Unbelievable !!!!!

[temple10]

Hi all, I am boarding the Statendam tomarrow morning, and I decided to call Holland America to see if I could pre-order my soda cards. I was told they stopped offering soda cards last week. and will have to pay for each soda at $1.50 a can. Now being I am sailing 15 days and drink a six pack a day - I WAS FLOORED!! I will go ahead and say I payed $10,000.00 for this cruise for my son and I and I can't believe not only is soda not included in this price but the bargin of the soda card is now not offered!! I don't want to start slamming HA before I have even taken my cruise, and I pray this is the only thing that will be thrown at me, and everything will be as wonderful as I have heard and amagined!! -- pulling out another suitcase for just diet coke. I can't believe it.:mad: Christine

[lipoppop]

Is it possible they weren't taking orders for soda cards by phone for that cruise as it was close to sailing like you can't order shore excursions on-line during the last week or so?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Gee, the first day we boarded the Statendam in Oct as well as the next day, the soda cards were offered. We don't drink soda but we were offered the cards as we walked by the Lido pool and in the lounges.

Hopefully, like the other poster said, you waited too long to order by telephone.

[gizmo]

Check the Fountain Cards and Soda thread.

Just returned from Zuiderdam (Dec 11-18) and was told they have discontinued the cards. When questioned they could give me no logical reason - "too much caffeine for the passengers" was their comment....I guess they thought they were being funny....oh well....no soda I guess I will drink coffee or iced tea.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I just read that thread as well.

It does seem to be a mixed bag the last week as to which ships are offering the soda cards. But it does sound like HAL is dropping them.

[DoctorFeelgood]

Sorry to hear about your soda woes.

This might be something very important to you, but don't let it ruin your vacation. Given the "empty calories" in soda, you could accentuate the positive and use your cruise as an opportunity to develop a taste for noncarbonated, unsweetened beverages.... like WINE! :D

[jhannah]

Interesting development. On our recent Prinsendam cruise, they offered a card for $24.95 that was good for 20 sodas (not unlimited.) That was a savings of 25 cents each. Nice, but not a deal-breaker. And they were always cans. No fountain drinks. I'm guessing they had too many instances of people sharing their unlimited soda deals with others, so they're dropping it. At least it looks that way.

[michmike]

just another in the line of improvements brought to us by the new HAL. What's next?

[JDee]

Thought the price was now $1.75 per can. Whatever the price, you will also be charged a 15 percent service charge "for your convenience".http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/icons/icon10.gif That service charge is not negotiable, as it is not considered a tip.....


Happy holidays......

[dakrewser]

just another in the line of improvements brought to us by the new HAL. What's next?
In this case I'd tend to agree with Vegas Jim that greedy passengers ruined it for the rest (as they did with unlimited internet access).

[dakrewser]

I will go ahead and say I payed $10,000.00 for this cruise for my son and I and I can't believe not only is soda not included in this price but the bargin of the soda card is now not offered!! I don't want to start slamming HA before I have even taken my cruise
Then don't. If a couple of sodas a day are enough to ruin your cruise, take a couple of cases on board with you.

[riz]

Yes...as my thread said earlier....soda cards no longer offered as of last week. My cruise was the first week they gave them up. The cost of a soda was $2.10. I got used to drinking iced tea and lemonade very quickly.

[sail7seas]

I have read here so many times about sharing a soda card. He'd get a soda and they'd go to the next bar for her to get a soda. I have also read many times about people who had 32 oz insulated jugs they'd ask to be filled with soda. Some folks found ways to 'cheat' and if I read those threads, I am sure the bean counters also read those threads. It only takes some to ruin it for everyone. I don't drink a can of soda in a month so it doesn't matter to me at all. I am sorry for those folks who 'played it straight' and were not greedy with their cards. It is a shame they can no longer get a reasonable quantity of soda for a reasonable sum.

I imagine it is only a matter of time until they start to forbid people lugging cases of soda aboard with them. It will probably go the way of pax bringing their beer and liquor......gone!!

[localady]

S7S-

I think that HAL's motivation on this one is just pure profit.:(
When we are the Rotterdam 2 weeks ago, they offered the drink "stamp" that was placed on your card. By having the stamp on the card, I believe it made it more difficult to "cheat". Being a CCL shareholder I love to see profits, but to raise a can of pop from $1.75 to $2.10 per can at the same time they discountinued the card is questionable.

It's really unfortunate that it was done right before the holiday cruises, which we all know are already premium dollar cruises. I too could care less about a soda card for my DH and I, but I will have to caution my kids, as I was planning to get them soda cards in March.

[FlorenceItaly]

but ANOTHER HAL cutback....very disappointing, especially since a soda card was one of my "perks" for my Z cruise next December. To be honest, HAL was not my first choice for the December cruise, but we are cruising with another couple **SIGH**.

Marie

[HeatherInFlorida]

I love Diet Coke w/lime at home, but on the cruise I mostly drank iced tea ... just too much trouble to be ordering Cokes or lugging around my glass.

But I have to admit I'm confused by this. When I order a Diet Coke in any restaurant I go to here in Florida, I can have refills until the cows come home. They just keep filling it up. So I don't really understand why it's so expensive onboard the ships. Considering I can buy 2 12-packs here for $5.00 (which is 21 cents/can), $1.75/can does seem a bit high. And we know HAL gets it for a lot less than I do.

I understand it's all about profit, but there is a limit.

[dakrewser]

But I have to admit I'm confused by this. When I order a Diet Coke in any restaurant I go to here in Florida, I can have refills until the cows come home. They just keep filling it up. So I don't really understand why it's so expensive onboard the ships.
Stayed at a hotel/motel lately? The coke machine at the San Francisco Marriott was charging $2 last weekend...

[RuthC]

O.K., I'm confused now about the price of a can of Coke.

It's been $1.75/can right along. Earlier this year the 15% service charge was added, bringing the price to $2.01. Could the $2.10 posted earlier have been a typo of the $1.75 + service charge?

Add to that the post that the unlimited soda card had been replaced by a limited one that gave cans at a rate of $1.50, and the reference in the original post that cans could be purchased for $1.50.
Could the limited soda card have been replaced with cans at a lower price? :confused:

Could Santa HAL be gifting us? (pant. pant.)

[Mark1513]

I am glad I have already successfully ordered 2 soda cards.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Stayed at a hotel/motel lately? The coke machine at the San Francisco Marriott was charging $2 last weekend...
Dave, you're very ornery lately:D ! I just don't see this as the same thing at all! I never buy a can of coke in a hotel/motel (on the rare cases I'm in one) so I didn't know. If I'm in a hotel, I can pick up coke at a local market and keep in in my room. What they charge in a vending machine is not analagous to what they charge on a cruiseship. JMNSHO.

