Steve_Red_Dog

Can anybody provide more information about these automated handwash stations? The more I think about it the more difficulty envisioning large numbers of people standing singing the Happy Birthday song twice while a min-car wash scrubs away. Not to mention flashy rings getting caught, etc, etc.

Here's a photo I took our our recent cruise on the Koningsdam out of Amsterdam. These are touchless, so no risk of snagging jewelry. I tired it once. Good experience, but very slow process. I rarely saw anyone using the devices.

HAL's alcohol policy (Already Booked > FAQs > Popular Topics > Alcohol) states:

Revised Policy effective 2/4/15

Each guest 21 years and older may bring one bottle of wine or champagne (no larger than 750ml) onboard in carry-on luggage at the beginning of the voyage. This bottle will not be subject to a corkage fee if consumed in the stateroom. Additional wine or champagne bottles (no larger than 750ml) in carry-on luggage are welcome, but will incur a US$18.00 (subject to change) corkage fee each, irrespective of where they are intended to be consumed. Guests are not allowed to bring beer, boxed wine, or other liquors and spirits onboard. Holland America Line reserves the right to remove all alcoholic beverages from any guest luggage that violates this policy. Any alcoholic beverage found will be removed and returned on the last evening of the voyage. Guests will not receive any monetary compensation for alcoholic beverages that were removed from luggage.

For voyages that depart from and return to Australia and/or New Zealand, this policy applies to guests 18 years and older.

Wine and champagne bottles (no larger than 750ml) purchased in ports of call are welcome to be brought onboard subject to a US$18.00 (subject to change) corkage fee each, irrespective of where they are intended to be consumed. Alternatively guests can choose to have these bottles stored and returned on the last evening of the voyage at no charge. All other alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports of calls as well as all alcoholic beverages purchased from onboard shops will be stored and returned on the last evening of the voyage at no charge.

Additionally, hidden away in at least one shore excursion description (A Taste of Sardinia) is the following statement "Corkage policy: Onboard corkage fee is waived for one bottle of wine per person per tour for wine purchased during a Holland America Line shore excursion."

We are booked on the Oct Trans-Atlantic repo out of Civitavecchia, IT on the Koningsdam. While browsing the available excursions I came across this surprising gem in the "Taste of Sardinia" excursion in Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy.

"Corkage policy: Onboard corkage fee is waived for one bottle of wine per person per tour for wine purchased during a Holland America Line shore excursion."

We love winery excursions, and have almost always purchased a bottle or two while on the tour. If this policy applies to all HAL wine tours it'll make lots of us happy. :D

My wife & I really enjoyed the Neptune perks the one and only time we booked that level cabin. Breakfast at the Pinnacle was my favorite, but my wife favored the ability to get snacks in the lounge as her stomach operates on a different clock than my military trained stomach.

However, for an Alaskan cruise I believe you'll regret not bringing two pairs of good quality compact binos. The best part of an Alaskan cruise, IMO, are the sights you'll see as you slowly cruise the inside passage and visit the glaciers. The HAL binos are large & heavy, and sharing is not fun.