islandwoman

I received an email from Azamara the other day, saying that they will be including taxes and fees in the cruise fare quotes. And Princess. Will Holland America be doing the same?

I am subscribed for daily notifications. I'm happy to have something to read other than "me too", "me too!"

I got all three. Only 418 more to Elite Plus 🤣

I know where to find my total Captain's Club points, but where do I find the list of points earned and for what? I remember that someone posted that information here, but now I can't find it.

It is in the TA's interest to facilitate the transfer of a booking. Not so much for HAL !

Good advice. On our recent Koningsdam cruise several passengers attempted to check in with boarding passes that had no bar codes. They had to see an agent to get a new boarding pass. I don't know why the HAL website posts useless boarding passes.

Since the Volendam, along with the Zaandam, is HAL's smallest ship in passenger count, I would hope that Club Orange would not be necessary in order to avoid lines.

Apparently mine doesn't. I'll have to remind him.

Thanks for the information. Our TA hasn't mentioned anything about OBC instead of an upgrade. I'll have to contact him.

Is there somewhere on hollandamerica.com that you can see your OBC? Can they be used pre-cruise to book packages, shore excursions, etc?

How long did it take before you were informed that you had received OBC? How were you informed? Is there a place on hollandamerica.com that you can see OBC? I certainly agree with you about the CO dining room on the Koningsdam being a great advantage. The lines, the crowding, and the hectic service in the MDR on my recent (spring 2024) Koningsdam cruise were enough to make me decide never to sail that ship again.

As I mentioned way back on this thread, we booked our cabin exactly where we wanted it before even considering Club Orange. Not only do we have the highest category (SS) in our meta-category, but at the time we bought Club Orange, all cabins except inside on our cruise were showing "sold out". We wanted Club Orange mostly for quicker as-you-wish seating in the MDR. After learned posters on this thread told me that they had received OBC when cabin upgrades were not available, we decided to buy Club Orange.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and sharing your experience. I asked my TA to buy us Club Orange for our upcoming and already booked cruise. The purchase went through without a hitch. I don't know yet what we'll get instead of an upgrade. Since we already have the cabin we want, I'm hoping for OBC. Our TA sent us a confirmation updated to reflect the Club Orange purchase, but no mention of additional OBC. Is there somewhere on hollandamerica.com that I can see OBC for particular cruises?

I can see how that would work. You'd make a temporary booking for the lowest priced cabin (or your TA would do that for you), buy Club Orange and then immediately upgrade to the cabin you want. But would it work if there are no lower priced cabins to be had?

Are you saying that you can book open-jaw on Flight Ease?

So do I, but it looks as if Flight Ease will be much cheaper, at least on the outbound flight, than booking directly through the airline.

I have already booked the SS. Those were the only Signature Suites showing availability at that time. Actually they were the only cabins above "outside" showing availability. For several days before that everything was "sold out" except inside, and today again. I only thought about buying Club Orange after I was already booked, mostly for the dining. But now I'd like to learn what else might come with it. My cruise is in August, 2024.

So if my cabin is a category SS, and it's the most expensive of the Signature Suite categories (I can't verify that because the site keeps locking up on me), I couldn't get an upgrade?

Yikes!

I don't understand what Holland America means by "meta category". For example, if I am in a Signature Suite, category SS, is that the "meta category"? What could be "better" (or worse) within that category?

That's what it says here: https://www.hollandamerica.com/content/dam/hal/inventory-assets/activity-types/dining/club-orange/Club_Orange_Benefits.pdf "What if there is not a better stateroom available for the complimentary upgrade? Guests will be upgraded to the best available stateroom within the meta category at the time of Club Orange purchase. If a stateroom upgrade is not available at that time, guests will receive an alternative benefit determined by our Ship Inventory team."

hollandamerica.com. Looking for a cabin in that category, shows that few are available to book, none "better".

I am considering buying Club Orange for an upcoming cruise. I am fairly certain that there will be no cabin in my category available for an upgrade. hollandamerica.com says, "If a stateroom upgrade is not available at that time, guests will receive an alternative benefit determined by our Ship Inventory team." What "alternative benefit" could I expect to receive?

Is there a discount for buying a Sommelier Suite wine package pre-cruise? I'd rather buy one onboard where I could find out for sure which wines are included, but only being a two star Mariner, I don't expect to get a discount onboard.

I will be departing and returning from different cities, more than 18 days apart. I once tried to book a return flight on Princess' EZ Air (that looks to be the same as Holland America's Flight Ease), a few weeks after I had booked the departure flight, but the system wouldn't let me without cancelling the departure flight I had already booked. This time, on HAL Flight Ease, I would like to get my departure flight booked first, and then work on my return flight later. Can I do that? And if so, how?