[Slinkiecat]

With our booklet of instructions for our cruise on Prinsendam 1/13/05, it said the soda card was not available. DH likes a soda once a day but will settle for iced tea. I just drink water and wine myself. I would complain if either of those was not available or if they started charging for the water. Heaven forbid!

Slinkie

[sail7seas]

Of course, it is all about profit. I am sure when they established the price of a soda card, they did not truly think so many folk would 'cheat'. Seeing as that is what happened; the profits were diminished; the cards were discontinued. IMO


I think the price quoted here for a can of soda is very high. I'm glad we hardly drink the stuff. :)

I do not think that most restaurants around here keep refilling soda glasses. I think that most places keep charging you if you keep ordering one glass after another. Could be wrong but I have never noticed anything on menus in the places we go to that says bottomless glass of soda or anything like that.

I think rather than discontinue the soda cards, they should have a better system that would cut down on the cheats. Make it a photo card that must be shown to get the free soda .....or some other system that would i.d. the real holder of the soda card. They do the photos for our ship i.d. so how hard could it be to send soda folks to the office to get a photo for the soda card.

[JDee]

O.K., I'm confused now about the price of a can of Coke.

Add to that the post that the unlimited soda card had been replaced by a limited one that gave cans at a rate of $1.50, and the reference in the original post that cans could be purchased for $1.50.
Could the limited soda card have been replaced with cans at a lower price? :confused: Believe some ships have the can soda cards while others do not. Never heard of the can soda cans until Zaandam cruise 3/04, and even then it wasn't really promoted. Only saw a small hand made sign at the Java about it & don't recall the price.

The standard price of the can sodas should be the same on all HAL ships, but then you can't really count on it....

Sail: While it does not have to be listed specifically on the menu, around these parts, unlimited soda refills available at Outback, Carabbas, Rubey Tuesday, Sweet Tomatoe, Olive Garden, Chillis amond the sit-down chains. Some serve such a large glass that one is usually enough. And of course free refills at the fast food chains McD's, Burger King, etc. Plus even the locally owned restaurants. Soda refills are now in the same league as coffee refills & usually cost the same in many places.....At least around here......

Happy sailing......

[DFD1]

Interesting evolution of soda buying here. We had a red Coca Cola stamp put on our key/ID card in the Ocean Bar. Paid $34.00 or so, including 15% for a l0 day cruise. I kept rough count along the way and HAL came out on the best end of the deal with me. No one ever attempted to sell me a card.

Our ID/Key card did not have a photo on this cruise. We were required to carry our own photo Id ashore for identification upon return to the ship.

I suspect they discontinued the card because of abuse and because it may have been too successful and cut into soda sales profits. Just my guess.

[sail7seas]

[Quote] Sail: While it does not have to be listed specifically on the menu, around these parts, unlimited soda refills available at Outback, Carabbas, Rubey Tuesday, Sweet Tomatoe, Olive Garden, Chillis amond the sit-down chains. Some serve such a large glass that one is usually enough. And of course free refills at the fast food chains McD's, Burger King, etc. Plus even the locally owned restaurants. Soda refills are now in the same league as coffee refills & usually cost the same in many places.....At least around here......[Quote]



:) That explains it. We never go to those kinds of places. Nothing at all wrong with them just not the places we go to when we go out. (We don't have a few you named anywhere in our local area. :) ) We're not into the chain eateries.

I've never been inside an Olive Garden or Chillis although they have a few locations in our area. We tried to go to Outbafck a few times but it was too crowded. No Rubey Tuesday or Sweet Tomatoe in our area and we NEVER eat Micky D's or Burger King.....Like never!!!

[Linda&Vern]

:p When I go to the beach for a week - or any vacation for that matter - I probably drink 6 cans of Diet Coke a day. Other times more like 3 a day. I could have pre-ordered a soda card in July for something like $37.50 for the 11 day cruise. When I checked in October the price had gone to something like $45 (don't exactly remember $$ - but it was on the ships services ordering form.) I decided to wait and purchase as soon as I boarded the Maasdam this Wednesday. Guess my shipboard account will just be a lot more $$ now! Only hope DH can still get his 6 cups of morning coffee for free! :D Must get back to our packing now!!!!!

[iluvcruzin]

Give me a break.

All this stuff on people getting greedy and ruining it for others when it comes to the soft drink card being cancelled.. I'm sorry but I just have to laugh. That seems absolutely absurb thinking to me.

Who remembers when softdrinks were included as part of cruise fare? Then one cruiseline by one they put it part of the bar drinks and did away with fountain drinks at meal time. As far as soft drinks though.. They aren't that expensive and the cruiseline can't possibly be losing much money if any on the drink cards on average.

Sounds like HAL is into downsizing and reducing services to bare min. It may not be a profit oriented decision. Maybe someone complained on a comment card so they removed it. This definately sounds like bad business decisions. If HAL's strategy is to attract a younger clientel with families, someone's giving them some pretty bad directive. I wonder if the company has some sort of stragetic plan for gaining market share. As an MBA I personally would be interested and seeing where their mindset is and the company Vision.

[RevNeal]

Wow ... I fall out of daily posting and reading and see what crops up???? Oh, well. There's more to life than my favorite soft drinks ... I'll just drink a little less and enjoy the coffee and tea more. :)

Hey, I'm aboard ship and having a GREAT time. Why whine?

[RevNeal]

That explains it. We never go to those kinds of places. Nothing at all wrong with them just not the places we go to when we go out. (We don't have a few you named anywhere in our local area. ) We're not into the chain eateries.

ooooo ... right ... one would never want to be caught eating at a chain eatery, like Ruths' Criss. ;)


I've never been inside an Olive Garden or Chillis although they have a few locations in our area. We tried to go to Outbafck a few times but it was too crowded. No Rubey Tuesday or Sweet Tomatoe in our area and we NEVER eat Micky D's or Burger King.....Like never!!!

Of course not ... they don't have balconies, a neptune lounge, or unlimited included laundry. :eek:

I'm sorry ... reading this gave me a tacky attack.

[seaventurer]

If I had ten grand to spend on a cruise for a week, it wouldn't be with Holland America. I would get the owners suite on a Radisson Ship (for example) for half the price, inclusive of all the sodas you could guzzle up - plus, spirits and wine. Go ahead - start flaming.

