Random Questions

[cwd79]

Hi all,

We are cruising in about a week on the NS for 10 days. Some questions for this fine cruise community:

 

*The Have It All package includes the Shore Excursion credit, well what if all the shore excursions are sold out? And nothing becomes available on wait list? (We booked very last minute)  Do we lose the shore excursion credit, or does that get converted to OBC?

 

*Similar to the above, the two dinners we receive as part of the Have It All package... well we already booked a Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto and Tamarind before looking to upgrade. Will we get a credit back for two of those dinners since we already paid? Is that something I will need to get with guest services on once we are on the ship? 

 

*Doesn't appear you can use a gift card online to upgrade to the Have It All package, so I assume I will need to call the 800# to add and then I should be able to use the gift card?

 

*I have several cruises on courtesy hold for next year and 2024. The hold will expire in four days. I wasn't sure if it's a benefit to book those cruises on board or does it not matter? I know we can get the "Welcome Back" OBC after our cruise but wasn't sure if you get any perks if you book on board? Currently the three cruises on hold will include the "Have It All" and "Mariner Early Booking Bonus" perks. But not sure when those perks go away... Debating if I put the deposit down now before our cruise in a week or wait till we are on the cruise to book. Thoughts?

 

*We will be in an interior room midship 5th floor on the NS. Never stayed on a Holland America interior room. Only two of us and we know it will be small but main concern is motion sickness. We've only cruised mid ship but prior always had at least a balcony. I'm assuming we should be fine motion sickness wise since we are still mid ship? 

 

*We were given two beverage cards to use and of course won't really need them now that we'd be upgrading to the Have It All package, if we don't use those can those be converted to OBC or used on another cruise? 

 

Appreciate any answers and guidance. Very excited about our cruise and being on a ship we haven't been on before. 

[kazu]

56 minutes ago, cwd79 said:

Hi all,

We are cruising in about a week on the NS for 10 days. Some questions for this fine cruise community:

 

*The Have It All package includes the Shore Excursion credit, well what if all the shore excursions are sold out? And nothing becomes available on wait list? (We booked very last minute)  Do we lose the shore excursion credit, or does that get converted to OBC?

 

You will lose it.  You don’t have to wait until you are on board to book the shore excursions - the Have it all credit works before the cruise no problem.

 

56 minutes ago, cwd79 said:

 

*Similar to the above, the two dinners we receive as part of the Have It All package... well we already booked a Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto and Tamarind before looking to upgrade. Will we get a credit back for two of those dinners since we already paid? Is that something I will need to get with guest services on once we are on the ship? 

 

Just book the same times and dates (or close enough) with your Have It All and then cancel the previous dinners you booked.  Your credit card will be refunded.  Again this can be done before the cruise.

 

56 minutes ago, cwd79 said:

 

*Doesn't appear you can use a gift card online to upgrade to the Have It All package, so I assume I will need to call the 800# to add and then I should be able to use the gift card?

 

I’ve seen some reports you can’t use gift cards to purchase HIA.  Best bet is to call and ask.

 

56 minutes ago, cwd79 said:

 

*We will be in an interior room midship 5th floor on the NS. Never stayed on a Holland America interior room. Only two of us and we know it will be small but main concern is motion sickness. We've only cruised mid ship but prior always had at least a balcony. I'm assuming we should be fine motion sickness wise since we are still mid ship? 

 

You should be fine mid ship - especially if your location is lower.

 

56 minutes ago, cwd79 said:

 

*We were given two beverage cards to use and of course won't really need them now that we'd be upgrading to the Have It All package, if we don't use those can those be converted to OBC or used on another cruise? 

 

You can use those beverage cards to purchase more expensive drinks not covered by HIA or less expensive drinks (like water, etc) if your total drinks will exceed 15.  If you purchase the beverage cards they are refundable.  If they are gifted (ie from a TA) they are often non refundable and will not be converted into OBC - terms should be available in your correspondence from your TA or whomever gifted them.  Anything from HAL is non refundable.

