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

[Steerpike58]

17 hours ago, islandwoman said:

Are these Viking included shore excursions the ones that you would choose if you were to book them yourself or do you feel that since you've already paid for them, you ought to take advantage?

When I went on my one and only Viking cruise (it was a river cruise), I signed up for every one of the included shore excursions just because they were already paid for.  By the end of the cruise, I was SO tired of riding on busses and wished that I had done something different in many of the ports. But then again, I would have had to pay double for shore excursions. 

That's a very good question!  We have yet to ever arrange our own formal excursions. We have so far gone with a mixture of the 'included' Viking excursion (which tend to be a moderately extensive intro to a location, but without anything fancy like big meals, etc - probably the equivalent of a $100-$150 HA excursion) and 'extra cost', more extensive / elaborate excursions from Viking. How they compare to HA's offerings we won't know till September. 

 

We are nervous about arranging our own excursions due to the usual concerns about getting back to the ship.

 

In general, we are finding that we prefer to just explore a location on our own, so if the port is close to the destination, or if there's a flexible shuttle or public transit option, then we'll simply explore the destination on our own. We did that in Athens, Istanbul, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Hong Kong, Vienna, Budapest, etc.  I have to say, we've had some disappointing excursions with Viking; I don't think it's Viking's fault necessarily - any time you want to feed and entertain a large group of people, you are asking for trouble! On an 'extension' in Prague, they bussed a coach-load of us out of the beautiful center of Prague and dumped us in a remote rural 'barn', where we were fed mediocre food, mediocre wine, and entertained by terrible singers wearing local costumes ... supposedly an intro to the 'flavors and sounds of Prague'. We would have been 10x happier going to a restaurant in Prague on our own! But you aren't going to find an atmospheric place in the center of Prague that's willing to take 30+ people, that's also accessible by coach. 

 

17 hours ago, islandwoman said:

 

Also, when comparing Viking and Holland America, don't forget to compare their cancellation policies.

My current impression is that a) HA give you a lot more time to cancel than Viking, and b) HA are more liberal in terms of giving refunds? I haven't researched it in depth. 

Edited May 5 by Steerpike58

[Steerpike58]

21 hours ago, Happily@Sea said:

 

This is the 'usual' for Viking. They built their reputation on river cruises and this is a normal perk of all river cruises - no matter the line. River cruises also park right downtown - at least in Europe. They have had years of training doing this - but is it really a bargain for ocean sailing ships or just an extra reason to raise their prices?? Only the cruiser choosing a cruise can answer.

One advantage Viking Ocean has is their smaller ship size; one example - we were able to dock in Kotor, spitting distance from the center of town, while another cruise ship had to 'tender'. Obviously, coming and going was a piece of cake for us.  Our upcoming HA cruise is on a ship with about 1900 passengers, which is more than double the Viking number. I simply cannot conceive of being on a 'big' ship - these new monsters they are building now. 

 

On our one (and only - never again!) Viking River cruise, several of our visits were to non-descript remote locations on the Danube; in part because of water levels. We couldn't dock in Budapest last year, and ended up in some remote spot with nowhere to go at night. Similar issues near Bucharest. Vienna was perfect - walking distance to town. 

[islandwoman]

1 hour ago, Steerpike58 said:

One advantage Viking Ocean has is their smaller ship size; one example - we were able to dock in Kotor, spitting distance from the center of town, while another cruise ship had to 'tender'. Obviously, coming and going was a piece of cake for us.  Our upcoming HA cruise is on a ship with about 1900 passengers, which is more than double the Viking number. I simply cannot conceive of being on a 'big' ship - these new monsters they are building now. 

 

I agree.  I recently took a 22 day cruise on the Koningsdam.  Never again!

[crystalspin]

11 hours ago, Steerpike58 said:

I simply cannot conceive of being on a 'big' ship - these new monsters they are building now. 

The Pinnacle Class including the K'dam, are not "new monsters". We did a 16-day B2B and promptly booked (and subsequently re-booked) a 35-day on the Koningsdam. She has the perfect selection of venues so that rarely does anyplace seem crowded.

[islandwoman]

4 hours ago, crystalspin said:

The Pinnacle Class including the K'dam, are not "new monsters". We did a 16-day B2B and promptly booked (and subsequently re-booked) a 35-day on the Koningsdam. She has the perfect selection of venues so that rarely does anyplace seem crowded.

It's a matter of opinion.  To me, the Koningsdam felt crowded in the MDR, World Stage, Lido, and the pool deck. When I have to wait to get into the MDR, it's noisy, and the service is slow; when there are no seats available in the World Stage 10 minutes before the show starts; when there are no tables available in the Lido; when there are no seats available on the pool deck; it's crowded.

[Steerpike58]

11 hours ago, crystalspin said:

The Pinnacle Class including the K'dam, are not "new monsters". We did a 16-day B2B and promptly booked (and subsequently re-booked) a 35-day on the Koningsdam. She has the perfect selection of venues so that rarely does anyplace seem crowded.

But what about port visits? Surely that's when the size would become most obvious. The more passengers there are to disembark, the slower it's likely to be, and how can a cute small-town destination (like Kotor, Montenegro) cope with 2-3,000 passengers descending on them at once? 

