New to Holland America? This is for you...AKA "HAL For Dummies"

[happytotravel]

16 minutes ago, QuattroRomeo said:

Yes and yes!

By that I mean you will get a paper daily program in your cabin the night before. They will also be available for the taking at the Guest Services counter.

Merci, Merci, Merci!  happytotravel

[deeeeeeem]

Hi all! First time cruiser here. I was just looking around at the website and found that you can pre pay the crew appreciation fee online. I saw that it was actually cheaper to do it online. Is this correct? At first, it said it was $16 pppd and later on it translated to €17 pppd. However, it shows €185,92 per person as a total for a 14 night cruise, which equals to €13,28 per day instead of the $16/€17. Is this normal? 

[*Miss G*]

3 hours ago, deeeeeeem said:

Hi all! First time cruiser here. I was just looking around at the website and found that you can pre pay the crew appreciation fee online. I saw that it was actually cheaper to do it online. Is this correct? At first, it said it was $16 pppd and later on it translated to €17 pppd. However, it shows €185,92 per person as a total for a 14 night cruise, which equals to €13,28 per day instead of the $16/€17. Is this normal? 

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic and Holland America!

 

@VMax1700 might be a good person to address this, if he can, as I see you are in euros.

[gradydude]

New to Hal. Booked May 4-11 Canada and New England. Does anyone know what time the shows are scheduled?

[VMax1700]

4 hours ago, deeeeeeem said:

Hi all! First time cruiser here. I was just looking around at the website and found that you can pre pay the crew appreciation fee online. I saw that it was actually cheaper to do it online. Is this correct? At first, it said it was $16 pppd and later on it translated to €17 pppd. However, it shows €185,92 per person as a total for a 14 night cruise, which equals to €13,28 per day instead of the $16/€17. Is this normal? 

Yes, it is a good rate to pre pay.  But usually not as good as that rate!  I would be jumping on that price as my bookings are showing that a 14 night cruise in April is €223.66 per person!

  The way it works onboard is that the  full US dollar amount of the crew appreciation is  credited to your onboard account and each daily crew appreciation fee is charged to your account.

[Sea Hag]

55 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

Yes, it is a good rate to pre pay.  But usually not as good as that rate!  I would be jumping on that price as my bookings are showing that a 14 night cruise in April is €223.66 per person!

  The way it works onboard is that the  full US dollar amount of the crew appreciation is  credited to your onboard account and each daily crew appreciation fee is charged to your account.

How do they handle it if the crew appreciation price goes up after you pre-pay it? Or, as in the case above, you get a good deal? Do they apply the amount you paid and subtract off each day, leaving you with some charges left over, or do they credit the full, current amount for crew appreciation regardless of what you paid?

[d9704011]

1 hour ago, Sea Hag said:

How do they handle it if the crew appreciation price goes up after you pre-pay it? Or, as in the case above, you get a good deal? Do they apply the amount you paid and subtract off each day, leaving you with some charges left over, or do they credit the full, current amount for crew appreciation regardless of what you paid?

Interesting question.  If I understand correctly what you're asking:

1.  Did you purchase a USD 16 pppd credit for gratuities with the understanding that if they go to USD 18 by ghe time of the cruise you'll be on the hook for USD 2 pppd?; or,

2.  Did you pre-purchase credits for a number of days of gratuities and there will be no price adjustments no matter what the daily rate is when the cruise takes place?

[VMax1700]

1 hour ago, Sea Hag said:

How do they handle it if the crew appreciation price goes up after you pre-pay it? Or, as in the case above, you get a good deal? Do they apply the amount you paid and subtract off each day, leaving you with some charges left over, or do they credit the full, current amount for crew appreciation regardless of what you paid?

 

36 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

Interesting question.  If I understand correctly what you're asking:

1.  Did you purchase a USD 16 pppd credit for gratuities with the understanding that if they go to USD 18 by ghe time of the cruise you'll be on the hook for USD 2 pppd?; or,

2.  Did you pre-purchase credits for a number of days of gratuities and there will be no price adjustments no matter what the daily rate is when the cruise takes place?

I don't know how they would handle it, but let's look at the facts as currently presented.  On HAL's website it offers the option to pre pay gratuities/crew appreciation at a pre determined price.  The website shows that price in the currency of booking (in this case euro).  As far as I would be concerned, if you pre pay the amount that they request then rates of grat going up or exchange rates fluctuating will make no difference as you have pre paid the requested amount.  It is incumbant on HAL to know what the gratuities will be on the cruise that you book before they make the offer.