 

[Cruise Suzy]

1 hour ago, cwd79 said:

We were given two beverage cards to use and of course won't really need them now that we'd be upgrading to the Have It All package, if we don't use those can those be converted to OBC or used on another cruise?

In addition to @kazu's suggestion, they can be used to purchase a bottle of wine in the MDR to be taken to your stateroom. Pre-COVID any balance on the beverage cards from our TA was applied to our onboard account. Since the restart, the cards have wording on them that any balance expires with the cruise and is forfeited.

[Cruise Suzy]

1 hour ago, cwd79 said:

I have several cruises on courtesy hold for next year and 2024. The hold will expire in four days. I wasn't sure if it's a benefit to book those cruises on board or does it not matter? I know we can get the "Welcome Back" OBC after our cruise but wasn't sure if you get any perks if you book on board? Currently the three cruises on hold will include the "Have It All" and "Mariner Early Booking Bonus" perks. But not sure when those perks go away... Debating if I put the deposit down now before our cruise in a week or wait till we are on the cruise to book. Thoughts?

 

The Welcome Back and the Mariner Early Booking Bonus perks can't be combined with other offers. The expiration date for the Welcome Back depends on when your cruise ended - should have been stated in the e-mail you received. The Mariner offer expires 90 days after a cruise is introduced. For the 2023/2024 Caribbean cruises the e-mail stated the expiration date is November 24. The current additions to the HIA fare (Crew Appreciation and OBC) expire September 30. When booking onboard, you will get OBC based on length of cruise and cabin choice.

[cwd79]

3 minutes ago, Cruise Suzy said:

 

The Welcome Back and the Mariner Early Booking Bonus perks can't be combined with other offers. The expiration date for the Welcome Back depends on when your cruise ended - should have been stated in the e-mail you received. The Mariner offer expires 90 days after a cruise is introduced. For the 2023/2024 Caribbean cruises the e-mail stated the expiration date is November 24. The current additions to the HIA fare (Crew Appreciation and OBC) expire September 30. When booking onboard, you will get OBC based on length of cruise and cabin choice.

Thanks for the info. So to make sure my brain is understanding this 🙂 I should wait to book these cruises until I am on board next week because I will get the HIA and the Mariner Early Booking Bonus as well as additional OBC based on length of cruise and cabin choice? 

[REOVA]

25 minutes ago, cwd79 said:

Thanks for the info. So to make sure my brain is understanding this 🙂 I should wait to book these cruises until I am on board next week because I will get the HIA and the Mariner Early Booking Bonus as well as additional OBC based on length of cruise and cabin choice? 

You really have to look at what each offers. The benefit of booking on board is usually lower deposit and possibly cabin selection (but not always) on popular itineraries.  I found the OBC was minimal (Like $100 for short cruise) and depends on length of cruise. HIA promos seem to change with specific promotions (some with wifi, some with crew appreciation, etc) so you have to watch which is better for you. I don't know that you will necessary get early booking on some cruising booked online. 

[willoL]

2 hours ago, cwd79 said:

We are cruising in about a week on the NS for 10 days. ...

*We will be in an interior room midship 5th floor on the NS. Never stayed on a Holland America interior room. ..main concern is motion sickness. We've only cruised mid ship but prior always had at least a balcony...

Personal experiences will vary, but my teens shared an interior stateroom on Deck 4 (closer to aft) on our recent Nieuw Statendam cruise, and the one who is very prone to motion sickness did just fine for all of our 24 days aboard.

 

We only had a couple of rough days, even though we were in the north Atlantic, and he did take meclizine (Bonine/Dramamine II) when the captain announced the weather issues were coming, but the inside stateroom did not seem to make his situation worse.

