New to HAL - Questions

[MHS4]

My most recent cruise was on Princess Coral last May. Thinking about giving Holland America a try -- most likely one of the 7day cruises in October this year.

 

1) A bed-time habit is a cup of hot chocolate/cocoa and a cookie (or something sweet) -- Room Service on Princess charged for this. Would there also be a charge on HAL?

 

2) The buffet was open 24hrs on Princess -- nice if one felt like a free cup of coffee mid-evening. I have the impression that HAL's buffet has limited hours -- what do you do if you would like a non-alcoholic drink on deck (weather permitting)?

 

3) As a solo traveler, shore excursions would most likely be booked through HAL. How smoothly does HAL handle its sponsored excursions? -- long lines? waits? On Princess the excursion desk was rarely open. Is it the same on HAL?

 

4) Is shade available on Half Moon Cay or must one rent a cabana or even a chair for that matter? I have read that it's a great island & beach -- is it good for beach walking?

 

5) Since the Princess cruise used some "free" USAir miles, I did not book the air with Princess. How does HAL rate on booking air? -- do they route you from New England through Dallas or Chicago to get to Fort Lauderdale? Do they fly you into Fort Lauderdale or it is Miami with bus to Fort L? The cruises I'm looking at leave from Fort L. I don't mind a 7am departure, but I do stress over a 30 min connection and am not fond of a 4 hr connecting layover (is anyone?). Has anyone had to have HAL rebook due to nasty weather -- just in case Oct becomes hurricane month again? Was the air portion of the cruise handled well and smoothly?

 

 

6) Most comments I have read are very positive about HAL's service. As a mature lady & solo traveler, other than the Room Steward on Princess, I really had the feeling that I was an invisible passenger. For example, in the buffet the waiters would approach a couple or even 2 ladies together with the coffee service, but walk past me -- on deck, the bar person made a big pitch about the Wine Tasting to a couple seated next to me but never even looked my way. And asking if I would like a drink -- just once was I asked in 10 days. Perhaps I'm being "picky" but considering that as a solo I paid 2x what 1/2 of a couple paid -- I really feel I should be treated equally, even if it's just a sales pitch. Or, put another way, just because I'm traveling alone don't assume that I don't want pampering or even simple service or don't drink a glass of wine or feel like a glass of beer or might on Tues even if I didn't on Mon. Any other solos out there -- how are we treated on HAL???

 

Thanks for your responses.

 

MHS

[willowoodf]

Hi MHS:

 

I'll try to answer a few of your questions. I'm sure some more seasoned HAL travelers will jump in and give you fuller answers.

 

1. To my knowledge there is no charge for room service on HAL.

 

2. The Buffet DOES have limited hours, I think dinner lasts until 7:30 or something like that, then it reopens again at 10:30 or so for the "midnight" buffet, but coffee is always available from the big coffee machines in the Lido.

 

3. DH and I have booked several excursions through HAL, and they have all been handled very efficiently. I believe some people have had opposite experiences, but all our experiences have been good. The shore excursion desk does have limited hours, and they are stated in the daily program.

 

4. Half Moon Cay does not have a lot of shade. You can rent a clamshell for a modest price, something like $10.

 

5. We've only used HAL air once. The times were inconvenient and the price was high. We've had much better luck booking ourselves. Lots of people do, though. We like to fly into the port town the day before for al ittle cushion and it helps start the vacation mood!

 

6. The HAL staff is SO excellent, I don't think you'll have the problem you had on Princess. Even though I sailed with my DH, I was often off on my own and was never treated badly. DH rarely had breakfast with me in the Lido, and I was treated like a Queen, on my own. Sometimes I would get a drink at a bar on my own, and was always treated well. But the memory of the staff is amazing. Many of them will ask you your name, and will remember it the whole trip. I don't think you will have a problem, but some of the single cruisers can answer this better than I.

 

I really don't think you can go wrong with HAL!

 

Mary

[willowoodf]

Double Post. Sigh.

[dakrewser]

1) Never a charge for room service - 24 hours a day.

