doesn't.

Can someone please clear this up for me, as it will perhaps change the amount I charge up when on board.

Janderra