firsttimer1971

These other perks (apart from Dining, Shore Excursion credits and, if applicable, crew appreciation) are never shown on the HAL website, only on the booking confirmation you have received by email from HAL or your TA. Since you state that they are listed on the booking confirmation you received, everything is as it should be.

So, Page 3 on mine, Page 2 on others, let's just agree that the OP can see all the HIA benefits (including Beverage package) on his confirmation under the heading "Special Services" (unless confirmation is in a different language 🙂 )

It is correct that you will only see the Complimentary Dining and Shore Excursions credits on the website or in the Navigator App. The Signature Beverage should be listed on the booking confirmation you received by e-mail, see example below from the confirmation I received. It's a copy of the 3rd page in Dutch, the English translation is probably "Special Services" and it lists all the HIA (Have-It-All) promotions like WiFi, Beverage package, excursions credits, etc

Netflix isn't supported on any of the Internet packages (just as Prime Video & Hulu) https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/onboard-packages/cruise-ship-wifi.html

As I understand, there is no speed difference between the different internet packages. The only differences are the supported applications and the amount of (high speed) data. After a certain limit of data your speed can be reduced but never cut off.

I found the following explanation on Google: "The term no-host mini-bar indicates that the beverages in your in-room refrigerator are at an additional cost and reflect on your onboard bill at the end of your cruise."

That is a useful tip. I have never been on a cruise before so maybe a stupid question: when you order a soda at a bar you always get a can? And they don't open it for you so you can just take it with you and drink whenever you want?

The room mini bar is at a charge, you cannot use your beverage package for it.

I completely agree with you, I love the peace of mind and my wife and I have decided that we are going to try each cocktail on the menu at least once (31-day trip so time enough), something that we otherwise probably would not have done.

Well, this remark got me checking something. First of all, I am from the Netherlands and booked through the Dutch version of the Holland America website. So, I opened a VPN to the USA, went to the HA website again and searched for my cruise. And guess what: On the Dutch website the prices shown include the HIA, there is not option or choice for just the cruise without the HIA. And, as you know, on the website that you get to see in the USA you do have the option between just the cruise or the HIA included. I did find out that I could have booked just the cruise on other websites from Travel Agents in the Netherlands. Crunced some numbers and still would have booked it with the HIA as we are going to do the excursions, will definitely want WiFi, love the speciality dinners and the beverage packages comes down to USD 26 per person for 15 drinks so that is a good deal in my eyes.

31 days cruise round South America, HIA was included. Would I have bought it otherwise? Even though Gratuities were not included, I probably would have just because I like to have "peace of mind" and know what I have spent upfront. But as others have remarked: it all depends on your individual situation and preferences.

I am no expert at this, but I do know that most governments advise against travelling to Peru at this moment unless absolutely necessary. You should really check with your travel agent what their plans are now for your trip to Machu Picchu. Personally, I wouldn't go with a state of emergency declared and having read about the thousands of tourists stranded last week in, and on their way to Machu Picchu. Also, if you do decide to go, check if your travel insurance is still valid since a lot of them will no longer cover a trip if negative travel advice has been issued. And if you take medicines, take lots of them with you so you won't be without them if you get stranded.

I had something similar with the USD/EUR exchange rate for a 31-day trip. We had to prepay $1054 in crew appreciation and at that time the Euro and US Dollar were almost worth the same. But they only charged € 875 so I immediately prepaid. As Nang wrote: the exchange rate HAL applies is very generous.

Service Errors seems to be popping up all over the HAL-site at the moment.

Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest that you were, but I have read lots of comments from people who do think that is the case and it is a shame to be paying for the upgrade and still have lousy internet. If you can't even check your bank account or check in for a flight, they really shouldn't charge you for the internet at all.

One advantage for me, being from the Netherlands, was that HAL uses a better exchange rate than my credit card company does. So, by prepaying the Crew Appreciation I saved around EUR 150 in total.

Many people will assume that a premium internet package will give you better/faster internet but that is not the case. The only differences between Social, Surf and Premium are the services/apps you can use and the volume of data but there is no difference in the quality/speed of the internet.

My DW and I will be going on a 31-day South America cruise next year, leaving from Fort Lauderdale and ending in Buenos Aires. We have requested permission to embark in Aruba (the first port of call after Fort Lauderdale). Our request was forwarded to the head office in Seattle and after a month we got permission. The letter we received may contain some points of interest to some in this thread so I will post it here (the "closed loop" provision in the letter is not applicable to us): [Quote] Thank you for booking a cruise vacation with Holland America Line and for contacting us to arrange an alternate embarkation port for booking XXXXXX on board the ms Oosterdam. We are pleased to advise that your request has been approved. However, we do need to ensure you are aware of a few stipulations. As with any travel, cruise guests must comply with all customs and immigration specifics that are applicable to the port in which they embark the vessel, including any additional costs that may be involved at the pier/port to embark the guests. Additionally, while we endeavor to follow our published itinerary, please understand that unplanned circumstances may require that we change or cancel our scheduled call to this port, or otherwise prohibit our ability to honor the deviation request. Should this occur, you assume all responsibility for any additional costs that may be incurred. A cruise passenger who is ticketed for the entire voyage, but joins a closed loop cruise after the initial point of embarkation, will not be permitted to deviate their itinerary further. Closed loop itineraries are defined as a voyage that begins and ends in the same U.S. port. Unfortunately, we are unable to adjust the cruise fare or make a change to your invoice to manually reflect the shorter cruise segment. However, your booking has been marked with this information and the ship is being informed that you are approved to embark in Oranjestad, Aruba on November 18, 2023. Please be advised that, because this is not a standard embarkation port with porters on staff, guests may be responsible for carrying their own luggage onto the ship. We regret any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Thank you again for your inquiry. We look forward to welcoming you aboard for a wonderful cruise very soon. [End quote]

Agreed, as has been said "the best camera is the one that's with you" and nothing can beat the smartphone in that aspect. But it will be a long time before I stop taking my DSLR with me on a trip and only rely on my smartphone.

