Setting up a "Meet & Greet" on HAL is easy and worth it!

[Firefighters Mom]

I was on the Oosterdam 5/13 (first cruise) and set up a meet & greet for everyone on our boards. It was great. We met by the Lido pool on our first day at sea. HAL reserved some tables for us and set up coffee, tea, water and cookies. Mr. Deering, the Hotel Manager, came down to meet us and stayed for over an hour. He was very nice, answered any questions we might have, and just spent time talking with us. We all got invitations to the Captain's VIP reception, and Mr. Deering told us to call him if we had any problems (which we didn't) while onboard. All I did was call Karla Camp at HAL in Seattle (1-800-541-1576, ex 2841). She emailed a form to fill out which I faxed back to her. They had everything set up when we arrived. Karla said she likes to have two weeks notice although she did go ahead and set it up for me with only one week. Everyone was very helpful. With only one cruise, I am now hooked on HAL. Set one up - you'll be glad you did. It was fun seeing familiar faces all week. Have fun cruising.
Shirley

[Aussie Gal]

Shirley,

Thanks for all that information. We have a Roll Call going for our trip on the Veendam in September and I wondered how to go about getting HAL to help us organize our get together.

As I do not live in Canada or the U.S. can you give me either the email address or fax number of Karla Camp so that I can get in touch with her nearer to our departure. A phone call would cost me too much and I probably wouldn't get the correct times to ring with the huge time difference between the U.S. and here.

Thanks for any further information.

Jennie

[thomasale]

Thanks for the contact person!

[CCCM]

Thank you Shirley for all the information. I am organizing the one for our Westerdam 10/15/06 cruise. At last check we had over 40 people. This will help a great deal. I like the idea of meeting by the Lido.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Glad you had a wonderful "meet and greet" get-together.

[jhannah]

Glad you had a great time. That James Deering is something else, isn't he?

[BajaFred]

Firefighters Mom did a great job in setting up our meeting. Having Mr. Deering attend was a big plus for our group. Joel Mason also performed one night - that was a great show.
Shirley didn't mention it in her note but she was the big winner of the free cruise lottery. Congratulations Shirley and Peter. Half the fun is in the planning. Think the islands in winter, or New England in the fall, or maybe the Panama Canal.
Carole

[RustaRoo]

As I do not live in Canada or the U.S. can you give me either the email address or fax number of Karla Camp so that I can get in touch with her nearer to our departure.

Karla's e-mail address is kcamp@hollandamerica.com and I believe you may reach her at this fax number 1-800-207-3547.

[Aussie Gal]

Karla's e-mail address is kcamp@hollandamerica.com and I believe you may reach her at this fax number 1-800-207-3547.

for those contact numbers. I will definitely be emailing her a few weeks before we sail.

Jennie

[richwmn]

Just to chime in for a moment. Each ship has a designated shore representative for room requests and special setups. Last October it was Megan Johnston (mjohnston@hollandamerica.com) for the Zuiderdam, but I also spoke to a Julie Peterson (jpeterson@hollandamerica.com). I don't remember which ship Julie had. The fax number is the same for everyone in ships services. You might want to give 4 - 6 weeks to start the ball rolling, but you will get your final confirmation about 1 1/2 weeks out.

Rich

[Aussie Gal]

Thanks again Richard.

I will start sending the emails around 4-6 weeks so that it can all be organized well in advance.

Jennie

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Thanks again Richard.

I will start sending the emails around 4-6 weeks so that it can all be organized well in advance.

Jennie

Jennie, if you need any help let me know. I know you have several going for the full cruise with you. Even if I will only be on the first 4 days I am looking forward to meeting those that are boarding in Vancouver:)

[Firefighters Mom]

I didn't realize there was a diferent person to cover each ship. This was our first cruise so that was my only contact with HAL for something like this. I'm glad you used Megan Johnston as you example. It's looking like we will probably be sailing on the Zuiderdam in the eastern Caribbean next January for our free cruise. I've been back from Alaska for six days and am already planning the next cruise. I had just started this thread because I was so impressed how easy it had been to set the meet & greet up and wanted to share it with others. Anyone else with names/email addresses for other ships, please feel free to list them. Thanks.
Shirley

[Aussie Gal]

Lisa,

Thanks for your offer. We will organize a get together for the passengers that board in Vancouver as some are getting off like you in L.A.

We will also have another get together when the L.A. passengers board.

It is going to be fun. My sister and brother in law have just returned from their 28 day cruise on the Prinsendam which went up the Amazon as well and really enjoyed the cruise and of course the lovely ship.

Jennie

[NoNoNanette]

"Coffee, tea, water and cookies" doesn't do much for me.

With a couple of quick emails to the right people, I'd lined up champagne and snacks for our "gang" on Royal Olympia and Princess.

We had delightful meet/greets and have cruised together since.