I tested HAL this past year with two cruises on the Z which included 1 cruise in an SS suite and 1 standard veranda cabin. The SS was a nice stateroom - great balcony - but less than average cabin service and no services that made this suite stand out from any other cabin on the ship. Nothing special except the room.

HAL has gone nuts...from signature of excellence to nickel and dime soda bull. I have to share the fact that I also tried, for the first time, NCL this year (OMG) - the Spirit in October and the Sun this past week. Freestyle dining scared me at first, but then reality clicked in...not only are there dining venues that are no-charge and rival anything I've experienced on HAL, but for an extra $12 bucks, you can dine in style feasting on delectable delights in over 6+ specialty restaurants that offer quite truly the most tasty, perfectly presented meals at sea...and the service stands as 5 star. So, while I have yet to revisit other than Vista Class HAL ships, which I hear are great, test the waters.

On the Z - I was apalled at the fit and finish of the SS suite bathroom and closets as well as the upkeep of the stateroom and veranda on the Z. The bathroom in my standard balcony stateroom on cruise #2 was also less than acceptable for a premium line. Come on folks - institutional tan plastic does not favor what one would expect.

I liked my Z cruises. Holland America though has to get up to speed with the market and recognize that times change and the competition is much more in touch with the changing demands of today's cruise loyalists...Seems like HAL is over committing and under delivering.

Can't wait to see how this evolves.

[kryos]

Yes...as my thread said earlier....soda cards no longer offered as of last week. My cruise was the first week they gave them up. The cost of a soda was $2.10. I got used to drinking iced tea and lemonade very quickly.
That's exactly what I would do. The iced tea and lemonade are very tasty and can very well substitute for the overpriced soda.

The other option, as someone else here suggested, is to just bring a case or two of soda onboard with you.

I can certainly understand the disappointment over the soda cards no longer being offered, but if some passengers were getting greedy and sharing the cards, then I can well understand HAL's logic in discontinuing them.

It's a shame how some people can ruin things for everyone else, huh? :(

Blue skies ...

--rita

[tlmlb]

Stayed at a hotel/motel lately? The coke machine at the San Francisco Marriott was charging $2 last weekend...

It's six dollars for a coke from the minibar at the Waldorf.... 10K and you complain about a buck or two?? looks like you chose the wrong line.

[FrankenLouis]

Unbelievable! Yes.... Unbelievable that not being able to purchase a soda card can seem to make or break a cruise? I agree with the last posting. Please do not dwell on this while on the cruise. I can already hear half the ship complaning about it on the ship now. I guess I just miss something here. I say like others have said... drink water ( much better for you) and or tea, lemonade, etc . A six pack of soda a day? I think HAL will be doing you a favor if you do not drink 60+ soda's on your 10 day cruise. Let it go and have a great cruise... do not let the small things in life get in the way.

Happy Holidays

[DoctorFeelgood]

For those of you who are going on Zui 12/30 cruise with me, I will gladly sell you cans of soda for $1.50 each (no gratuity necessary). I will be the one wearing the heavily-laden trenchcoat and fedora.

For those of you who wish to make your own soda, please see:
http://altura.speedera.net/ccimg.catalogcity.com/220000/225800/225854/products/11205614.jpg (http://http://amos.shop.com/amos/cc/pcd/11205614/prd/17136531/ccsyn/260)

"Stop lugging cases and bottles of soda on board for the weekend! Just bring your soda maker and use on board water to make fresh soda in a snap! Soda-Club's sleek countertop design takes up less space than a coffeemaker."

[jazzsea]

They dropped the cards because of the uncontrolled "sharing".

[Orcrone]

I don't believe it was the "cheats" that are causing this change in policy. I'm sure that HAL has a method of tracking the amount of soda purchased via a card vs. the income from the sail of those cards. If they were not making enough money due to "cheaters" then they would just raise the price of the cards. I believe that they're doing this because they feel they will make more money charging for sodas individually. JMHO

Also, soda from a fountain is dirt cheat. When a restaurant charges $1.79 for a soda and gives you refills, they're definitely not losing money on it.

BTW, we don't purchase soda cards, iced tea and lemonade suit us fine. So I'm not complaining because I'm one of those "cheaters". Actually, I'm not really complaining.:)

[gizmo]

If I had ten grand to spend on a cruise for a week, it wouldn't be with Holland America. I would get the owners suite on a Radisson Ship (for example) for half the price, inclusive of all the sodas you could guzzle up - plus, spirits and wine. Go ahead - start flaming.

.No flame intended. The OP is cruising to Hawaii, 15 days, over Christmas and New Years which is always a very pricey cruise.

[shipcafe]

but ANOTHER HAL cutback....very disappointing, especially since a soda card was one of my "perks" for my Z cruise next December. To be honest, HAL was not my first choice for the December cruise, but we are cruising with another couple **SIGH**.

Marie

The soda card package was actually just added a couple of years ago or so ... It seems more like it was a test project than a "cutback".

[HeatherInFlorida]

[Quote] Sail: While it does not have to be listed specifically on the menu, around these parts, unlimited soda refills available at Outback, Carabbas, Rubey Tuesday, Sweet Tomatoe, Olive Garden, Chillis amond the sit-down chains. Some serve such a large glass that one is usually enough. And of course free refills at the fast food chains McD's, Burger King, etc. Plus even the locally owned restaurants. Soda refills are now in the same league as coffee refills & usually cost the same in many places.....At least around here......[Quote]

:) That explains it. We never go to those kinds of places. Nothing at all wrong with them just not the places we go to when we go out. (We don't have a few you named anywhere in our local area. :) ) We're not into the chain eateries.

I've never been inside an Olive Garden or Chillis although they have a few locations in our area. We tried to go to Outback a few times but it was too crowded. No Rubey Tuesday or Sweet Tomatoe in our area and we NEVER eat Micky D's or Burger King.....Like never!!!Actually, NO NO NO:eek: ! That does not explain it. I don't eat at Olive Garden, Chilis, Outback, Ruby Tuesday, Micky D's or Burger King!!!!! Whoops! I lie ... I have eaten at Outback a few times. But I'm talking about even the finer restaurants. It happens that Diet Coke is my drink of choice (I don't drink alcohol). I have not been in one restaurant in our area where they did not refill my glass whenever it is empty and they never charge extra. Some of the restaurants we go to are chains (which does not negate their desireability IMHO), but not the ones you mention.

Nowhere on the menu does it say anything like "bottomless" glass. it is simply understood.

