I have questions, virgin Holland American Cruiser

[marshhawk]

Yes, I have cruised other lines, and of course i have questions.  I do like the fact that Holland cruisers make great topics, that all is covered in one thread, but the threads are quite long, with thousands of questions, and answers, I'm not trying to start that kind of thread, I just have 3 people who i am asking for.  Lots of time to plan, but they have questions.  I have questions, so here goes.  Thanking any help i get.

 

We are booked on a 14 day Alaskan cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam in May 2023.  We will be in our late 60's early 70's, three of us in one cabin, but we travel well together.  However, when you need to find your own space on the ship, where do you go?(BFF's question)

 

Laundry?  Can you do your own laundry, or do we have to pay to have it done.  Are there laundromats for patrons to use?  If not, what is the cost for laundry?  I don't want to pack three weeks of clothing and fly cross country. (my question)

 

Can you order more than one entree, appetizer, or dessert in the MDR? (hubbies question)

 

Is lunch served in the MDR on sea days?  Everyday? (BFF's question)

 

My momma always used to say, that where ever you go , there you are.  And if it's all about attitude, then why do i read so many negative reviews when i try to read Holland ship reviews?

 

The three of us cruised Alaska on Carnival in 2016, but as our pandemic reminded us, life is short, get out there!  But if you have cruised Alaska,  what would you recommend for Sitka, Kodiak, Prince Rubert?  Thanks in advance-marshhawk

[CruiserBruce]

Searching finds a lot of your info.

 

You have to pay for laundry unless included in a package, or booked in a suite.

 

Yes, you can order additional portions.

[kazu]

 

23 minutes ago, marshhawk said:

Laundry?  Can you do your own laundry, or do we have to pay to have it done.  Are there laundromats for patrons to use?  If not, what is the cost for laundry?  I don't want to pack three weeks of clothing and fly cross country. (my question)

 

 

No laundromats and who wants to do laundry on vacation?  LOL.

HAL does a great job on laundry - you can select unlimited for $7 per day (per cabin) or have it done by the bag $20.  At least those were still the prices.

 

23 minutes ago, marshhawk said:

 

Can you order more than one entree, appetizer, or dessert in the MDR? (hubbies question)

 

You can order more than one appetizer and dessert in the MDR.  I haven’t sailed since B.C. (Before Covid) but you could order an extra entree then too.  that’s more than too much for me 😉 

 

23 minutes ago, marshhawk said:

Is lunch served in the MDR on sea days?  Everyday? (BFF's question)

 

Yes it is.  And if you want a treat - do a lunch in the Pinnacle Grill (surcharge) but well worth it.

 

23 minutes ago, marshhawk said:

My momma always used to say, that where ever you go , there you are.  And if it's all about attitude, then why do i read so many negative reviews when i try to read Holland ship reviews

 

 

Because some people are never happy?  Some people want to sail at prices of years ago (which they are) and complain about surcharges?  Not sure but there  are lots of positive reviews too.  

I learned long ago to take reviews with a grain of salt.  Someone who is too glowing is a cheerleader and someone who just gripes is one who is never happy no matter how good it is.  

The other thing to remember is that experiences can be different for different people even on the same ship and certainly can vary from cruise to cruise.  

 

 

[IPB4IGO]

Finding your own space on the ship: There are comfortable lounge chairs and couches all over the ship.  It is very easy to find a place to sit, watch the ocean, and read, both on the weather decks and indoors. Of course, there are all the bars as well. Most of the day they are fairly empty, and you can sit in them without ordering anything.

[Ferry_Watcher]

17 minutes ago, marshhawk said:

My momma always used to say, that where ever you go , there you are.  And if it's all about attitude, then why do i read so many negative reviews when i try to read Holland ship reviews?

 

I think if you want a laid-back, yet traditional cruise experience then HAL would work just fine for your group.  HAL ships usually have enough nooks and crannies that if one wanted to get away from their traveling companions that it would be easy to do so.  We enjoy their musical offerings, classical, jazz, etc.

 

Downside: Some 4* & 5* star Mariners who believe that they get 'priority' in all things Holland America.  In fact some cruises have so many 4* & 5* Mariners that HAL suspense that priority perk because basically all the passengers qualify.  Example - we were on a HAL cruise in 2019 and just after sail-away, on a perfectly nice evening (about 6 pm with daylight), a single swimmer (only one in the pool) requested that the roof cover be extended over the pool.  Fortunately, the crew said 'no', but it was an eye-opener to how demanding some of these cruisers could be.  (And we were literally just a couple of hours into the cruise).