[Mary229]

22 minutes ago, Steerpike58 said:

But what about port visits? Surely that's when the size would become most obvious. The more passengers there are to disembark, the slower it's likely to be, and how can a cute small-town destination (like Kotor, Montenegro) cope with 2-3,000 passengers descending on them at once? 

Once and only once have I ever experienced delays going ashore with any HAL ship and that was on a tiny, remote island in the South Pacific with a single jetty and rough weather.  Other than that there have been times where sudden weather caused a cessation of tender operations for the safety of all.  I have been to Croatia and I don’t think a single cruise ship is a problem.  If the people there think it is they are welcome to create laws to control the flow. 

[RuthC]

15 hours ago, crystalspin said:

The Pinnacle Class including the K'dam, are not "new monsters". We did a 16-day B2B and promptly booked (and subsequently re-booked) a 35-day on the Koningsdam. She has the perfect selection of venues so that rarely does anyplace seem crowded.

Happy for you that you like the Pinnacle class of HAL ships. Others of us find them too large to get around, far too large to meet the same people often, no feeling of intimacy. 
I much prefer the smaller R-class ships remaining in the fleet, and am glad I had the opportunity to cruise so much while smaller ships like that were readily available. 

[islandwoman]

Going off on a tangent here:  How are HAL's mid-sized ships for crowding and port access? 

The Vista class and the Signature class ships? 

We're currently booked on the Zuiderdam.

 

ShipClassYear       Launched  Tonnage    Passenger Count

ms VolendamRotterdam1999  61,214      1,432

ms ZaandamRotterdam2000   61,396      1,432

ms ZuiderdamVista2002          82,820      1,970

ms OosterdamVista2003         82,820       2,024

ms WesterdamVista2004        82,862       1,968

ms NoordamVista2006           82,897        1,972

ms EurodamSignature2008    86,23          2,104

ms Nieuw AmsterdamSignature2010  86,273   2,106

ms KoningsdamPinnacle   2016  99,863           2,650

ms Nieuw StatendamPinnacle2018  99,863     2,666

ms RotterdamPinnacle  2021      99,863           2,668

[Crew News]

5 hours ago, Steerpike58 said:

But what about port visits? Surely that's when the size would become most obvious. The more passengers there are to disembark, the slower it's likely to be, and how can a cute small-town destination (like Kotor, Montenegro) cope with 2-3,000 passengers descending on them at once? 

Excursions are often staggered for Pinnacle-class ships.  So, a late arrival in Juneau last week had all 2600 passengers waiting to leave the ship at the same time.  Security did their best the keep the lines orderly but those passengers exiting elevators merely joined the middle of the current line.  The steep gangway contributed to the slow shuffle of those departing. "Chaos" would be a gentle term to describe what took place.

[Djb.zville]

Wondering if my preferred cocktails will be covered under the $11 HIA drink package - or if I should upgrade it to cover higher prices.   Can anyone tell me the per drink cost for strawberry daiquiris, and fruity/frozen type concoctions?  My google searches didn't answer this and I can't find it on HAL's website.

 

 

[Mary229]

24 minutes ago, Djb.zville said:

Wondering if my preferred cocktails will be covered under the $11 HIA drink package - or if I should upgrade it to cover higher prices.   Can anyone tell me the per drink cost for strawberry daiquiris, and fruity/frozen type concoctions?  My google searches didn't answer this and I can't find it on HAL's website.

 

 

You will find some beverage menus here https://rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/hal-beverage-menus/

 

If your beverage is more than $11 you only pay the difference plus gratuity on the difference.  I do believe you can also upgrade your package on the ship 

[Haljo1935]

10 hours ago, Djb.zville said:

Wondering if my preferred cocktails will be covered under the $11 HIA drink package - or if I should upgrade it to cover higher prices.   Can anyone tell me the per drink cost for strawberry daiquiris, and fruity/frozen type concoctions?  My google searches didn't answer this and I can't find it on HAL's website.

 

 

You do pay only the difference +18%, so it takes a bit to break even on an upgrade. But you can upgrade onboard so long as you've not used the drink package at all; just let the bar know you want to upgrade.

[crystalspin]

On 5/6/2024 at 5:21 AM, islandwoman said:

To me, the Koningsdam felt crowded in the MDR, World Stage, Lido, and the pool deck. When I have to wait to get into the MDR, it's noisy, and the service is slow

Oh, that's true -- after walking by the crowd of people with pagers waiting for the MDR on the first night, we simply didn't try again! Well, we called for a reservation on the night of Lamb Shanks, but the only opening was very late and at a large table... so I agree, there is a problem with MDR.

 

We were avoiding contagion and only went to the BBC programs, and Lincoln Centre Stage was still on board. We always found seats at distance from others in the Lido, and usually a 2-top in the shade on the deck for Dive-In burgers.

 

The Crows Nest hadn't been chopped up, either, and I am holding out opinion for the next Pinnacle ship. The Grand Dutch Cafe and Tamarind were other favorites.

