Hotel Service Charge increasing $1

Announced in Oct 1 travel agent newsletter:

Update to Hotel Service Charges

For all sailings departing prior to December 1, 2018 as well as the 2019 Grand World Voyage and the 2019 Grand South America Antarctica Voyage, the daily Hotel Service Charge is $13.50* per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $15.00* per guest per day for suite guests.

For sailings departing on or after December 1, 2018, the daily Hotel Service Charge is $14.50* per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $16.00 per guest per day for suite guests.

For more details, please visit the Shipboard Life section of Frequently Asked Questions on our website at hollandamerica.com.

Found this by following the "PartnerSHIPS Portal" link at very bottom of HAL website.

Announced in Oct 1 travel agent newsletter:

 

 

Update to Hotel Service Charges

For all sailings departing prior to December 1' date=' 2018 as well as the 2019 Grand World Voyage and the 2019 Grand South America Antarctica Voyage, the daily Hotel Service Charge is $13.50* per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $15.00* per guest per day for suite guests.[/font']

For sailings departing on or after December 1, 2018, the daily Hotel Service Charge is $14.50* per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $16.00 per guest per day for suite guests.

For more details, please visit the Shipboard Life section of Frequently Asked Questions on our website at hollandamerica.com.

Found this by following the "PartnerSHIPS Portal" link at very bottom of HAL website.

Thanks for the info.

I edited your post in my quote to make it a bit easier to read. Hope that is ok.

Here's the full announcement (in red). Note the confirmation that all HSC goes to the crew:

Our crew works very hard to make sure that every aspect of your cruise meets the highest standards. This includes those crew members who serve you directly, such as Dining Room wait staff and the stewards who service your stateroom each day. There are also many others who support their efforts whom you may never meet, such as galley and laundry staff. To ensure that the efforts of all of our crew members are recognized and rewarded, a daily Hotel Service Charge is automatically added to each guest’s shipboard account.

For all sailings departing prior to December 1, 2018 as well as the 2019 Grand World Voyage and the 2019 Grand South America Antarctica Voyage, the daily Hotel Service Charge is $13.50* per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $15.00* per guest per day for suite guests.

For sailings departing on or after December 1, 2018, the daily Hotel Service Charge is $14.50* per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $16.00* per guest per day for suite guests.

*The charges are subject to change without notice.

If our service exceeds or fails to meet your expectations, you are free to adjust this amount at the end of each segment and/or voyage. The Hotel Service Charge is paid entirely to Holland America Line crew members, and represents an important part of their compensation. A 15% Bar Service Charge is automatically added to bar charges and Dining Room wine purchases. In terminals, airports, ports of call and on shore excursions, we suggest that you extend gratuities consistent with customary local practices.

I got lucky on this (at least for now). Upcoming Oct cruise no increase and Jan cruise has FREE service charge.

The crew deserves it, so I am happy for them.

Thanks for the information. I wouldn't have known!:eek:

As we sail on December 5 on the Nieuw Statendam, I also posted it on our roll call...

i think ti very fair they made it such a small increase. Crews deserve at least that and more. IMO

i think ti very fair they made it such a small increase. Crews deserve at least that and more. IMO

Amen.

Personally I’d rather it be included in the fare so people can’t take it off.

My cruise in January has free grats, so I have nothing to worry about.

The crew deserve every cent, and then some!

Thank you for this information.

Thanks for the update.

Sent from my SM-T380 using Forums mobile app

I have never heard of anyone being s topped from tipping more if they wish. No one ever stopped us. :)

:)

Thanks for the info. Saw it posted on our roll call.

Personally I’d rather it be included in the fare so people can’t take it off.

I have no problem with this so long as no crew member expects an additional cent or peso from me while I am on my vacation.

I have no problem with this so long as no crew member expects an additional cent or peso from me while I am on my vacation.

I've never seen a HAL crew member 'expect' an additional tip. what we give (and we choose to do so) is very appreciated but it has NEVER been expected in all my cruises.

Thank you for this information, would not have known otherwise.

I've never seen a HAL crew member 'expect' an additional tip. what we give (and we choose to do so) is very appreciated but it has NEVER been expected in all my cruises.

I fully agree.

I have no problem with this so long as no crew member expects an additional cent or peso from me while I am on my vacation.

Annnnnnnd ………… there it is!

Yes, the increase isn't huge and I understand an increase, however, I do believe anyone already booked, should be grandfathered in under the gratuity established when booked - especially those fares already non-refundable and paid for in full.

Thanks for sharing.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Forums mobile app

I've never seen a HAL crew member 'expect' an additional tip. what we give (and we choose to do so) is very appreciated but it has NEVER been expected in all my cruises.

well described and fully agree.

Peter