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What is your pet peeve(s) with Holland America ?

scubacruiserx2

By scubacruiserx2,
in Holland America Line

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Linaeve

Linaeve

Posted
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Mine is simply missing classical music in a place where people can dance. 

I feel concerned for the OP if they require drinking and eating food made with spring water. The ship isn't cooking with spring water and even the bottled water you purchase may or may not be spring water. It's far more likely to be purified water and the water that is available for free is also purified. Perhaps check with your doctors and see if they are ok with you having the filtered water provided by the ship drunk from your own reusable water bottle. 

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scubacruiserx2 Holiday Sharing Rare

scubacruiserx2

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23 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

Nice -- but speaking as a long-time choral singer, it's a travesty to play the "Hallelujah chorus" without the chorus!

 

 

Agreed , but we missed Paul singing Yesterday on the ship also !

When we saw Paul , Linda and Wings in concert I heard it live but DW was in the Ladies room when they sang it . Her favorite Paul song . But we did get to sing in the stadium chorus backing them on Hey Jude .🙂😊

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electro Great Review Rare

electro

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2 hours ago, SeaCapt said:

I guess it must depend on your ship or itinerary.

We just got off 24 days aboard N. Statendam, so I looked through the daily programs again.

 

The rock band started their last set at either 11:15pm or 11:30pm each night, playing till after midnight.

 

BB King started their last set at 10:15pm, playing till 11pm, then a DJ came on till midnight or later if people were dancing.

 

Trivia was at 4:30pm, and they had a variety of arts and crafts, bridge, line dancing, wine tasting, mixology, outdoor sports, art sales, etc., all in the afternoon hours.

This was the Zaandam and b2b on NA. Only Ocean bar and Mix bar on Zaandam and both finished by 11. ON the NA, BB king and Billboards both done by 11, some nights 10, no music in Ocean bar.

There was one night that there was no live music at all. The had the guest comedian at BB king for a 40 min show and that was it. 

Trivia on both ships were between 6 and 8. I just look at current dailies from the Zaandam and trivia is still between 6 and 8. 

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Despegue

Despegue

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3 hours ago, Linaeve said:

 

This isn't true. When I cruised in 2009 it was 15 drinks total (alcoholic and non included in the total). Was the same in 2017. It's a big reason when my folks went in 2010 and 2017 they took a ton of soda with them (was allowed at the time) in addition to the drink package so they knew they had enough. Perhaps prior to 2009? Which doesn't feel like recent to me. 

With respect, although there was sometimes confusion by some crew, until the Pandemic, the official procedure was that 15 drinks was 15 alcoholic beverages. There are loads of threads about this by the way, and official letters. Emails etc. And also our and many other guests. 

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kazu "Live from...." Rare

kazu

Posted
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there is nothing wrong with HAL’s water on their ships - nothing.

 

A lot of “much ado about nothing” IMO.  If you want bottled water, get it and if you are fine with HAL’s drink it but if you want bottled water, HAL sets the price just like they do for drinks so it’s the price of cruising.  I don’t gripe about it - I just go with the flow.

 

There are a lot more serious things to worry about in life than that.

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Catlover54 Great Review Rare

Catlover54

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On 8/8/2023 at 7:07 AM, cruisemom42 said:

 

The LCS quartet on Westerdam was amazing. Far higher calibre than any other musical offering, band or performer I've seen on any cruise ship. A man I met during one of the many performances I attended -- who is a lifelong classical pianist and performer -- agreed with me.

 

 

I am confused. I greatly enjoyed LCS on the few HAL cruises I have done, and the venue was always packed, standing room only.  Then I heard a few months ago HAL was eliminating LCS  and was disappointed, but was reassured somewhere on this forum that classical music would come back, but on the main stage.  Was the info that it was moving to the stage an  error, and classical music is actually being permanently eliminated?  Or are they simply in transition, such that now it isn't anywhere, but will be in the future?

 

It is not critical for me to have a classical music to enjoy a cruise, but it is a very nice option (I also seek out cruises on other lines with have a classical music theme, if available on an acceptable itinerary). 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

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cruisemom42 Great Review Rare

cruisemom42

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1 hour ago, Catlover54 said:

Then I heard a few months ago HAL was eliminating LCS  and was disappointed, but was reassured somewhere on this forum that classical music would come back, but on the main stage.  Was the info that it was moving to the stage an  error, and classical music is actually being permanently eliminated?  Or are they simply in transition, such that now it isn't anywhere, but will be in the future?

 

Good questions.

 

In their press release HAL said that, while the LCS current agreement was being terminated, they were working out a new agreement with Lincoln Center to have a "traveling ensemble" that would perform "on a rotating basis" in the main stage rather than in a smaller venue. They said this new incarnation should be up and running by "summer at the latest". 

