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

[kazu]

This will be my first HAL cruise. I have cruised many times with Carnival. I was wondering if there is an email address to check the price of your cruise to see if there is a reduction in price.

 

Thank you!

 

One way to do is to just check the HAL site and do a mock booking to see if your price has gone down. If you know the price for the lowest cabin in your category you can get a good idea just on the first look without the mock booking.

 

There is a "fish" site that you can subscribe to that, for a fee, will email you with any changes (up or down if you want) for your cruise. It's a fee of about $1 per cruise. You can select as many cabins as you want.

[jhsocal]

Does staying in a SS cabin on Vista class ship give you any level of priority boarding? Know it would not be in highest levels.

[kazu]

Does staying in a SS cabin on Vista class ship give you any level of priority boarding? Know it would not be in highest levels.

 

No, sorry it does not. The higher categories (Neptune Suite & above) do. But the Signature Suite doesn't get any priority.

[jhsocal]

Thank you, Kazu, for the prompt answer. Had a feeling that might be the case.

[sweetipie]

Holland America has quick boarding so worries. Our favrite line:cool:

[NedRyerson57]

What is the current price for the All You Can Laundry?

[kazu]

What is the current price for the All You Can Laundry?

 

Unlimited laundry where HAL does it....

 

On most itineraries it's $7/ day / cabin. On European cruises and certain other exotic itineraries it seems to be around $9/$9.50 per day per cabin.

[NedRyerson57]

Unlimited laundry where HAL does it....

 

On most itineraries it's $7/ day / cabin. On European cruises and certain other exotic itineraries it seems to be around $9/$9.50 per day per cabin.

I guess I should be more specific, going on Oosterdam to Alaska in Sept. Do they offer a laundry pkg for the week?

[NedRyerson57]

Would love it if someone could explain the daily and weekly spa offerings on the Oosterdam in Sept. Keep reading about Thermal Rooms and others and have no clue what this is about. Thx.

[kazu]

I guess I should be more specific, going on Oosterdam to Alaska in Sept. Do they offer a laundry pkg for the week?

Yes there will be. And it should be $7 per day unless it changed suddenly ;).

 

Note - for laundry - you usually have a cut off time for the last laundry turn in day and time in order to allow time for you to get it back and packed ;)

 

Would love it if someone could explain the daily and weekly spa offerings on the Oosterdam in Sept. Keep reading about Thermal Rooms and others and have no clue what this is about. Thx.

 

Basically, there is a hydrotherapy pool, sauna and thermal chairs - they are like ceramic lounge chairs that are heated. Very relaxing. Best bet, visit the spa on embarkation day and they will show you around. It will give you a very good idea.

 

Love the hydrotherapy pool. If you have any ailments (muscular, prior surgeries, etc.) it can be very helpful.

 

Really helped me with my healing elbow surgery and rehab exercises. I walked on the Westerdam in a sling and walked off without one :)

[NedRyerson57]

Yes there will be. And it should be $7 per day unless it changed suddenly ;).

 

Note - for laundry - you usually have a cut off time for the last laundry turn in day and time in order to allow time for you to get it back and packed ;)

 

 

 

Basically, there is a hydrotherapy pool, sauna and thermal chairs - they are like ceramic lounge chairs that are heated. Very relaxing. Best bet, visit the spa on embarkation day and they will show you around. It will give you a very good idea.

 

Love the hydrotherapy pool. If you have any ailments (muscular, prior surgeries, etc.) it can be very helpful.

 

Really helped me with my healing elbow surgery and rehab exercises. I walked on the Westerdam in a sling and walked off without one :)

Great info, thanks. Do you know roughly what the cost is, daily or weekly for the spa?

[kazu]

Great info, thanks. Do you know roughly what the cost is, daily or weekly for the spa?

 

Sorry, we do longer cruises which may throw things off. On ours it was around $499 (30 day) but we were on a smaller ship which does not have the real hydrotherapy pool so that lowers the price. I think I read someone posting something like $199 - $250 per week, but I don't want to swear to that. Hopefully someone can help you.

 

You can call HAL and they can give you a price but I do recommend you wait until you get on board to book. Do it on embarkation day. They usually have a "special". Pricing is better per couple than a single. Note, you do not have to register as a "couple" with the other person in your cabin. It can be anyone on the ship.

 

I registered with another CC member who was on our roll call.

[NedRyerson57]

That is no longer true. Smoking is allowed in a couple areas.

 

We sailed last year on the Oosterdam on its maiden voyage out of drydock. There was no smoking allowed anywhere on the ship it was awesome

 

 

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[NedRyerson57]

Would love to hear what the casino was like aboard the Oosterdam. Are the machines typically tight? Do they offer any type of poker or blackjack tournaments during the cruise?

[KroozNut]

That is no longer true. Smoking is allowed in a couple areas.

 

Nooooooooo!, please don't open up yet another smoking debate here!! :eek:

[NedRyerson57]

Don't want that either. Just stating the way it is.

