2 Questions/Soda and ATM

[psxer989]

I've seen the old posts on here about bringing on soda and most say to carry it on.  However, I've also seen where people have checked it.  I looked on Holland's site and don't see an actual policy about "how" you bring soda on-board.  I'd like to bring on some Pepsi products but I don't like carrying around 2 or 3 cases of canned Pepsi.  Has anyone had their soda confiscated from their checked luggage?

Also, I see that only the newer ships have ATM's.  I'm going on the Oosterdam which of course, was refurbished.  Any chance they put in an ATM?

 

Thanks!

[Shmoo here]

36 minutes ago, psxer989 said:

I've seen the old posts on here about bringing on soda and most say to carry it on.  However, I've also seen where people have checked it.  I looked on Holland's site and don't see an actual policy about "how" you bring soda on-board.  I'd like to bring on some Pepsi products but I don't like carrying around 2 or 3 cases of canned Pepsi.  Has anyone had their soda confiscated from their checked luggage?

Also, I see that only the newer ships have ATM's.  I'm going on the Oosterdam which of course, was refurbished.  Any chance they put in an ATM?

 

Thanks!

While not specifically addressing soda, the alcohol policy states that it must be in carry on bags.  I figure it's the same for non-alcoholic beverages.

 

We've been told (verbally, not written) that a "reasonable" amount of non-alcoholic beverages may be brought onboard, and must be carried on.

 

 

[dfish]

Checked luggage is not handled gently.  Think of what that could do to cans of soda.  

[joekerstef]

4 minutes ago, dfish said:

Checked luggage is not handled gently.  Think of what that could do to cans of soda.  

Think of what exploding wine/soda/water could do to your luggage. **And everyone else's.** Carry it on. You can bring soda aboard at any port btw. Wine only at initial embarkation.

[kwb101]

20 minutes ago, joekerstef said:

Think of what exploding wine/soda/water could do to your luggage. **And everyone else's.** Carry it on. You can bring soda aboard at any port btw. Wine only at initial embarkation.

I think you get a one-bottle-per-person dispensation if your HAL shore excursion includes a winery, and you want to being back a bottle from there. I saw this in the description for some NZ ports. 

[psxer989]

I was going to seal each case in a plastic bag but I guess the safest route is to carry it on.  Thanks for the responses.

 

Now, does anyone know if the Oosterdam got an ATM with its refurbishment?

 

Thanks!

[Crew News]

2 hours ago, psxer989 said:

I was going to seal each case in a plastic bag but I guess the safest route is to carry it on.  Thanks for the responses.

 

Now, does anyone know if the Oosterdam got an ATM with its refurbishment?

 

Thanks!

 

You can get cash advances from the Front Desk.

[psxer989]

Cash advances posted to my onboard account?  Are there any fees?

 

Thanks for the help.

[drowelf]

58 minutes ago, psxer989 said:

Cash advances posted to my onboard account?  Are there any fees?

 

Thanks for the help.

I believe there are fees at the front desk, but you can get fee free advances at the casino. Just go to the Cash Cage. I've never used an ATM on the ship and not sure I would. If you just need some USD cash to spend in port, why not hit an Bank ATM on shore. Its probably going to have better rates (fees) than the ship one.  Or better yet, if you can, just get all the $ you need at your local bank before the start of your cruise. 

[Crew News]

I have heard that there is a 3% charge for cash at the Front Desk but there is a free alternative.

Decide how much cash you need, insert your stateroom key card in a penny slot machine,choose that amount for your bank, push the spin button, remove your key card, and go to the Cashier Cage to get the balance in cash with no surcharge.

 

There is nothing on board that you can buy for cash but you can use cash for tips.

 

On the soda question, there is no limit on the number of carry-on luggage pieces you may hoave.  I bring a collapsible duffel bag for sodas that I purchase before I board.  The duffle bag rides atop my roller bag.

 

If you are on the Oosterdam heading to Alaska, you can always purchase sodas while in each of your Alaska ports and bring it on board instead of bringing on several cases of soda on Embarkation Day.

[catl331]

3 hours ago, psxer989 said:

Cash advances posted to my onboard account?  Are there any fees?

Yes, there's a 3% fee. When we were on the K'dam the ATM charged a flat $6 fee, so for less than $200 or so it was better to go to the front desk anyway.

 

I have used the slot-machine method described by Crew News above, but have heard that they were clamping down on that practice recently.  I suggest that you not cash-out soon after charging to your account, but wait at least a few hours ... or better yet the next day.

[terrydtx]

Take cash with you or hit the ATM at any US port for more. No ATM's on the Vista class ships like the Oosterdam. They do charge a fee for cash at the front desk.

 

No way I would check any soda cans in luggage, unless you want to wear Pepsi all week.

Edited June 25, 2019 by terrydtx

[psxer989]

Thanks everyone!

I've been cruising for years just not on HAL.   I'll be cruising to Mexico and I try to avoid their ATM's. 

For the soda, yeah I was going to wrap the cases in plastic to prevent spillage but I'll do the carry-on instead.

[Shmoo here]

3 minutes ago, psxer989 said:

For the soda, yeah I was going to wrap the cases in plastic to prevent spillage but I'll do the carry-on instead.

Thank you.

[TAD2005]

The stevedores at most ports are not know for their gentle treatment of passenger's luggage, no matter how much you tip them.   You luggage, along with everyone else's, goes into a huge steel cage that is loaded onto the ship by forklift.   If your Pepsi-laden bag happens to be near the bottom of the pile in the steel luggage cage, then you will have hundreds of pounds of bags on top of your's.   If the pressure is too great, your hot Pepsi cans will explode all over your clothes and any unfortunate passenger's bags below your's in the cage.   Carry it on, so you don't unintentionally cause other passengers to incur laundry fees on their first day.   Nothing like sticky sugary soda in your underwear !!

[Paulinda]

On our last cruise we were waiting  in the terminal for our group number to be called.  Once called our group lined up and slowly snaked it's way to the ship entrance.  We soon noticed why we were moving so slowly.  There was a gentleman standing in the middle of the line who had dropped one of two cases of warm pop onto the floor.  Half the cans in the case had exploded upon impact and a river of cola was rapidly expanding throughout the terminal.  He looked dumbfounded and had no clue as what to do.   When terminal officials finally came they didn't look too happy. 

 

Lesson is bring what you can safely handle. 

[cruisin'mama]

In the past, I have wrapped a cruiseline luggage tag with clear packing tape to a 12 pk or 2 and sent it with checked luggage and have only lost 1 can one time. I’ve done the same with a case of water when I bring that too.

[caribill]

7 hours ago, TAD2005 said:

The stevedores at most ports are not know for their gentle treatment of passenger's luggage, no matter how much you tip them.  

 

The person you tip is not one of the people who actually move your luggage to the ship/

[TAD2005]

On 6/26/2019 at 2:10 AM, caribill said:

 

The person you tip is not one of the people who actually move your luggage to the ship/

True, but they are the ones who stack your luggage into the steel cage.  And they really don't care if your bag is on the bottom of 100 other bags.   They just throw them into the cage.  Forklift operators move those steel cages to the ship's hold.