However, I don't know if it's so in the NE. It may be a Florida thing:D

[sail7seas]

ooooo ... right ... one would never want to be caught eating at a chain eatery, like Ruths' Criss. ;)




Of course not ... they don't have balconies, a neptune lounge, or unlimited included laundry. :eek:

I'm sorry ... reading this gave me a tacky attack.

Rev....That's more than a little nasty.

If you read my post, I said there is nothing wrong with those places but they are not to my taste. I do not eat Burger King or McDonald's EVER. I don't like it. I don't like the calorie count. I don't like the fat. I don't like the taste. It has nothing to do with verandas and Neptune Lounges. It has to do with the fact I prefer to eat a nice serving of fish broiled or baked and fresh vegetables. I think I have commented here before I eat rather carefully these days. I've read the menus for some of the named places and there is next to nothing there that I care for or can eat. I suppose I could go and simply sip myself full of the bottomless glass of soda and skip dinner entirely.

Yah....this is a tacky attack frankly beneath you IMO
Don't make me into a snob when that is not the case. I simply do not like that food.

I also explained we do not even have some of those restaurants in our area. Can't eat at 'em if they don't exist here, now can we?


As to your reference to Ruth's....It's Ruth's Chris.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Sail, I think Greg was just having a silly "tacky" moment like he said. He means no disrespect I'm sure. Not his style at all. But you did seem to be putting down chain restaurants a bit.

Hope you saw my response above yours, though, because those were not the restaurants I was referring to. We only go out once a week so it's not going to be McDonald's!!!:)

[sail7seas]

Hi Heather: I privately e-mailed to Greg to 'talk' with him off the board.


I seem to recall that I wrote in my message there is nothing wrong with those sort of places but they simply to not appeal to me. I don't eat high fat, calorie laden, high cholesterol, fried foods. I cannot if I want to maintain any sort of heart health. I surely have written volumes here about the sort of diet I prefer. It is simply that those menus offer just about nothing that I eat. If I were to stuff McDonald's or Burger King into myself, I would not be here very long to talk about it. One year ago today, I lay very ill in Mass General Hospital Intensive Care more dead than alive. I don't ever want to be there again. Not eating that junk is a big step in keeping me out of Cardiac Care Units.

Greg knows that.

For folks who enjoy those restaurants and are lucky to be able to eat there, wonderful. All the more power to you. Go and enjoy and I think it's terrific. I cannot.

[RevNeal]

Dear sail7seas,

I should learn not to pop off on the board at 1:30 in the AM, and particularly not after a very long and very trying day; my sarcasm gears were engaged but my mind and heart were not. In such moments I'm apt to say/write something I shouldn't, and that was the case last night.

I'm very sorry. I was posting when I shouldn't have been, and emotions about something else which had absolutely nothing to do with you got dumped into my reading of what you wrote and, hence, my post. I was wrong.

[sail7seas]

Forgiven, Greg.


Happy Holidays. Peace.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Just to add my 2 cents.

DH and I have never eaten at places like McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Chili's, Olive Garden, etc. It just isn't our style.

We love to dine at Ruth Chris, Morton's, Mitchell's Fish Market, Monterey Bay, and other restuarants that are exclsuive to our area.

So don't jump all over me just because we also have personal likes and dislikes.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Sail, as you know I certainly did not know of your illness but was certainly aware of your diet preferences. I also got the clear impression that something had triggered your choices. And the fact remains that yours is the healthier way of eating and many could take a page from your book.

I'm so glad you came through that horrible time and you're here with us now to share so much of your experience. I know how much you mean to me on these boards ... wouldn't be the same without you.

:) ..... and I'm still glad I get refills on my Coke even in the finest of restaurants here in sunny, somewhat cold, Florida.

[localady]

This definately sounds like bad business decisions. If HAL's strategy is to attract a younger clientel with families, someone's giving them some pretty bad directive. I wonder if the company has some sort of stragetic plan for gaining market share. As an MBA I personally would be interested and seeing where their mindset is and the company Vision.
Well I can tell you as a parent bring kids on board I am not happy. :( A soda card for the kids was expensive IMHO, but nothing compared to the damage my kids could do to our account without one!! :eek: I sure hope HAL has a mechnism for parents to monitor and authorize their kids expenditures!!!:cool:

[sail7seas]

KK.......thanks for sharing.



Heather....You're the best! You always say just the right thing. Thank you.

[Krazy Kruizers]

As for the soda cards (forgot that part), I can understand why they are being discontinued.

On our last 21 day cruise there was a mother and daughter (not a youngster)staying in a suite down the hall from us. They bought only 1 soda card between them. We were sitting at the Lido Bar early one afternoon when the daughter came over to the bar and had her "special" glass filled with coke. I was sitting at an angle where I could see where she went. She went to a table out of sight of the bar tender and filled her mother's coke glass. After a few minutes she came back to the bar for a "refill".

I imagine there have been quite a few people that have abused those cards.

[tankerjo2]

Sort of happy that the Ryndam did not offer any type of discounted incentives or "soda cards" to help us tank up on liquids any more than we had to on our recent 12/11 cruise...put a whole lot less stress and strain on our occasionally operational toilet, truly a toilet with a mind of it's own.

[sail7seas]

Localady.....I was thinking about how parents can control the kids' charges.


It is going to be difficult for parents to know how many times a day the children are getting more and more soda charged to their cards.

[twoatsea]

poor RevNeal - you got it for 2 of your posts - ouch :eek: ! Feeling shell-shock yet? My DH has some advice for you - as he always says, "I always get the last word in every argument with my DW - and that last word is "yes, dear!" ;)

[localady]

Localady.....I was thinking about how parents can control the kids' charges.


It is going to be difficult for parents to know how many times a day the children are getting more and more soda charged to their cards.
I agree S7S and it concerns me greatly. With a soda card I could give it to them and they could have as much soda as they choose, granted it wasn't healthy but it is vacation. Now I am worried about how to control our bill.....

For those that would say, "hey, why you sweating it"?, the answer is that when I booked this cruise for my family I relied in part in knowing that we could purchase a soda card for the kids. HAL seems to have changed the game in the middle of the stream once more, and this change is not gonna make the families they are marketing to happy. I for one am a HAL loyalist as you all know, and this one disappoints me.......:o

[sail7seas]

I hope you express your feelings to Seattle.

[ekerr19]

I guess there are people out there who actually share the soda card... I remember that question being asked a few months back and most posters on these boards urged not to do it... we always bought and used our own, one for each of us.

[RevNeal]

poor RevNeal - you got it for 2 of your posts - ouch ! Feeling shell-shock yet? My DH has some advice for you - as he always says, "I always get the last word in every argument with my DW - and that last word is "yes, dear!

