New key card layout

[HarR]

Last Saturday we received our key cards with an new layout

 

Not sure if the picture shows it properly, but is has sort of metallic background with the new HAL logo as a sort of watermark

 

One of our travel companions got one reprinted on board, and still got the old one.

 

 

 

 

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Edited June 15, 2016 by HarR

[HarR]

 

 

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[Krazy Kruizers]

Thanks for the picture of the new cards.

[luvtwotrvl]

Thank you for sharing this!

[ricruise]

Saw that you are on the Rotterdam and haven't seen to many messages on the Rotterdam.

We will be sailing on her in September for the first time. Would love to see any pictures you may have of her.

 

Also do you like the new retreat area?

 

And any information on the slots in the casino?

 

Thanks

[rulasmovil]

They look nice!

 

 

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[puppycanducruise]

Interesting.

Thanks for sharing.

[IRL_Joanie]

Whoa, I did not pay much attention to the new key cards we also received on our last cruise, but your photo shows an important detail that is REALLY NEW!!!

 

What is REALLY NEW and important detail? The Ship's Phone Number!!!

 

I just checked ours and it also has it!!

 

Joanie

[jtl513]

What is REALLY NEW and important detail? The Ship's Phone Number!!!

But that's not the number for a specific ship, it's all ships:

 

Additionally, you can call the ship directly from the shore.

We recommend that you use this for the most critical

emergencies only: Connecting to a Holland America Line

vessel at sea is simple by using Ship Dial Service. A credit

card is required for all inbound phone calls to a ship. The

rate is US$16.00 per minute and billing begins at the time

specified. Please have the ship’s name, your party’s name and

stateroom number before you call.

Instructions:

1. Dial 1-800-993-5483 (US). From outside the U.S. access

1-321-837-6106.

2. Listen to the announcement.

3. Listen to the menu and select the number that corresponds

to the ship you are calling.

4. If you receive a busy signal or message, please hang up

quickly and try your call again.

Edited June 15, 2016 by jtl513

[3rdGenCunarder]

But that's not the number for a specific ship, it's all ships:[/b][/color][/size][/font]

 

Additionally, you can call the ship directly from the shore.

We recommend that you use this for the most critical

emergencies only: Connecting to a Holland America Line

vessel at sea is simple by using Ship Dial Service. A credit

card is required for all inbound phone calls to a ship. The

rate is US$16.00 per minute and billing begins at the time

specified. Please have the ship’s name, your party’s name and

stateroom number before you call.

Instructions:

1. Dial 1-800-993-5483 (US). From outside the U.S. access

1-321-837-6106.

2. Listen to the announcement.

3. Listen to the menu and select the number that corresponds

to the ship you are calling.

4. If you receive a busy signal or message, please hang up

quickly and try your call again.

 

True, it isn't as good as a direct number for your ship. But for a passenger who forgot to take the port agent info and is stuck somewhere ashore, it would be a godsend.

[Essiesmom]

Just a little contribution to thread drift...Last cruise I started a new practice: With the camera I am taking ashore, I take a picture of the Port Agent info so I will have it with me, just in case. Could be done with a smart phone too, but I don't have one of those. EM

[3rdGenCunarder]

Just a little contribution to thread drift...Last cruise I started a new practice: With the camera I am taking ashore, I take a picture of the Port Agent info so I will have it with me, just in case. Could be done with a smart phone too, but I don't have one of those. EM

 

I do that, too. And if I'm on a tour where there are lots of buses, I take a picture of our bus and the bus number. Funny thing is, I never have to look at it. The act of taking the picture helps me remember.

[ger_77]

Will they still punch a hole in the card so you can put it on a lanyard or a retractable badge holder (which I use)?

 

Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :)

[jtl513]

Will they still punch a hole in the card so you can put it on a lanyard or a retractable badge holder (which I use)?

On the Koningsdam they will not punch a hole because the card contains an RFID chip. The picture posted by Laffnvegas (below) shows the RFID symbol, but this Rotterdam one above does not ... so they should allow hole punching still.

 

Edited June 15, 2016 by jtl513

[sail7seas]

wHY DO THEY NEEed RFID chip on ship's cARd?

[jtl513]

wHY DO THEY NEEed RFID chip on ship's cARd?

On the K, you don't put your card in a slot to open the room door, you just hold it near a "reader" in the lock. I don't know what else is done via RFID ... possibly purchases.