Once a year on April 27th we Dutch have a national holiday called "Kingsday" (or Queensday on April 30th until 2014). The King and his family will visit one or two cities on that day which is broadcast on national television. The rest of the countries either spends the day on the nationwide flea market (*), one of the numerous festivals, or in bed with a hangover from partying the previous night on "Kingsnight". People dress in Orange, put on Red-White-Blue make-up (our national flag), dance, party, drink a lot of beer or a special alcohol drink called "Oranjebitter" the taste of which I seem to forget after a couple. Also, a lot of food is eaten from street stalls and yes, with beer we also love to have a "bitterbal" (a small meat-based snack). If you happen to visit an Orange Night at your cruise, try at least one bitterbal, the're great! (Warning: bitterballen may be highly addictive It is just an open party throughout our country! Most people will call the Dutch "sober" or "composed" but not on this day! As for the clothing on Kingsday: anything orange will do! P.s. almost forgot: the day before Kingsday the "Royal Awards" are given to around 3000 people per year for service to their fellow citizens or the nation. This can be for any kind of service (yearlong volunteer work for example) and the special thing is that you have to be nominated by other people after which a vetting proces is started. So it is not a Top-Down award but rather given as an expression of thanks by society itself. Those who are honoured get a medal and a separate special ribbon ("lintje) to signify you got the award. As a result of that, it is known as the "Ribbon Rain" ("Lintjesregen"). My father got one 10 years ago, I have never seen him prouder in my life than the day he was given one by the mayor of our town.

First of all, I have no experience with this myself but from the wording on the Club Orange page ("Complimentary stateroom upgrade to the best available room within the meta category at the time of Club Orange purchase.") I would say the answer to your question is: No. They look at what is available at the time you purchase Club Orange and you will be upgraded to that. But...you never know, you could always try to contact them if a better stateroom becomes available. Two tips: 1) before you purchase Club Orange check out the cruise and see what the highest available stateroom is at that moment so you know to what they should upgrade your room to and 2) a stateroom may have a higher classification, but it may not be a real upgrade for you. If you have a quiet room in the middle of the ship you might not like an upgrade to a room just below a music venue or the lido deck. Again, look at the available staterooms at the moment you purchase Club Orange and decide for yourself which roomnumber you would or would not like.

The exact text taken from the Club Orange page is: "Complimentary stateroom upgrade to the best available room within the meta category at the time of Club Orange purchase." So, in this case that would be the highest available within the V category.

The FAQ says something a little different: [Quote] Late Arrival Protection Should guests who have booked their air travel through Holland America Line experience delays en route due to a flight delay or an airline service disruption, such as flight cancellation or flight re-routes, that will cause them to miss their original port of embarkation, Holland America Line will work with the airline to find reasonable alternate flights to the next appropriate port at no additional air cost to the guest. Factors taken into account in determining the appropriateness of a port of call include, but are not limited to: -where in the original itinerary the port is located -airport / port infrastructure -visas and other legal documentation that may be required -application of the Passenger Services Act to the new itinerary comparability of cost, flight connections, and travel time required (any unused value on the original air ticket will be used to offset the cost of the new air ticket) Liability and Relation with Airlines As the airfares we use are based on capacity controlled, promotional, and group fares, we may limit or close sales without prior notice at any time. If, due to any cause beyond our control, we are unable to arrange for air travel or the air travel we arrange is unavailable or otherwise fails to materialize, our sole liability will be limited to refunding the air price paid to us. We assume no liability for any acts or omissions of any airline, including, without limitation, those involving cancellation of flights, schedule changes, re-routings, damage to or delay or loss of baggage, flight delays, equipment failures, accidents, pilot or other staff shortages, overbooking or computer errors. The liabilities and obligations of an airline to you, and your rights against an airline, are subject to any and all terms and conditions of the airline's ticket and tariffs and all applicable governmental laws and regulations. [/Quote] So they will do their best to get you to the next appropriate port but if it is too expensive or there are other factors their sole liability will be limited to the refunding of the air price you paid. And that port may not be the next port on the itinerary, but they might skip a port if the next port is not "appropriate"

Thank you, that is good to know. Will still get some Chilean Peso before the trip just to be on the safe side and so we can tip etc.

Before you purchase foreign currency, just google if USD is accepted in the countries you will be visiting. We are going on a Panama + South America trip next year and after using Google ("is USD accepted in xxxx?") I found that only in Chili I need to get the local currency. In all other countries (Panama, Peru, Argentine, etc) I can either use USD or use my debet/credit card. If you do need some foreign currency and have some left after the trip: I have seen donations boxes on most airports that accept all currencies for charity.