uppitycats Posted November 24, 2011 #1 Share Posted November 24, 2011 (edited) I'm new to Holland America (first cruise on this line coming up in June) and I've been looking around the HAL site. I discovered that I can pre-buy a card for alcoholic beverages. My question -- are those also available on the ship? The early buy supposedly gives me drinks at a discount. Will that also apply to the ones bought on board, if available? And, I see that there are also liquor packages, where I can buy alcohol and mixers and have it delivered to my cabin. Based on my experience on other lines, that is intended to be consumed in the cabin...not (at least visibly) taken to dinner, or elsewhere on the ship. Is that correct for HAL, too? (I'm assuming there is no "drink patrol", checking on what might be in my mug, or inquiring where I got the liquid in my glass... :) ) Edited November 24, 2011 by uppitycats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkNC Posted November 24, 2011 #2 Share Posted November 24, 2011 I'm new to Holland America (first cruise on this line coming up in June) and I've been looking around the HAL site. I discovered that I can pre-buy a card for alcoholic beverages. My question -- are those also available on the ship? The early buy supposedly gives me drinks at a discount. Will that also apply to the ones bought on board, if available? And, I see that there are also liquor packages, where I can buy alcohol and mixers and have it delivered to my cabin. Based on my experience on other lines, that is intended to be consumed in the cabin...not (at least visibly) taken to dinner, or elsewhere on the ship. Is that correct for HAL, too? (I'm assuming there is no "drink patrol", checking on what might be in my mug, or inquiring where I got the liquid in my glass... :) ) Yes you can buy them on the ship, no difference in price (other than possibly sales tax). The cards are for $$$ not anything specific. You can get a $50 card for $45 or a $100 card for $90. If pre-purchased the cards will be in your cabin when you arrive. On the liquor question, that is the intent but you certainly get people that mix a drink or pour wine in their cabin and drink it elsewhere on the ship. It is an item of some debate on this forum. Hope you enjoy your cruise! Kirk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irishjim Posted November 24, 2011 #3 Share Posted November 24, 2011 (edited) I'm new to Holland America (first cruise on this line coming up in June) and I've been looking around the HAL site. I discovered that I can pre-buy a card for alcoholic beverages. My question -- are those also available on the ship? The early buy supposedly gives me drinks at a discount. Will that also apply to the ones bought on board, if available? And, I see that there are also liquor packages, where I can buy alcohol and mixers and have it delivered to my cabin. Based on my experience on other lines, that is intended to be consumed in the cabin...not (at least visibly) taken to dinner, or elsewhere on the ship. Is that correct for HAL, too? (I'm assuming there is no "drink patrol", checking on what might be in my mug, or inquiring where I got the liquid in my glass... :) ) If you preorder your drink cards, make sure you have them in your cabin on your first sea day otherwise you will have to pay tax if you are in port. Have a wonderful cruise:D:D Edited November 24, 2011 by irishjim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackinav Posted November 24, 2011 #4 Share Posted November 24, 2011 I used the beverage card and thought it was a great idea. I would suggest that you bring a sharpie pen or a small sticker to identify your card because they all look the same (at least on my cruise) and are taken from you to process your drinks order. If the server has more than one card, you can be sure you have the right one when it's returned to you, if you've marked it with a little "x" or sticker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uppitycats Posted November 24, 2011 Author #5 Share Posted November 24, 2011 I used the beverage card and thought it was a great idea. I would suggest that you bring a sharpie pen or a small sticker to identify your card because they all look the same (at least on my cruise) and are taken from you to process your drinks order. If the server has more than one card, you can be sure you have the right one when it's returned to you, if you've marked it with a little "x" or sticker. That's a great idea, thanks! Good to know they're available on board, too. I'll probably pre-buy one for my husband for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearnaise Posted November 24, 2011 #6 Share Posted November 24, 2011 If you preorder your drink cards, make sure you have them in your cabin on your first sea day otherwise you will have to pay tax if you are in port. Have a wonderful cruise:D:D You don't have to wait until the first sea day to avoid taxes AFAIK. Just request delivery "at sea" instead of "in port". From what I've heard (and I'll find out for sure on Saturday) the card will usually still be delivered to the stateroom while it's in port, you just don't pay the tax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big green Posted November 24, 2011 #7 Share Posted November 24, 2011 (edited) I prepaid/ordered two drink cards for delivery in port in my cabin and there was notax--I did this on the HAl web page. They are all ready paid for no tax. BG Edited November 24, 2011 by big green Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dobiemom Posted November 24, 2011 #8 Share Posted November 24, 2011 If you preorder your drink cards, make sure you have them in your cabin on your first sea day otherwise you will have to pay tax if you are in port. Have a wonderful cruise:D:D It depends on the state (you live in? sail from?) I live in California and have never been charged tax for items delivered to my cabin on embarkation/in port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tampa Girl Posted November 26, 2011 #9 Share Posted November 26, 2011 First, you are charged taxes not on the card, but on the drinks as you use the card. We just got off the Noordam and were told that if we ordered a drink before we hit the 2-mile (?) limit, we would be charged tax on the drinks. This was in Spain and Portugal. So. . . we waited - sometimes! The idea of marking your card is wonderful. I did wonder how we used up $100 worth of alcohol in two days. And to think that I was accusing DH of such consumption! On the other hand . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catl331 Posted November 26, 2011 #10 Share Posted November 26, 2011 ... if we ordered a drink before we hit the 2-mile (?) limit, we would be charged tax on the drinks.12 miles - roughly 1/2 hour from sailaway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bet410 Posted November 26, 2011 #11 Share Posted November 26, 2011 So does this mean that if you make the mistake of purchasing the card in a port where they charge taxes, and then purchase a drink using the card in a port that also charges taxes, you have to pay tax twice on the same thing? :eek: Or is it just on drinks that aren't charged to your beverage card? Seems very strange to pay tax on something twice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaAC Posted November 26, 2011 #12 Share Posted November 26, 2011 We pre-cruise purchased a card for our Oosterdam cruise last April. It was very convenient to have. Also, any dollar amount left on the card at the end of the cruise is credited back to your room. One more thing too... you can't use you card if you are doing a special like "buy one drink, get the second one for a dollar". The card will charge full price for 2 drinks, so you have to charge those kind of deals to your room. and... if you buy the card pre-cruise, it doesn't count towards your cruise day credits. Hope this info helps!:) AC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tampa Girl Posted November 26, 2011 #13 Share Posted November 26, 2011 So does this mean that if you make the mistake of purchasing the card in a port where they charge taxes, and then purchase a drink using the card in a port that also charges taxes, you have to pay tax twice on the same thing? :eek: Or is it just on drinks that aren't charged to your beverage card? Seems very strange to pay tax on something twice! No, you only pay taxes once - when you buy the drinks. The card itself simply gives you $100 worth of drinks for $90.00. There is no tax on the card itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dobiemom Posted November 26, 2011 #14 Share Posted November 26, 2011 and... if you buy the card pre-cruise, it doesn't count towards your cruise day credits. I thought all pre-cruise purchases counted toward your cruise day credits. :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bet410 Posted November 27, 2011 #15 Share Posted November 27, 2011 (edited) I thought all pre-cruise purchases counted toward your cruise day credits. :confused: It does - according to the HAL website. I checked the Mariner FAQs and I wanted to verify that I was interpreting it right, so I called HAL recently about it. The person told me that all pre-purchased items count toward cruise day credits. Here's what the FAQ says: Are any onboard charges excluded from the onboard purchases bonus? All casino charges, cash advances, Future Cruise deposits, and associated fees are excluded. All other onboard purchases including Hotel Service Charge, Beverage Service Charge, taxes, pre-booked shore excursions and all gift items purchased online or through Ship Services count towards bonus cruise day credits. Edited November 27, 2011 by bet410 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bet410 Posted November 27, 2011 #16 Share Posted November 27, 2011 (edited) Sorry - double post! Edited November 27, 2011 by bet410 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big