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

[islandwoman]

1 hour ago, FlaMariner said:

 

We've cruised HAL 4 times since the unpleasantness including one departure from Amsterdam and we've always arrived early (11amish) even though our boarding times were much later and we've always been welcomed onboard.  Based on our experience, yes, I think you can board earlier. 

 

Enjoy the cruise and go Noles!

Are you a multi-star Mariner?  Do some Mariner levels receive early boarding?

[FlaMariner]

21 minutes ago, islandwoman said:

Are you a multi-star Mariner?  Do some Mariner levels receive early boarding?

 

no special boarding for me......3 stars.

[FlaMariner]

26 minutes ago, islandwoman said:

Do some Mariner levels receive early boarding?

 

This is the definition of that benefit for 4/5 stars.....We need a 4/5 star Mariner to define this:

 

Priority check-in, tendering and disembarkation*

[KenzSailing]

Experienced cruiser, potential first timer on HAL here.  What is their announcements in the cabin policy?  We've sailed on lines that are "only in emergency" and lines that are "art auction/bingo/jewelry sale happening" multiple times per day.  Just trying to set my expectation level.

 

Edited July 30, 2023 by KenzSailing
grammar

[Mary229]

23 minutes ago, KenzSailing said:

Experienced cruiser, potential first timer on HAL here.  What is their announcements in the cabin policy?  We've sailed on lines that are "only in emergency" and lines that are "art auction/bingo/jewelry sale happening" multiple times per day.  Just trying to set my expectation level.

 

Only announcements that are necessary.  You will not hear sales pitches, entertainment announcements or even debarkation instructions.  You will hear medical emergencies, important info from the Captain or of course the emergency signals. You can hear the other info on the tv which I have used for such things as debarkation. 

[KenzSailing]

2 hours ago, Mary229 said:

Only announcements that are necessary.  You will not hear sales pitches, entertainment announcements or even debarkation instructions.  You will hear medical emergencies, important info from the Captain or of course the emergency signals. You can hear the other info on the tv which I have used for such things as debarkation. 

 

Thank you.  That's most reassuring.

[terrydtx]

4 hours ago, islandwoman said:

Are you a multi-star Mariner?  Do some Mariner levels receive early boarding?

You can also get priority boarding if you purchase Club Orange or are in a Neptune and higher suite.

[Crew News]

23 hours ago, islandwoman said:

Are you a multi-star Mariner?  Do some Mariner levels receive early boarding?

The order of boarding in my experience is:  Pinnacle Suite guests escorted by member of ship staff, mobility challenged, Neptune Suites along with 4/5 Star Mariners, the rest by check-in completion time.

[Haljo1935]

17 minutes ago, Crew News said:

The order of boarding in my experience is:  Pinnacle Suite guests escorted by member of ship staff, mobility challenged, Neptune Suites along with 4/5 Star Mariners, the rest by check-in completion time.

Not a lot of difference, but where in there does CO board?

[Crew News]

43 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

Not a lot of difference, but where in there does CO board?

CO gets priority check-in so they will be in the first groups after the priority boarders. Not because of CO but because they checked in before so many other passengers.

Edited July 31, 2023 by Crew News

[Haljo1935]

34 minutes ago, Crew News said:

CO gets priority check-in so they will be in the first groups after the priority boarders. Not because of CO but because they checked in before so many other passengers.

I thought one of the perks of CO is priority boarding. 

[Crew News]

9 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

I thought one of the perks of CO is priority boarding. 

Only Check in

 

"PRIORITY ACCESS
» Priority check-in
» Priority access to specialty restaurant reservations
» Priority line at the Guest Services desk
» Priority line at the Shore Excursions desk
» Priority access to tenders ashore in select ports
» Priority disembarkation"

[islandwoman]

OK.  Since this thread is for newbies,  what is a CO?

[Mary229]

7 minutes ago, islandwoman said:

OK.  Since this thread is for newbies,  what is a CO?

Club Orange. Here are the program details

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/dining/club-orange.html

 

Orange because that is the Dutch national color named for William of Orange 

[ski ww]

10 hours ago, Crew News said:

Only Check in

 

"PRIORITY ACCESS
» Priority check-in
» Priority access to specialty restaurant reservations
» Priority line at the Guest Services desk
» Priority line at the Shore Excursions desk
» Priority access to tenders ashore in select ports
» Priority disembarkation"

Having just come off  a two week cruise on the NS there was no priority line at Guest Services or the Shore Excursions desk or at check in. It was first come first served. After our check in we asked about Priority board and were told to go seat over there by the door. When they did start boarding it was a free for all, depending how fast you were. 