 

Of course, my kid spent time in our cabin (with balcony) and on public decks as well as in his own stateroom during the rough seas, so it's hard to say how much viewing the horizon mattered, but I asked how he was faring, and he said it was no problem. This is a kid who was sick enough to vomit on a previous cruise to Alaska as we crossed open water, just so you know his overall level of sensitivity. I always carry a large Tupperware (with lid) on road trips with him because he will throw up more often than not, though that's improved a little now that he's older, mostly because he can tell us sooner that he needs to pull over.

 

We also didn't see bad weather until well into our long voyage, so he'd had some time to acclimate and gain his sea legs. Our family also uses ginger capsules for the first few days we are at sea, at least, figuring it can't hurt and might help. A few people get heartburn from ginger, so test this for yourself before you sail if it's a new supplement for you.

[JCrewz]

Hello gang.  I have some general questions too and was hoping to hear from the famous KAZU and DAVE OKC....the most trusted names in cruising.  Any other members would be great to hear from as well.

 

A lot I can look up on other threads, so I welcome the input of those reminding me that some of this has been asked and answered.  I haven't cruised since 2015 but got some casino offers too good to pass up.  I'm going to be on the Westerdam this Sunday with my sparkling wife.

 

My ability to research and remember has been hampered by a stroke last November followed by open heart surgery in late April (after we booked this cruise).  I move around these days like the butler from the movie Arthur, slow but under my own power.

 

We were assigned a Group B boarding at 12:20 pm for our 3 pm departure.  The less crowd for me the better.  Does Holland allow earlier embarkations for a fee?

 

We have the promise that our $200.00 each deposit will become OBC once we step foot on the ship.  Are there any limitations on the credit? (Casino, crew appreciation, etc.)

 

I was going to use some of our OBC to buy my wife an Internet package.  The best offered is $109.00.  Can't use OBC presumably until we board.  Is the 7-day package more expensive once we embark?

 

we have a VH Guarantee.  I saw that Dave OKC got an assigned room about 3 weeks before his latest cruise.  We still have not been assigned 6 days out.  What's the latest anyone has waited for an assignment to be made before sailing?

 

I did call to check for paid upgrades and was offered a Signature Suite for $399.00 pp and a Neptune Suite for $899.00 pp.  Not the bargain pricing others have reported, so we are going to pass.  Do the offers sometimes improve closer to sailing?  If so, is it better to call the paid upgrade number to check or wait for an offer by email?

 

Can't tell you all enough what a valuable tool Cruise Critic is.  I appreciate all of the well informed regular contributors.  Happy cruising!

[Cruise Suzy]

38 minutes ago, JCrewz said:

I was going to use some of our OBC to buy my wife an Internet package.  The best offered is $109.00.  Can't use OBC presumably until we board.  Is the 7-day package more expensive once we embark?

 

Only the Premium Internet package is available to pre-book, but you cannot use OBC to do it. It is discounted. The Social and Surf Internet packages can only be purchased onboard. Here is the current price list

 

42 minutes ago, JCrewz said:

We were assigned a Group B boarding at 12:20 pm for our 3 pm departure.  The less crowd for me the better.  Does Holland allow earlier embarkations for a fee?

 

Many passengers will go to the terminal when they have to check out of their hotel. Boarding times are USUALLY not strictly enforced. HAL does not offer earlier boarding for a fee.  Some passengers like to board after the rush is over due to shorter lines.

 

[tensixmom]

Rather than starting yet another thread, I wondered if I may tag on to this one?

 

I paid for our first ever HAL cruise using gift cards.  I had enough left over on the last card to cover the cost for the pre-paid grats; however, it doesn't seem I can pay for that using a gift card.  How can I use the last $216 on that card?

 

And,

 

Is there a way to see on my booking that I have the Have it All package included?  I don't see anywhere that it says that.

 

Thank you!

[Seaside99]

Another and different question that I hope some of you experienced cruisers can answer. We are travelling this fall with a Have It All package. Understand the 15 drink limit for drinks at or under $11. Question is: If you purchase a Drink over the $11 limit do they charge the difference or do you have to pay the full amount and it doesn’t go against your daily 15 drink allowance.

