Soda Cards?

[awaflyboy]

What does HAL charge for its soda/juice card? My last cruise on RCCL charged $6 a day for unlimted fountain drinks and juices. Is HAL the same?

[raadsel]

Soda cards on HAL are $18 for 20 sodas. The card is punched each time you use it. Their is also a spot on the back for them to write the dates it's valid (for your cruise only), however I have one from my cruise that was only punched six times and is not dated (if someone is interested).

[GmaPajama]

We found that it's also ok to share a soda card. We couldn't possibly drink 20 sodas each in a week, so that works out nicely. You only get one drink holder that way, but the soda cards work for a glass of soda at any of the bars too. You can bring your own insulated drink holder so that you have two, or just wing it.

[ScriptOhio]

Soda cards on HAL are $18 for 20 sodas. The card is punched each time you use it. Their is also a spot on the back for them to write the dates it's valid (for your cruise only), however I have one from my cruise that was only punched six times and is not dated (if someone is interested).

I'll be on a HAL cruise this February. I'm interested. Are you offering it for free or selling it (if so how much)?

Joe

edit: added email
jrogers283@hotmail.com

[kakalina]

The price of the soda cards depend on the length of your cruise. We have paid as much as $125 for a longer cruise and as little as $18.75 for a shorter cruise. We were told many years ago that two people can not share a card. That would be cheating. I know that some waiters look the other way but it costs the rest of us in the long run to do that. If you can afford a cruise surely you can afford a few dollars for a soda card?

[awaflyboy]

Soda cards on HAL are $18 for 20 sodas. The card is punched each time you use it. Their is also a spot on the back for them to write the dates it's valid (for your cruise only), however I have one from my cruise that was only punched six times and is not dated (if someone is interested).

Are you offering it or selling it? I'd love to get it to my travel buddy, he's a paramedic thats going on the cruise with me and he's worried about costs since he's just now getting back to work after having his ambulance run into by a drunk driver while he was responding to an accident so he's short on funds and I'd love to get it for him as a surprise.

[GmaPajama]

Sorry, Kakalina, if I led you to believe we shared our drink card to save a few bucks. We did buy two, but the bartenders usually grabbed just one card and marked off both sodas on that. We ended up with 14 drinks left on one card and 2 on the other. It had simply occured to me that it wasn't necessary to buy both cards next time.

You're definitely right, in that if you can afford a cruise you can afford the soda cards. Thanks for catching that for me.

Donna

[KAKcruiser]

The soda cards used to be unlimited and that is why they were different prices for different length cruises. Only one person was entitled to use the card. But, now they are for a specific number of sodas. Therefore, more than one person can use the card.

[jhannah]

Seems like I've heard that they aren't offering the unlimited card anymore. I definitely saw couples sharing one card, so this would explain why they would just offer a fixed number. Here's what the card looks like now:

28035

[thomasale]

Seems to me too that if its' for X sodas that anyone can use it...

[WNYCRUISER]

When it was the unlimited, I believe it was the fountain soda. With the newer $18.00/ 20 sodas is it still the fountain, or the cans?

[GmaPajama]

For us, they used canned soda. They filled either our HAL Coolers or put it in a glass if we didn't have them along.

Donna

[hammybee]

I have read various posts about the size of the glass of soda, either inconsistent or quite small, by soda standards.

HAL allows you to bring your own soda aboard and this is what I do. This way you get what you want, when you want it and it's the least costly option, if you are a big time soda drinker, as I am.

I drink it in my cabin, in the Lido and occasionally I have brought my own beloved nectar, Dr. Pepper to a bar as a chaser for purchased Sambuca.

Oh yeah, I am one savvy cruiser:)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

When H/M Mr. Deering was here in Las Vegas in June we talked about the Soda Cards. They are no longer unlimited and they are a flat charge good for 20 sodas. They are for cans of soda, they no longer have fountain drinks for this card. It is my understanding that if you do not use the card in full it can be used on your next HAL cruise.:) If I remember right the price is $18.00. We plan to buy one for Tom on our upcoming 4 day cruise on the Veendam, I am sure he will not use all of it so we will bring it with us when we go on the Zaandam in November.

[RuthC]

I sure hope you can use the soda card on a subsequent cruise! If you've paid for 20 sodas then you shoulc be able to get 20 sodas!

I'll be seeing for myself in October. I bought a soda card for my grandgirl when we were on the Volendam; there's still sodas left on it and I plan to bring it on the Voyage of the Spammed.

[kakalina]

Sorry, Kakalina, if I led you to believe we shared our drink card to save a few bucks. We did buy two, but the bartenders usually grabbed just one card and marked off both sodas on that. We ended up with 14 drinks left on one card and 2 on the other. It had simply occured to me that it wasn't necessary to buy both cards next time.