2)Drinks are always available in the Lido, but food service ends around midnight.

 

3)The excvursion desk has reasonable hours

 

4)Good beach walking, shade is available

 

5)Air on HAL, like all lines, is based on the cheapest price they can get. Pay the $50 air deviation charge and pick your own flights.

 

6) Not being a solo lady, I can't comment but I'm sure RuthC (who is) would praise the respect and service she gets on HAL...

[Jemima]

1. No charge for room service and more is available than on Princess.

2. Buffet isn't open 24/7 but the variety and quality is better on HAL. Coffee, ice tea, and water are available even when the buffet isn't serving.

3. We always book shore excursions with HAL and have never had a bad experience. You can book these online ahead of time and I suggest you do that. Helpfulness and knowledge of onboard shore excursion staff varies.

4. We enjoyed walking on the beach the one time we were at Half Moon Cay. (we cruise elsewhere than the Caribbean)

5. We have found it best to book our own air when both embarkation & debarkation ports are in the US or Canada. For European ports we find it better to book with HAL. We have booked air several times with them and the airlines and routes/connections have been ok - not wonderful, but not horrible.

6. As a single I notice when single persons are ignored and I don't recall this happening on HAL. Service on Holland America ships is much better than it was on my one Princess cruise. I travel with my fairly young daughter.

[lippylulu]

When I have travelled solo, I have found that if I am open, friendly and talkative to the crew, they take VERY good care of me. I was in Puerto Rico alone for 5 nights last year and the maitre' d at the restaurant escorted me to my table arm n arm every night, and the waiters hung around to chat whenever possible. I think its because I let it be known how much I was enjoying my trip. Tipping WELL also helps.

 

On cruise ships, there are often meet and greets for solo travelers, or you can sort of find your way to a group of friends and make new friends. Dont' be fraid to invite yoruself along for the day, or invite them to join you for something, or for a meal. Most people will be thrilled and if not they will let you know and you can move on,

[Navy_Chief]

Just a note on the excursion desk, Noordam now has Excursion kiosks that you can use to choose an excursion and swipe your room key to pay through your shipboard account. My parents used this and found it quite helpful. They said they had a good time on the tour. My wife and I pre-booked our shore excursions on line for our Med cruise in 04 through HALs website. Some were good excursions while others were not.

[RuthC]

6) Not being a solo lady, I can't comment but I'm sure RuthC (who is) would praise the respect and service she gets on HAL...

Hey! Watch who you're calling a "lady". :D

I've been on umpteen cruises alone since my husband died. And I've had a wonderful time on each and every one of them. :) The crew and staff have been very good to me and I've had more fun than should be legal.

Be certain to pack an extra smile or two, and don't forget to take them out when you get aboard! That's all.

As far as the shore excursion desk goes, you can book on-line up to 10 days before sailing, or you can complete a request form and deposit it at the desk. It doesn't have to be open to make the booking, unless you have questions that need answering you'll do just as well when it's closed.

[dakrewser]

Hey! Watch who you're calling a "lady". :D

 

I bow before you in abject apology for using such a term in your gracious presence....

 

 

:rolleyes:

[seaisme]

My most recent cruise was on Princess Coral last May. Thinking about giving Holland America a try -- most likely one of the 7day cruises in October this year.

 

1) A bed-time habit is a cup of hot chocolate/cocoa and a cookie (or something sweet) -- Room Service on Princess charged for this. Would there also be a charge on HAL?

 

2) The buffet was open 24hrs on Princess -- nice if one felt like a free cup of coffee mid-evening. I have the impression that HAL's buffet has limited hours -- what do you do if you would like a non-alcoholic drink on deck (weather permitting)?

 

3) As a solo traveler, shore excursions would most likely be booked through HAL. How smoothly does HAL handle its sponsored excursions? -- long lines? waits? On Princess the excursion desk was rarely open. Is it the same on HAL?

 

4) Is shade available on Half Moon Cay or must one rent a cabana or even a chair for that matter? I have read that it's a great island & beach -- is it good for beach walking?