TWO?
Did I miss someone getting mad at me for another post?

"Yes, Dear." :D

[twoatsea]

RevNeal, I'm the typist; DH is the commentator. So, don't anyone shoot the messenger - we may be married, but I'm not the Secret Service - I'm not going to take a bullet for him, especially from some of the snipers I've viewed on this board!

Regarding whether you "blew it" once or twice, my DH shares the following with you - "Don't EVER admit to a lack of knowledge of what you did - always admit guilt to everything a woman says you did. But that is not enough - always apologize (which you did very well, I must add - so you have had practice!). As to whether you were wrong once or twice, I wanted to clear that up for you. But my constitution just couldn't take rereading the messages - too much hormonal atmosphere! :) "

DW footnote: I can attest that my DH has a great sense of humor. Now whatever else is said about my husband, surely most people will acknowledge his fearlessness!:eek:

[JDee]

Sort of happy that the Ryndam did not offer any type of discounted incentives or "soda cards" to help us tank up on liquids any more than we had to on our recent 12/11 cruise...put a whole lot less stress and strain on our occasionally operational toilet, truly a toilet with a mind of it's own.Thanks for the chuckle. If only HAL would now work on the DR and eliminate all those double entrees, triple desserts, 6 lobster tails, and in the Pinnacle do somthing about those huge steaks, volcano cakes, etc.... Now that would indeed result in less stress and strain on the plumbing.....http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

But if they eliminate those waffle cones, that would realy tick me of...http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/icons/icon12.gif.

Happpy holidays......

[Orcrone]

Localady.....I was thinking about how parents can control the kids' charges.


It is going to be difficult for parents to know how many times a day the children are getting more and more soda charged to their cards. On my last cruise I gave them a CC number, and I was able to specify what other passengers (DW in this case) the card would be used for. Couldn't a person just not give any charging privileges to the kids. I know it's a pain to have to get them their sodas, but it beats the alternative of spending several hundred dollars on soda.

[localady]

I have just sent this letter to HAL-

I am a Mariner that has completed almost 100 days with HAL. I just returned from the Rotterdam, which we enjoyed very much. With Hal's new push to promote itself as a "family" cruise line, we decided to book a cruise with our kids for Easter vacation. I now learn that HAL has discontinued their soda card program to my dismay. As a parent, I have grave concern about the charges my children incur with their purchase of sodas and am reconsidering my decision to take them on a HAL cruise. Is there a way to limit and monitor my children's charges other than not allowing them to charge?
I would respectfully request that HAL reconsiders this change in policy as it is not family condusive. As a CCL shareholder, I am all for profit, but frankly this new decision is disappointing and has caused us to strongly reconsider making our final payment for the cruise. Thanks in advance for your response.

I will let you know if and when I receive a response.:cool:

[DFD1]

The way this thread is going, I think we need a Martini card. Might help the discourse a bit. LOL

[Giorgi-one]

Hi all, I am boarding the Statendam tomarrow morning, and I decided to call Holland America to see if I could pre-order my soda cards. I was told they stopped offering soda cards last week. and will have to pay for each soda at $1.50 a can. Now being I am sailing 15 days and drink a six pack a day - I WAS FLOORED!! I will go ahead and say I payed $10,000.00 for this cruise for my son and I and I can't believe not only is soda not included in this price but the bargin of the soda card is now not offered!! I don't want to start slamming HA before I have even taken my cruise, and I pray this is the only thing that will be thrown at me, and everything will be as wonderful as I have heard and amagined!! -- pulling out another suitcase for just diet coke. I can't believe it.:mad: Christine

I hope you are not drinking 6 cans of non-diet soda every day. That would be a complete waste of about 900 calories and 240 grams of carbohydrates every day.

[sail7seas]

.....and if it's diet soda, that's an awful lot of artificial sweetener. Jury seems to still be out as to whether, in large quantities, it is a carcinogen or can cause neurological disorders.

[Orcrone]

These last two posts remind me of an old George Carlin routine. He is an anchorman doing a news broadcast. One of the items is:

"Scientists have determined that air can cause cancer. But only when taken in small quantities over a long period of time.":D

[HeatherInFlorida]

.....But if they eliminate those waffle cones, that would realy tick me of...http://boards.cruisecritic.com/images/icons/icon12.gif.

......
Oh, JDee!!!!! I am SO 100% with you on this one!!!! Take those away and I'm gone:D

[lgt]

I just got off the phone with ship services & she said they are not offering soda cards before boarding temporarily. She said we will be able to buy soda cards once we are on board and those soda cards will include HMC. She said the reason HAL stopped this was because of customer confusion with the cards purchased beforehand not working on HMC & the cards purchased onboard working on HMC & no way for the staff to know which was which.

[mkk]

I mostly drink ice tea while on board..at meals etc....so does DH...but here at home we are a 3 /2liter a day diet coke family...AND since we still like it at night onboard ship (with a little rum) :) we bring two or three with us....
and buy it in port..have never had trouble finding diet coke in any port..and though we may pay more for it than at home ..it is always cheaper than "by the drink" on board prices...
We don't care for the taste of the fountain versions aboard ship anyway.
Good luck and don't let it ruin your cruise...

[HeatherInFlorida]

I just got off the phone with ship services & she said they are not offering soda cards before boarding temporarily. She said we will be able to buy soda cards once we are on board and those soda cards will include HMC. She said the reason HAL stopped this was because of customer confusion with the cards purchased beforehand not working on HMC & the cards purchased onboard working on HMC & no way for the staff to know which was which.I find this very interesting. We all know sometimes Ship Services messes up and that's possible, but if not then here we are again with the mere suggestion of something turning into an absolute fact.

Then we all go haywire and the next thing you know poor Localady is thinking of cancelling her cruise and I'm having a conniption over no more waffle cones!!!:D LOL.

Hopefully, much ado about nothing.

[peaches from georgia]

Why would anyone bother ordering a soda card pre-cruise from Ships Services to begin with? It's not like there is a limit to how many can be sold, like with a shore excursion. The supply is limitless. And it's not like it's hard to do it upon boarding. They are like the spa people trying to get everyone to buy one. Why stress about getting one ahead of time? I don't get it.

[localady]

I find this very interesting. We all know sometimes Ship Services messes up and that's possible, but if not then here we are again with the mere suggestion of something turning into an absolute fact.

Then we all go haywire and the next thing you know poor Localady is thinking of cancelling her cruise and I'm having a conniption over no more waffle cones!!!:D LOL.

