First Time Cruiser: Questions About Alaskan Cruise on Koningsdam

[Colorado Klutch]

Greetings, everyone.

I just booked an Alaska cruise on HAL Koningsdam for 6-13 May, 2023. I was active duty US Navy when I was young. I've been underway aboard Aircraft Carriers, Cruisers, Destroyers, a Command and Control ship and a Battleship. I've never been on a cruise ship and I have a few questions.

I looked around in the First Time Cruisers area and didn't see what I was looking for. I hope you don't mind me posting here. I didn't book through a travel agent. (I asked some friends and nobody could recommend a good travel agent. I sent multiple emails to a travel agent I saw on YouTube, but never received a reply.)

- Does HAL offer a non-alcohol drink package? I'm confused about this. I tend to have only an occasional beer and lots of coffee. But I like GOOD coffee with real cream. Mrs. Klutch likes to have a diet soda with meals. Is there a HAL drink package which might be good for us?

 

- Does HAL have formal nights? I can't seem to nail this down. I'm happy to wear to a tie and jacket to dinner, but Mrs. Klutch will NOT wear a cocktail dress. She is fine with wearing a nice, long-sleeved or short-sleeved dress. Will this be a problem for us? 

- Apparently, this board has a "Roll Call" for people booked on the same cruise. I searched in the Roll Call area, but nothing came up. Does this simply mean nobody else on my cruise has created a Roll Call on this web site? Maybe I didn't search correctly?

Thanks! 

Edited January 4, 2023 by Colorado Klutch

[REOVA]

8 minutes ago, Colorado Klutch said:

- Does HAL offer a non-alcohol drink package? I'm confused about this. I tend to have only an occasional beer and lots of coffee. But I like GOOD coffee with real cream. Mrs. Klutch likes to have a diet soda with meals. Is there a HAL drink package which might be good for us?

HALs HIA package usually include a beverage package that includes non alcohol drinks, coffee, milkshakes, water. If not HIA you should be able to buy a beverage package separately. Usually both passengers have to purchase one. Have to check what's included in HIA and itemize cost difference. It may be cheaper with HIA and you may find yourself trying different beers (although 11 drinks of anything is hard to do each day but like to experiment and my DW doesnt drink much alcohol). 

8 minutes ago, Colorado Klutch said:

 

- Does HAL have formal nights? I can't seem to nail this down. I'm happy to wear to a tie and jacket to dinner, but Mrs. Klutch will NOT wear a cocktail dress. She is fine with wearing a nice, long-sleeved or short-sleeved dress. Will this be a problem for us? 

Formal nights are now called "dressy" nights which passengers can dress full tux (with cummerbund) and gown, down to nice slacks and button down shirt. No shorts or t shirts in MDR but you will see it in other areas of the ships. 

8 minutes ago, Colorado Klutch said:

- Apparently, this board has a "Roll Call" for people booked on the same cruise. I searched in the Roll Call area, but nothing came up. Does this simply mean nobody else on my cruise has created a Roll Call on this web site? Maybe I didn't search correctly?

Maybe no one has set one up and you can start one. There is one for May 13 (after yours) but haven't read if anyone is on both in that thread.

 

And thank you for your service. Our neighbors were retired Navy and could not understand what the attraction of being on a cruise ship was. We never could get them onboard. 

[Colorado Klutch]

^^ Thank you for your reply. It was an honor to serve. Yeah, it's going to be strange being underway without having to work constantly then trying to sleep a few hours among thundering chaos. 😄

The HAL web site has a "7 Day Quench Beverage Package". I says it includes beverages in the Explorations Cafe, but it doesn't list the Dutch Cafe. The price is $148.26 for seven days which seems OK, but I can't figure out if that's for one person or two. I'm afraid if I click the "Buy" button, it will double the price and add it to my booking. 

I'm surprised at how expensive the Signature restaurants are. Sheesh, I didn't expect to pay an extra $100 for dinner for two. Welcome to 2023, I guess. 

Edited January 4, 2023 by Colorado Klutch

[RuthC]

Unless you are going to have a lot of drinks over the course of the cruise, it may be financially advantageous to just pay by the drink. 
Just do a reasonable estimate of what you will drink, figure the price, and compare before you lay your money down. 