 

[Aquahound]

NA is cruising to Kodiak and Prince Rupert?   That's amazing.  That sounds like a great itinerary!

Edited October 14, 2021 by Aquahound

[leerathje]

6 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

NA is cruising to Kodiak and Prince Rupert? 

 

Great Alaskan Explorer....14 days leaving from Vancouver and up the Inside Passage.  There are a few sailings.

[marshhawk]

thank you for your replies.  the reality is, our BFF is taking us on this cruise, we just have to cover excursions, pre and port cruise hotels, and perks.  I guess this is his "i'm retiring " cruise, and since we took him last time to Alaska, and we rent a condo in florida and cover him for a week, this is a nice gift.  but it's all in his name, and he tells me to do all the research.  so i'm coming here to CC, as opposed to getting the info from Holland.  I guess i could make him call but since i only work part time (i'm retired, LOL ) he asks me to be the coordinator.  

 

How do you order the laundry set up?  Is it part of completing the final paper work, or is it something that we set up on board?

 

Oh, and if we want the fridge empty before we board, can we request that?

 

again, thanks

[Crew News]

16 minutes ago, marshhawk said:

thank you for your replies.  the reality is, our BFF is taking us on this cruise, we just have to cover excursions, pre and port cruise hotels, and perks.  I guess this is his "i'm retiring " cruise, and since we took him last time to Alaska, and we rent a condo in florida and cover him for a week, this is a nice gift.  but it's all in his name, and he tells me to do all the research.  so i'm coming here to CC, as opposed to getting the info from Holland.  I guess i could make him call but since i only work part time (i'm retired, LOL ) he asks me to be the coordinator.  

 

How do you order the laundry set up?  Is it part of completing the final paper work, or is it something that we set up on board?

 

Oh, and if we want the fridge empty before we board, can we request that?

 

again, thanks

You set up the laundry by checking the box for unlimited laundry on your laundry slip located in your closet when you submit your first bag of laundry.

 

 

Just ask your Room Steward and they will arrange for the minibar to be cleaned out.

Edited October 14, 2021 by Crew News

[RGEDad]

1 hour ago, marshhawk said:

Oh, and if we want the fridge empty before we board, can we request that?

You can just as the cabin steward to empty it and it will typically be done before the end of the day. I tell them to just put the stuff in the bottom drawer at the end of the bed (Storage Hint - there are two drawers at the foot of each bed.)

 Another hint - they will shine your shoes - Gratis - just put them in the basket on the bed.

Hideaway Places - I like to hideaway in the Gallery Bar on Deck 2 - Quiet, comfortable sitting area, separate from the actual Bar area, tucked behind the Queens Lounge. Or I am up in the Crows nest  Deck 11 - Fabulous views.

MDR - I frequently get a soup, 2 Appetizers, a main (and I have seen people order several) - and if they notice you are not eating yours they will ask if there is an issue and try to get you something/anything else. At one meal - one gentleman ordered 3 of one appetizer that he really loved, ended up the entire table was ordering the same appetizer as it looked so good.Not issue. Nor are multiple deserts an issue - ie getting a pie/cake with ice cream (Always available) also...

And if you like something special - like say - Escargot - that is only sometimes served - your waiter may be able to get it for you - especially if you ask them the day before...

 

Lunch is served in the MDR on Sea Days

 

 

 

[Crew News]

As a photographer, I want to see wildlife.  For Kodiak, I recommend the Kodiak Sightseeing & Wildlife Cruise on a small fishing boat that holds about 10 passengers so need to book early.  Great for whales and puffins.  For Sitka, I recommend the otters, raptors, and bears excursion.

[NCTribeFan]

Hi, Marshhawk!

 

I'll be on Nieuw Amsterdam in December but first, I'll be on the sister ship, Eurodam, next month.  I sailed Zuiderdam a few years back and loved the ship.  Both Eurodam and NA look to be very much like that class, which is very much like Carnival's Spirit-class ships, which are by far my favorites.  Much better space ratio than other Carnival ships.

 

I just received a casino offer from HAL yesterday for virtually all of the 7-night Alaska sailings for next summer.  I'm very seriously thinking of booking a B2B, possibly on NA.  I don't know if you're a gambler, but the casino on NA is non-smoking, which I'm very much looking forward to enjoying.

