New to Holland America? This is for you...AKA "HAL For Dummies"

[FlaMariner]

I've had the HAL Barclay's Card for many years but have quit using it because the redemption rate is low....I get more cash back from using my BofA card booking a HAL cruise than I do from booking a HAL cruise on the HAL credit card.

 

(I use the BofA credit card for travel insurance but consider all credit card travel insurance to be very basic and full of hassles...but I am fine w/that.....we also have the annual BCBS trekker medical travel insurance)

[Benh]

I think some credit cards give you much more than $50 off, if it's an expensive cruise.

[Mary229]

If the travel insurance is the same as here https://www.barclaycardus.com/servicing/img/base/guideBenefits/BAR-4661-9_MW.pdf

 

it is not a robust policy.  I will stick with Chase.  A credit card with no annual fee and decent travel insurance would be a find. 

[fasterflier]

On 10/18/2022 at 6:22 PM, bearden said:

Booked on Noordam for Alaska in May 2023 and need to bring a CPAP machine on board but I also need distilled water for it.  Is it possible to get distilled water on board or do I need to bring it with me and will they let me. Tia

 

[Trapper44]

19 hours ago, fasterflier said:

 

If you log into your Holland account, select your cruise, select Cruise Activities, select Beverages, at the end you can order a gallon, that will be waiting in your room. Have done it every cruise and a gallon is $2.95.

[lavictoria]

On 1/28/2023 at 7:08 PM, fasterflier said:

Booked on Noordam for Alaska in May 2023 and need to bring a CPAP machine on board but I also need distilled water for it.  Is it possible to get distilled water on board or do I need to bring it with me and will they let me.

I had to fill out the Special Requirements form https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/accessibility/special-requirements.html for a mobility aid.

I know folks bring a CPAP without issue but under the category Respiratory Needs section of this form you can let them know you're bringing your CPAP and there is a check box for getting distilled water for use with it.

Edited January 30, 2023 by lavictoria
fixed link

[Haljo1935]

Any recent experience with laundry service? We've been fortunate on last couple cruises (Oct & Dec) to get laundry back same day even though we did not pay for express same day service. So, question is - with upcoming cruise being sold out/at capacity, has anyone experienced laundry b taking more than a day to get back?

We rely on laundry service to minimize amount of clothes we take with us - I'm packing now for next cruise and would like to pack appropriately.

That's my tip for new HAL guests - use the laundry service to minimize quantity of clothes you bring. $20/bag, $49 unlimited. The team does a great job, takes pride in their work and will tuck a handwritten note into your laundry when it's returned. 🙂

[Clay Clayton]

4 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

Any recent experience with laundry service? We've been fortunate on last couple cruises (Oct & Dec) to get laundry back same day even though we did not pay for express same day service. So, question is - with upcoming cruise being sold out/at capacity, has anyone experienced laundry b taking more than a day to get back?

We rely on laundry service to minimize amount of clothes we take with us - I'm packing now for next cruise and would like to pack appropriately.

That's my tip for new HAL guests - use the laundry service to minimize quantity of clothes you bring. $20/bag, $49 unlimited. The team does a great job, takes pride in their work and will tuck a handwritten note into your laundry when it's returned. 🙂

We were on Koningsdam in October and had a bag full (24 items the first time and 22 the second!) washed twice.The ship was at about 85% occupancy. We left the first bag on the bed before going to dinner and it was returned the next day before lunch. The second bag took slightly longer. As I recall we left it one morning and it was returned the following afternoon before dinner. 

[Crew News]

5 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Any recent experience with laundry service? We've been fortunate on last couple cruises (Oct & Dec) to get laundry back same day even though we did not pay for express same day service. So, question is - with upcoming cruise being sold out/at capacity, has anyone experienced laundry b taking more than a day to get back?

We rely on laundry service to minimize amount of clothes we take with us - I'm packing now for next cruise and would like to pack appropriately.

That's my tip for new HAL guests - use the laundry service to minimize quantity of clothes you bring. $20/bag, $49 unlimited. The team does a great job, takes pride in their work and will tuck a handwritten note into your laundry when it's returned. 🙂

On my December 2022 Rotterdam New Years cruise with 2900+ passengers (capacity2660), my morning laundry turn-in was returned the same day.  Nightly turn-in was back by lunchtime the next day.

 

FWIW in 200+ laundry turn-ins, only one turn-in did not meet the above timing.