Thanks and Happy Cruising 

[AFNavigator]

12 minutes ago, tensixmom said:

Rather than starting yet another thread, I wondered if I may tag on to this one?

 

I paid for our first ever HAL cruise using gift cards.  I had enough left over on the last card to cover the cost for the pre-paid grats; however, it doesn't seem I can pay for that using a gift card.  How can I use the last $216 on that card?

 

And,

 

Is there a way to see on my booking that I have the Have it All package included?  I don't see anywhere that it says that.

 

Thank you!

If this is a regular HAL gift card and you can't apply the gift card in advance for the pre-paid gratuities, you could apply it as onboard credit at the ship's service desk.  The HAL gift cards are treated as cash so you can just have them add it as onboard credit.  At the end of the cruise, they will deduct the "crew appreciation" fee (gratuties) from your remaining onboard credit.

[AFNavigator]

Just now, Seaside99 said:

Another and different question that I hope some of you experienced cruisers can answer. We are travelling this fall with a Have It All package. Understand the 15 drink limit for drinks at or under $11. Question is: If you purchase a Drink over the $11 limit do they charge the difference or do you have to pay the full amount and it doesn’t go against your daily 15 drink allowance.

Thanks and Happy Cruising 

Except for a few Alaska test cruises this summer where they only charged the cost difference, the $11 limit is firm.  Any drinks prices above $11 will be charged full price plus 18% gratuity.  Drinks you pay for should not count against your daily 15 drink allowance though.  If concerned about going over the 15 drink limit, some have said they bought a separate beverage card ($50 is lowest denomination, I think) and used that towards sodas/waters/coffees, leaving the SBP for the higher priced drinks.

[tensixmom]

8 minutes ago, AFNavigator said:

If this is a regular HAL gift card and you can't apply the gift card in advance for the pre-paid gratuities, you could apply it as onboard credit at the ship's service desk.  The HAL gift cards are treated as cash so you can just have them add it as onboard credit.  At the end of the cruise, they will deduct the "crew appreciation" fee (gratuties) from your remaining onboard credit.

Ah... OK thank you very much.  I wish they had allowed me to put the gratuities in my cart at the original time of purchase!!  Would have saved me a trip to the service desk upon boarding!

[Btimmer]

We just got off the NS in an aft interior Deck 6 stateroom for 24 days and it was wonderful.  We prefer the aft and we found it extremely stable with little vibration or noise.

 

We had an unused balance on a prepaid beverage card, and that they refunded to us on the last night.

 

I paid for the crew incentives and all the other costs using 4 gift cards I had purchased during the April, 2022 sale.  They were redeemed and applied to our account at the front desk.  I would comment that it took about 20 minutes to redeem them each visit (I did 2 visits).  It would seem that HAL could set up a way to scan the cards much like a regular credit card and apply it to the account.  Unfortunately their current method is entirely manual. The front desk personnel seemed very unsure about the redemption process.

 

[Mtn2Sea]

1 hour ago, tensixmom said:

Ah... OK thank you very much.  I wish they had allowed me to put the gratuities in my cart at the original time of purchase!!  Would have saved me a trip to the service desk upon boarding!

i would encourage you to wait a day or so prior to going to Guest Services to apply the gift card to your account.  Just got off the N. Statendam and I had to go to the front desk the first day on another issue and the line was very long and slow.  A couple of days later I went back to apply the balance of a card to my account.  The line was very short and only took about five minutes to get the card’s balance applied.

[Btimmer]

1 hour ago, Mtn2Sea said:

i would encourage you to wait a day or so prior to going to Guest Services to apply the gift card to your account.  Just got off the N. Statendam and I had to go to the front desk the first day on another issue and the line was very long and slow.  A couple of days later I went back to apply the balance of a card to my account.  The line was very short and only took about five minutes to get the card’s balance applied.