 

If not NA, then probably Noordam, which is also doing 1-way sailings, so I could turn that into a good B2B.  Must do some research this weekend (final tax deadline of the year is tomorrow; I'd better get back to work!).

[RGEDad]

13 hours ago, marshhawk said:

what would you recommend for Sitka, Kodiak, Prince Rubert?

For Sitka, I recommend the Birds, Barnacles, and Bears excursion. Many various combinations available.

The Raptors (Mostly/many rehab Eagles - some permanent residents) are really, really impressive. I had never seen eagles up close, a 6' wingspan is really impressive. Several other smaller raptors also on display. I think Sitka is the primary raptor center, the other alaskan raptor location tours are the same organization (non-profit) but not as large. 

The bear display are in captivity, they have several black bears on a hillside wooded pen, and several large grizzly bears in a very large high circular enclosure. You look at them from above, viewing platform is covered. Very odd to have the feeling of an animal looking at you like you might make be..a tasty morsel. This is not a walk through the back woods looking for bears. There are other tours that do go looking for bears in the wild - sometimes you see one - sometimes not.

The Barnacles portion was a visit to a small aquarium with nice tanks to see up close the crustaceans - and touch some -no (or few) fishies.

At some point - You will be required to take a Whale Watch tour. The Whales are fun to watch, and they are big - the boats are required to remain a certain distance from the whales, but they do track the Pods for awhile before moving on to other Pods. I do not believe you are allowed to leave Alaska with that obligatory viewing. And I highly recommend them in any case. Many/most locations have whale watching tours.

And you will need to see some of the glaciers - got to see them before they all melt away. At Mendenhall (Juneau) we went to the Visitors center, you can see the glacier. You can walk about a mile up to be next to the outflow river/falls, and be closer to the glacier.

Bring rain gear and layers of clothing...

[PigsCanFly]

10 hours ago, marshhawk said:

 

 

How do you order the laundry set up?  Is it part of completing the final paper work, or is it something that we set up on board?

 

Oh, and if we want the fridge empty before we board, can we request that?

 

 

 

On HAL, we always prepay the laundry package.  We are early 60s and late 20s son, and it makes the required pre-packing easier and the luggage smaller.  HAL has done a very good job doing the laundry efficiently and usually next day delivery. We got our upcoming 21-day Rotterdam laundry for the 3 of us @ $7/day.  Well worth it for us.

 

re: fridge, if it is loaded, we just ask the stateroom attendant to have it emptied out and it is emptied out first day.

 

You will love Holland America for their great crew!

 

[Boytjie]

13 hours ago, Crew News said:

Just ask your Room Steward and they will arrange for the minibar to be cleaned out.

 

I see many people post this, but my experience has been that they have never emptied the fridge when I asked. I usually just pack it in a space under the desk, or even the hollow ottoman at the desk. Oh, and I have to remember to take it out on the last day so they don't think we ate and drank it all! 

[Boytjie]

You did not ask about Ketchikan but I can recommend a ship's excursion to the Hump Island Oyster Company. Learn about oyster farming in Alaska and then sample it!

[marshhawk]

Thank you all for the input and knowledge.  I have been to Alaska on a cruise.  In Skagway we went up to Carcross in the drizzle, and came down in a snow storm.  In Juneau we went to Mendenhall Glacier (the tour included a salmon run and hatchery and the hanging gardens) and in Ketchikan we went on a crab adventure, and ate the best crab I have ever had!  And that excursion, I hope to repeat with Holland.  

 

Didn't know whale watching tours were mandatory...LOL.  The first morning that our ship got into Alaskan waters, a whale was swimming by our ship.  That's the second thing I saw that  morning after waking up, the first thing was a hanging glacier.  From the moment we were in Alaskan waters, til we docked into Vancouver, it was non stop critters!  And I loved every minute of it.

 

I am very blessed to be offered a second opportunity to go back.

[RGEDad]

On 10/14/2021 at 9:41 PM, marshhawk said:

The first morning that our ship got into Alaskan waters, a whale was swimming by our ship.

Yea - they do that - He was just shilling for for the obligatory Whale Tours...

[CruiserBruce]

On 10/14/2021 at 12:06 PM, Boytjie said:

 

I see many people post this, but my experience has been that they have never emptied the fridge when I asked. I usually just pack it in a space under the desk, or even the hollow ottoman at the desk. Oh, and I have to remember to take it out on the last day so they don't think we ate and drank it all! 

