Alaska Cruise

[josephpaul]

We have booked a 7 day Alaska cruise for this July with the entire family. There will be 5 of us. My daughter who is 12 and my sons who are 20 and 22 .This is our first cruise and we have questiions. 1) What is included in the price of our fares, and what is not.( alcohol, pop, spa,) 2) Will my sons be issued a card for expenses or will they be able to use mine. ( I don't want them using their own card and running up a hige alcohol bill) 3) Do you have any tips on saving money while on the cruise. Thanks

[jtl513]

First, welcome to the HAL board! :)

1) Besides the alcohol, soda, and spa, you can plan on paying for almost every other optional thing, such as fitness center classes, bingo, cooking classes, excursions, internet, specialty coffees, Pinnacle Grill, etc. What you get for your fare is basic room, food, transportation, and entertainment.

2) You will fill out a form on which you can list up to four names that are authorized to charge to a single credit card. (If you want the 12 yr old to able to charge items I guess you would have to ask for a supplemental form or squeeze her in.) When you get your final statement, there will be a separate page (or pages) showing the totals for each person. BTW, the 20 yr old can not drink legally, so it will be just the 22 yr running up bar charges unless he supplies the younger one.

3) Just watch all the liitle things. Don't buy the ship's bottled water, just refill your own bottle from the faucets; it's fine. Don't go overboard on ship photos. Don't buy almost anything on the ship that can wait until you get into a port. Use shore ATMs for cash rather than pay the 3% fee at the front desk or casino.

Have a great cruise! :D

[O2B@C]

We have booked a 7 day Alaska cruise for this July with the entire family. ... Do you have any tips on saving money while on the cruise. Thanks

Check out the Alaska Ports of Call board for lots of cost-saving tips on booking your own shore excursions rather than through HAL, which tends to be more expensive. For just one example, in Juneau there is a local bus to the Mendenhall Glacier for about $5/pp round trip, and you can spend all the time you want there, take a hike, etc. In contrast, a HAL shore excursion to Mendenhall would probably cost a lot more, and you'd be tied to their schedule. Just one example. Only thing you need to be aware of is that if you're on an independent excursion and you're late getting back, the ship won't wait for you! Good luck, and enjoy your trip. (Pack layers, including a light waterproof jacket!)

[grannynurse]

HAL is supposed to issue a different card for minors so they won't be served alcohol but it's been known to happen.
GN

[TV Dad]

Shore excursions will be the most expensive thing you have to plan for! In fact, my family of three will spend more on shore excursions than we will on the cruise this June! We budgeted for this by getting an inside cabin which saved us a bunch of money.

So what to do now? Go on line now! Holland America has prices and descriptions of their shore excursions. Then check around on the internet and see if you can find anything cheaper run by an independent operator. In some ports, you may want to opt out of shore excursions and go straight ashore. There's lots of cool stuff to do without spending skads of moeny. Many times, tour operators will offer you a "deal" at the gangway! Just remember what time the ship leaves! Don't be late.

To Save $$ on board. . . . Buy the kids coffee or soda cards. The cost is cheaper than if you buy the drinks individually. . . PLUS they can use it to budget their spending. Give your 12 year old a card containing 10 sodas, and tell her she's stuck with iced tea, juice and water after she blows through ten sodas. She'll learn to budget. You can do the same with coffee cards. However, if you don't drink those fancy latte, mochachino, foo-foo coffees. . . don't buy the card. Normal coffee is complimentary and available 24/7.

Your 22 & 20 year olds will have no trouble drinking on board. . . However, again I'd make sure they know they're responsible for picking up their own bar bills at the end of the cruise. That'll make them a bit more responsible. You might want to make them each pony up $50 ahead of time. Then remind them that's what 12 beers plus tip cost! Despite what other readers may post, your 20 year old will have very little trouble buying alcohol on board. If you don't want him to drink -- talk with him beforehand and make sure he understands your feelings.

Save money on photos by shooting your own instead of having the ship's photographer do it. You may want to buy one or two family shots for keepsakes.

You don't have to eat in the alternative dining room. I've done it on many ships and have yet to find a restaurant I thought was worth the up-charge. HAL's upcharge is $30 pp which adds up to a lot for a family of five! The main dining room meals are all wonderful.

Bring enough film, batteries, etc. from home so you don't have to pay inflated prices on board or in expensive Alaskan ports.

If you drink wine, you can bring your own on board with Holland America's blessing. If you want to bring that bottle to dinner there is often a corkage fee charged. I've read on this board, though have not tried it myself, that if you bring wine that HAL sells on board there is no corkage fee.Many cruisers also "smuggle" their own bottle of hard liquor aboard. HAL does not permit this -- but does not search and confiscate liquor if it's packed in checked luggage. Your room steward will be happy to keep fresh glasses and ice in your cabin. You can buy mixers on board.

Hope this helps a little.

Bon Voyage

[josephpaul]

Thank you for all the good info. This being our first cruise I have no idea what to expect. I booked through a third party and have gotten no info at all from HAL. I'd like any onfo you guys have on indepent shore excurisions in Alaska.
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[OldCodger73]

There's a wealth of information on the Alaska board here on Cruise Critic.
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55