[Haljo1935]

2 hours ago, Sea Hag said:

How do they handle it if the crew appreciation price goes up after you pre-pay it? Or, as in the case above, you get a good deal? Do they apply the amount you paid and subtract off each day, leaving you with some charges left over, or do they credit the full, current amount for crew appreciation regardless of what you paid?

US passengers report both - some have prepaid and not been charged the difference when there's been an increase and some report they've received a credit for the amount that was prepaid then been charged the new amount each day resulting in paying the difference.

There are several recent discussions about this and no definitive answer that I've seen. Screenshots have been provided supporting both sides, leaving me to wonder which is correct and how can a passenger reasonably know what to expect?

Personal experience, when I've prepaid, grats are not on my statement (I just never see them) but I've not cruised after an increase & prepayment. 

[d9704011]

2 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

There are several recent discussions about this and no definitive answer that I've seen.

Weird, the unpredictability.  One good thing, at least from a cash outlay, if you can get a 10 - 15% reduction on the grats you'll be ahead of the game no matter which way it shakes out.

[islandwoman]

When "choose a room" comes up blank on hollandamerica.com, does it mean that the category is sold out or is it a glitch on the website?  I have tried searching cruises with two different browsers for the past few days and on all my searches except one I got through "Choose Your Stateroom Type", "Choose a ship section", and "Choose a deck".  But when I got to "Choose a room", there is no deck plan and no room choices.   

[teeeej]

2 minutes ago, islandwoman said:

When "choose a room" comes up blank on hollandamerica.com, does it mean that the category is sold out or is it a glitch on the website?  I have tried searching cruises with two different browsers for the past few days and on all my searches except one I got through "Choose Your Stateroom Type", "Choose a ship section", and "Choose a deck".  But when I got to "Choose a room", there is no deck plan and no room choices.   

 

Glitch. It wasn't working for me earlier but then did work later in the day.

[teeeej]

Hi all,

 

It looks like I have the option for a similar itinerary (11 day Mexican Riviera and Sea of Cortez) that is a few days apart between the Zaandam and the Koningsdam in December. I haven't been on HAL in almost 20 years, and I'm definitely not the target demographic as I am in my late 30s. 

 

How would I decide which one is a better option? I'm assuming the smaller older ship means that getting on and off the ship at the ports are going to be easier and that there might be less crowds in the public areas in general, but that might not be true if the bigger ship has more public spaces, bigger buffet, and more staff.

 

The Zaandam is a little bit cheaper, but the Koningsdam appears to have way more food and entertainment options.

 

The Zaandam is maybe similar to some of the HAL ships that I was on decades ago with my parents - so maybe it would be more fun to get to explore the newer class of ships, but I don't know?

 

 

 

[Blackduck59]

@teeeej it is entirely possible you sailed on Zaandam 20 years ago, she would have been relatively new then; now she is one of the oldest and smallest ships in the fleet. Koningsdam is the lead ship in the Pinnacle class and is among the newest and largest in the fleet. I haven't sailed in Koningsdam so will leave that to others. We have only sailed on HAL once and that was on Zaandam, she is a lovely ship but does show her age. Things are dated in places and updated in others. We had a vista suite which suited our needs. Zaandam is an older ship, but well maintained, comfortable like your comfy shoes.

[Mary229]

@teeeej  I have sailed both and am currently on the Koningsdam. I prefer the Zaandam.  It is in fine condition, has spacious rooms and excellent, refined service.  The Koningsdam certainly has more dining and entertainment options but it is hit or miss in service.  My experience in the MDR this very evening was so poor I walked out - something I have never done before on any cruise ship.  The service overall in all details is less personal but that is to be expected from a larger ship.  Otherwise the food is good, the entertainment is good.  Some departments do shine unexpectedly like photography and the casino staff. The rooms are small on the Koningsdam but are very efficiently designed. 

[FlaMariner]

@teeejh

Our first HAL cruise was on the Zaandam in 2002 and we've been hooked ever since.  We were in our early 30's.  Our kids were pre-teens and with us and they are now 3 star Mariners in their 30's. On their own now and they prefer HAL. 

 

We have also sailed on the Koningsdam (and her sister ships).

 

If all things were equal with date and ports......

 

.......we'd sail on the Koningsdam.  

