Kate45

[Kate45]

Going on the Zaandam in September. Haven't cruise on HAL since before covid (haven't been anywhere since before covid). A few questions: how much is a cab from Boston cruiseport to Logan Airport? HAL transfers seem pricey and since there are 4 of us, I can't help but think it's gotta be cheaper. Also, how much is a coors lite on board? We are contemplating the signature beverage pkg but it is a port intensive itinerary so thinking we won't get our $$ worth. We are also Canadian so add at least 35% exchange onto everything we do on board. Is the Cafe free.  If I remember  correctly, the pastries are but the coffees are not. Can we bring an empty plastic waterbottle onboard? I have read what seems to be conflicting answers about this.

 i find this site so helpful so i hope you dont get sick of me asking questions cause i know I'll be back with more. Thanks.

[Crew News]

1 hour ago, Kate45 said:

Going on the Zaandam in September. Haven't cruise on HAL since before covid (haven't been anywhere since before covid). A few questions: how much is a cab from Boston cruiseport to Logan Airport? HAL transfers seem pricey and since there are 4 of us, I can't help but think it's gotta be cheaper. Also, how much is a coors lite on board? We are contemplating the signature beverage pkg but it is a port intensive itinerary so thinking we won't get our $$ worth. We are also Canadian so add at least 35% exchange onto everything we do on board. Is the Cafe free.  If I remember  correctly, the pastries are but the coffees are not. Can we bring an empty plastic waterbottle onboard? I have read what seems to be conflicting answers about this.

 i find this site so helpful so i hope you dont get sick of me asking questions cause i know I'll be back with more. Thanks.

Here is the current bar menu:  Bar Menu

 

Pastries free but coffee not free at the Explorations Cafe.

 

Empty plastic bottles are allowed.

 

Can you get four people with luggage in a single taxi?

 

Feel free to ask lots of questions to help in your planning.

Edited February 7, 2023 by Crew News

[Real NHDOC]

Taxi from Logan to the cruiseport should run about $25.  You could also do Uber for about $20.  Beers usually run around $7.00-$7.50 onboard.  Never been on Zandaam but none of the ships include premium coffees unless you have a beverage package but they aren't that expensive (a few $).  I have never heard of them not allowing an empty water bottle - in fact they sell water bottles onboard in the shops. 

[trixiee]

I would recommend pre-paying and pre-buying a beverage card.  I bought one for myself, and between happy hour and a glass of wine with dinner, I was good.  Probably spent about $15-20/day on average on the card  (I'm a wine snob).  I brought a contigo water container on board.  Just filled it with ice from the ice bucket and water from the tap.

[Kate45]

Thank you everyone! Look for me to ask more questions as we get closer to our sailing. I'm so excited....can't wait until September 

[Catlover54]

If you plan to put 4 people and their luggage into one Uber car, unless everyone is traveling very light, be sure and order an Uber XL category vehicle (bigger, so a little more money), so you have enough room for everyone and all their stuff.  Quite a few regular Uber cars are very small and/or don't have totally empty luggage comparments because the car owners already have some stuff in them.

 

I hope you have a wonderful trip!

[doone]

 I like to bring an insulated mug with me so i can get a nice, big coffee for breakfast so it stays hot!!!!

[Kate45]

Won't use Uber only a taxis. Surely they have larger vehicles that can hold 4 and their luggage. Willing to pay more and wait longer for say, an SUV. It's cheaper for us to split up and take 2 cabs than pay what HAL wants for a taxi. 

 As far a the prepaid beverage card, if I purchase now, I'm assuming it will be refunded if we cancel. Can you purchase these right up to departure? Is it actually a card? How do you get it- in your cabin when you get there or given at check-in maybe

 Bear with me people. Not ne to cruising, but relatively new to HAL.

 

 

[trixiee]

2 minutes ago, Kate45 said:

Won't use Uber only a taxis. Surely they have larger vehicles that can hold 4 and their luggage. Willing to pay more and wait longer for say, an SUV. It's cheaper for us to split up and take 2 cabs than pay what HAL wants for a taxi. 

 As far a the prepaid beverage card, if I purchase now, I'm assuming it will be refunded if we cancel. Can you purchase these right up to departure? Is it actually a card? How do you get it- in your cabin when you get there or given at check-in maybe

 Bear with me people. Not ne to cruising, but relatively new to HAL.

 

 

You can ask for a taxi van

You can purchase the bev card (yes, it's an actual card) up until 3 days before you cruise and it will be refunded if you cancel.

You will find it in your cabin upon embarkation.

[Real NHDOC]

I don't see any advantage to buying a beverage card.  They charge you up front and if you don't use the amount of the card you essentially lose it (I am not sure if it is usable on a future cruise or not).  From what I have been able to glean they don't give you any discount on drinks by using the card, so why not just put drinks on your cabin account and pay at the end?  Makes no sense to me.  The only reason I can see for having one is if you get one for free (some TA's give them as gifts) in which case, OK, it's free.  But the risk of leaving money on them (or losing the card) seems to be reason enough to avoid buying one.

