How Many Days Do You Have On HAL?

[RevNeal]

Here's a new poll. I know how many days some of y'all have, I'm just curious to see what it looks like in a poll.

[FlorenceItaly]

Only 7...first HAL cruise in June...but soon to be 14 :).

Marie

[RaffinOrganGrinders]

When we arrive back in Ft Lauderdale, FL in December on the Westerdam we will have 46 days on HAL. I guess that is not bad for three HAL cruises.

George :rolleyes:

[WindyCity]

14 come December;)

[jazzsea]

I know, I know. I've been cruising longer than most of you and I'm older than most of you. Don't you love to look at the pictures?

My goal is 1000 days on Holland America. Doesn't that sound strange?
My second goal is 500 days on Wind Star.

After lots and lots of research we have figured that cruising just might be less expensive than a nursing home for our later years.

[LizB1]

Not sure if jazzsea has cruised longer than I have, but as of now I have 1029 days on HAL...plus more on other lines...for a total of over 80 cruises. Look forward to adding 35 more days next July on the Maasdam.

[spcl4cs_gal]

Fourteen so far but 28 by the end of next March.

[Lisa63]

None now :( , but soon to be seven :) .

[Orcrone]

None yet, but in eight months will be at 17 days.:)

[lipoppop]

First cruise was in 2002. Now over 50 days on HAL and will pass 100 in 2005 with what we have booked. Beats backpacking in Asia.

[Esme]

396 with another 8 days coming up in December. Haven't decided where we will go in 2005 yet, but it will probably be a couple of 10 - 14 day cruises.

Congratulations LizB1 - seems you hold the record here on CC. :D

[Candy]

56 for us, and our 3rd Zuidy in November will put us at 63. Stepping aboard a HAL ship offers a really comfortable feeling of familiarity that makes the cruise much more enjoyable.

[sail7seas]

We are in the "over 401 days" category but not as high as Liz. (congratulations, Liz....that's ALOT of cruising. :) )


We have about 90 days combined on other cruiselines .....

About sixty cruises totaled. (with two more booked).

[elmorejj]

Only 117 for me, but I`m trying real hard to catch up with Liz!!.....jean

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Well so far just 14 but with 3 HAL cruises booked , that gives us 35. We are hoping to start doing at least 3 cruises a year since starting next year I get 20 days of vacation. DH already has that many. I only wish I could take a cruise longer than 7 days but that would be hard for me to do with my job. I suffer enough when I return from a 7 day:eek: (that is me when I see my desk when I return)

[catlib55]

We have only sailed on HAL once, for 8 days. In Dec., we'll add 10 more days!!
Mary Ellen

[RuthC]

251 days in 16 cruises. Not a bad average. (plus 34 days on 5 other lines.)
I have another 35 days booked for next year, and expect I'll earn that 300-day medalion by 2006! I really want that medal.

My roommate last year had over 3000 days on HAL. Can you imagine?
I want to grow up to be just like her :D .

[RevNeal]

LizB1,

Wow ... you've got 2 years, 9 months, and about 25 days on HAL. That's amazing.

[RevNeal]

I'm feeling like a HAL baby here. :D This is cool!
Thanks for the responses .... keep 'em coming!

[jhannah]

When we were at the Mariner recognition reception on one cruise (can't remember which) there was a couple who had 900-something days on Holland America. Unbelieveable! And a couple who looked in their twenties and had enough days that they must have started as toddlers!

[Roadguy]

38 with 21 more booked.

[Broon]

58 days after 6 cruises, and 17 more days in July 05: MAASDAM Boston to Rotterdam

[CINCY40]

But another five coming up in September on the Ryndam...can't wait.

Nancy

[Lovebirds]

We have zero days on HAL right now, but will up that to 112 when we get back to Ft lauderdale from our world cruise. We leave on Jan 13, return on May 6. When I count the nights, there are 113 between those dates, but the brochures call it a 112 night cruise, but since we cross the international dateline we get another night......or lose one...... or...... now I,m confused.......:confused: .... I'll bet the shipboard account will be based on the number of sunsets at sea regardless of the calandar dates.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:) Lovebirds

Wow! Now that's the way to accumulate days!

