Silly Question re: HAL Tote bags

[CarolineInToronto]

Hi all,

so I read on one of the threads here that you get a HAL tote bag on your first/2nd day onboard. Is this true of all the 'DAMs? And what does it look like? :D

I'm asking because I think I'd want to bring some stamps & inks to make mine more colourful and then easier to find on my deckchair later! LOL! :p

Thanks in advance,

Caroline in TO

[lisabrooke1130]

They are off-white/beige with blue HAL lettering. On 7-day cruises, you get one per cabin. We also took a 12-day cruise and got 2 per cabin. This is not a silly question--I count on those tote bags and don't bring one with me.

[CarolineInToronto]

Thanks, lisabrooke1130! It'll be a 7-day trip to the Mexican Riviera...so maybe I'll stamp sea-shells on it! LOL!

Appreciate the help :) Now it's one less thing to have to pack on my Über-list!

Caro in TO

[sail7seas]

We talked about the tote bags here in the last few days.


We have always received ours the evening before our first port. One person posted here that they received their's the first night of the cruise.
That has never happened for us.

Presumably, the purpose of the tote (which most of us really enjoy receiving and using) is to use when in port carry 'odds and ends'.....:) all your jewelry purchases. Many folks use them as beach/pool bags and for all sorts of things we use any tote for.

I think you'll enjoy yours and it will more personalized when you put your stamps on them.

(My point is only for you to not count on getting it the first night but rather the evening before your first port.)

[Sailboater]

I am wondering if they will pass out the tote bags the first night on a trip that goes to Half Moon Cay on the first full day like our canal transit in April. I am waffling over whether to bring one of my old ones or depend on getting one before HMC. If anyone has done a cruise that has HMC as the first stop, did you get the tote bags the first night?

[longtimecruiser]

In December, we were on the Rotterdam Christmas cruise. Half Moon Cay was our first port the day after we sailed. Our totes were delievered to the cabin the first evening.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Anytime we have HMC or Nassau as our first port of call when leaving Ft Lauderdale, the tote is put on our bed the first night.

Never have we gotten 2 totes cor any of our 16, 21, and 22 day cruises. Just one for the cabin for the entire sailing.

[CHRIS3169]

Okay, I admit I am just a goober, does anyone have a picture of the bag? Just wanting to know what to look forward to!

Thanks,
Chris:)

[ekerr19]

Here is one...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=35964&item=6513960090&rd=1

[Tatka]

They are off-white/beige with blue HAL lettering. On 7-day cruises, you get one per cabin. We also took a 12-day cruise and got 2 per cabin. This is not a silly question--I count on those tote bags and don't bring one with me.

We got 2 on 7 dayer on Zuiderdam.;)

[sail7seas]

Through a whole big bunch of cruises....there have been times when the steward left two bags. I remember one cruise when I wrecked my bag when we got caught in the rain and I dropped it (and it's contents :( ) into a huge, muddy puddle. I asked our steward for another and he was happy to get one for me. I had a bunch of them at home but that wasn't doing me any good on the ship when I ruined the one we were given.

[Ziggy7]

hmmmmmmmmmm mine doesnt look like that, it doesnt have alot of Holland America Line printing on it. It is a canvas tote and will take the stamping and markers real well :) Good Idea! Of course we got ours last Aug. so if they look like that now you can judge for yourself!

[HALGirl]

Over the years HAL has changed the printing on the tote bags so the one shown on E-Bay is just one of several styles. They are all basically the same size and just as handy.

Joanne

[Ziggy7]

Over the years HAL has changed the printing on the tote bags so the one shown on E-Bay is just one of several styles. They are all basically the same size and just as handy.

JoanneI agree, they are small though, a one person bag, if your DH doesnt have fins and mask to carry it should be ok hehehehe:) And ours had alot more blank space to decorate :)

[peaches from georgia]

We were using 2 of ours today and had them handy, so measured them before anyone on this thread got overly worried about size. They are 18" wide by 13".

Perfect for taking into port for a little shopping or to the beach with a towel and book. At home I use them constantly. ;)

[dakrewser]

Here is one...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=35964&item=6513960090&rd=1

THat's an old one - it still lists the Nieuw Amsterdam :)

[iluvcruzin]

Caroline - it's a canvas type bag you find in craft stores. Fabric Markers would work well on decorating and will absorb the colour. Sounds like a cute idea.

[ekerr19]

THat's an old one - it still lists the Nieuw Amsterdam :)

Geez, well then maybe it's worth the $5 bucks! We have tons of them and give them away, never found too much use for them - plus I don't think they are all that attractive. If you want to advertise (in port) "I'm on a HAL cruise" - this is the best way to do it.

Didn't realize I was posting a link to an outdated photo - my bad. :rolleyes:

[dakrewser]

Didn't realize I was posting a link to an outdated photo - my bad. :rolleyes:

It's just the tote that's old, the auction is current. You ought to snap it up before some other collector gets it! :)

[CarolineInToronto]

I have the Fabrico Markers that will do the trick -- I think I'll get the kids to decorate it too...might help keep them busy, oh, 5 minutes!! :D

Thanks for everyone's help with measurements, etc. Muchas Gracias!