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/blog/recent-articles/whats-new/holland-america-line-strengthens-commitment-to-the-best-live-music-at-sea/

 

Well, time has gone by. There has been no further announcement from HAL, but their website has been edited to suggest that LCS is only "on select cruises". A very few cruises have had a classical duo or performer but unclear whether this is tied to the LCS program in any way. Suffice to say that it hasn't been a burning issue for HAL to roll out a new program...

 

I suppose it will become clearer with time, but have my doubts whether the new program will be as rich (and as available) as the old one.

 

 

 

 

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bajae Holiday Sharing Rare

bajae

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22 hours ago, Despegue said:

One irritating thing is the complete confusion regarding the Signature Drink Package and its 15 drinks limit.

it has always heem 15 ALCOHOLIC drinks and unlimited non-alcoholic, but it seems that recently, Corporate has decided that it is 15 drinks total, which is completely ridiculous. ESPECIALLY knowing that Parent Carnival has the same package, Cheers!, onboard their Carnival ships, where for  around the same price, you have a limit of indeed 15 alcoholic drinks but UNLIMITED non-alcoholic, just as originally designed.

 

 

If you want 15 alcoholic drinks plus unlimited non-alcoholic get the elite package. The signature package works better for some people and is a small cost savings over the elite package. To me, HAL is being more accommodating by having a variety of drink packages. 

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2LoveBikes

2LoveBikes

Posted
Posted

Pet Peeve:  18% Gratuity for use of Thermal rooms only. (Def: "Given by customer for the service they have performed, in addition to the basic price of the service").

 

If I purchase a week in the thermal rooms (pool, sauna, towels etc) and they price it that way, why is there a separate gratuity charge?

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Djptcp

Djptcp

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I've been verified to receive the new AARP onboard credit. When I booked a new cruise last week I asked my PVP to make sure my $200 AARP onboard credit was in the booking. She said that benefit is not available to people who book cruises with a casino offer. I was pretty annoyed and verified that with another HAL agent today. I think that is a pretty raw deal. If it's in the AARP benefit description I didn't notice it.

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electro Great Review Rare

electro

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10 minutes ago, Djptcp said:

I've been verified to receive the new AARP onboard credit. When I booked a new cruise last week I asked my PVP to make sure my $200 AARP onboard credit was in the booking. She said that benefit is not available to people who book cruises with a casino offer. I was pretty annoyed and verified that with another HAL agent today. I think that is a pretty raw deal. If it's in the AARP benefit description I didn't notice it.

I have 2 cruises booked with casino offers and was told the same thing.

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wdw1972

wdw1972

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1 hour ago, electro said:

I have 2 cruises booked with casino offers and was told the same thing.

Makes sense - you don't get the shareholder credit with the really inexpensive casino offers either.  The freebie is the fare itself, so no more free obc on top of that.

 

Sue/WDW1972

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Mary229 "Live from...." Rare

Mary229

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2 hours ago, Djptcp said:

I've been verified to receive the new AARP onboard credit. When I booked a new cruise last week I asked my PVP to make sure my $200 AARP onboard credit was in the booking. She said that benefit is not available to people who book cruises with a casino offer. I was pretty annoyed and verified that with another HAL agent today. I think that is a pretty raw deal. If it's in the AARP benefit description I didn't notice it.

It is in the fine print and I am happy with my discount and don’t expect too much more 

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electro Great Review Rare

electro

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7 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

But I deserve more!!!🫢

never said I deserved anything. just passing on information. I asked, they said not eligible, no problem. 

To quote the Great One; "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" 

So I will always ask, the worst they can say is no.

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scubacruiserx2 Holiday Sharing Rare

scubacruiserx2

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 We mentioned in our first post that we like suites . Like many others in this thread we don't much care for chair hogs or people who hog the tables at mealtime playing cards . We have eliminated this by having our own sunning chairs and dinner table on our balcony . We also love the quite breakfasts at the Pinnacle ( except the Pinnace "class " ships which have none ) . Not our favorite ships . 

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FlaMariner Holiday Sharing Rare

FlaMariner

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6 hours ago, SeaCapt said:

They will- just apply here:

 

https://hollandamericagroup.pinpointhq.com/other-jobs?structure_custom_group_one_id=[1050]

 

LOL...that would not be "paying me to cruise"....that would be more like "chaos at sea"......I could see major dissatisfaction surveys after my first attempt at taking MDR orders.....and then of course, there is the tray full of plates that must be brought from the galley......CRASH. 

 

.....but if I could only get HAL to pay me to be a cruise passenger.......

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