You're definitely right, in that if you can afford a cruise you can afford the soda cards. Thanks for catching that for me.

Donna

Donna: I am sorry if you felt that was a slam. I did not mean you in particular I speaking of you in the general sense :o

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I sure hope you can use the soda card on a subsequent cruise! If you've paid for 20 sodas then you shoulc be able to get 20 sodas!

I'll be seeing for myself in October. I bought a soda card for my grandgirl when we were on the Volendam; there's still sodas left on it and I plan to bring it on the Voyage of the Spammed.

Ruth, you will get to find out before we do. We will buy the soda care on September 24th and hope to finish using it when we board the Zaandam November 16th. Looking forward to what you find out.:)

[TIMELMAN]

We got our docs today. it siad 20.70 for 20 soda card. thats for 10/21/2006 cruise.

[raadsel]

We got our docs today. it siad 20.70 for 20 soda card. thats for 10/21/2006 cruise.

The card is $18 and then, as I understand it, they add 10% for a tip as they do with all bar drinks. I was also told for most items, like the soda cards, that you pre-purchase for your cruise you are charged Washington state sales tax.

[raadsel]

I sure hope you can use the soda card on a subsequent cruise! If you've paid for 20 sodas then you shoulc be able to get 20 sodas!

I'll be seeing for myself in October. I bought a soda card for my grandgirl when we were on the Volendam; there's still sodas left on it and I plan to bring it on the Voyage of the Spammed.

Ruth,

Some of the cards that my family recieved had the cruise date (8/25) written on the back. Under the Terms & Conditions on the back of the card is a line that reads, "Card valid only for the duration of the cruise." As long as the date isn't written on your card you should have no problem using it on another cruise.

Also, the cards are for glasses of soda (again per the terms) which only includes Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Tonic, Ginger Ale, and Club Soda -- though my sister always requested cherry in her Coke. It can also only be used at the bars on board and at Half Moon Cay, not through room service.

[aaerobear]

The card is $18.00 plus 15% (total $20.70) as all items purchased from the bars. They may say it is for cans, but you DO NOT get cans, they open a can and pour it in a glass, if it all fits, fine, if not, they set the can with the other open cans of soda/mix. Be sure to bring your tumbler if you have one as they hold more and you will get the whole can. We have used this twice, once on the Rotterdam and once on the Maasdam.

Ed/Jeff

[ScriptOhio]

Soda cards on HAL are $18 for 20 sodas. The card is punched each time you use it. Their is also a spot on the back for them to write the dates it's valid (for your cruise only), however I have one from my cruise that was only punched six times and is not dated (if someone is interested).

raadsel,

Thank you, I emailed you my address.

[jhannah]

The card is $18.00 plus 15% (total $20.70) as all items purchased from the bars. They may say it is for cans, but you DO NOT get cans, they open a can and pour it in a glass, if it all fits, fine, if not, they set the can with the other open cans of soda/mix. Yep! We were shocked to learn this on our recent Noordam cruise. On prior cruises we always got the can. Not any more. :( Personally, I think this is cheap of HAL. C'mon ... we paid for the entire can. GIVE US THE CAN! (Saves the bartender time, too.)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Yep! We were shocked to learn this on our recent Noordam cruise. On prior cruises we always got the can. Not any more. :( Personally, I think this is cheap of HAL. C'mon ... we paid for the entire can. GIVE US THE CAN! (Saves the bartender time, too.)

Could't one just go to the bar and ask for 2 or three cans and just give them the card and say you plan to drink them later in your cabin. Which is exactly what Tom always does but we have never purchase the card before. We usually end up spending a lot of money because he just uses the ones from the Mini Bar or on the last dayhe goes down and purchases several cans and brings them back to the cabin after they have locked up the Mini bar.

[jhannah]

More than one bartender on the Noordam was ADAMANT about not giving us the cans. Seems they have been drilled to pour and let that be it. One time we were able to take the can, but only after appearing somewhat irritated. ;)

[cool change]

Does anyone know if they will sell a can of soda on board, if so, how much? I cant remember what a glass costs in the dining room and if they gave me the can or not. Just checking as we usually bring our own for the room, but just enough for a few days and then fill up when at a port. We are doing a B2B ( dont know if I could use same card for both legs) This cruise looks like there wont be a lot of ports to buy soda and dont know if its worth it when we do.

[jhannah]

Last time I purchased a single soft drink it was $2.01 ($1.75 plus the 15% bar tip.) If you drink a lot of them, the card or purchasing on shore is worth it.

