Upgrade drink package?

[Taclin01]

Can we upgrade our drink package online? I read that there is a different drinks package that non alcoholic beverages don’t count towards the 15 drink max. Is this true? What is the price?

thanks! 

[fatcat04]

You can not upgrade the HIA to the Elite package online. You can however do it on ship. $10 per person per day + 18%gratuity charge. You have to make this upgrade BEFORE you order your first drink onboard. We just did it on NS last month at the Lido Bar as one of our first "chore" stops once we got onboard. It took a few minutes and our server calling the beverage manager. We got the distinct impression this is a very rare request. 

 

We did later at our servers suggestion go to the front desk to get new cabin cards made with Elite beverage package on them as our old ones had HIA on them and sometimes there was confusion about what package we had when handing our card to bar staff or servers. We got tired of having to say to servers in loud music venues that we had upgraded when we would order something NOT included on the HIA beverage pkg. Just easier to go to the front desk after the initial couple days madness or maybe at a really off time and get the card redone. 

Edited October 5, 2022 by fatcat04

[killsport]

@fatcat04 How were the wines on the ship? Did you find a real benefit from upgrading? What was the reason you did it (particular wine, alcohol, etc)?

[fatcat04]

We do like the expanded wine options but the main reason is dh is a whiskey drinker and the selection is considerably larger for those few extra $$'s, especially on ships with Notes.

But tbh actually utilizing Notes was a challenge as it rarely seems to have anyone tending it and is mainly used for overpriced whiskey tastings. Dh just wanted to try the selection. Dh often had to seek out someone to find the person with the keys to open the case to actually serve him a drink from Notes and was even told during Notes posted open hours that no one with the keys to the bar was available and too bad so sad. This was actually one of the more disappointing parts of our cruise as dh had very much looked forward to trying several of the options available through the Elite package. 

Edited October 6, 2022 by fatcat04

[keeponcruising]

Do both members in the cabin have to upgrade?  The person I am going with drinks mainly beer and occasional margarita.

[fatcat04]

From everything I have seen, yes, every adult in a cabin must purchase the same drink package. (There might be medical exceptions for those medically prohibited from drinking alcohol however.)

[keeponcruising]

Thank you.

[jkrelph]

I guess I'm missing seeing a Elite package offerings.... Does someone have that list?

 

Sorry, this is our first Holland America Cruise...  

 

Thank you!

[crystalspin]

37 minutes ago, jkrelph said:

I guess I'm missing seeing a Elite package offerings.... Does someone have that list?

https://rogerjett-photography.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Beverage-Packages-2021.pdf

 

Although the price difference is only $5/day bought independently, if you have Have-It-All with the included SBP, to upgrade to EBP will be $10+18% (11.80) per person per day. You must do the upgrade before either person has accepted/ordered a drink on ship. Talk to a bartender (not server) and that person may have to call their manager.

 

However, since any beverage over $11 (pre-service) on the SBP has to be paid for in total (not just the difference) the $11.80 is paid for by one drink/day/person. 

[Highway27]

Thanks for the information here about upgrading. We are sailing on the Rotterdam next month and are interested in the Freestyle fountain machine, but currently have the HIA Signature package, which doesn't include Freestyle. It seems like the only path to getting the Freestyle is upgrading to Elite, although it would be great if we could just buy one Coca-Cola package (since we'd also have Signature on both guests). Has anyone tried doing that?

[VMax1700]

1 hour ago, Highway27 said:

Thanks for the information here about upgrading. We are sailing on the Rotterdam next month and are interested in the Freestyle fountain machine, but currently have the HIA Signature package, which doesn't include Freestyle. It seems like the only path to getting the Freestyle is upgrading to Elite, although it would be great if we could just buy one Coca-Cola package (since we'd also have Signature on both guests). Has anyone tried doing that?

Wait until you are onboard before purchasing the Freestyle package as a lot of the time the machines are not functioning correctly or are out of order.

[crystalspin]

5 hours ago, Highway27 said:

It seems like the only path to getting the Freestyle is upgrading to Elite, although it would be great if we could just buy one Coca-Cola package (since we'd also have Signature on both guests). Has anyone tried doing that?

All Beverage Packages are required for all in a cabin (only exception is under 21 having non-alcoholic package when the parents have SBP or EBP). I am not impressed with the flavors produced by those all-in-one machines, either at shore-side establishments or on RCI (Rhapsody OTS) and you do get Soft drinks with SBP.