[jonyboy]

8 hours ago, Clay Clayton said:

We were on Koningsdam in October and had a bag full (24 items the first time and 22 the second!) washed twice.The ship was at about 85% occupancy. We left the first bag on the bed before going to dinner and it was returned the next day before lunch. The second bag took slightly longer. As I recall we left it one morning and it was returned the following afternoon before dinner. 

We used the unlimited on our Alaska trip, we would put out a bag or two at night and got it back the next morning most days, longest was early afternoon.  Well worth it

[FlaMariner]

11 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Any recent experience with laundry service?

 

We used unlimited laundry (no express) on the Nieuw Statendam in November on a sold out Thanksgiving cruise and we would have the laundry bag on the bed in the morning and we would see it back the next day (usually afternoon).  

 

All good as always. 

[CruiserN1]

I've never sailed HAL before but am a 1* Mariner because we've sailed Princess before. I see there is a Welcome Onboard Lunch for Mariners 1* and above. Where is this served?

[FlaMariner]

1 minute ago, CruiserN1 said:

I've never sailed HAL before but am a 1* Mariner because we've sailed Princess before. I see there is a Welcome Onboard Lunch for Mariners 1* and above. Where is this served?

 

MDR

 

....the crew will direct you to the lido buffet but go to the MDR and see if it is open......sometimes it is reported on here that it is not open....We were onboard in November and it was....It's our preferred way to begin our cruise. 

[terrydtx]

9 minutes ago, CruiserN1 said:

I've never sailed HAL before but am a 1* Mariner because we've sailed Princess before. I see there is a Welcome Onboard Lunch for Mariners 1* and above. Where is this served?

No special luncheon but one level of MDR is normally open for lunch on Embarkation Day, it was last year on the Oosterdam from Venice. In 2019 on the Nordam it was open, but it closed abruptly at 1:00pm and we were refused entry at 12:55pm after we boarded. We are 3 stars with HAL but their loyalty program offers very little in amenities.

Edited January 31, 2023 by terrydtx

[Benh]

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/01/record-january-bookings-for-holland-america-line/

[islandwoman]

2 hours ago, CruiserN1 said:

I've never sailed HAL before but am a 1* Mariner because we've sailed Princess before.

Do HAL and Princess have reciprocal loyalty levels?

[terrydtx]

Just now, islandwoman said:

Do HAL and Princess have reciprocal loyalty levels?

Yes, they are owned by the same parent group.

[KroozNut]

2 hours ago, terrydtx said:

Yes, they are owned by the same parent group.

Then what about CCL and HAL (which are also owned by the same parent group)? We're 'Platinum' level in CCL's loyalty system, but only 2-star with HAL.

[terrydtx]

31 minutes ago, KroozNut said:

Then what about CCL and HAL (which are also owned by the same parent group)? We're 'Platinum' level in CCL's loyalty system, but only 2-star with HAL.

I have never asked about CCL as I would never sail with them. I knew about Princess as we looked at a cruise with them last year.

[Haljo1935]

5 hours ago, terrydtx said:

I have never asked about CCL as I would never sail with them. I knew about Princess as we looked at a cruise with them last year.

We have loyalty numbers for CCL, HAL and Princess and are at different levels on each of them. Would love for them to be reciprocated if someone can tell me how to go about making that happen.

[KroozNut]

5 hours ago, terrydtx said:

I have never asked about CCL as I would never sail with them. I knew about Princess as we looked at a cruise with them last year.

 

We don't sail with them anymore either, but my point was, using your logic/criteria (owned by the same parent group), HAL should honor our loyalty level from CCL, but they don't.

[Nang]

16 hours ago, terrydtx said:

Yes, they are owned by the same parent group.

Yes owned by the same group but I do not believe that your Princess loyalty level carries across to HAL except for 1*.

[ski ww]

They do not carry over. 

[regnig]

3 hours ago, Nang said:

Yes owned by the same group but I do not believe that your Princess loyalty level carries across to HAL except for 1*.

What you "believe" is correct. There have been several threads here on CC over the years about some kind of reciprocity between the CCL corp lines but to date nothing has been done. 

[TourBusGuy]

On 12/23/2022 at 2:56 PM, terrydtx said:

Does anyone realy have a desktop anyone? Yes any PC will work.

I still have two loaded up desktops. Prefer them when editing videos & photo slide shows with music. Everything else, laptop, tablet & phone does the job....