 

23 hours ago, RuthC said:

Happy for you that you like the Pinnacle class of HAL ships. Others of us find them too large to get around, far too large to meet the same people often, no feeling of intimacy.

When we travelled with family, the Zaandam and Volendam were fine; usually able to find one another. But it was just the two of us on the full K'dam over NYE 22-23 (also our anniversary), and we were our own company.

 

[RuthC]

11 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

When we travelled with family, the Zaandam and Volendam were fine; usually able to find one another. But it was just the two of us on the full K'dam over NYE 22-23 (also our anniversary), and we were our own company. 

Of course not everyone is traveling with family, or a spouse. So those who are with those they know already may have an entirely different point of view. 

[Duane S.]

unable to find an answer via search engine

we have fixed early seating on our trip to Alaska next may. 

If we are late for our seating time can we still use the assigned table?

I am trying to determine if there is any time leeway to get to our scheduled mdr dining time and if so how much??

unlikely we would be more than 15 to 20 minutes late but is that too late to use our assigned seating?

 

I tried several times to get info on this but never got a straight answer.

 

thanks in advance for any response

[Crew News]

14 minutes ago, Duane S. said:

unable to find an answer via search engine

we have fixed early seating on our trip to Alaska next may. 

If we are late for our seating time can we still use the assigned table?

I am trying to determine if there is any time leeway to get to our scheduled mdr dining time and if so how much??

unlikely we would be more than 15 to 20 minutes late but is that too late to use our assigned seating?

 

I tried several times to get info on this but never got a straight answer.

 

thanks in advance for any response

20 minutes is usually the standard for surrendering your table to those with "anytime" dining on Holland America..

Edited May 9 by Crew News

[jljcruise]

14 minutes ago, Duane S. said:

 

we have fixed early seating on our trip to Alaska next may. 

If we are late for our seating time can we still use the assigned table?

I am trying to determine if there is any time leeway to get to our scheduled mdr dining time and if so how much??

 

Usually 15-20 minutes leeway. Best thing is to let your server know if you will be late. Mention it the day before or call dining services to inform them so it will be held a bit longer.

[Duane S.]

Thanks for the responses, hopefully  we will be on time!

[cwd79]

Hi. Anyone have any insight on the J Cabins on Zuiderdam on Main deck? Specifically 1019/1015/1018. Those are considered Mid Ship even though they are closer to the outside elevators and super close to the Main Stage. Main concern is the noise from the Main Stage and the Casino above. Thanks for any insight. There will be three of us in the room. 

[RuthC]

53 minutes ago, cwd79 said:

Hi. Anyone have any insight on the J Cabins on Zuiderdam on Main deck? Specifically 1019/1015/1018. Those are considered Mid Ship even though they are closer to the outside elevators and super close to the Main Stage. Main concern is the noise from the Main Stage and the Casino above. Thanks for any insight. There will be three of us in the room. 

I've been in many of those cabins, on all of the Vista and Signature ships, many times. I was on port side, probably under the Casino once; all the other times I was on starboard. Most of the time I try to book closer to the mid-ship elevators. All the cabins you mentioned are well aft of the exits to the showroom; shouldn't be any noise from there. 

I have never had any problem with noise, although friends on port side, under what is now the Rolling Stone Lounge, heard noise a great deal until that bar closed. There are about 5 cabins, on port side, that hear that reverberating Boom-Boom-Boom; starboard is fine. 

I've stayed in J-1043 several times on the variety of ships, and love it there. I wouldn't want to go much further forward than the next cabin (J-1037). 

[cwd79]

Thanks for the info. Wouldn't the cabins in 1019/1015 hear the Billboard Onboard music? 

[RuthC]

1 hour ago, cwd79 said:

Thanks for the info. Wouldn't the cabins in 1019/1015 hear the Billboard Onboard music? 

I don't know as I have never stayed that far forward on starboard side. 

[Steerpike58]

On 5/7/2024 at 1:47 PM, crystalspin said:

Oh, that's true -- after walking by the crowd of people with pagers waiting for the MDR on the first night, we simply didn't try again! Well, we called for a reservation on the night of Lamb Shanks, but the only opening was very late and at a large table... so I agree, there is a problem with MDR.

...

 

Did you have Orange Club? That's supposed to improve matters with MDR, is it not?  We are going to be on the Oosterdam in September, and dining as a couple is a non-negotiable - no table sharing for us! Could this be a problem, do you think? We tend to eat fairly late (circa 7:30 or 8pm). On Viking OCEAN, we never had a problem getting a table for 2, without reservations. On Viking RIVER, we had to really struggle to get a table for 2 and we'll never go through that again. 

[islandwoman]

2 minutes ago, Steerpike58 said:

Did you have Orange Club? That's supposed to improve matters with MDR, is it not? 

We had Orange Club on the Koningsdam.  It did improve matters, somewhat.  We still had to wait for a table 10-15 minutes on many nights, but we were able to get a table for two if we requested one.  On the one morning when we agreed to a shared table at breakfast, service was very slow because they waited for the table to be filled before taking our orders. Club Orange was much quieter and less frantic than the MDR and, except for that one morning, the service was faster and friendlier.  After a few days, the host and the waiters recognized us.