Hopefully, much ado about nothing.
Hehehe, well put Heather. Hopefully you are correct and we did ado for nothing!!! I was already upset that the Rotterdam didn't serve any wafflecones during our cruise ... :eek: I figured they'd just run out.... like they had no lemon after day 2! Thank goodness they had limes!! (You laff, but people were genuinely upset about the lack of lemons.....):cool:

[gizmo]

I find this very interesting. We all know sometimes Ship Services messes up and that's possible, but if not then here we are again with the mere suggestion of something turning into an absolute fact.

Then we all go haywire and the next thing you know poor Localady is thinking of cancelling her cruise and I'm having a conniption over no more waffle cones!!!:D LOL.

Hopefully, much ado about nothing.
Most of us would all agree that Ship Services screws up with information, but did you read my post at the beginning of this thread?

[Oceanwench]

Heather,
Have you been to Off the Vine on PGA Blvd.? One of my favorite *nice* restaurants ... and the refills are free. As you said, they don't put "free refills" on the menu -- then it would sound like Chuck E. Cheese! It's just understood ... as the server whisks away your glass of diet Coke with the melted ice cubes & replaces it with a fresh drink.

As far as soda cards, DH always purchases one. He certainly gets his money's worth, as he drinks a substantial amount of diet Coke each day! I don't drink soda at all, nor the "free" lemonade. I stick with water.
We have found the soda card to be a great deal and would be disappointed if it were discontinued. It's certainly not a deal breaker -- I wouldn't cruise with another line over the issue.

I have to think that sharing is not the problem. As someone said, the cost to HAL for soda is minimal. And for every person who shares, there is probably someone who buys a card and drinks only one or two sodas a day. And there are those who decide the $27 or whatever it costs is outrageous, and so pays for each individual soda.

Still, I think those who appreciate the soda card, or who enjoy their Coke or Pepsi, shouldn't be criticized for complaining if HAL ends the program.
If HAL stopped its dessert extravaganza, I'd be upset ... and I wouldn't want to be chastised with, "Well, all that sugar isn't good for you" or "have a few carrot sticks, they're better for you."

We all have our favorite things about cruises ... the sea days or the port days, the casino or the bars, the quiet of a balcony or the noise of the Crow's Nest. Some of us like the ice cream [and waffle cones!] and some like the chocolate-dipped strawberries. And then there's the Volcano Cake ...

Whatever it is we like about HAL, if that thing or service or ritual is ended, we're sad.
I don't mean to wax sentimental about a soda card, but I can see a person becoming upset about the issue.
... though not upset enough to let it ruin a cruise.

[sail7seas]

Hehehe, well put Heather. Hopefully you are correct and we did ado for nothing!!! I was already upset that the Rotterdam didn't serve any wafflecones during our cruise ... :eek: I figured they'd just run out.... like they had no lemon after day 2! Thank goodness they had limes!! (You laff, but people were genuinely upset about the lack of lemons.....):cool:
I'm one of those who would be upseet about the lack of lemons. :(

I like a sprinkle of lemon on my fish and it just doesn't taste as good to me without it. I don't like the sauces or toppings they use and always ask for it plain.....with lemon.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Most of us would all agree that Ship Services screws up with information, but did you read my post at the beginning of this thread?
Yes, Gizmo, I never respond to a thread that I haven't read all the posts ... it's just a thing with me. I don't want to repeat.

But I don't understand your post, to be honest. It just says "check the fountain card and soda thread" (or something like that). Where is that? I have no idea so I couldn't check it. I'm sorry ... I'm really not trying to be difficult, but I'm not sure what you're saying.

Oceanwench, no I haven't gone there. But friends have and they loved it. From what I know of it, have you been down to "Bizarre" (I think that's the spelling) on Lake Worth Ave right by Dixie Hgwy? It is sooooo fabulous ... you can either sit at a table or they have sofas and wing chairs and such ... very homey. Amazingly unique menu AND they refill your Cokes (says nothing on the menu about it ... to do that would be very tacky;) )

Sail, YES, lemon is an absolute must!!!

[emsachs]

I just got off the phone with ship services & she said they are not offering soda cards before boarding temporarily. She said we will be able to buy soda cards once we are on board and those soda cards will include HMC. She said the reason HAL stopped this was because of customer confusion with the cards purchased beforehand not working on HMC & the cards purchased onboard working on HMC & no way for the staff to know which was which.
Please let me get this straight......
I read this whole thread only to find out that soda cards WILL be offered on board once we're on board??
Thank goodness...now I can relax :-)

I think where I would draw the line is if they start charging $.25 for us each time we want to use a bathroom that is not in our stateroom.:)

[gizmo]

Heather,

When I posted, it was still on page one. I copied the post from the other thread. Here it is again. My point was it just wasn't Ship Services.

Originally Posted by ROZ
Just returned from Zuiderdam (Dec 11-18) and was told they have discontinued the cards. When questioned they could give me no logical reason - "too much caffeine for the passengers" was their comment....I guess they thought they were being funny....oh well....no soda I guess I will drink coffee or iced tea.

[RevNeal]

I want HAL to institute an unlimited Gin-and-tonic card. Or, an unlimited Scotch-and-Soda card. Or, how about an unlimited Rusty Nail card? Come on ... I can think of lots of unlimited drink cards to promote, can't you? :) This could almost be a new thread topic!!!!

[FlorenceItaly]

I want HAL to institute an unlimited Gin-and-tonic card. Or, an unlimited Scotch-and-Soda card. Or, how about an unlimited Rusty Nail card? Come on ... I can think of lots of unlimited drink cards to promote, can't you? :) This could almost be a new thread topic!!!!

Okay...now you are talking :). I am a big gin and tonic fan!

Marie

[whalers4ever]

Perhaps if HAL upped the cruise price by $34, they could then tell us that water, ice tea, coffee, and soda are all inclusive!:D

[dakrewser]

Perhaps if HAL upped the cruise price by $34, they could then tell us that water, ice tea, coffee, and soda are all inclusive!:D
Make it $105 (for a 7-day cruise) and they could tell you that tips were included!

[sail7seas]

Perhaps if HAL upped the cruise price by $34, they could then tell us that water, ice tea, coffee, and soda are all inclusive!:D
Then you get some arbitrary person like me who says, I am happy with water. I don't care about all inclusive soda. I don't want to pay for soda I don't drink.