[Mollynme]

Just curious about when HAL changed to the punch card. On the Veendam in March, my brother just got a sticker to put on his Sign & Sail card that was good for unlimited soft drinks. Of course, it was a gift from his TA so that may make a difference.

[jc75644]

The card is $18.00 plus 15% (total $20.70) as all items purchased from the bars. They may say it is for cans, but you DO NOT get cans, they open a can and pour it in a glass, if it all fits, fine, if not, they set the can with the other open cans of soda/mix. Be sure to bring your tumbler if you have one as they hold more and you will get the whole can. We have used this twice, once on the Rotterdam and once on the Maasdam.

Ed/Jeff

What d

[jc75644]

The card is $18.00 plus 15% (total $20.70) as all items purchased from the bars. They may say it is for cans, but you DO NOT get cans, they open a can and pour it in a glass, if it all fits, fine, if not, they set the can with the other open cans of soda/mix. Be sure to bring your tumbler if you have one as they hold more and you will get the whole can. We have used this twice, once on the Rotterdam and once on the Maasdam.

Ed/Jeff

What do

[jc75644]

The card is $18.00 plus 15% (total $20.70) as all items purchased from the bars. They may say it is for cans, but you DO NOT get cans, they open a can and pour it in a glass, if it all fits, fine, if not, they set the can with the other open cans of soda/mix. Be sure to bring your tumbler if you have one as they hold more and you will get the whole can. We have used this twice, once on the Rotterdam and once on the Maasdam.

Ed/Jeff

What do you

[jc75644]

The card is $18.00 plus 15% (total $20.70) as all items purchased from the bars. They may say it is for cans, but you DO NOT get cans, they open a can and pour it in a glass, if it all fits, fine, if not, they set the can with the other open cans of soda/mix. Be sure to bring your tumbler if you have one as they hold more and you will get the whole can. We have used this twice, once on the Rotterdam and once on the Maasdam.

Ed/Jeff

What's this about bring your tumbler? Do you mean bring one from home, or is one given out with the purchase of the card?

[jhannah]

They gave us a Coke/Holland America Line commemorative tumbler when we purchased the card. Only if it's filled with soda (no ice) and you sip a little out can you get the whole amount of soda from the can.

[Robin7]

On our July 28-August 4 cruise on the Zaandam, it was explained to me by the front desk (and says right on the back of the card) that you can ONLY get fountain sodas. Not cans. Yet the bartender in many places had to open a can to pour me a drink, not having fountain soda at that spot. It's a confusing policy. Does anyone have the actual card? Could you please post exactly what it says on the back? One of the show lounge bar girls told me I could only get 'regular' soda. She meant fountain-only, not cans, but I was pretty confused, hence the trip to the front desk to ask.

We had three soda cards by the end of our cruise. (One we purchased before the beverage manager traded the two bottles of wine our TA gave us (we don't drink alcohol) for two soda cards.) No way could we drink 60 sodas! I did my best but we still had 16 left at the end. Ours was not dated so I found a couple waiting to board and gave it to them. They were very appreciative!

Robin

[raadsel]

From the back of the card:

Holland America Line's Soda Fountain Card Terms & Conditions


Each Soda Card is valid for 20 glasses of Fountain Soda.
A Bar Server will clip off a portion of your card each time a glass of Fountain Soda is served.
The Soda Card cannot be used as part of the Stateroom Mini Bar service.
The Soda Card cannot be used for Room Service.
The Soda Card may be used during opening hours of the onboard bars and on Half Moon Cay.
Please consult you Daily Program for bar opening hours.
Fountain Soda includes and is limited to: Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Tonic, Ginger Ale & Club Soda.
Card valid only for the duration of the cruise.

[jhannah]

That's what the back of ours says. Strange, isn't it? We never got a fountain soda ... always poured from a can. And since there's no date anywhere on the card, how can they know if the card was issued on that particular cruise? I'm thinking this may be wording left over from the old unlimited soda card.

[raadsel]

It's possible the wording is left over. OTOH, there is a small box of blue lines next to the terms and conditions. As I mentioned previously, some of the cards my family received had the date of the cruise written in that box.

[Liz1973]

If not too cumbersome and time permits....It may be best to pick up some Soda at your departure city and hand carry onboard. I'm sure like you will find can or bottle of soda for less than the $2.00 cost.

hmmm $2.00 @ 2-3times per day for 12+days for 2 :eek:

I've carried my own soda's in the past and will continue to do so, and have my preferred soda.:)

[griswalds]

As a past soda card user, I appreciate that HAL gives you pop from a can rather than fountain pop. The taste is much better.

Griwalds