Extra fees?

[chrismch]

I know all the cruise lines are now charging extra for many things and I would like to know what those fees are for HAL...
What are the fees for Pinnacle Grill?
What are the fees for Culinary Arts classes and what exactly do they do?
What other extra fees are there? soda cards? bottled water?

[jtl513]

I know all the cruise lines are now charging extra for many things and I would like to know what those fees are for HAL...
What are the fees for Pinnacle Grill?
What are the fees for Culinary Arts classes and what exactly do they do?
What other extra fees are there? soda cards? bottled water?Pinnacle Grill is $15 pp for lunch, $30 for dinner. Most people I've asked leave a tip of $8 to $12 pp for dinner, half that for lunch. Of course some leave more and some leave nothing!

Culinary Arts classes are 60 - 70 minute classes given by a chef of two menu items that are in the HAL repertoire. The class that my DW and DD took was given by the Pinnacle Grill Exec chef, and consisted of one main dish (Lamb steaks) and one side dish (potato galette). Depending on the particular chef, it may be a lot of "hands on" or it may be mostly a demo with the group gathered close to the chef doing the cooking himself. There are usually two classes given per week, and when you go to sign up on embarkation day (Front Desk, $29 pp) they will have the recipes there for each class.

Soda cards are $18 + 15% service charge for "20 glasses" (1/2 cans) and are not a good deal IMO. Bottled water can be purchased, but I have no idea about the price. Other fees: spa treatments, sign-up fees for some events (E.g. Walk for the Cure), Bingo ... etc

[chrismch]

What happens when you run over the "20 glasses"? My DH usually drinks 3-5 sodas a day. We're used to a per day charge or no charge depending on the cruiseline. So this fee format is different.

[retiredldo]

Be careful as the deal is not really that good, if you are paying for 20 half cans or 10 cans of soda lets say you buy the full can for 2.00 that is 24 dollars but you get twice as much soda. they are not in this to lose money rest assured, but the soda card is a nice touch but so it goes

Pete

[Krazy Kruizers]

They punch the soda card - so no running over. Many times we have seen some of the bar tenders really fill the glasses with a lot of ice and thus some people barely got a 1/2 can of soda. Once the soda card is completely punched, you have a choice - buy another card or just buy a can of soda at a time.

Bottled water is not free - sorry don't know the price of a bottle of water.

[jtl513]

What happens when you run over the "20 glasses"?Not possible ... when your card has 20 punches in it you're done! :D

Edit: KK - you must have been finishing typing as I was starting. :)

[angela256z]

What happens when you run over the "20 glasses"? My DH usually drinks 3-5 sodas a day. We're used to a per day charge or no charge depending on the cruiseline. So this fee format is different.

You can buy more card or you just might want to bring your own. My cousin bought a card for the first few days and in our first port he bought some there and brought it back to the ship.

[MoreMilesPlease]

For soda and water: Bring your own! HAL lets you bring on soda and water for your use. Your cabin steward will empty the fridge so you can store soda and water there. You will have an ice bucket in room that should always have ice. Bring a favorite insulated cup from home and just fill it with ice from your room or the Lido and take your own can of soda with you. Works great and much, much cheaper.

The soda cards are not really a good buy but many people buy them thinking they are buying a can of soda. It only buys you a glass and they do not bring the can. I had several people asking how I "got the can". They felt cheated and only getting half a glass of soda with ice on the card. I said you either have to buy it, not on the soda card at $2.15 a can, or bring your own.

[MoreMilesPlease]

On the Noordam:

Bottled water was sold for about $2.00 for a small one. Think airport prices and you'll be about right.

Internet is .75 per min on an as you go system or you can buy blocks of min. 250 min for $100 and $3.95 set-up fee.

The spa was really expensive. They ran specials mosts days for 24 minute mini facials and 25 minute massages. Yoga and spinning classes were $50 for the two week cruise.

Drink of the day was $5.95 and most other cocktails $6.95 plus 15%. The drink card is probably a good deal.

A bucket of 5 beers was around $20 and you didn't have to drink them all at once. You could mix the brand of beers. You could take them back to the room for later or another day.

Bingo was $20 for 3 plays a game playing 3 games. The last Snowball was $20 for a 3 plays on a single game.

[chrismch]

Thanks for the feedback. I think we'll learn to drink iced tea. Are the beverage machines on the lido available or day or just at meal times?

[billathome]

Hot water, along with an assortment of tea bags and hot chocolate; iced tea, coffee, and decaff are available in the Lido all the time. Also, splenda, equal, sweet and low, sugar and raw sugar, half and half, and milk.

[Londoncruiser]

[quote=MoreMilesPlease;12886893]! HAL lets you bring on soda and water for your use. Your cabin steward will empty the fridge so you can store soda and water there.