We've had this conversation before and folks made good points about the fact someone doesn't use the gym, but pays for it. Someone else doesn't see the shows, but pays for them. Someone else never goes to the movies etc etc

Nevertheless, it seems those who want soda, will be paying for it and those who rather drink wine, will be paying for that instead. Someone who prefers water, gets a bargain :) [unless, of course, they want water out of the bottles that carry a charge. :)]

[RaffinOrganGrinders]

My solution on the Westerdam during my 17-day cruise was to make sure that every coke I had had the best rum they had in the bar. Made me slow down on the sugar consumption and I seemed to enjoy each coke that much more.

George :D

[RuffinReady]

Hello Slinkie,

If you are going all the way on the Prinsendam on Jan 13th then we will be passing each other on the gangplank on May 9th in NYC. I will be boarding then for a "shortie" of 26 days. I hope that you will be posting us from time to time during your trip. I would like to hear about Hong Kong and Singapore especially. There is an interesting shopping mall in Fortelaza, Brazil. It used to be a prison and all of the cells are now stalls where the locals sell things to the tourists. It has a huge atrium with ramps connecting each level. Also, I would like to hear about the work that was done on the ship during the docking before your cruise began. I understand that they are replacing all of the bedding and fixing up some of the problems that the ship had over the last year.

Good cruising

Ruffin

Bermuda Star (long time ago!)
S.S. France (Transatlantic -1965)
S.S Atlantic (Transatlantic, Mediterranean - American Export Lines - 1966)
Europa (Caribbean - 1969 - North German Lloyd)
Statendam (Caribbean - 1975)
Sunward (Bahamas - c. 1980)
Song of America (Caribbean - 1988)
Crown Princess (Alaska - 1999)
Royal Princess (B2B to South America - 2001)
Crown Princess (Baltic - 2002)
Royal Princess (B2B2B; Transatlantic, France, Belgium, Holland; Gt.Britain-2002)
Galaxy (Caribbean - 2003)
Prinsendam (B2B; Transatlantic NYC to Athens – May 2005)

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2005;05;09;17;00;00&timezone=EST-0500
26 Days NYC to Athens and counting - Prinsendam May 9, 2005

[HeatherInFlorida]

Heather,

When I posted, it was still on page one. I copied the post from the other thread. Here it is again. My point was it just wasn't Ship Services.



Okay, I'm clear now. I didn't understand you were bringing that from another thread. I'm all mixed up. Sorry.

[HeatherInFlorida]

I've thought this over and now I think I have the answer. They assign a price that includes everything ... gin & tonics, Johnny Walker Black, Coke, Cosmos, Rusty Nails ... you name it.

You work the price of the cruise down from there similarly to ordering a Dell computer. No monitor? Deduct $40. So you do it like that and than they give you "Opt Out" cards which you have to hang around your neck. It might be "Opt Out Coke", "Opt Out G&T", etc. Some people will have to wear a lot of tags and some people will have none.

Just an idea ......................:D I'm cracking myself up here :D

[DFD1]

I knew that sooner or later, we'd get back to the Martini card. I just hope that we don't finally end up neding a water or iced tea card. That would be too much.

[KAKcruiser]

I hate to mention this, but someone jokingly referred to discontinuing the waffle cones. On our last cruise on the Rotterdam on Dec. 2, there were no waffle cones the whole 10 days. I was really disappointed.

[Oceanwench]

Heather,

I live north of you, in Jupiter, so I don't get down to Lake Worth. However, we have a restaurant called "Too Bizarre" and it is exactly like the one you described!
How about The Breakers? Free refills there? :-)

I want the margarita card. I will pay dearly for it -- one way or another.

When I sailed on a WIndjammer cruise in the mid-90s, they sold drink cards with a certain number of spaces to be punched by the bartender. If you got a coke, you got one space punched. Drink of the day may be 2 punches. Specialty drink, 3 or 4. It was a good deal.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Heather,

I live north of you, in Jupiter, so I don't get down to Lake Worth. However, we have a restaurant called "Too Bizarre" and it is exactly like the one you described!
How about The Breakers? Free refills there? :-)

I want the margarita card. I will pay dearly for it -- one way or another.

When I sailed on a WIndjammer cruise in the mid-90s, they sold drink cards with a certain number of spaces to be punched by the bartender. If you got a coke, you got one space punched. Drink of the day may be 2 punches. Specialty drink, 3 or 4. It was a good deal.
That's a very good idea ... the punch card!

I'll bet Too Bizarre is related to Bizarre! Didn't know they had another one!

I don't know about The Breaker's ... only there once and I don't remember. But up near you in Jupiter, Jetty's (my favorite So Fla restaurant for years) gives refills.

[localady]

I hate to mention this, but someone jokingly referred to discontinuing the waffle cones. On our last cruise on the Rotterdam on Dec. 2, there were no waffle cones the whole 10 days. I was really disappointed.
Yep, we were on the Rotterdam on 12/2 also and I was disapppointed at no wafflecones too. But it sure cut down on my ice cream consumption on the trip, so maybe my waist benefitted.:eek:

[sail7seas]

'Y'all have me curious now. Even though DH and I never order soda when we eat out, I plan on inquiring in all the restaurants we frequent if they provide free refills. I truly do not think they do but I'll be finding out.


(let 'ya know..... :) )

[ekerr19]

'Y'all have me curious now. Even though DH and I never order soda when we eat out, I plan on inquiring in all the restaurants we frequent if they provide free refills. I truly do not think they do but I'll be finding out.


(let 'ya know..... :) )
Most restaurants in our area DO offer them - from the chains like Applebee's, Carrabas (one of my personal favorites ;) ) and Olive Garden (the kid's favorite) and Macaroni Grill... even the Palm and Brooks Steakhouse - though we are not drinking sodas, our kids always do.

I will be curious to know what you find - perhaps it is a regional thing.

[DoctorFeelgood]

Down here (North Carolina), almost every restaurant, from the cheapest chain store to the loftiest restaurant, has free refills on coffee (but not espresso drinks), (iced) tea, and soft drinks. This is so common that the rare establishment that does not offer refills usually has a sign or other indicatin to that effect.

In some parts of the northeast, however, "no free refills" seems to be a more common practice. In Canada, by my experience, it is even more common; while in Europe you pay by the drink.

[Trader Ron]

If i was spending 10K for a cruise, i would not get upset if i had to pay $2.00 for a soda. How much is a card for a 10 day cruise? $35? If you drink four sodas a day for 10 days it will cost you $80. It's peanuts when you look at what you will spend for the entire cruise. JMO.

Fire away.

[sail7seas]

In some parts of the northeast, however, "no free refills" seems to be a more common practice. In Canada, by my experience, it is even more common; while in Europe you pay by the drink.

Amost every restaurant in the Boston area offers free refills for coffee......I'll be asking re: soda.

