OlsSalt

Have you sailed those lines or Prinsendam??? I don't think so. The standard cabin on Regent is 300 sq. feet. The balcony is 50 sq. ft. That would be comparing it to a superior verandah on Prinsendam. I believe that cabin would be approx. 8500 PP for a 16 night Prinsendam cruise. I still have to pay for shore excursions, air, tips, drinks, special coffee, sodas. Now, you do the math.

 

Granted, I spend more in the lounges on Prinsendam than on the inexpensive wine I bring aboard. If I have to buy one of HAL's overpriced wine packages just to have a bottle of wine in my cabin---which I probably won't like....what is the point???

 

Regent compares itself to HAL, using my examples. The only people who do well on Prinsendam are those who sail in an E or lower.

If your math works, then do it since it makes up for not being able to take your own wine on board HAL ships.

....... Poor Prinsendam will probably be put out to pasture for sure now. No one will sail her at those exorbitant prices. I was able to rationalize it when I could save bucks by bringing on wine!

What math did you use - compared to an inclusive line like Regent or Crystal, or compared to savings between the wine you purchased to bring on board versus HAL wine packages?

When my cruise prices go up because they can't make money off you balcony wine drinkers, let me be the first to thank you. :cool:

On a lighter note I have the recipe for pruno, also known as prison wine, if you all get really disperate. :rolleyes::D Just trying to lighten the mood. :)

Apparently Robotussin cough syrup, Arizona Watermelon Drink and Skittles makes a mean brew too. :eek:

In fairness to HAL, they do offer their own passenger forum as an alternative to Cruise Critic, over which they have no control.

Does anyone know if they made this announcement on the official HAL passenger forum - I think it is a facebook page?

.... I hope HAL loses a TON of business over this. I love Prinsendam, but it will be cheaper for me to sail in a balcony on Regent. .......

How does the math work on this?

Eg: 14 day cruise x $20 bottle of carry-on wine per day for in cabin use = It costs you $280 to bring your own wine on board, which you can no longer do. (Obviously this changes with the value of the wine you choose to bring on board)

Versus the cost of a Regent cruise where the wine is "free"; vs the cost of a HAL wine package.

Appreciating of course, HAL wine packages may not be equivalent to the wine you choose to drink. Nor knowing what wines Regent includes in their inclusive alcohol packages.

Maybe people who enjoy their own purchased wine for "free" on their balconies take fewer shore excursions or gamble or any number of other revenue generating activities?

Do you know if HAL would even have data on this possible connection. I am surprised we did not get years of questionnaires about this alleged unlimited wine upon boarding policy change, like we got constantly about smoking.

I know there were grumbles registered by the wine stewards on a long cruise that had a lot of four star mariners because they were selling only the discounted wine packages, when this is one way of generating the fares needed to keep the whole thing afloat.

How much does the ticket price actually cover for the full operating costs of cruise travel, and how much needs to be made up selling the "extras"?

Yes indeed, HAL is a business - and in competition with others in the same business. Nothing much to set them apart now from other mass cruise lines, and hopefully they will stop the never-ending cutbacks and get back on a par with those other cruiselines, and smarten up the ships as well.

HAL as a main stream line, still has the best small ships, the best itineraries, the best libraries, the best open windowed public spaces, best art, best flowers, the best beds, the best closet/storage space, best small suites, the largest bathrooms, the best enrichment speakers, best food choices, best specialty restaurant, best sailing traditions, and the best staff and crew. I think I will stick with them for all of the above reasons.

Perhaps they don't care to pay for overpriced internet and we will hear when they post a trip report...or...they were given some slack as they were not aware of the policy change.

There is still the option the policy did not change as much as has been written about here - only the embarkation limitation in carry-on. Not the later purchase and consumption of a bottle from each port, for in cabin use?

I'll eat my shirt if they don't back down. Now I better go out and buy a Barbie doll size shirt:D. Hal, don't make me eat my words.

Do you want wine with that?

Ya but i think people are upset with the non communication, and implementation, as well as lack of choices. Had it been done differently, and there were more choices that compared with other premium lines, people would not be so upset.

it will be interesting to finally get some first hand reports about the implementation of the policy, as well as changes in the onboard wine offerings. Unclear still is the ability to bring wine/champagne on board at each port - language of policy unclear, really.

So I am not seeing much reason to cruise any longer, limited carry on wine/beverages. Food starting to down grade. Entertainment being downgraded. Stretched service.

 

Cruises always beat land vacations for the value provided, if it is not there then back to land vacations.

 

Land vacations may be in my future.

Well, there is always that drinking and driving problem when you travel by land to as many places as ships take you. :cool:

If in fact this new policy means one is asked to drink house wine on a 7 day cruise instead of bringing one's own choice for in-cabin use, for let's say four of the seven days, after you deduct the two bottles you get in your carry on if traveling in a pair, this is reason for brand loyalty revolt?

I must be missing something.

What's sad about this is... apparently you had to have "inside information", and other TA's were not informed, nor were pax with cruises in the near future. Had it not been for Lisa's post, I would have turned up for my cruise with more than the allowed quota of wine and would have been embarrassed and angry with the lack of communication on HAL's part.

Is this policy now in the cruise documents which we all are required to read each time we board? That is sufficient notice really. But the biggest issue is the ambiguity of the new policy which does not sound that much different from the old policy, except for this very explicit limitation on day of embarkation carry-on.

Beyond that, it is not as clear as people are making it out to be. It will be interesting to get first hand reports from people on the cruises where this change is now taking effect.

I think it's pretty clear. Alcoholic Beverages heads the section and is defined and detaed below.

Is it really? Time will tell.