What a wonderful trip to look forward to.

:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

We have 236 days todate on HAL.

On all the other cruiselines combined we have another 207 days.

And we have booked several more HAL cruises for an additional 76 days.

:)

[Nasmas]

I've got to catch up. I have 38, will have 45 after 09/04 cruise:) :rolleyes: :D :D

[localady]

Lovebirds-

We look forward to hearing about your trip. It sure would be wonderful if you'd drop us a post or 20 along the way. Most of us love cruising vicariously!!!Would be facinating to hear the experiences of a world cruiser, as well as the Prinsendam. My DH and I have booked one of the 2 larger A cabins in the aft Promenade for a Baltic cruise next year, and are interested in any feedback about those cabins if you hear any!

I myself have 78 days with HAL and 49 days with other lines, hopefully crossing 100 sometime in 2005! I am aspiring to the 1000 days that others have. Let's see, I am 45 years old, I say it's possible! My DH may faint at the idea though.....:eek:

[Keith Rita]

We have 35 days with 11 more booked.

[zcat]

200 with 25 more coming up.

[Terri Lee]

I have 197 days in 8 years of sailing with HAL.Doubt if I will ever make the next plateau of 300!!


Terri;)

[Lovebirds]

Lovebirds-

We look forward to hearing about your trip. It sure would be wonderful if you'd drop us a post or 20 along the way. Most of us love cruising vicariously!!!Would be facinating to hear the experiences of a world cruiser, as well as the Prinsendam. My DH and I have booked one of the 2 larger A cabins in the aft Promenade for a Baltic cruise next year, and are interested in any feedback about those cabins if you hear any!

I myself have 78 days with HAL and 49 days with other lines, hopefully crossing 100 sometime in 2005! I am aspiring to the 1000 days that others have. Let's see, I am 45 years old, I say it's possible! My DH may faint at the idea though.....:eek:
We will both have our laptops with wireless internet cards in them. Since the Prinsendam is a "different" ship from the rest of the HAL fleet, I'm not sure if they have good wireless access or what the cost will be. We would like to post a running commentary. I'll keep my ears open for any info on cabins A196 or A197.

We're both very excited about this cruise!

[RaffinOrganGrinders]

If you have over 1,000 days sailing with HAL you should be offered a stock option or at least one heck of a discount for future cruises.

George

[cruisinjudy]

Ok I admit I cheated, we have 24 but I wanted to be in the next category so I counted the days we will have in September! If I count all the ones we have booked, i could move up another category too. I'll go to my room now. :D

[localady]

We will both have our laptops with wireless internet cards in them. Since the Prinsendam is a "different" ship from the rest of the HAL fleet, I'm not sure if they have good wireless access or what the cost will be. We would like to post a running commentary. I'll keep my ears open for any info on cabins A196 or A197.

We're both very excited about this cruise!

Lovebirds-
I know there are alot of folks that will really love your posts!!!! :D The nice thing with the laptops, is that you can type the message before you expend your download minutes, making it so much less expensive. Also, thanks so much for any information you get on that aft cabin. It looks to be larger than most but may lack privacy more than others. Thanks again and have a fabulous trip!

[ekerr19]

Our 3/20/05 Volendam will finally put me over 100! DH will have to wait - I have 7 more days than he does... ;)

[LizB1]

If you have over 1,000 days sailing with HAL you should be offered a stock option or at least one heck of a discount for future cruises.

George
Please tell HAL that!! Would even be nice to be offered a free DECENT upgrade!

[westerdam]

I am currently up to 51 days and 7 cruises with HAL over the past 6 years. Most likely I will add at least another 7 this winter with a cruise on the Westerdam.

[CaptData]

I'm going on my first one in Feb o5. 11 Days Southern Carb on the Massdam.

[Cruiseoften]

Lovebirds - Yeikes! Wow! in your shoes, I'd be over the moon with excitement and wishing my life away for departure day!

Have heard that many lifetime friendships are formed on world cruises - with less than 800 passengers on the Prinsendam, you'll know everybody. Oh, how we'd love to sail her!

