Soda Cards onboard Noordam?

[expectGREATthings]

I was wondering if anyone knew if you got a cup with the soda card when ordering in advace, or do you only get one if you buy it when on the ship? Also, can they be purchased in the Neptune Lounge? Thanks in advance.

Mike

[747girl]

I don't know about the cup, but HAL doesn't mail the soda card to you in advance. I think it shows up in your stateroom. I will try to ask my mom this question for you, as she is on a HAL ship right now (will be cruising on Hal for 35 days! on the Statendam).

[Samme]

On a different thread it was posted you do not receive a cup for soda if you prepay for the card, but they were readily available and even pushed at the beginning of the cruise. Also if you prepay for any cards and have them waiting in your stateroom you are charged tax. There is no tax receiving the cards after the ship has sailed.

I have opted to wait to purchase any beverage cards until boarding because of the above reasons.

[canadagal]

Just wondering........can you still use the soda cards on a future cruise if you didn't use it all and still have unpunched holes left on the card? Are the cards the same for every ship or would they some how know that it wasn't a new purchase?

[the substitute]

I have 2 unused soda cards having just returned from the Oosterdam & a family reunion cruise. The "folks" don't drink soda and gave us their cards. Couldn't possibly drink that much soda! Could we use the cards on our next cruise as they are totally unused?

[vanrhyn]

On a different thread it was posted you do not receive a cup for soda if you prepay for the card, but they were readily available and even pushed at the beginning of the cruise. Also if you prepay for any cards and have them waiting in your stateroom you are charged tax. There is no tax receiving the cards after the ship has sailed.

I have opted to wait to purchase any beverage cards until boarding because of the above reasons.

If you pre-order your cards and have them delivered at sea or in the dining room, they are tax free also. So if you can put up not having the card for a few hours (or even a day) you can pre-order the card.

[magictam]

I purchased a soda card last week in anticpation of our cruise in August. The web site price is 20.70 and that is what was charged to me debit. I'm having it delivered to my stateroom in port. Since it's already been charged, I don't see how I could then be charged for tax. Maybe the key to this is to pre-order and pay for it. I did this under the "for booked guest" tab and order cruise gifts.

I've also found and printed a 2006-2007 Gift Guide from Holland and it has way more stuff on it then the internet site. For instance I'm trying to decide if the 10 drink coffee card w/keepsake HAL commuter mug for 43.70 is a good deal. Should I just get a regular coffee card (29.90) and purchase the keepsake mug later. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Samme]

When I was at the HAL site to purchse and check out with the soda card being delivered to our stateroom in port the total cost was $22.43 and tax was $1.73. Maybe it depends what State you live in.

I find it really weird that they're charging different amounts to different people.:confused:

[TheHappyWanderer]

The soda card on HAL is a punch card? On other lines it is simply a sticker on y9our sail card that allows unlimi6ted soda at bars and meals. Is this not how it works on HAL?

[RuthC]

Just wondering........can you still use the soda cards on a future cruise if you didn't use it all and still have unpunched holes left on the card? Are the cards the same for every ship or would they some how know that it wasn't a new purchase?

I have 2 unused soda cards having just returned from the Oosterdam & a family reunion cruise. The "folks" don't drink soda and gave us their cards. Couldn't possibly drink that much soda! Could we use the cards on our next cruise as they are totally unused?
I had a card on the Volendam in July that wasn't finished. I used it on the Zaandam in October. No one batted an eyelash about it.

The soda card on HAL is a punch card? On other lines it is simply a sticker on y9our sail card that allows unlimi6ted soda at bars and meals. Is this not how it works on HAL?
HAL no longer has an "unlimited" card---too many people were sharing it. Now it's a set price for a set number of fountain sodas. You can share it, or buy drinks for others to your heart's content.
That's what has prompted the question about using it up on a subsequent cruise. Since you've already paid for 20 sodas then you should be able to get 20 sodas (IMHO), regardless if it's on the next cruise.

*****
I am curious about this "tax" people are posting about, though? Isn't that only the Florida Sales tax for cruises sailing from Florida ports? It doesn't apply to everyone if that's the case.
I know there is a Florida tax placed on liquor orders, but, again, only if Florida is the embarkation port. I'm thinking this is the same situation.

[canadagal]

That's great to know Ruth, thank-you. I'll keep the cards and try to use them on our next cruise......and see what happens.
Pat

[Big Al B.]

I think the sales tax thing might be based on the state you live in and buying via the internet. I know that here in Pennsylvania, when I order from out of state places on internet, some charge and some don't.

[WNYCRUISER]

*****
I am curious about this "tax" people are posting about, though? Isn't that only the Florida Sales tax for cruises sailing from Florida ports? It doesn't apply to everyone if that's the case.
I know there is a Florida tax placed on liquor orders, but, again, only if Florida is the embarkation port. I'm thinking this is the same situation.

Yes, I believe it is the Florida sales tax....or any other embarkation state that this applies to. HAL charges Florida sales tax for items purchased on cruises originating out of Florida, until such time as they are (not sure exactly) 6-10 miles out of port. This also applies to purchases on cruises originating out of New York within 3 miles of New York Harbor. I cannot speak for cruises originating out of any other State.

On our Christmas cruise out of NY, we had sailaway drinks and were in fact charged the sales tax. I believe this would apply to any purchase within the limits set, thus if you purchase a soda card when you first board, you will likely be charged sales tax on that purchase. If you wait until you are outside the "boundaries" there should be no tax.