Caroline in TO

[Stevesan]

It's just the tote that's old, the auction is current. You ought to snap it up before some other collector gets it! :)

Yep, hurry up - number of bids to date: ZERO!

[ekerr19]

It's just the tote that's old, the auction is current. You ought to snap it up before some other collector gets it! :)

No thanks! I have plenty of them... I think I have an old one too. I am amazed at some of the HAL stuff they sell on eBay.

[Ziggy7]

No thanks! I have plenty of them... I think I have an old one too. I am amazed at some of the HAL stuff they sell on eBay.me too hehehehe:)

[Vic The Parrot]

(My point is only for you to not count on getting it the first night but rather the evening before your first port.)



Maybe it depends on the ship??
I did get mine on the first night (sailing from San Diego).
That's my story, and I'm sticking withing it......


so NYAH!



:-)

[RevNeal]

I was on the same sailing as Vic. Different deck, different steward. I got my tote bag the first night out. Can't say why. I had brought an extra one -- I always put laundry in it, though I don't have anywhere to tote my laundry to on a Vista :( -- and was surprised to find my new one on my bed when I got back from the late show. At first I thought it was the one I had brought and my steward had gone to the trouble of pressing it for me, but then I saw the one I brought, situated on the couch ... he HAD pressed it! ... but I also had my new one. And we still had a Day-at-sea ahead of us.

I will admit that this is unusual. In every cruise I've ever taken it's always been put out the night before our first port-of-call. It was put out on our first night upon leaving Vancouver last year because, the very next day, we were calling in Victoria. :)

[x lindsay x]

On our 7 day Zuiderdam trip in October there were four of us in a room and we each got a bag. I guess we were lucky?

[Vic The Parrot]

Looks like each pax gets one.

Not a bad deal. At least each person has a bag to put to use.

[shonuf]

I have cruised HAL several times, sometimes with my mother and sometimes with my husband. On the cruises with mom, we each got a bag and when with my husband, we got one between us. So maybe each lady gets one.

I love them and have carried them to work for years and carry one with me even when travelling other cruise lines. I always take a photo of the bag with some identifier of the other cruise line.

Susan in sunny Frisco TX

[RuthC]

A steward told us once that it's one per couple, or one per person if the person is a "single". The singles can be two people travelling together, just not a married couple.

I remember my husband getting quite angry about that; he said we both paid out fare and should each have a bag. The fact that I had several at home---and we didn't use them---went right past him.
Perhaps I should try to sell them on E-bay? :rolleyes:

[duchessdtr]

They are off-white/beige with blue HAL lettering. On 7-day cruises, you get one per cabin. We also took a 12-day cruise and got 2 per cabin. This is not a silly question--I count on those tote bags and don't bring one with me.

When we were on our cruise with the Veendam from Feb. 5-12 of this month, there were 10 of us in our group - 2 pair of husbands and wives and the other 3 cabins had 2 women in each. The H/W pairs received one bag. The 2 women in the cabins each received a bag, so the 1 bag per cabin rule definitely didn't apply here. We got ours the first night because our first port of call was the very next day after leaving Tampa.

[cru1s1ng]

Since I paid a single-supplement, do I get 1.5 bags? LOL

[sandydownunder]

Yes, there have been several styles over the years. On one HAL cruise we saw a fellow passenger wearing a blazer (do you use that term in the US? ladies suit coat) made from them. She was obviousley a very good seamstress, or professional tailor.The large logo with modern ship and sailing ship were positioned in the middle of her back and on either side of the front.
Names of ships made up the sleeves and lapels.The patchwork pieces had been very cleverly worked out.

It looked very good, although not something I'd want. I spoke to her and she said it was a good ice-breaker for conversations as many people commented.

A very loyal HAL passenger indeed. Perhaps someone out there knows this lady or has a photograph of her jacket to add to this thread.

Sandra

[ekerr19]

Since I paid a single-supplement, do I get 1.5 bags? LOL

I can mail you at least a dozen!!! :eek:

[cru1s1ng]

I can mail you at least a dozen!!! :eek:

Very generous, thanks. I prefer a backpack so I can sling it over my shoulder. I'll probably bring the tote bag to work for a fews days, to prolong the agony I've put my co-workers through.

[cru1s1ng]

I can mail you at least a dozen!!! :eek:

Very generous, thanks. I prefer a backpack so I can sling it over the shoulder. I'll bring the tote bag to work for a few days to prolong the agony I've been putting my co-workers through.

[longtimecruiser]

I have enough to wallpaper a wall!!!!!

[Skilla6]

On my 2 HAL cruises with 2 different daughters, we each got one while we were in the same room. However, on the cruise that my husband and son joined us, they didn't get one. Maybe the cabin attendants know that women need the bags for all their purchases. :D Also, the Alaska cruise had Alaska themed bags. It's all good and the bags are so handy and practical.