[ExArkie]

14 hours ago, Mary229 said:

Club Orange. Here are the program details

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/dining/club-orange.html

 

Orange because that is the Dutch national color named for William of Orange 

I believe that the royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau for the county of Nassau in the principality of Orange, actually dates from 1544 and a different ruler named Willem. William of Orange, who was also king of England, Ireland, and Scotland, came along later. (I share a birthday with the latter, granted it is 300+ years after his.)

 

[Sea_Silver]

Question regarding Club Orange (CO), we are booked on the Grand Africa 2023 voyage and were told that CO is not available on Grand voyages.  I cannot find any evidence of this on the HAL website, can anyone confirm if this is accurate or should we try again?

[terrydtx]

11 minutes ago, Sea_Silver said:

Question regarding Club Orange (CO), we are booked on the Grand Africa 2023 voyage and were told that CO is not available on Grand voyages.  I cannot find any evidence of this on the HAL website, can anyone confirm if this is accurate or should we try again?

If you check out the Club Orange benefits page on the website you will see this in the last line of the terms and conditions,

[Sea_Silver]

23 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

If you check out the Club Orange benefits page on the website you will see this in the last line of the terms and conditions,

Thanks!  I downloaded the CO PDF and it didn't include that statement.  However I see it on the CO web page now.  Thanks again.

[terrydtx]

10 minutes ago, Sea_Silver said:

Thanks!  I downloaded the CO PDF and it didn't include that statement.  However I see it on the CO web page now.  Thanks again.

I believe the reason the Grand Voyages do not offer CO has to with free upgrade in cabins because the Grand Voyages are often a collection of smaller cruises within the GV itinerary. At least that is what I read in other CO threads.

Edited August 1, 2023 by terrydtx

[Sea42]

On 7/30/2023 at 5:43 PM, KenzSailing said:

Experienced cruiser, potential first timer on HAL here.  What is their announcements in the cabin policy?  We've sailed on lines that are "only in emergency" and lines that are "art auction/bingo/jewelry sale happening" multiple times per day.  Just trying to set my expectation level.

 

 

On 7/30/2023 at 6:09 PM, Mary229 said:

Only announcements that are necessary.  You will not hear sales pitches, entertainment announcements or even debarkation instructions.  You will hear medical emergencies, important info from the Captain or of course the emergency signals. You can hear the other info on the tv which I have used for such things as debarkation. 

Unfortunately, on the Nieuw Statendam in May, the cruise director made announcements 3 times a day and they were broadcast in the cabins. She basically gave the highlights of what was in the Daily and available on the app. Very annoying! I certainly don't mind the captain's noon address or announcements letting us know that we are free to go ashore but telling us what we can read for ourselves is not necessary.  

[Dismomx5]

14 hours ago, Sea42 said:

 

Unfortunately, on the Nieuw Statendam in May, the cruise director made announcements 3 times a day and they were broadcast in the cabins. She basically gave the highlights of what was in the Daily and available on the app. Very annoying! I certainly don't mind the captain's noon address or announcements letting us know that we are free to go ashore but telling us what we can read for ourselves is not necessary.  

Wow! I've never had that happen on any of the ships we've been on. In fact the ONLY announcements in the cabin were the first day and any major issues (please ignore the crew practice). Even the Captain's announcement of the day had me jumping to the door to hear it. Perhaps that CD was new?? If that is the case, I hope someone complained and it changed her approach. 

[Sea42]

1 hour ago, Dismomx5 said:

Wow! I've never had that happen on any of the ships we've been on. In fact the ONLY announcements in the cabin were the first day and any major issues (please ignore the crew practice). Even the Captain's announcement of the day had me jumping to the door to hear it. Perhaps that CD was new?? If that is the case, I hope someone complained and it changed her approach. 

Does anyone else remember reading that there is a switch (button?) to turn off all but emergency announcements in the cabin? I thought I read that somewhere but I don't know if was HAL or another cruise line.

I did mention it on my post cruise survey.

[Mary229]

1 hour ago, Sea42 said:

Does anyone else remember reading that there is a switch (button?) to turn off all but emergency announcements in the cabin? I thought I read that somewhere but I don't know if was HAL or another cruise line.

I did mention it on my post cruise survey.

As a matter of fact there is.  I accidentally hit it one night on my headboard. The steward showed me how to activate and disengage. 

[Sea42]

36 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

As a matter of fact there is.  I accidentally hit it one night on my headboard. The steward showed me how to activate and disengage. 

I wonder if that was the issue for us. I never thought about that until today!