 

5) Since the Princess cruise used some "free" USAir miles, I did not book the air with Princess. How does HAL rate on booking air? -- do they route you from New England through Dallas or Chicago to get to Fort Lauderdale? Do they fly you into Fort Lauderdale or it is Miami with bus to Fort L? The cruises I'm looking at leave from Fort L. I don't mind a 7am departure, but I do stress over a 30 min connection and am not fond of a 4 hr connecting layover (is anyone?). Has anyone had to have HAL rebook due to nasty weather -- just in case Oct becomes hurricane month again? Was the air portion of the cruise handled well and smoothly?

 

 

6) Most comments I have read are very positive about HAL's service. As a mature lady & solo traveler, other than the Room Steward on Princess, I really had the feeling that I was an invisible passenger. For example, in the buffet the waiters would approach a couple or even 2 ladies together with the coffee service, but walk past me -- on deck, the bar person made a big pitch about the Wine Tasting to a couple seated next to me but never even looked my way. And asking if I would like a drink -- just once was I asked in 10 days. Perhaps I'm being "picky" but considering that as a solo I paid 2x what 1/2 of a couple paid -- I really feel I should be treated equally, even if it's just a sales pitch. Or, put another way, just because I'm traveling alone don't assume that I don't want pampering or even simple service or don't drink a glass of wine or feel like a glass of beer or might on Tues even if I didn't on Mon. Any other solos out there -- how are we treated on HAL???

 

Thanks for your responses.

 

MHS

I travel a lot on business alone and find that women travelers do receive "less attention" than couples or even single men. So I make certain that my tips reflects service. Don't think you will have this issue on HAL...we have never been disappointed.

[Rahi]

Also meet single passengers as a result of their partner being sick in room, etc. I could see alot of people walking around alone actually, for various reasons:)

[Laurab23]

fresh water pools on HAL?

[Stevesan]

fresh water pools on HAL?

 

Yep. The main pool is fresh H2O.

[Stevesan]

I've used cruise line air for open jaw international flights, but I would avoid it on domestic trips. I think you can do better on price and itinerary.

 

Unlike Princess, HAL will charge your CC as soon as you prebook shore excursions. i actually prefer HAL's way. People are less likely to book tours that they "might" want to take. Although HAL will refund excursion payments up to cutoff (which is usually the day before the tour date), people are less likely to book tours on a whim, leaving more openings for the serious adventurers.

The rule is that you will get a 90% refund after sail date, but I've never yet been charged the 10% canx fee. As someone else mentioned, you can prebook excursions up to ten days prior to sailing. HAL will automatically credit any cancellations 100% up to that date.

 

There is usually coffee available in the Lido buffet after food service, but not always. The coffee urns are sometimes neglected after the food lines shut down, especially in the early morning hours.

But, and this is a biggie, the buffet coffee is actually drinkable!!!:) It's brewed from ground coffee, not that vile syrup Princess uses.

 

And, Ta Da, there is a FREE ice cream bar open most of the day and evening. With real honest to goodness ice cream. Appropriate ice cream condiments such as syrups and sprinkles are there, too.

 

Life is good.

[MHS4]

Thank you all for your wonderful, thoughtful & kind answers. I have taken the plunge and booked! Really looking forward to it -- and would be even if the temps here were above zero! I know I'll have many other questions in the months to come and feel very comfortable about asking them, even the "stupid" or "silly" ones.

 

A special thanks to Lady RuthC -- I'm traveling solo due to the same event and to hear from another Lady Solo with such a positive feeling for HAL was very special. And I do pack that smile & always a Thank You even when at times the eyes are a bit moist.

 

thanks again everyone

bon voyage for all of us

MHS

[diraebrad]

I'm interested to hear the experiences of other solo travelers. Like Seaisme, I travel alone several times a year on business, and for the past 10 years or so have taken my vacations alone. My experience has been that I am somewhat invisible as compared to groups or couples. A Mexican Riviera cruise next December will be my first solo cruise (and only my second cruise following an Alaska trip with friends last summer on Princess). Looking forward to the service levels on HAL.