 

Why?

 

• More venues.....Dutch Cafe, NY PIzza, Lido deck with an upper tier balcony area, movies on deck, larger music walk theaters....much nicer thermal suite spa if you are into that. 
• Opportunity for a balcony stateroom at a reasonable price (major reason for us based on itinerary)
• Still a "small" ship.....a nice "mid sized" ship and not one of those dreadful "condo of the seas" ships on other lines.

Both ships are fantastic.  We would be happy on either one.....Welcome back to Holland America Line and have a great time no matter the ship....as long as it is a 'dam ship.....as our dining room waiter tells us. 

Edited February 24 by FlaMariner

[teeeej]

48 minutes ago, FlaMariner said:

@teeejh

Our first HAL cruise was on the Zaandam in 2002 and we've been hooked ever since.  We were in our early 30's.  Our kids were pre-teens and with us and they are now 3 star Mariners in their 30's. On their own now and they prefer HAL. 

 

We have also sailed on the Koningsdam (and her sister ships).

 

If all things were equal with date and ports......

 

.......we'd sail on the Koningsdam.  

 

Why?

 

• More venues.....Dutch Cafe, NY PIzza, Lido deck with an upper tier balcony area, movies on deck, larger music walk theaters....much nicer thermal suite spa if you are into that. 
• Opportunity for a balcony stateroom at a reasonable price (major reason for us based on itinerary)
• Still a "small" ship.....a nice "mid sized" ship and not one of those dreadful "condo of the seas" ships on other lines.

Both ships are fantastic.  We would be happy on either one.....Welcome back to Holland America Line and have a great time no matter the ship....as long as it is a 'dam ship.....as our dining room waiter tells us. 

 

Looks like somebody else got tagged, but I'm glad I saw this! Thanks for your feedback!

 

So My first HAL cruise was a Panama Canal cruise way back in 1994 on the Maasdam.  I was 9 years old. There was exactly one other child on the entire cruise in addition to me and my sister. That's kind of crazy to think about.

 

I definitely do tend to like music when it comes to the entertainment. When I was on Carnival Panorama last year - which for me, seemed like a really large ship compared to what I remember from my cruising past- ...and looking up the stats, that ship has capacity for over 4000 passengers, so the Koningsdam is comparatively much smaller than that. Even with 4000 passengers, we never had a problem finding a seat in the food venues, there were a couple times we couldn't find a seat in a small lounge, but even that wasn't typically an issue.

 

They did have live music going on frequently throughout the day and night, which was fun.

 

I do enjoy the Thermal beds, and I had read in comments here that the thermal suite on Zaandam is not a good buy.

[teeeej]

9 hours ago, Mary229 said:

@teeeej  I have sailed both and am currently on the Koningsdam. I prefer the Zaandam.  It is in fine condition, has spacious rooms and excellent, refined service.  The Koningsdam certainly has more dining and entertainment options but it is hit or miss in service.  My experience in the MDR this very evening was so poor I walked out - something I have never done before on any cruise ship.  The service overall in all details is less personal but that is to be expected from a larger ship.  Otherwise the food is good, the entertainment is good.  Some departments do shine unexpectedly like photography and the casino staff. The rooms are small on the Koningsdam but are very efficiently designed. 

I'm sorry you had a bad experience. 😞  That is something I noticed, the Zaandam cabins do seem quite large with many rooms including a sofa in addition to the bed!. I booked a partial sea view, and based on reviews, the "obstruction" is not much, and it is basically the same cost as an inside cabin. They don't build them like that anymore. 🙂

 

[Haljo1935]

1 hour ago, teeeej said:

...So My first HAL cruise was a Panama Canal cruise way back in 1994 on the Maasdam.  I was 9 years old...

 

They did have live music going on frequently throughout the day and night, which was fun.

 

I do enjoy the Thermal beds, and I had read in comments here that the thermal suite on Zaandam is not a good buy.

Welcome back to HAL! I've not been on Zaandam, so can't speak specifically to that ship. I've sailed K'dam several times, as recently as Dec '23 - Jan '24 Hawaii and Mexico Dec '22.  While I VERY much enjoy the Thermal Spa and Grand Dutch Cafe, the MDR dinner was a major struggle. The dogs 🐕 K'dam continues to allow onboard (photo documented as recently as this month by current passengers and me Dec & Jan) is beyond insulting to actual service animals and will have me booking other ships.