[Colorado Klutch]

1 hour ago, RuthC said:

Unless you are going to have a lot of drinks over the course of the cruise, it may be financially advantageous to just pay by the drink. 
Just do a reasonable estimate of what you will drink, figure the price, and compare before you lay your money down. 

 

Is there a way to determine the price per drink? I'm not finding any drink menus on the HAL web site, but it is a pretty lackluster web site. (I'm an IT Professional, so maybe I'm just a web snob.)

[Cruise Suzy]

2 minutes ago, Colorado Klutch said:

Is there a way to determine the price per drink?

 

Here's a great Website for beverage and dining menus.

 

https://rogerjett-photography.com/

 

 

[Colorado Klutch]

7 minutes ago, Cruise Suzy said:

 

Here's a great Website for beverage and dining menus.

 

https://rogerjett-photography.com/

 

 

 

Very spiffy! Thanks so much for sharing this. 

 

The Quench Beverage package works out to $18.50 a day. Likely I'd have to get a lot of drinks every day just to break even. 

[jimbob22]

FWIW, on Rotterdam last week they had a half price happy hour every day from 4 to 5pm.  But there's no way to be certain your cruise will have this.  We're not big drinkers, but took advantage of that two or three times.

 

For coffee, blasphemous as it may be, I'd consider bringing a bunch of starbux via packets.  Those are not much over a buck each.  Hal does have milk and half and half, but the complimentary coffee is very weak (some love it, but there can be no denying that it's very weak, at least on Rotterdam).

[adoris]

Check and see if your cruise is eligible for the Military Appreciation Offer ($100 on board credit)

[SuzWillCruise]

If the quench package doesn’t work out for you, you could maybe bring some pre-ground coffee and an Aeropress. Have hot water and cream/ half & half delivered to your cabin in the mornings, and access it from the Lido deck the rest of the day.

 

We haven’t sailed with HAL yet, and I’m contemplating bringing my Aeropress even though we have the beverage package through Have It All. I’m worried about lines for the fancy coffee - I need coffee in my system to have patience for lines!

 

 I’m just not sure if it’s a bad idea to take ground coffee in my checked luggage - would that be flagged as something suspicious that would get opened?

[Colorado Klutch]

2 hours ago, SuzWillCruise said:

If the quench package doesn’t work out for you, you could maybe bring some pre-ground coffee and an Aeropress. Have hot water and cream/ half & half delivered to your cabin in the mornings, and access it from the Lido deck the rest of the day.

 

We haven’t sailed with HAL yet, and I’m contemplating bringing my Aeropress even though we have the beverage package through Have It All. I’m worried about lines for the fancy coffee - I need coffee in my system to have patience for lines!

 

 I’m just not sure if it’s a bad idea to take ground coffee in my checked luggage - would that be flagged as something suspicious that would get opened?

 

A lot of people buy coffee when they travel. I would think TSA and other airport security personnel and pretty used to it. 

[Colorado Klutch]

9 hours ago, adoris said:

Check and see if your cruise is eligible for the Military Appreciation Offer ($100 on board credit)

 

 

Thank you. Unfortunately it looks like that offer has expired. Likely it was for active duty personnel. My status is "Veteran". 

[Seasick Sailor]

2 minutes ago, Colorado Klutch said:

 

 

Thank you. Unfortunately it looks like that offer has expired. Likely it was for active duty personnel. My status is "Veteran". 

 

We get our $100 credit. Retired since 85...

[jimbob22]

2 hours ago, SuzWillCruise said:

If the quench package doesn’t work out for you, you could maybe bring some pre-ground coffee and an Aeropress. Have hot water and cream/ half & half delivered to your cabin in the mornings, and access it from the Lido deck the rest of the day.

 

We haven’t sailed with HAL yet, and I’m contemplating bringing my Aeropress even though we have the beverage package through Have It All. I’m worried about lines for the fancy coffee - I need coffee in my system to have patience for lines!