I was under the impression that there were no fridges in the rooms on the Maasdam - am I mistaken?:)

[Cruzman]

On the Maasdam, as well as all other S and R Class, there are fridges in all balcony cabins, but not in the rest. Having said that, one can rent a fridge for $2 per day by contacting guest services and making the arrangement before your sailing.

[Jade13]

For soda and water: Bring your own! HAL lets you bring on soda and water for your use. Your cabin steward will empty the fridge so you can store soda and water there. You will have an ice bucket in room that should always have ice. Bring a favorite insulated cup from home and just fill it with ice from your room or the Lido and take your own can of soda with you. Works great and much, much cheaper.

The soda cards are not really a good buy but many people buy them thinking they are buying a can of soda. It only buys you a glass and they do not bring the can. I had several people asking how I "got the can". They felt cheated and only getting half a glass of soda with ice on the card. I said you either have to buy it, not on the soda card at $2.15 a can, or bring your own.

We were given the entire can at dinner on the Westerdam. We asked for a little ice in the glasses. They had the can waiting as a standing order and then poured half of it wheh we sat down and left the rest of the can.

[Jade13]

Bingo was $20 for 3 plays a game playing 3 games. The last Snowball was $20 for a 3 plays on a single game.


Bingo was $10.00 for 3 games in 2006 and went up last year (or was just more in europe) to $20.00 for 3 games. You could buy into the 2nd or 3rd game, so when it was $10.00 for 3 games we could get the last two for $8.00 or last game for $5.00.

[spcl4cs_gal]

We were given the entire can at dinner on the Westerdam. We asked for a little ice in the glasses. They had the can waiting as a standing order and then poured half of it wheh we sat down and left the rest of the can.

This is how it has always been for me ever since buying the soda card on last year's Westerdam cruise.

[Londoncruiser]

On the Maasdam, as well as all other S and R Class, there are fridges in all balcony cabins, but not in the rest. Having said that, one can rent a fridge for $2 per day by contacting guest services and making the arrangement before your sailing.

Thanks you so much for this information. We really like having a fridge in our room to keep water cold and also for keeping ice bags cold for when we go ashore to the islands.
I will contact HAL and make arrangements.:D

[mrblack]

Hi Londoncruiser
Noticed you are from Lindsay Ontario. I'm originally from Peterborough. Headed west(Vancouver) to warmer climates however somehow got sidetracked to the far north of BC. I'm so envious of your climate now. :D

[mrblack]

Thanks eeryone for the info on the soda card. We've never bought one but have been thinking on our upcoming cruise maybe we should. I'll have to rethink that now after finding out they are not such a good deal. Maybe we'll take up drinking ice tea instead too!:D

[Sailor Gal]

I was surprised to see the description of the soda card. On RCCL and Princess you get unlimited sodas when you purchase a soda card and you can get a big glass any time you like. Not a good deadl on HAL.

[RuthC]

I was surprised to see the description of the soda card. On RCCL and Princess you get unlimited sodas when you purchase a soda card and you can get a big glass any time you like. Not a good deadl on HAL.
HAL used to have an unlimited card; it was to be for one person only. But people abused it. They would buy one, but the entire family would use it, then use it some more.
HAL was forced to change their policy.

[moegab2]

Hi
Can anyone give some info on the drink card and how it works. I understand you can bring wine on board, but may be charged a corkage fee. Is it worth it to buy a drink card and what does it cover just wine or liquor as well.
Thanks for all the wonderful info on this board

[Londoncruiser]

Hi Londoncruiser
Noticed you are from Lindsay Ontario. I'm originally from Peterborough. Headed west(Vancouver) to warmer climates however somehow got sidetracked to the far north of BC. I'm so envious of your climate now. :D
Hello - we moved to Lindsay from London Ontario 4 years ago. Moved to this area because most of my family lives in Bobcaygeon. We waited until all the kids were finished high school and then made the big move.
My sister in law and family live in Prince George BC but we haven't been out to visiit them yet. We think our next cruise will be to Alaska so we can combine a visit to PG and a cruise.
Where are you in BC? When and where is your next cruise?
Good to hear from you.
Cathy

[mrblack]

...My sister in law and family live in Prince George BC ...We think our next cruise will be to Alaska so we can combine a visit to PG and a cruise.

Hi Cathy,
We're in Dawson Creek--about 4 hours north east of Prince George. We're mile 0 of the Alaska Highway. We're travelling on the Zuiderdam March 15 for a 18 day transatlantic cruise. It will be our longest cruise yet! We've been up to Alaska twice but both times on the Celebrity Mercury. That's a very nice trip, but I have to say I love the trips to warmer climates. How about you? Where are you off to? ME:)