Also cruising Carnival, I agree that HAL entertainment is very different.

I hope you'll come back and give us your opinion of the Zaandam and HAL. Safe travels - enjoy your cruise!

Edited February 24 by Haljo1935
Typo

[jonyboy]

22 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

Welcome back to HAL! I've not been on Zaandam, so can't speak specifically to that ship. I've sailed K'dam several times, as recently as Dec '23 - Jan '24 Hawaii and Mexico Dec '22.  While I VERY much enjoy the Thermal Spa and Grand Dutch Cafe, the MDR dinner was a major struggle. The dogs 🐕 K'dam continues to allow onboard (photo documented as recently as this month by current passengers and me Dec & Jan) is beyond insulting to actual service animals and will have me booking other ships.

Also cruising Carnival, I agree that HAL entertainment is very different.

I hope you'll come back and give us your opinion of the Zaandam and HAL. Safe travels - enjoy your cruise!

While we like HAL, our last cruise was on Celebrity Edge and the dining options and service was quite a bit better than HAL

[Haljo1935]

Just now, jonyboy said:

While we like HAL, our last cruise was on Celebrity Edge and the dining options and service was quite a bit better than HAL

I have not been on Celebrity, but do hear good things. Maybe one day 🤷‍♀️ 

At the restart, DH cousin spent many months as a nurse for them. She came away w/$$, good memories & a husband, lol.

[teeeej]

Here's an HAL question for the frequent cruisers:

Is OBC always "use or lose" or is it any of it refundable?

 

I'll be getting $300 OBC on the HIA promo, I believe $100 AARP credit and $100 shareholder credit.

 

What happens if I pre-book stuff such as massage on my credit card (or with HAL gift card if that's an option since the gift cards are 10% off), does spending actual money pre-cruise change the refundability of an OBC?

 

I know that I'll want to book things such as a massage, but I don't want to book it ahead of time if it will cost me actual money vs. just using up OBC, but also sometimes the massages are discounted when pre-booked or more availability in the time slots.  

 

When I took a cruise on Royal Caribbean, somehow I ended up with a small refund on my credit card after the end of the cruise which I definitely wasn't expecting.

 

Edited February 24 by teeeej

[RuthC]

12 minutes ago, teeeej said:

I'll be getting $300 OBC on the HIA promo, I believe $100 AARP credit and $100 shareholder credit.

Those sources would be 'use it or lose it'. 

12 minutes ago, teeeej said:

What happens if I pre-book stuff such as massage on my credit card

That money, assuming you didn't use the service, would be refundable. 

It all depends on the source of the OBC whether it is refunded or not. 
If HAL/Carnival Corp is the source of the credit, then you must use it or lose it. If you purchase an on board service, or just place some OBC on your account (of are gifted some by others, such as your TA), then that is refundable (there's a couple of exceptions on TA OBC being refundable or not). 

BTW---should you have some leftover OBC that is not refundable, you can always sign it over to the crew fund. 

[happytotravel]

Hi Ruth,

I have $10.10 leftover from my shore excursion $ amount from HIA.  Can I sign it over to the crew fund?  If so, do I go to Guest Services to do that?

 

Thank you, happytotravel

[teeeej]

53 minutes ago, RuthC said:

Those sources would be 'use it or lose it'. 

That money, assuming you didn't use the service, would be refundable. 

It all depends on the source of the OBC whether it is refunded or not. 
If HAL/Carnival Corp is the source of the credit, then you must use it or lose it. If you purchase an on board service, or just place some OBC on your account (of are gifted some by others, such as your TA), then that is refundable (there's a couple of exceptions on TA OBC being refundable or not). 

BTW---should you have some leftover OBC that is not refundable, you can always sign it over to the crew fund. 

Thank for the info! I definitely won't be pre-buying stuff.

 

I probably should have with inquired with CC on who the generous and/or good TA's are for HAL.

 

I ended up booking directly because the HAL gift cards at AARP are 10% off, and the TA OBC that I was seeing from TA's on CruseCompete was no better or worse than the savings from just buying gift cards, which also is less of an outflow upfront. Of course the gift card promotion might change by the time the bulk of my cruise payment is due in September, and maybe you can still pay with gift cards even when you use TAs.

 

I can't imagine the cruise line would be too thrilled if i cancel my booking and then re-book a similar cabin or even a different category of cabin with a TA, if that's even allowed.

Edited February 24 by teeeej