DAM dollars

[betmust]

Yes, I am new to HAL. I have gathered so much information on these boards and I thank everyone. BUT, please tell me what DAM dollars are...

Thank you,
Bette

[trvlcrzy]

They are earned through participation in on-board sports events (table tennis, pool games, basketball challenge, etc.). They are collected and exchanged for selected goods at the end of the cruise (water bottles, luggage tags, tote bags, etc.). It is my understanding that these are not transferrable to other sailings, so there is no need to save them for later.

[spcl4cs_gal]

Yes, I am new to HAL. I have gathered so much information on these boards and I thank everyone. BUT, please tell me what DAM dollars are...

Thank you,
Bette

DAM Dollars are Monopoly-type paper money that passengers can acquire when you take part in certain activities while onboard. These activities are noted on your daily program, marked with a little flag I believe. When you collect enough of these you can cash them in at the end of your cruise for various HAL merchandise, depending on the amount you have. The merchandise can include but is not limited to caps, mugs, towels, and picture frames. I "bought" a nice HAL picture frame for 10 DAM Dollars on my last cruise. :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Not all the ships offer the same "merchandise" that you can "buy" at the end of the cruise. We have been on cruises when there was only about 6 items that we could purchase.

It is a great way to meet other people.

Each ship does have its own color of money. Some of the CD's or staff in charge of the money are very nice and I have read here where they have allowed people who sailed on another ship to combine the different colored money to buy stuff -- very rare though.

[m steve]

on my cruises on 3 different ships.

[cruzisme]

I have only received blue DAM dollars; what are the other colours?

[jimgev]

If the economy doesn't improve, they might be worth more than greenbacks.

[wdw1972]

Hi Jim! I saved my Dam Dollars from our Veendam cruise last April, not realizing they were supposed to only be used that cruise - oops! At the time the only "prize" of interest was the baseball cap, and I'd already bought it in the shops for $20 earlier in the week! So, I'm going to try to use them on my Westerdam cruise in Feb...we'll see what happens!

Sue/WDW1972
Westerdam 2/08/09

[Krazy Kruizers]

Colors we have gotten:

Blue -- Red -- Orange -- Green -- Black -- Gey -- Purple -- Yellow

And I have no idea which color we earned on which ship.

[jimgev]

Hi Jim! I saved my Dam Dollars from our Veendam cruise last April, not realizing they were supposed to only be used that cruise - oops! At the time the only "prize" of interest was the baseball cap, and I'd already bought it in the shops for $20 earlier in the week! So, I'm going to try to use them on my Westerdam cruise in Feb...we'll see what happens!

Sue/WDW1972
Westerdam 2/08/09
Hi Sue.
That was a great cruise on the Veendam. I hope all is well with you and that you have a great New Year.
Jim

[the_dylaness]

Could someone give a rough estimate of how many dam dollars are earned per event? (Do you get them just for participating or is it based on your achievement level?)

Also, how many dam dollars to get something like a tshirt? Sweatshirt? I know a picture frame was 10...

[pokeyjones]

Could someone give a rough estimate of how many dam dollars are earned per event? (Do you get them just for participating or is it based on your achievement level?)

Also, how many dam dollars to get something like a tshirt? Sweatshirt? I know a picture frame was 10...

Hi, I had lots of fun participating in the activities on my last (10 day) cruise. For first place each team member got 5Dam$. 4 $ for 2nd, and 3 for 3rd. 1$ for participation.

At some events, I even won other prizes, like a Damships T shirt and a Mug. At the end of the cruise you go and buy items with your dam $. 10$ got a key chain, 15 a mug, 20 for a small frame, water bottle, 25 for a ball cap, T shirt, 30 for a large frame, and maybe 40 for a sweatshirt.

I understand that on 7 day cruises, items might be less, and on longer cruises, a little more.

Good luck and have fun winning, collecting and spending those Dam Dollars!

[the_dylaness]

Thanks! I have lots of enthusiasm but little skill in most of these types of events so it is good to hear you get at least something for participation :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

How much you get for an activity depends on the crew and ship.

We have been on ships were we got nothing for participating.

Will hunt around -- someone posted a new list a while back.

[Krazy Kruizers]

This is a list from a recent cruiser on the Noordam. Some of the items on the list I have not seen on any of the ships we have been on - so be aware that you may see something you like but it may not be offered on your cruise.

Key chain $5
Martini Glass $5
Pilsner $5
Mug $10
Light Up Glass $15
Water Bottle Holder $20
Water Bottle $25
Towel $25
Hat $25
T-shirt $35
Sweatshirt $45
Travel Bag $55

[Swice]

Getting a dollar is easy-- just show up and try and you'll get something. My wife and I participated in many activities along with our two boys. Combining our dollars allowed us to "buy" two large water bottles at the end of the cruise. For those of you with kids, you understand the "need" to be able to get "two!" (I would have liked a t-shirt or hat!)

The activities guy was very good with engaging our boys. He offered them extra dollars if they would "race" him across the basketball court. So we got a few extra dollars that way, and those extras came in handy in collecting enough to get "two" water bottles.

The most fun activity was the putting contest... try to put a golf ball into a sideways coffee mug on a moving ship!!! It was amazing that people DID get balls into the cup.

[Krazy Kruizers]

A couple of activities that we have enjoyed and are now gone are the bear droppings and whale racing.