I don't get the attraction of a "dry" get-together. You can get that stuff on your own, can't you? :confused:

[Williebill]

We had a meet and greet on our 5/7/06 Westerdam cruise and it was fantastic to finally put faces to all of the names that I had learned on our Roll Call. It is great to sail for a week with people that you know and like.

[Aussie Gal]

We had a fun Roll Call on our last cruise to Antarctica in January on the Regal Princess. Quite a few of us even organized to be seated together at dinner which worked out really well.

We also had a couple of get togethers but Princesss did not organize anything special for us other than allowing us an hour each time in one of the bars.

I agree it is fun to be able to put faces to names and often people are so different to how you imagined them.

Jennie

[cruisequeen10]

I guess our group won't be having a Meet & Greet for the Zuiderdam to Alaska on July 8 as there are only 6 that have said they were on that sailing. Not a very good response.

[Firefighters Mom]

Cruisequeen10, keep ckecking. You still have 1 1/2 months. I didn't jump on our thread until 1 month before we left. There is still time. Also, we didn't have a big group either, but really enjoyed meeting each other.
As for the comment from someone earlier wondering why anyone would want a "dry" get together; I wasn't there to drink - I was there to meet everyone and finally put faces to names. If anyone wanted a drink, the Lido bar was just a few steps away.

[love2relax]

I agree with you Firefightersmom. It is so nice to meet everyone and put the faces to the names, whether your group has 6 or 30 members. I could care less if there is anything to eat or drink. Cruise Critic friends have added a whole new dimension to my cruising experiences. I have added a subscription to this thread and plan to set up a get-together for my HAL cruise to AK on Aug 20 :) ...and our board is really quiet right now. :(

[Aussie Gal]

I was on the Oosterdam 5/13 (first cruise) and set up a meet & greet for everyone on our boards. It was great. We met by the Lido pool on our first day at sea. HAL reserved some tables for us and set up coffee, tea, water and cookies. Mr. Deering, the Hotel Manager, came down to meet us and stayed for over an hour. He was very nice, answered any questions we might have, and just spent time talking with us. We all got invitations to the Captain's VIP reception, and Mr. Deering told us to call him if we had any problems (which we didn't) while onboard. All I did was call Karla Camp at HAL in Seattle (1-800-541-1576, ex 2841). She emailed a form to fill out which I faxed back to her. They had everything set up when we arrived. Karla said she likes to have two weeks notice although she did go ahead and set it up for me with only one week. Everyone was very helpful. With only one cruise, I am now hooked on HAL. Set one up - you'll be glad you did. It was fun seeing familiar faces all week. Have fun cruising.
Shirley

I have ressurected this post as I need some advice. We have a good Roll Call for our forthcoming cruise in September on the Veendam. I took everyone's advice and emailed Karla re our meeting on board and she sent me the forms which I have filled out and sent to Krystal per Karla's instructions.

My dilemma is will HAL tell me where the meeting is to be held or do I just select an area on board the ship. We still have a few weeks to go but we will want to know where to meet in the near future.

Thanks for any information.

Jennie

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Jennie, Thanks for all your hard work on this:) My guess is that they will tell us what area is available for us to use for our Meet and Greet. But maybe someone who has dones this can answer.

[Ziggy7]

Great info! Thanks for posting it, as a group leader its will help me out alot!:D:D:D

[michmike]

Chalk up another who thinks the meet and greet can be fun. A couple of cruises ago there were 24 of us. I brought some cheap Groucho glasses for eeveryone as an ice breaker and we had a ball with them. My favorite cruise pic is one of all of that group in their formal nite splendor, posed on the staircase in the dining room, wearing their glasses..

Last time we brought Burger King crowns for everyone.. that was OK but the glasses are hard to beat. One of the ladies went from the meet and greet to the casino w/ the glasses in her pocket and won something like $500, so the rest of the cruise many of the gang would be sure to take theirs along if they frequented the casino. But no more big winners.. guess HAL had to recoup the $500 from someone.

We're on Westerdam with CCCM in October. Looking forward to meeting everyone.

[richwmn]

The ships coordinator and ships staff will assign you a room or area based on the needs of your group (size and setup) and anything else going on at the same time. On the form you request the date and time, along with number of people and what type of setup you want. You may not know until you board where it will be, however, there will be a sign of some sort outside the area

Rich

[gizmo]

"Coffee, tea, water and cookies" doesn't do much for me.

With a couple of quick emails to the right people, I'd lined up champagne and snacks for our "gang" on Royal Olympia and Princess.

We had delightful meet/greets and have cruised together since.

I don't get the attraction of a "dry" get-together. You can get that stuff on your own, can't you? :confused:

On my last cruise, Hal provided cocktails, "on the house". It was VERY NICE.

Coffee, tea, and cookies doesn't do it for me either. ;)

[elmorejj]

Or me!!.....jean:cool:

[RuthC]

I have ressurected this post as I need some advice. ...My dilemma is will HAL tell me where the meeting is to be held or do I just select an area on board the ship.
Jennie, when I've made the arrangements I've always picked the place based on the desires/size of the group, then let HAL know what we wanted. It's always worked well that way.
I kept copies of all the correspondence, and brought it with me to the ship. Then, after boarding, I've reconfirmed the arrangements with the Bar Manager. (It's amazing how much information doesn't make it aboard sometimes.)