[sweetipie]

Laundry on the Holland America ships is a dream. You can stuff a bag for $20.00 and it all comes back laundered, ironed and underwear folded in tissue paper. One of another reason HAL is our favorite ships. Just as a side note, on the QM2 in April most arguments were in the laundry room with one lady throwing a Mars bar in another ladys clothes dryer. She was put off at the next port. Yay!!

[kazu]

Would love to hear what the casino was like aboard the Oosterdam. Are the machines typically tight? Do they offer any type of poker or blackjack tournaments during the cruise?

 

The machines are defined by many as tight.

 

Yes, they have poker and blackjack and slot tournaments on all the cruises I have been on.

[sweetipie]

\Just was on the Volendam and played a lot. Did not come out ahead but won several jackpots. One lady won 7500.00 jackpot at 8 am on day.

[NedRyerson57]

That is amazing! People are unbelievable.

 

Laundry on the Holland America ships is a dream. You can stuff a bag for $20.00 and it all comes back laundered, ironed and underwear folded in tissue paper. One of another reason HAL is our favorite ships. Just as a side note, on the QM2 in April most arguments were in the laundry room with one lady throwing a Mars bar in another ladys clothes dryer. She was put off at the next port. Yay!!

[dutchiegirl]

I posted this on the regular thread for HAL, but not sure if it is better to post here:

 

I just got an offer to upgrade from my Signature Suite (SY category) to a Neptune Suite (SA - SC) for $349pp. First of all, would that same price be for my 15 yo son as well as my DH and myself? Secondly, right now we are in 8048 which is kinda midship but high up. I am a little concerned about my DH's susceptibility to seasickness. Is it a good deal? What do you think, should I take it?

[Appalachian Mountain Mama]

Not sure if this is the right place for this, apologies if I'm having a meltdown over nothing. HAL quotes fees and taxes for their Alaska cruises of about $214 p/p and friends who recently cruised were charged that amount. My online TA charged me $448 p/p. I questioned her about this and she responded in writing that mine was higher because I was in a Neptune suite. Talking to HAL on the phone they stated that was incorrect, that the charge was the same for every passenger irregardless of stateroom. Now I am days away from final payment and at a loss as to what to do. Don't want to lose my cruise but don't like being ripped off to the tune of $468 either. Bottom line is I will pay the money to keep the cruise but wonder what options I have to possibly recover a fraudulent charge after the fact?

 

 

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[kazu]

Not sure if this is the right place for this, apologies if I'm having a meltdown over nothing. HAL quotes fees and taxes for their Alaska cruises of about $214 p/p and friends who recently cruised were charged that amount. My online TA charged me $448 p/p. I questioned her about this and she responded in writing that mine was higher because I was in a Neptune suite. Talking to HAL on the phone they stated that was incorrect, that the charge was the same for every passenger irregardless of stateroom. Now I am days away from final payment and at a loss as to what to do. Don't want to lose my cruise but don't like being ripped off to the tune of $468 either. Bottom line is I will pay the money to keep the cruise but wonder what options I have to possibly recover a fraudulent charge after the fact?

 

 

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First of all, look at the bottom price. Some TA's quote the non commissionable or other fees in with port charges.

 

So, look on the HAL site and compare apples to apples.

 

If your TA is really charging you more which is very unusual, ask them to reverse it, transfer it to HAL or report them.

 

I honestly think (and hope) that when you look at the bottom line, you wills see the price is the same.

 

Different TA's break it down differently. What counts is what you pay ;). Neptune Suites have NO bearing on port charges.

[kazu]

I posted this on the regular thread for HAL, but not sure if it is better to post here:

 

I just got an offer to upgrade from my Signature Suite (SY category) to a Neptune Suite (SA - SC) for $349pp. First of all, would that same price be for my 15 yo son as well as my DH and myself? Secondly, right now we are in 8048 which is kinda midship but high up. I am a little concerned about my DH's susceptibility to seasickness. Is it a good deal? What do you think, should I take it?

 

Is your son travelling on the 3rd person free or reduced deal or did you pay regular price?

 

How many days is your cruise? That's important to evaluate it - I am guessing it is 7 days?

 

The price is for your DH and yourself at least, and possibly your DS.

 

Do you have the choice of room numbers or is it a guarantee upsell?

[Appalachian Mountain Mama]

Kazu, this was booked last year when HAL was quoting $1999 for a Neptune and offering the Explore4 package. The TA told us the $1999 wasn't eligible for Explore4, that we had to pay a $2364 fare to qualify for it. That didn't surprise me as the HAL website said not all fares were eligible and the Explore4 perks came out to more than $365 p/p so we thought a good deal. Thought the taxes and port charges were high but was told over phone that The HAL website quote didn't include everything so didn't question until friends did same cruise recently and were charged lower amount. I then questioned again and was told price was higher because we were in a Neptune suite but then speaking to a HAL rep on phone they said that wasn't correct, that all passengers pay same amount no matter what cabin they are in. So now I'm wondering exactly what "tax" I'm being charged since I live in Oregon which doesn't have sales tax? The online TA I used is in MA for what it's worth.

 

 

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