 

 I’m just not sure if it’s a bad idea to take ground coffee in my checked luggage - would that be flagged as something suspicious that would get opened?

if going that route, I'd probably bring a small, travel sized electric kettle.  I think relying on them to bring hot-enough water would not work so well.  Wife has brought a small kettle on prior cruises (we had a luggage weight limitation for the latest cruise and did not bring it).

 

But I think in general, there are multiple places to get your morning fix.  Note that our recent cruise seemed to run out of splenda around day 4 of 7.  I could have made a killing selling those had I anticipated...

[Colorado Klutch]

Seems I'm not the only one who really appreciates a good cup of coffee. 😃

I think I will try the complimentary coffee. If it doesn't make muster, I'll cough up for two or three better coffees per day. I don't mind.  

[Colorado Klutch]

1 hour ago, Seasick Sailor said:

 

We get our $100 credit. Retired since 85...

 

I will call HAL and ask about a Veteran credit. I have a few other questions as well. I expect I will get some serious upsell pressure, but I can handle it. 

Edited January 4, 2023 by Colorado Klutch

[adoris]

7 minutes ago, Colorado Klutch said:

 

I will call HAL and ask about a Veteran credit. I have a few other questions as well. I expect I will get some serious upsell pressure, but I can handle it. 

CK do phone and enquire about the Military Appreciation.  I am a Canadian military member retired since 2016 and am receiving the $100 OBC.

[vicd1969]

Best coffee is at the Grand Dutch Cafe on deck 3 and the Explorations Cafe on deck 12. Don't get coffee at the bars in the lido - you have to pay as well but the quality isn't as good. (I'm not referring to the free coffee in the dispensers). Given the $18.50 per day, you're ahead if you get 2 cappuccinos and 2 mocktails each day.

Edited January 4, 2023 by vicd1969

[Colorado Klutch]

3 minutes ago, vicd1969 said:

Best coffee is at the Grand Dutch Cafe on deck 3 and the Explorations Cafe on deck 12. Don't get coffee at the bars in the lido - you have to pay as well but the quality isn't as good. (I'm not referring to the free coffee in the dispensers). Given the $18.50 per day, you're ahead if you get 2 cappuccinos and 2 mocktails each day.

 

Good to know. Thanks!

[Colorado Klutch]

Does HAL allow guests to tour the bridge and engineering spaces? (Yeah, I'm a nerd.)

[REOVA]

6 minutes ago, Colorado Klutch said:

Does HAL allow guests to tour the bridge and engineering spaces? (Yeah, I'm a nerd.)

They will do a virtual tour in the World Stage on the big screen. COVID has put a cabash on crowded spaces (except bars, world stage, casino 🤪). 

[Colorado Klutch]

46 minutes ago, REOVA said:

They will do a virtual tour in the World Stage on the big screen. COVID has put a cabash on crowded spaces (except bars, world stage, casino 🤪). 

 

I sense some irony here...

[fsdj1097]

I think the best drip coffee onboard HAL is the Rotterdam 1873 drip coffee in the Grand Dutch Cafe.  And, the Heineken, on tap, is a good beer.  

Edited January 4, 2023 by fsdj1097

[friendswithdave]

We sailed to AK on the Koningsdam last year. I don't drink coffee but wife has always said the coffee is good but strong. She drinks both the free coffee and gets a few fancy coffees each day. Fancy coffees are a max of $4 plus 18% tip. Most are closer to $3 plus tip. Grand Dutch Cafe is a hidden treasure. Rarely crowded and usually great snacks and drink.

 

I would definitely recommend not getting the drinks package. You will need more than 4 drinks a day, every day, too make it worthwhile. Remember you will have a few port days. 

 

Dressy nights have gotten less dressy over the last five years. Your wife will be fine in whatever she wears on dressy night. With slacks and a button shirt, you will be too.

 

Roll call will likely eventually form. Just check back every few weeks.

Welcome to cruising! Don't sweat the small stuff.

[Seasick Sailor]

We are currently starting week 4 of 6 on Rotterdam. I go to the New York Deli in the morning and they have espresso machines. I get my cappacino and it's just as good as Dutch Cafe. You get the little buzzer thing and settle in while your bagel is toasting and coffee is brewing. 😉