Our days recorded in the poll are all on 'Dam' ships - add at least 80 for other lines. We'd be wealthy if we hadn't spent our money on cruising - but money only lasts so long - memories are forever! and we have so many wonderful ones! :D

We'll be keeping a watch for your reports - you can expand on them when you arrive home and post a real review.:cool:

[jazzsea]

Wow. Over 1000 days. Even if I counted all of the days on other cruise lines I couldn't get close. You must have some fantastic memories. Would you tell us about a few of your favorites?

We'll add 10 days in October and 10 days in January and 35 days in June on the Maasdam B2B Transatlantic. It occurs to me that I would have to cruise for the next two years to catch up.....

[Cruiseoften]

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Can you believe it - this is what's showing up on my screen?? - it's all in red -

[Esme]

I know my eyes are bad, but I wondered what the heck I was seeing? Maybe the little men from Mars have landed in Eastern Ontario (Ottawa, Brockville, Kingston??????) LOL :D

[jhannah]

I just thought of one more choice that should be in the poll on number of days aboard HAL ships:

"Not Nearly Enough!"

[Terri Lee]

Where can I find the list of the actual breakdown of this poll,with all the members 'names' on it? I found it once but since then it seems to have gone the way of the dodo bird! All I keep getting is the percentage/coloured 'board'.....


Terri:confused:

[Lovebirds]

Where can I find the list of the actual breakdown of this poll,with all the members 'names' on it? I found it once but since then it seems to have gone the way of the dodo bird! All I keep getting is the percentage/coloured 'board'.....


Terri:confused:
click on the box for the number of votes in a category. The listing of names will come up.

[Esme]

I know my eyes are bad, but I wondered what the heck I was seeing? Maybe the little men from Mars have landed in Eastern Ontario (Ottawa, Brockville, Kingston??????) LOL :D

Cruiseoften - OOPS :o I made a real boo-boo. Thought you were from Eastern Ontario and see you have listed "Eastern Canada". Sorry!

[olderpilot]

73 for us with 24 more booked. Still short of the first 100. Need to find another cruise!

And Jim you are right - not nearly enough!

[bobpatj]

98 days for Pat, 89 days for Bob. We'll both reach over 100 on our next cruise!

[Terri Lee]

Lovebirds..........thankyou for the explanation.Just clicked on it and voila!just as you said!!(I guess I will have to click on a few more things in my 'travels'.....who knows what I will find! LOL!)


Terri:D

[iamirish]

The way I was treated by HAL regarding a problem I had on the Ryndam last December (7-day to the Mexican Rivera) convinced me that HAL does not deserve to see another penny of my money!!

Tom

[terrascape]

Have 46 days in the last 2 1/2 years. Will add 11 more days in November on the Maasdam. Our goal is two cruises per year with one of them being 10-14 days.

[longtimecruiser]

I have over 500. I started cruising with Hal at age ten in 1962. I have my gold medallion now, somewhere between gold and platinum which I doubt I'll ever see. I certainly have seen Hal change through the years and I'm wondering how these changes will impact the future of the line.

[richkat]

Only 15 days on HAL so far but the Zuiderdam in November will bring us to 22 -- 3 short of 25. We've taken the in-laws on 2 HAL cruises -- once for their 50th anniversary and this November for their 55th. So, next year we'll leave them home and book a suite for ourselves to celebrate breaking the 25 day mark. :)

-- R&K

[Debi_D]

We are up to 84 with another 7 coming up and we will be booking 14 more days around March....We have another 73 days on other lines....

Debi

[sail7seas]

The way I was treated by HAL regarding a problem I had on the Ryndam last December (7-day to the Mexican Rivera) convinced me that HAL does not deserve to see another penny of my money!!

Tom



Do you wish to share the story of what happened?
I'm sorry to hear you apparently were not treated in a manner you would have wanted.

[GrammyPL]

Hubby and I have 106 days right now, but have 3 more cruises planed. Our next one will be in Nov. for a 28 day Amazon Cruise on the Prinsendam. Penny

[jhannah]

Yes, iamirish ... we'd appreciate hearing your story.

[iamirish]

Do you wish to share the story of what happened?
I'm sorry to hear you apparently were not treated in a manner you would have wanted.