 

edit: Lisa said

Forgive me if this has been mentioned because i know that many from those that visited on the 15 from the Amsterdam as well as those on my cruise and the pre shake down cruise but. the new Passengers Key Cards are a bit different in how you use them. While there is a magnetic strip it is not used but rather you basically just flash you card and things like your cabin door open when it appears near a little box reader near the door handle. The same thing for embarking and disembarking. There is also a bar code on the front of of the card that can be scanned. What is nice is that if you use a land yard with a plastic sleeve you DO NOT have to remove the card from the sleeve.

Edited June 15, 2016 by jtl513

[DSLibrarian]

wHY DO THEY NEEed RFID chip on ship's cARd?

 

Maybe they want to know where we are at all times..YIKES! (That's how we use RFID in the library - to track our materials.)

[HarR]

Saw that you are on the Rotterdam and haven't seen to many messages on the Rotterdam.

 

We will be sailing on her in September for the first time. Would love to see any pictures you may have of her.

 

 

 

Also do you like the new retreat area?

 

 

 

And any information on the slots in the casino?

 

 

 

Thanks

 

 

 

This one I took with my iPhone. The rest is on my camera so can't share.

 

The ship is in top condition. Crew is great, and so is the food. Was on Zuiderdam this year. Rotterdam beats it on all aspects.

 

The retreat is not new. It has been like this for at least 2 years. Apart from the fact that you can't swim in 1 ft deep water it still looks like a pool (with some loungers in it).

 

 

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[OlsSalt]

Will they still punch a hole in the card so you can put it on a lanyard or a retractable badge holder (which I use)?

 

Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :)

 

We had the new cards on the Zuiderdam just last week and they punched my card at the front desk so I can put it on stretchy wrist coil. But I also had to get a new card issued as mine apparently demagnetized and would not work after a day or so. Punched the new one too with no hesitations. But this Vista ship still used the card insert method for the cabin doors and not the touchpad method like the newer Koningsdam.

 

New border colors I saw which I assumed were : blue- regular; gold-Neptune; and ours was orange - S-level Vista Non-Neptune suites. Anyone know? Now I also see a brown border card in the prior photos too. Or do they identify what deck one is on.

Edited June 15, 2016 by OlsSalt

[Boytjie]

For those that have sailed on the Koningsdam, did you get to keep your cards after disembarking? It is an important souvenir, you know, especially if you don't get a tile (we don't get them on RSVP charters).

 

I would also like to know about holes for lanyards; it is a standard feature on our charters, they pass out RSVP lanyards when we board. With them it is easy to spot your fellow travelers on shore!

Edited June 15, 2016 by Boytjie

[HarR]

 

I would also like to know about holes for lanyards; it is a standard feature on our charters, they pass out RSVP lanyards when we board. With them it is easy to spot your fellow travelers on shore!

 

 

RFID cards contain an antenna coil which more or less occupies the full card. Punching the hole will damage the RFID capability of the card.

 

 

 

 

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[sail7seas]

Thank you all who explained. very helpful.:(

Edited June 15, 2016 by sail7seas

[Fouremco]

For those that have sailed on the Koningsdam, did you get to keep your cards after disembarking? It is an important souvenir, you know, especially if you don't get a tile (we don't get them on RSVP charters).

 

I would also like to know about holes for lanyards; it is a standard feature on our charters, they pass out RSVP lanyards when we board. With them it is easy to spot your fellow travelers on shore!

 

RFID cards contain an antenna coil which more or less occupies the full card. Punching the hole will damage the RFID capability of the card.

While you can't have a hole punched in an RFID card, you can still use a lanyard by placing the card in a plastic sleeve readily available at business supply stores or Amazon.

 

I don't board the Koningsdam until November, so I can't state categorically that you keep your card, but I can't see them stopping the practise. You need it when you disembark, and I can't see them trying to collect it after you've passed through security for the last time.

[jtl513]

... but I can't see them stopping the practise.

I agree. I can't see any reason why they would want to keep it. Edited June 15, 2016 by jtl513

[Boytjie]

While you can't have a hole punched in an RFID card, you can still use a lanyard by placing the card in a plastic sleeve readily available at business supply stores or Amazon.

 

The plastic holders are an options, I used it once on a cruise on the Divina where their charter drink package was to carry around a bunch of paper vouchers so I needed extra storage. Those sleeves are not as smooth along the edges as a card and can be a but flimsy as they are made to hold an insert and not for a constant insert and removal of its contents; they can tear after a while.

 

 

I don't board the Koningsdam until November, so I can't state categorically that you keep your card, but I can't see them stopping the practise. You need it when you disembark, and I can't see them trying to collect it after you've passed through security for the last time.

 

In 2009 we were on the QM2 and they kept the cards when you disembarked. I "lost" my card during the cruise and had to get a replacement. ;) I don't know if they still do it.

Edited June 15, 2016 by Boytjie