green Posted November 27, 2011 #17 Share Posted November 27, 2011 We pre-cruise purchased a card for our Oosterdam cruise last April. It was very convenient to have. Also, any dollar amount left on the card at the end of the cruise is credited back to your room. One more thing too... you can't use you card if you are doing a special like "buy one drink, get the second one for a dollar". The card will charge full price for 2 drinks, so you have to charge those kind of deals to your room. and... if you buy the card pre-cruise, it doesn't count towards your cruise day credits. Hope this info helps!:) AC ypu posted some wrong info--from the HAL site: all the online gift purchasers, services and excursions count toward your cruise day credits except casino chips--from the HAl website: "Are any onboard charges excluded from the onboard purchases bonus? All casino charges, cash advances, Future Cruise deposits, and associated fees are excluded. All other onboard purchases including Hotel Service Charge, Beverage Service Charge, taxes, pre-booked shore excursions and all gift items purchased online or through Ship Services count towards bonus cruise day credits." BG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catl331 Posted November 27, 2011 #18 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Also, any dollar amount left on the card at the end of the cruise is credited back to your room.Up to the purchase price only, not the face value - and if you don't use at least the purchase price you save nothing at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2thdk Posted April 22, 2012 #19 Share Posted April 22, 2012 Can the prepaid alcoholic beverage card be used to purchase wine in the dining rooms? I do not want to buy the wine packages unless the prepaid card cannot be used to purchase wine ( by bottle or per glass?) :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted April 22, 2012 #20 Share Posted April 22, 2012 Can the prepaid alcoholic beverage card be used to purchase wine in the dining rooms? I do not want to buy the wine packages unless the prepaid card cannot be used to purchase wine ( by bottle or per glass?):) absolutely - by bottle or the glass (best buy is by the bottle). it can even be used to purchase wine packages if you like:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted April 22, 2012 #21 Share Posted April 22, 2012 We are not big wine drinkers -- but we have had no problems using our Beverage Card to buy a bottle of wine. The Beverage Cards just make it easier to buy drinks, etc as you don't have to keep track of a bunch of receipts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PathfinderEss Posted April 22, 2012 #22 Share Posted April 22, 2012 I always wait til I'm on the ship to buy a beverage card. Just seems simpler to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samnewbie Posted April 22, 2012 #23 Share Posted April 22, 2012 You don't have to wait until the first sea day to avoid taxes AFAIK. Just request delivery "at sea" instead of "in port". From what I've heard (and I'll find out for sure on Saturday) the card will usually still be delivered to the stateroom while it's in port, you just don't pay the tax. We did that on our cruise on the NA...we sailed from Barcelona. We also bought an extra card on board very easily later in the cruise. There were also tables with them on display on boarding up on the lido deck with staff able to explain them and add them to your account if required. The point made by jackinav about the sticker or marking with a sharpie is a fab idea ...we will be sure to do that next time for any extras bought onboard as I must admit I wondered how they knew which was our card but never thought to actually check we had the correct one back ...those pre-ordered had our personal info already. Sam :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeriatricNurse Posted April 22, 2012 #24 Share Posted April 22, 2012 We are not big wine drinkers -- but we have had no problems using our Beverage Card to buy a bottle of wine. The Beverage Cards just make it easier to buy drinks, etc as you don't have to keep track of a bunch of receipts. On my recent Caribbean cruise onboard Noordam, I purchased a $100 Beverage Card which worked quite well! I always retained the last receipt & had it with me when I got another of glass of (House Wine - 'Santa Carolina') - $4.50 + 15% = $5.61, with I used to check against the new receipt)! I had heard of some Beverage Cards getting mixed up at the bars with other cards so I wanted to ensure that it was MY card that was used for MY glass of wine! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeriatricNurse Posted April 22, 2012 #25 Share Posted April 22, 2012 I always wait til I'm on the ship to buy a beverage card. Just seems simpler to me. Exactly! I do the same! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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