I booked a 7-day cruise out of SD with some friends of mine from Nashville (their first cruise). It was a 7-day cruise on the Ryndam to the Mexican Riviera, leaving SD on 11/30/03 (the Sunday of the Thanksgiving weekend).

I noticed that my stateroom (Cabin # 384) was not getting cool, even though I had the A/C on high and the bathroom door closed. The first night was OK, but the second night it was VERY WARM.

On 3rd evening, before dinner, I stopped by the front desk to ask to have the Engineering Dept check the A/C. The lady at the front desk told me that she would have my Cabin Steward check it and I told her that it should be checked by the Engineering Dept. She said OK. That night my cabin was even HOTTER!! As you might guess, it was difficult to sleep.

The next morning, once again I stopped by the front desk, I was not in the best of moods (I get cranky when I don't get a lot of sleep). They told me that they would have the Engineering Dept check it. I thanked them and went off on a Shore Excursion to the Pacifico Brewery.

When I got back to my stateroom around 1:00 p.m., a gentleman from the Engineering Dept was checking the A/C. After about a 1/2 hour - he told me that nothing could be done, as my cabin was too far from the A/C Unit. He said that the next two cabins (386 & 388) would also never be cool. A few minutes later, I got a phone message from the front desk that they were sending a "fan" to room. Without outside cool air, all a fan will do is re-circulate the warm air.

Later that afternoon, I spoke with Ms. Melanie Schipper, the Guest Relations Manager. Her attitude only exacerbated the situation. I told her that I was a past passenger with 95 days on HAL and I was unhappy. She told me that no cabins were available, as the ship was completely sold out. She told me that she would check with the Engineering Dept as "they would tell her the truth".

The next afternoon, Ms. Schipper sent me a letter confirming that there was a problem with my A/C. And she now had "magically" found a vacant stateroom for me to move to (different floor and lower category).

She also offered $220 shipboard credit for my inconvenience (that comes to about $35 per day) OR I could have $440 off on a future cruise. I declined and stayed in the warm room, as I did not want to spend my day moving, when I could enjoy PV.

I sent HAL a letter about this. In their response, they apologized not only for how I was treated by the Guest Relations Manger, but also for the problem with A/C. However, they felt that the offer that was made on the ship was fair.

Tom

[RevNeal]

Dear Tom,

What you describe is very unfortunate. I'm very sensitive to the heat, myself, and so I can totally sympathize. And, I don't blame your response ... they really were dragging their feet and reluctant to act more quickly. What would you have liked for them to have done ... both while onboard and, then, afterwards?

My guess is that you were told there were no cabins available -- the ship was "sold out" -- in your category and above, but that there was at least one cabin available in that lesser category. If that's the case, they should have made it clear when you first inquired. Was what they offered in terms of compensation at least commensurate with the difference in price between your category and theirs?

Again, thanks for sharing and I certainly understand and sympathize with your reaction.

[Peter D]

7 on the Westerdam, 7 on the Volendam, & in October I'll nail down 2 weeks worth on board the Maasdam.

[sail7seas]

Thank you for sharing your story, Tom.


I, also, would have been very unhappy if our a/c was not operating and our cabin was uncomfortably warm.

What would you have hoped would have been (a) the response on board the ship from the GRM and (b) the response to your letter to Seattle?

I am interested to know what you think would have been satisfactory compensation?

Anyone else have an opinion what would have been adequate compensation in this situation?

Thank you again, Tom.

[Cruiseoften]

Tom, just know what you mean about a stuffy, hot cabin - we sympathize, it's very uncomfortable. Agree that personnel was very lax in coming up with a solution. Too bad you often have to hound people to get some action.
Personally we would have taken the inside cool cabin offered together with the credit.

Moving is not at all bad, we had the experience - you have all the assistance you need and, in most instances, drawers from one cabin cabinet fit the cabinets in the other cabin. A luggage trolley is brought for hanging things. Apart from bathroom items, it's really all done for you.

Hope youi don't give up on HAL - it could happen on any ship or any line. :)

[iamirish]

What would you have hoped would have been (a) the response on board the ship from the GRM and (b) the response to your letter to Seattle?

Earlier this year, I saw a post on this website, that if you had a problem on the cruise ship and want results, then hand-deliver a letter to the front desk for the Hotel Manger and you will get the problem solved. I only wish I read that before I took this cruise!!!