[disneyochem]

5 minutes ago, Kate45 said:

Won't use Uber only a taxis. Surely they have larger vehicles that can hold 4 and their luggage. Willing to pay more and wait longer for say, an SUV. It's cheaper for us to split up and take 2 cabs than pay what HAL wants for a taxi. 

 As far a the prepaid beverage card, if I purchase now, I'm assuming it will be refunded if we cancel. Can you purchase these right up to departure? Is it actually a card? How do you get it- in your cabin when you get there or given at check-in maybe

 Bear with me people. Not ne to cruising, but relatively new to HAL.

 

 

Our beverage cards were waiting for us in our cabin.  You hand the card to staff to purchase your beverage and then receive a receipt showing you how much you have left on the card.

 

Any left over amount was credited back to our credit card after the cruise.

[Real NHDOC]

Again, I must ask, why would anyone buy a beverage card?  Even if the unused balance were refundable why not just charge drinks to your room?  Just seems like more effort to carry two cards with you (key and beverage) and offers no real advantage.   Plus, what happens if you happen to lose the card?  Or if the server forgets to give it back to you and you forget to ask for it?  It's basically gone, right?

Edited February 8, 2023 by Real NHDOC

[Btimmer]

6 hours ago, Real NHDOC said:

Again, I must ask, why would anyone buy a beverage card?  Even if the unused balance were refundable why not just charge drinks to your room?  Just seems like more effort to carry two cards with you (key and beverage) and offers no real advantage.   Plus, what happens if you happen to lose the card?  Or if the server forgets to give it back to you and you forget to ask for it?  It's basically gone, right?

We use beverage cards as I don't like keeping track of all of the small charges on the room bill.  For the last 5 or so cruises, it's been a challenge keeping the room & shore excursions & restaurant charges correct.

 

Lost beverage cards can be replaced (personal experience).

Edited February 8, 2023 by Btimmer

[Real NHDOC]

I got in the habit of just checking the charges on either the Navigator or the TV in the room each day.  If I saw a discrepancy I would just send a note to guest services through the app and it would be corrected within a day.  Not really an overwhelming task unless you wait until the last day.  The drink charges were rarely the problem we had.  Most of it was trying to figure out what the excursion department was doing.   The specialty restaurants would sometimes "forget" to give us our mariner's discount (as would the beverage department when we bought wine packages) but I honestly can only remember one time being charged for a drink we didn't order in a bar on the ship.

 

If that's the only reason to get the card I don't see the need but to each his own. 

Edited February 8, 2023 by Real NHDOC

[disneyochem]

7 hours ago, Real NHDOC said:

Again, I must ask, why would anyone buy a beverage card?  Even if the unused balance were refundable why not just charge drinks to your room?  Just seems like more effort to carry two cards with you (key and beverage) and offers no real advantage.   Plus, what happens if you happen to lose the card?  Or if the server forgets to give it back to you and you forget to ask for it?  It's basically gone, right?

We like keeping track of our spending on board.  We play in the casino, buy drinks, eat at specialty dining, etc.  It helps us with budgeting for onboard spending on a cruise.  We pay for as much as possible before the cruise--crew tipping, dinners, etc.  We travel a lot on a number of different cruise lines (currently have 9 more  cruises this year and 10 for next year) so it helps us.

 

We've also traveled with minors--it was nice to purchase a nonalcoholic beverage card for them and hold them accountable for their spending.

 

And, yes, we check out daily spending on the TV/Navigator as well.

 

As stated earlier, everyone is different.  This works for us.  

[trixiee]

51 minutes ago, Real NHDOC said:

I got in the habit of just checking the charges on either the Navigator or the TV in the room each day.  If I saw a discrepancy I would just send a note to guest services through the app and it would be corrected within a day.  Not really an overwhelming task unless you wait until the last day.  The drink charges were rarely the problem we had.  Most of it was trying to figure out what the excursion department was doing.   The specialty restaurants would sometimes "forget" to give us our mariner's discount (as would the beverage department when we bought wine packages) but I honestly can only remember one time being charged for a drink we didn't order in a bar on the ship.

 

If that's the only reason to get the card I don't see the need but to each his own. 

If you’re from Canada, and paying 30% more per drink, it often makes sense to purchase the  beverage card when the exchange rates are better.  Also, if you’re budgeting for your drinks, this is an easy way to do it.  It absolutely takes the stress away from worrying about your end of cruise statement.  I did pretty well - I had about $2.90 left on my card which was credited to my account.

Of course, we’re all different and you might not agree, but it worked especially well for me.

[doone]

11 hours ago, Real NHDOC said:

Again, I must ask, why would anyone buy a beverage card?  Even if the unused balance were refundable why not just charge drinks to your room?  Just seems like more effort to carry two cards with you (key and beverage) and offers no real advantage.   Plus, what happens if you happen to lose the card?  Or if the server forgets to give it back to you and you forget to ask for it?  It's basically gone, right?

For me its easier to budget…..you don’t lose anything buy purchasing them….I love them.