[HeatherInFlorida]

If i was spending 10K for a cruise, i would not get upset if i had to pay $2.00 for a soda. How much is a card for a 10 day cruise? $35? If you drink four sodas a day for 10 days it will cost you $80. It's peanuts when you look at what you will spend for the entire cruise. JMO.

Fire away.
I guess it all comes down to whether you're penny-wise and pound-foolish or pound-wise and penny-foolish. I've always been the former.

There is a lady very close to me who has spent more money than I care to think about travelling this great world of ours. Yet when we visit her she asks DH to drive an extra 2 miles where the bags of ice are about $1 less.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree:D

[Trader Ron]

Heather..I was thinking of the same phrase."penny wise and pound foolish". I won't tell you some of my idosyncrasies.lol.

[RuffinReady]

Heather, maybe that's why she has so much money. :D

[sail7seas]

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree:D

She must be a very lovely, wise lady. :)


I once heard an expression that was something like.......If you watch the pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves.

[Vicar]

Heather


My mother is exactly the same way !!!!!


She will spend a fortune on clothes, trips, jewelry, home furnishings whatever, but when she has to replace a frying pan or a can opener after 30 years and sees the prices , she is like a crazy person *LOL*

My sisters and I literally have to buy her these new things and physically throw the old ones away on her.

:)

[HeatherInFlorida]

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree:D

She must be a very lovely, wise lady. :)


I once heard an expression that was something like.......If you watch the pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves.Yes she is, Sail ... she really is:) I've heard the same saying.

Ruffin', my mother has been heard to say something of that sort.

Vicar, my mother goes a bit farther than yours. She is 92, dresses beautifully and eats well, but she will buy nothing until it is completely worn out, totally broken, or worn down to nothing. She gives us generous gifts, has helped with so many things and loves to take us to dinner, but she will not spend a single dime that she doesn't have to. We finally talked her into not driving anymore and she now has her 1991 Honda Civic Hatchback, no A/C, no automatic steering, no nothing, up for sale at her local repair shop. It has 72,000 miles on it.:D

She is a rare person and I hope she'll be with us a very long time. Sorry to go on so ... I stop only because my tears blur my eyes:o .

[Vicar]

She sounds like a wonderful lady ...with a wonderful daughter I might add.

Many many more happy years with her. :)


My mom is excatly the same way, I can tell you about 5 little piddiling things she needs replaced that are just worn out o the point of being a hazard to use anymore. *LOL*

will she replace them???? NO
will she spend a fortune on her children and grandchildren this Christmas YES
would she go out and buy a new purse or shoes or a dress that costs more than a Buick instead of buying the above needed household items YES

*LOL*


You just gotta love them :)

[HeatherInFlorida]

Yes, you do;)

[AirGorilla]

'Y'all have me curious now. Even though DH and I never order soda when we eat out, I plan on inquiring in all the restaurants we frequent if they provide free refills. I truly do not think they do but I'll be finding out.


(let 'ya know..... :) )

SSS --

I had lunch today at the TGI Fridays at the PIT airport. Refills on Diet Coke were offered, and were free.

Happy Sailing!!

[kygal]

If I had ten grand to spend on a cruise for a week, it wouldn't be with Holland America. I would get the owners suite on a Radisson Ship (for example) for half the price, inclusive of all the sodas you could guzzle up - plus, spirits and wine. Go ahead - start flaming.

I totally agree with this statement!! As for the original post..sodas on board the Statendam were $2.01 a piece ..we were offered a soda package but thought the price was ridiculous ..as were many things on this cruise...so we just packed our own :rolleyes:

As for the calorie count...I wonder how many calories are in a glass of wine or a mixed drink?!?! and the price for six mixed drinks ...$42.00 she could buy app. 21 cans of soda..just a thought :o

[sail7seas]

SSS --

I had lunch today at the TGI Fridays at the PIT airport. Refills on Diet Coke were offered, and were free.

Happy Sailing!!

Great....I'm happy to hear it. :)

But, I don't live at the PIT airport. I live in the Boston area. That is the region about which I shall be inquiring.

[sail7seas]

As for the calorie count...I wonder how many calories are in a glass of wine or a mixed drink?!?! and the price for six mixed drinks ...$42.00 she could buy app. 21 cans of soda..just a thought :o

Four ounces of many red table wines = 75 calories.

[Philip217]

A can of coke from a vending machine at the Holiday Inn on Grand Cayman is US$2.00. No glass, no ice, no lime, no service, no smile. Juices, ice tea, and coffee are not free. They dont care how much money I am spending there.

A can of coke from a vending machine in the Alii Tower at Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu is US$2.50. Again no glass, no ice, no lime, no service, no smile. A coke served in the bar is $2.75 a glass (no can and no free refill). Juices, ice tea, and coffee are not free, even though I am paying over $400 per night.

HALs prices (and service) sound pretty good to me.

[sail7seas]

How much is that can of coke in Beijing, Philip?

[HeatherInFlorida]

If I had ten grand to spend on a cruise for a week, it wouldn't be with Holland America. I would get the owners suite on a Radisson Ship (for example) for half the price, inclusive of all the sodas you could guzzle up - plus, spirits and wine. Go ahead - start flaming.

I would never flame you for this comment because from what I've heard Radisson is an amazing cruiseline and some day I hope to be able to take a Radisson cruise. It's definitely on my Wish List.

However, I daresay that I could buy an awful lot of cokes on a HAL ship before I even come close to the total cost of the Radisson cruise. If HAL decided to upgrade their line and their rates accordingly, they too could probably include the cost of sodas, spirits and wine.

At the end of the day (as people love to say these days) it all really comes out about the same.

[DFD1]

Waffle cones on the Volendam end of November......Where is this thread going, anyway?

[RuffinReady]

Come on kiddies, play nice. :rolleyes:

Ruffin

Bermuda Star (long time ago!)
S.S. France (Transatlantic -1965)
S.S Atlantic (Transatlantic, Mediterranean - American Export Lines - 1966)
Europa (Caribbean - 1969 - North German Lloyd)
Statendam (Caribbean - 1975)
Sunward (Bahamas - c. 1980)
Song of America (Caribbean - 1988)
Crown Princess (Alaska - 1999)
Royal Princess (B2B to South America - 2001)
Crown Princess (Baltic - 2002)
Royal Princess (B2B2B; Transatlantic, France, Belgium, Holland; Gt.Britain-2002)
Galaxy (Caribbean - 2003)

Prinsendam (B2B; Transatlantic NYC to Athens – May 2005)