This was my first experience using the GRM. I think what frustrated me the most was her "attitude". The entire time I was explaining what happened, she kept her arms crossed and had the look on her face of "why is he bothering me with this". I might add that I also had a problem with a shore excursion (the shore excursion manager stated that the Pacifico Brewery Tour was only available to Cruise Ship Passengers – when it in fact is available to anyone and there is no charge for it).

There is more to the story - I did not hear back from the GRM, until after I e-mailed HAL in Seattle, from PV about the situation.

This was not the first time I had a problem with the A/C that did not work (a 10-day cruise to the Sea of Cortez on the Ryndam on October 18, 2001). My Stateroom on that cruise was 114, on the Veranda deck. The A/C in my room had the same problem. I was offered another cabin (a lower category and floor), which I accepted. Even with the help of the Cabin Steward is was a lot of work and took a substantial amount of time. I was not offered, nor did I ask for any compensation for that situation.

On both cruises, I paid the single supplement.

I was very optimistic that the GRM could solve this problem by just moving me to a room where the A/C works; I would have been a happy camper!!

When a ship has a "design defect" where the Engineers can't fix the problem -then I think the level of compensation that we should be offered should be increased. I am sure that I was not the first person to complain about the A/C not working in my stateroom.

I was hoping that both the GRM and HAL in Seattle would have taken in consideration my loyalty to them (95-days on HAL) and been a little more sympathetic. The letter from HAL was basically a "form letter" that had been "cut and pasted". Since the A/C did not work for over 1/2 of the cruise - the minimum HAL should have offered me was 50% off my next cruise (subject to availability and with some restrictions).

Tom

[gizmo]

I got to fess up folks. When I posted to the poll I was thinking total cruise days not total days on Hal, so mine is wrong. :o It should be just under 100. I will hit 100 days my next cruise, whenever that is!

[serendipity1499]

As of Dec 2003 it was 46, but after our "Westerdam" Trans-Atlantic it will be 62..Oh How I Love to Cruise..

[Himself]

I have over 150 and I have none.

Himself
P. S. Greg: email me at jtmcgeean@sbcglobal.net if you cannot figure my answer out.

[Vic The Parrot]

Hmmmm ...... gonna have to look into my brains memory chip, and tabulate my days on board. I think it's over 100.

Thanks for the project, rev!


:-D

[JimVrhovac]

Ruth an I have 313 days on HAL ships and it is because we are comfortable on HAL ships.

We don't like everything they do on the ships but we are more comfortable on HAL ships than we are on any other line and we have tried most of them.

We prefer the older ships best because they are more intimate than the Vista Class ships.

Jim & Ruth

[SHayesShip]

113 days total.

Steve Hayes

Here's a new poll. I know how many days some of y'all have, I'm just curious to see what it looks like in a poll.

[starysacz]

249 days and booked for 11 more on the Maasdam. Hoping to reach the 300 day goal.;)

[joeinwpb]

I just found out about it.
I'll probably check it frequently

[ocngypz]

133 days on HAL. 163 total lifetime sailings... and I can't count the days... ran out of fingers and toes!!

[Spender Nui]

165 days. Haven't been sailing them as much lately as we used to.

[ANSalberg]

187 -but we add a BIG 62 in October & November of next year in ONE cruise! for 249 after that cruise!
Anne

[lipoppop]

187 -but we add a BIG 62 in October & November of next year in ONE cruise! for 249 after that cruise!
Anne

Anne, sounds like you are on the Amsterdam in Oct-Nov 2005. I could only get the DW to sign up for half so we will see you in Singapore. :cool:

[ANSalberg]

Lipoppop-You've got it! There are some GREAT people going besides us -some repeats from the Volendam Pac Rim cruise 2002 [ We did the same 1/2 YOU are doing; and you will LOVE Singapore!] and our tablemates from LAST summer's 2003 -Rotterdam cruise. We are REALLY excited about the upcoming 62 day cruise. Now; How to we make the time FLY BY!??????
Anne

[imsulin]

:(. Only 35, with 7 more booked next April. I'm just a member of Baby Club HAL.