We have had it emptied every one of our dozen HAL cruises, after reading about it here. No problem.

[cbr663]

You read so many negative reviews because of the simple fact that there are systemic issues on HAL ships that time has shown that the cruise line simply will not resolve.  The top two in my experience has been:

 

1.  On board account/billing errors.  Billing and account errors happen way too frequently on HAL cruises.  So much so that many have resorted to having to spend time saving every receipt and reviewing and consolidating their statements daily.  This is not only a waste of your time and energy while on a cruise it also speaks to a cruise line that simply cannot get its accounting house in order.  This issue has been ongoing for years and years and I see from today's live threads that it is still occurring.  It simply leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

 

2.  Inconsistent service, especially in the MDR.  A recent poster said it best in her live thread - the only thing consistent about HAL is it is inconsistent.  You can go to the MDR or a speciality restaurant one night and have a wonderful and impeccable experience and the next night the experience can be so disappointing that you wonder if the ship sailed through the Bermuda Triangle.  From our past experience it really is the flip of a coin as to whether your MDR experience will be great or disappointing. 

 

 

[zgscl]

Welcome to HAL! I am sure you will have an amazing cruise. To answer a few from my perspective: 

On 10/13/2021 at 4:31 PM, marshhawk said:

However, when you need to find your own space on the ship, where do you go?(BFF's question)

Lots of great options! Depends a bit on the ship, but on the Nieuw Amsterdam we really enjoyed the Pinnacle Bar which was usually quiet during the day. Nice sea views. Most of the bars are available to sit in even if they are closed/not in use - the Gallery bar behind the casino is also quiet during the day though no ocean views. Along deck 2 & 3 there are some nice sitting areas also. We also enjoyed sitting by the guest services desk on deck 1 in the atrium. Lots of people coming and going for people watching. NA also has had the Crow's Next conversion to EXC Central so it has nice seating areas as well as a bar/coffee shop.   

 

EXC Central:

 

If you want a private area one thing to consider is a cabana rental. For a 14 day I think a cabana for 2 is $400-600 depending if you go with the Lido or Retreat. They offer in cabana service during the day. I am doing my first one next month but have read a lot of great reviews. There is also a larger family cabana for up to 4 people. 

 

Lido:

Retreat:

 

 

On 10/13/2021 at 4:31 PM, marshhawk said:

Laundry?  Can you do your own laundry, or do we have to pay to have it done.  Are there laundromats for patrons to use?  If not, what is the cost for laundry?  I don't want to pack three weeks of clothing and fly cross country. (my question)

 

All of our recent cruises have been in a Neptune suite so it has been included for us. They do a pretty good job on the laundry. I don't believe any of the ships have a laundromat available. The package is probably the best deal but I will leave others to comment on this. 

 

On 10/13/2021 at 4:31 PM, marshhawk said:

Can you order more than one entree, appetizer, or dessert in the MDR? (hubbies question)

 

100% yes. Absolutely no issue. The couple at the table next to us ordered every single appetizer on the menu each night. I will often have the pasta as a starter. Some nights we order 3 deserts for the 2 of us. Do not be shy about asking for what you want. The crew on HAL is fantastic across the board. 

You did not ask, but we have a strong preference for fixed seating. You absolutely get better and more personalized service having the same waiter & assistant waiter each night. 

 

On 10/13/2021 at 4:31 PM, marshhawk said:

Is lunch served in the MDR on sea days?  Everyday? (BFF's question)

 

Sea days only. If you have a late arrival into port they may serve a limited menu (I have only seen this once with a 1 PM arrival into Juneau). 

 

On 10/13/2021 at 4:31 PM, marshhawk said:

what would you recommend for Sitka, Kodiak, Prince Rubert? 

I can only speak to Sitka - you absolutely MUST see the Raptor Center and the Fortress of the Bear. Both are Fantastic. These are combined with either a boat tour looking for sea otters, or a visit to a Salmon Hatchery. If you have never seen a hatchery or a fish ladder this is interesting, but I would not do that again. The "Best of Sitka: Otters, Raptors &  Bears always gets rave reviews. 

 

 

On 10/13/2021 at 4:31 PM, marshhawk said:

My momma always used to say, that where ever you go , there you are.  And if it's all about attitude, then why do i read so many negative reviews when i try to read Holland ship reviews?