Good luck, and have fun! :)

[Aussie Gal]

Thanks everyone for your help. I will do as you say Ruth and bring along copies of my correspondence with both Karla and Krystal. We may have to wait until we board before we know what room we are assigned.

I will ask our Roll Call for their cabin numbers further down the track and then I can ring them with the name of the room that HAL provides us with. I was just worrying a bit due to the fact that I live so far away and can only get in touch with HAL by email or fax.

Jennie

[Ferry Watcher]

We will be sailing to Alaska on the Westerdam in September (we depart on a Sunday and Monday is a sea day). If one of you veteran CCer's were to organize a meet & greet, what day and time would be you first choice to schedule it?

We have about 40 folks (posters and traveling companions) that have signed onto our Westerdam sail thread. About half of the posters just posted once, and we haven't heard from them since. I'm hoping if a CC get-together is organized that everyone will come (although I do know that that is unlikely). Do most folks show up if they say they will?

I enjoy reading the different meet & greet stories. Can anyone else share their meet & greet experience? Either as an organizer, or participant? I loved the story about the Groucho glasses. Any other icebreakers?

Did anyone ask if HAL would provide a House wine along with coffee, tea etc (assuming the meet & greet wasn't in the morning;) ). Does anyone know who the Westerdam coordinator for scheduling is?

Thanks!
Ferry Watcher

[RuthC]

Ferry Watcher, I would suggest you ask on the Roll-Call when people want the meeting; you will get the best response that way.
If I were one of them I would suggest Monday, late morning. Folks should be more relaxed than the first day, just getting into the groove, and be getting used to time zone differences.

Once there's response from the thread you will have a good idea of how many will attend. In my experience, if people say they're coming they do tend to come.

What you're looking for is a consensus on day/time. Then approach Seattle to make the arrangements. Have an idea in your mind what room you want (maybe the Crow's Nest?) and ask for that; if it's a large room, specify an area. Ask for a sign, and for the area to be roped off.
Bring your correspondence with you, and re-confirm with the Bar Manager once you board.

Get everyone's name and cabin #. Sometimes you have to make changes at the last minute and it's nice to be able to let everyone know.

my credentials: I've made the arrangements for three round-trip cruises to Europe; each cruise was two segments. I learned a little more with each passing cruise.

[richwmn]

Please remember that the "normal" public rooms are not the only places meet and greets can be held. Each ship has several conference rooms that are specifically for this purpose. On the Zuiderdam they are

Half Moon Room
Hudson Room
Stuyvesant Roomand are like hotel conference rooms. They can be combined to various sizes by opening the interior doors. Our meet and greet was held in the Stuyvesant Room and that had plenty of room for our group of 20. These are on the Promenade deck. There is also a large area on the Lower Promenade deck which could be used. It is not named on the deck plan, but it is next to the Explorers Lounge.

Hope this helps

Rich

[Aussie Gal]

We will be sailing to Alaska on the Westerdam in September (we depart on a Sunday and Monday is a sea day). If one of you veteran CCer's were to organize a meet & greet, what day and time would be you first choice to schedule it?

We have about 40 folks (posters and traveling companions) that have signed onto our Westerdam sail thread. About half of the posters just posted once, and we haven't heard from them since. I'm hoping if a CC get-together is organized that everyone will come (although I do know that that is unlikely). Do most folks show up if they say they will?

I enjoy reading the different meet & greet stories. Can anyone else share their meet & greet experience? Either as an organizer, or participant? I loved the story about the Groucho glasses. Any other icebreakers?

Did anyone ask if HAL would provide a House wine along with coffee, tea etc (assuming the meet & greet wasn't in the morning;) ). Does anyone know who the Westerdam coordinator for scheduling is?

Thanks!
Ferry Watcher

I first of all emailed Karin at KCamp@HollandAmerica.com Karin is the Ships Services Co-ordiantor. She then sent me a copy of the form which I filled in stating how many guests we were expecting, time, date etc. On the form it mentions that HAL will provide coffee, tea, water, cookies if needed. No mention of alcholol being provided. Karin asked me to send it back to Krystal Dingman who is the Group Co-ordinator for the Veendam. Now I am just waiting on hearing back from her or finding out where we will be holding our meeting when we board. Fax numbers are: 800 207 3547 and 206 508 8518.

As we are on a 34 day cruise, we are having two get togethers in the first week, one to meet up with everyone boarding in Vancouver and Seattle and the second one for those who are boarding in Los Angeles. After those two meetings we will play it by "ear" and see if we want to get together again.

By the way, when we had our get together on the Regal Princess in January, I took provided the name tags with the names already printed on them. It was a great help to know whom we were talking to. :)

Hope this helps a little.

Jennie