Is HAL making a distinction between "wine/champagne" versus their listed prohibited alcoholic beverages - to mean only prohibiting beer, boxed wine or other liquors and spirits"?

Or does the policy term alcoholic beverages also include wine/champagne?

In other words is this new policy only restricting amounts of embarkation day carry-on wine, but nothing else?

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES BROUGHT ON BOARD

Each guest 21 years and older may bring one bottle of wine or

champagne (no larger than 750ml) onboard in their

carry-on luggage at the beginning of the voyage.

Guests are not allowed to bring beer, boxed wine, or other liquors

and spirits onboard.

Holland America Line reserves the

right to remove all alcoholic beverages from guest luggage

that violates this policy. Any alcoholic beverage found

will be removed and returned on the last evening of the

voyage.

Guests will not receive any monetary compensation

for alcoholic beverages that were removed from luggage.

Alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports of calls or

from onboard shops will be stored and returned on the last

evening of the voyage.

A corkage fee of US$20.00 (subject

to change) applies to wine and champagne brought to the

restaurants or bars for consumption. In-Room Dining offers

reduced-price stateroom beverage packages for in-stateroom

consumption of alcoholic beverages (a 15% Service Charge

on all beverage items and packages with beverages will be

added).

Guests who violate any of our alcohol policies (e.g., attempt

to conceal alcoholic items at security and or luggage check

points or any other time, provide alcohol to guests under age

21, over consume, or demonstrate irresponsible behavior),

may be denied boarding or may be disembarked at their

own expense.

They need to define "alcoholic beverages" better if they mean to only include the ones listed as prohibited below, or does the term also includes wine and champagne:

 

Guests are not allowed to bring beer, boxed wine, or other liquors

and spirits onboard. Holland America Line reserves the

right to remove all alcoholic beverages from guest luggage

that violates this policy. Any alcoholic beverage found

will be removed and returned on the last evening of the

voyage.

 

Loop hole? No, it appears to be their full written policy, but does leave a good deal of vagueness about its specific definitions and applications. Does it restrict wine/champagne purchased in ports or just the listed prohibited items mentioned specifically purchased in port above when it uses the inclusive term "alcoholic beverages" purchased in ports

 

Carry-on vs checked luggage - different restrictions? Is wine/champagne treated differently from that they list as prohibited alcoholic beverages (beer, boxed wine, other liquors and spirits) purchased in ports?

They do need to make this policy clearer.

Back to whether they mean just the prohibited list of "alcoholic beverages" or ALL alcoholic beverages, including wine and champagne?

POLCY: Alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports of calls or

from onboard shops will be stored and returned on the last

evening of the voyage

Hi All:

 

I am a wee bit confused about a few things here. First of all if you look at the PDF document entitled "what you need to know" it shows a date on the last page in the lower right hand corner of 7/18/13 so I believe this new policy is a little older than yesterday.

 

Here is the link:

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/assets/cruise-vacation-onboard/KBYG.pdf

.......

It states and I quote "Each guest 21 years and older may bring one bottle of wine or champagne (no larger than 750ml) onboard in their carry-on luggage at the beginning of the voyage."

 

 

 

.....

Is this the potential loophole?

They need to define "alcoholic beverages" better if they mean to only include the ones listed as prohibited below, or does the term also includes wine and champagne:

Guests are not allowed to bring beer, boxed wine, or other liquors

and spirits onboard. Holland America Line reserves the

right to remove all alcoholic beverages from guest luggage

that violates this policy. Any alcoholic beverage found

will be removed and returned on the last evening of the

voyage.

Loop hole? No, it appears to be their full written policy, but does leave a good deal of vagueness about its specific definitions and applications. Does it restrict wine/champagne purchased in ports or just the listed prohibited items mentioned specifically purchased in port above when it uses the inclusive term "alcoholic beverages" purchased in ports

Carry-on vs checked luggage - different restrictions? Is wine/champagne treated differently from that they list as prohibited alcoholic beverages purchased in ports?

They do need to make this policy clearer.

Non-issue for us.

Scratching my head here. Did we not just have a thread about dirty, dingy sheets and towels coming out of HAL ships laundries? Now we have nuclear strength laundry complaints that shred blue jeans into battered oblivion. Oy, I am on vacation. I will have to send out my worrying about all of this too in my cabin's blue bag.

I have had nothing but 100% excellent results from HAL laundry services. We saw the facilities during our back stage tour and the level of individual care each piece gets.

Since each piece is handled and labeled with an ID tag any offending items left in pockets would be removed at that point. The facilities were large, open and well-lighted with a pretty happy crew greeted us at every stage in the process.

Yes, we know this is a large scale operation and do not expect premium treatment for more delicate items, but in no way does it resembles this planted horror story presented. Not sure what their agenda was.

So very sorry to hear about these changes to what would have been another very special Prinsendam voyage.

What will the ship sail like now, without the use of stabilizers? Please, anyone who can provide more technical details. Thanks.

With that news, wishing you and all Elegant Explorer passengers for the next 3 months calm seas and following winds.

 

Hope the redone itinerary won't be too much of a burden.

 

Roy

Gulp, that be me .... on our first Prinsendam for 28 days to the Black Sea, but across the Mediterranean which has a reputation for trouble after September. I'll start taking my Bonine now!

Today Prinsedam' s divers are still trying to fix the stabiliser in port Amsterdam. Delay aprox. 10 hours. :mad:

Oh dear, I am so sorry for you and this disruption, and the crews that are also probably frustrated to trying to get it done too. Thanks for these updates. Hope you find some nice marzipan cake somewhere close by and remember that old travel advice: there are no uninteresting streets in India -- so who knows what might be right around the corner from where you are now currently stuck. Best wishes.