 

I agree it is all about attitude. Over the years HAL has shifted from a more "premium" line to more mainstream. Those of us who have sailed for years (and folks who have been sailing with HAL for many years) remember how it used to be and do not appreciate the various downgrades over the years. A recent example is the addition of the "indulge" option in the Main Dining Room allows you to buy the steak and lobster every night, but you can no longer get lobster for free anywhere onboard - the surf & turf on the gala night is now steak and shrimp instead. 

 

Another example is the onboard entertainment. They used to do more of a broadway style show with singing and dancing. This has been replaced with the "Step One Dance Company" which is not everyone's cup of tea. The crowd on HAL tends to skew older but the music for this was mostly from the last 20 years. A couple nights the main "entertainment" was either a movie, or they also have a nature documentary with live music being played. For those of us who sail frequently these get a bit old - how many times can you watch the same documentary before it gets old? Not many! 

 

I agree completely with @cbr663 two points - HAL can be very inconsistent. Your cruise experience will vary greatly from that of the people in the cabin next door. Expectations also play a large role. The billing errors can be very tedious. I always keep a close eye on my account and always report errors right away. We are fortunate to have access to the Neptune Lounge and they always sort things out right away. 

 

Across the board, the front desk/guest services department is either the least helpful one. It is totally mind boggling as the crew everywhere are so accommodating and then when you get to the front desk they either lack the authority or ability or willingness to fix your issue. Even the managers seem to be unable to help. This has been going on for years and across every ship I have ever gone to the front desk. 

 

Now, all that being said - we love HAL. They are our favorite cruise line. The sailing we did in August was the best cruise we have ever done - despite all the changes and restrictions. 

 

They have added a number of EXC talks to their cruises - these were all 30-40 minute presentations on various topics (such as the Iditarod trail, pioneering women of Alaska, 150 year history of HAL, whales, etc). These were absolutely fantastic! They also have added the Music Walk to most of their ships. Depending on your taste in music these are great. BB King's was very popular and played a nice selection of mostly 50s-70s. Very full every night with lots of folks out on the dance floor dancing. 

 

The Lido is great - really nice selection and great food. The MDR menus are more limited than they once were (I forgive this due to the supply chain issues, we will see what happens as time goes on). The food in the MDR was still good though & there was still chicken, fish & steak available nightly. Also the specialty dining venues are all very good. 

 

It is important to remember that HAL is a pretty traditional cruise. There are no waterslides, ice skating rinks, go cart tracks, etc. The passenger ages skew older. The night life is limited. Many of the negative reviews I have read are people who never should have been on HAL in the first place and would have been much happier somewhere else. We hated Carnival and NCL but there was nothing wrong with the brands, it was just not the right cruise line for us & there is nothing wrong with that! 

 

If you have some time there is a link to my live from thread that I did on the Nieuw Amsterdam in August. I posted a lot of detail including daily programs and menus & meal pictures. Otherwise feel free to ask us any of your questions.

 

[NCTribeFan]

It's been my experience that every cruise line I've sailed (Carnival, RCI, HAL, NCL, MSC) has the same issues regarding lack of consistency.  And the same issues re: accounting.

 

Maybe there out people out there that have sailed the same line 30, 40, 50 or more times and had perfect consistency every time and never, ever had a single billing error.  Good for them.  Or maybe they just weren't paying attention. 😉

 

I suspect HAL's onboard accounting issues may have something to do with the fact that they offer various discounts to pax based on their loyalty status.  That has to complicate things, although one would think that when the folio number is entered for a transaction, the system would correctly apply any discount.  Sounds like it's the software, not HAL employees, that are responsible for the errors.  But, yes, perhaps HAL corporate should put a bit more pressure on the IT people to make sure the software works properly.

[IPB4IGO]

10 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

But, yes, perhaps HAL corporate should put a bit more pressure on the IT people to make sure the software works properly.

Oh, that always works! <g>

[zgscl]

16 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

But, yes, perhaps HAL corporate should put a bit more pressure on the IT people to make sure the software works properly.

 

I think they should send their IT the same way as I think they should send the director of entertainment. I booked and later had to cancel a Celebrity cruise and their website runs circles around HAL's. You can change cabins (even different categories) online, and even cancel online. It is 2021 HAL really should catch up. 

[leerathje]

44 minutes ago, zgscl said:

 

I think they should send their IT the same way as I think they should send the director of entertainment. I booked and later had to cancel a Celebrity cruise and their website runs circles around HAL's. You can change cabins (even different categories) online, and even cancel online. It is 2021 HAL really should catch up. 

 

My TA does all that for me.

 

L.