I totally concur with waiting a day or two before attempting the application of the gift card.  I was on that cruise and for the first 3ish days most of the front desk tasks were helping with Navigator APP issues.  I waited until mid cruise when there was no line. But it still took 20 minutes each time.

[tensixmom]

1 hour ago, Mtn2Sea said:

i would encourage you to wait a day or so prior to going to Guest Services to apply the gift card to your account.  Just got off the N. Statendam and I had to go to the front desk the first day on another issue and the line was very long and slow.  A couple of days later I went back to apply the balance of a card to my account.  The line was very short and only took about five minutes to get the card’s balance applied.

 

7 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

I totally concur with waiting a day or two before attempting the application of the gift card.  I was on that cruise and for the first 3ish days most of the front desk tasks were helping with Navigator APP issues.  I waited until mid cruise when there was no line. But it still took 20 minutes each time.

Thank you both so much!  

[Lido deck main]

I have HAL gift cards, I just bought onboard credit with them ahead of time at home.  Please note that if you have a small amount leftover I.e. less than five dollars (minimum amount you can buy OBC) bring the actual printed digital card with you to bring to customer service on the ship so they can add the small balance.  For instance after I purchased my OBC and I also did some shore excursions, I have $2.60 left on my card.  I have to bring the printed digital copy of the card which has the serial number of the card and pin.  I pre- purchased over $800.00 in OBC with HAL gifts cards.  

[vswan]

I recently returned from a casino cruise on the Westerdam to Alaska and had the $200 OBC pp to use. It will automatically be applied daily to the service charges, will not be applied to casino. I had free drinks in the casino, but DH did not. We are beer drinkers, watched for happy hours and bought beer for the cabin at half price during that time. It worked great and was taken from the OBC. We bought internet for a day - same OBC was applied. We did upgrade to a balcony at what I thought was a high price, but we wanted fresh air and were willing to pay it.

 

[Seaside99]

22 hours ago, AFNavigator said:

Except for a few Alaska test cruises this summer where they only charged the cost difference, the $11 limit is firm.  Any drinks prices above $11 will be charged full price plus 18% gratuity.  Drinks you pay for should not count against your daily 15 drink allowance though.  If concerned about going over the 15 drink limit, some have said they bought a separate beverage card ($50 is lowest denomination, I think) and used that towards sodas/waters/coffees, leaving the SBP for the higher priced drinks.

 

[Seaside99]

Thanks AFN: not the response I was hoping for😀. But, I do appreciate the info. I will just have to pay attention to the the menu costs to avoid a surprise at the end of our 23 day cruise.

again Many Thanks  

[brovol]

23 hours ago, AFNavigator said:

Except for a few Alaska test cruises this summer where they only charged the cost difference, the $11 limit is firm.  Any drinks prices above $11 will be charged full price plus 18% gratuity.  Drinks you pay for should not count against your daily 15 drink allowance though.  If concerned about going over the 15 drink limit, some have said they bought a separate beverage card ($50 is lowest denomination, I think) and used that towards sodas/waters/coffees, leaving the SBP for the higher priced drinks.

Wouldn't it be better in that case to purchase the higher level beverage package for the $5 per day increase, and then the $15 drinks are included?

[AFNavigator]

54 minutes ago, brovol said:

Wouldn't it be better in that case to purchase the higher level beverage package for the $5 per day increase, and then the $15 drinks are included?

I haven't seen a clear response on this forum on the cost to upgrade (I assume this is part of the HIA package) to the elite beverage package.  I think it may be more like $15 per day because the package was bought pre-cruise but the upgrade would be done onboard at full price.

[cwd79]

I had inquired about upgrading the HIA signature beverage package to Elite when I called yesterday and was told it cannot be done over the phone and must be done when you're on the ship. I'm not sure if that is accurate but guess we will find out next week once we board what the cost difference is to upgrade to the Elite.