Bill W. Question

[Beth8649]

Can you request ahead of time for a non-alcoholic mini-bar or do you need to wait until you are on the ship to request all alcohol be removed from your room?

 

If you do have to wait until you are in the room to get the alcohol removed, do you request a receipt so that you are not later charged as if you drank it?

 

Will HAL honor a request to remove the alcohol from the mini bar?

 

Are there any Bill W. Meetings? Where should one look for that info?

[dfish]

Yes, you can have the alcohol removed from the cabin. We have done that. We didn't think to ask for a receipt, but that might be a good idea. You can probably put in a request ahead of time.

 

There are Friends of Bill W. meetings daily on the ship. Check the On Location that you get each evening for the next day's meeting. I think they are generally around 4 pm and usually in a meeting room which varies by ship.

[Beth8649]

Thank you, Dfish &Fyree39! I'll call HAL on Monday and see if they can set it up in advance. If not, it will be #1 on my request list. I'm relieved that we can get it removed and have cold soda pops in the frig. I would hate to wait 10 yrs for a vacation only to share a room with a demon (and, I don't mean my sweet mom or dear friend).

 

Thanks, also, for the approximate time of the meetings. We're hoping to do daily Mass, too, and it sounds like they won't conflict with each other.

 

Thanks so much for answering my question! I'm very relieved!

Edited July 18, 2015 by Beth8649

[Beth8649]

It wouldn't let me re-edit to add that I was able to download the meeting format and Chapter 5. Does anyone have a favorite chapter for cruises? ( I'll be downloading some for the trip).

 

I just realized I can't click in for the daily meditations on my phone either. But, that book is small enought to stow in our gear.

[take us away]

No problem having your mini-bar removed. If it is not done when you arrive, just ask your steward and a bar steward will show up and clear it all out. We even have the soda removed to prevent billing issues which have plagued us in the past. It has been my experience that the Bill W meetings do not conflict with much of anything as remember them about 2 or 3 pm on sea days. Mass is usually about 5 pm.

[jtl513]

You can request that the mini-bar be cleared of alcohol before you board, but don't be surprised if it isn't done. The stewards are very pressed for time on turn-around day, and often overlook or skip things we have pre-requested. Or the removal may be done by someone on the bar staff rather than your regular steward, and they just don't get to your cabin in time.

 

I doubt that a receipt is necessary, but if you are there when the cooler is cleared, you might take note of the name of the person who does it.

Edited July 18, 2015 by jtl513

[Krazy Kruizers]

I just checked some of my daily On Location programs the meetings on our last cruises were held at 5 PM.

So be certain that you check your daily programs as each ship seems to do their own thing -- choosing different times.

[Mumsysailor]

Be sure to ask that the alcohol is removed from your cabin entirely. Last time we asked for the mini bar to be emptied we found it all stowed in the bottom of the stool under the dressing table -where we like to put our laundry. :eek:

[Khaos WolfKat]

What GREAT timing! I was just planning on asking these very questions tonight, and here it is already. Thanks very much to the OP for doing it for me, and to everyone who responded with answers. :D

 

I've got the 12 Step Companion app and another AA app on my Android, and between them, I've got pretty much ALL the readings, the entire BB, and I think the 12x12 as well. Also, regularly updated schedules and contact info for almost anywhere you can think of! Very cool! Oh.. And a sobriety calculator, which will tell you, down to the second, how much time you have, in several different time units (days, months, hours, etc) if you get a kick out of that sort of thing. :)

I think it's pretty fun.

 

[Beth8649]

Wow! This is great! I think I would have passed out or been swearing if I found the booze hidden in the room. It would have been too much like my old life to handle. I'll check that foot stool ASAP, when we get into our cabin.

 

And, thanks for suggesting some phone apps that don't require the Internet. I'll go download them today.

 

With the $50 for $25 soda pop card, where can one get the canned pop on the Westerdam?

 

Thank you, all, so very much for sharing!!!

 

Is the casino safe? Or do they come by with pre-filled drinks and offer you one?

 

I was just thinking how we are all going to need each other: AA with the bars, GA with the casino, and NA with the port stops. It's great to have so many friends everywhere!!!

Edited July 18, 2015 by Beth8649

[RuthC]

With the $50 for $25 soda pop card, where can one get the canned pop on the Westerdam?

Any lounge, restaurant, or the outside decks with a bar nearby. There will be stewards who will be happy to take an order---there's no need to approach the bartender if that is easier for you.

[CowPrincess]

>SNIP<

 

Is the casino safe? Or do they come by with pre-filled drinks and offer you one?

 

I was just thinking how we are all going to need each other: AA with the bars, GA with the casino, and NA with the port stops. It's great to have so many friends everywhere!!!

 

I have never been offered a drink in the casino. I don't drop much $$, and I don't spend a lot of time there, so others may have a different experience. I have never seen a steward roaming the casino with a tray of comp drinks.

 

If you get invited to some sort of "by invitation" party, e.g., the VIP party or the Suite reception, there will be stewards offering trays of alcoholic drinks, usually wine.

 

We don't attend the Captain's Toast, so this is only speculation, but I suspect there would be glasses of wine offered there by roaming stewards.

Edited July 18, 2015 by CowPrincess

[threeedogmedia]

Not sure if you drink NA beer or wine but I did check and they have both onboard. The NA wine is Sutter Fre' and it is by far the better of the brands available out there. I think there might be only a couple brands of NA beer. Oh, they also have Sutter Fre' Brut Champagne too. I think HAL does a great job providing options for all of us.

 

Have a wonderful trip!

[dfish]

I have never been offered a drink in the casino. I don't drop much $$, and I don't spend a lot of time there, so others may have a different experience. I have never seen a steward roaming the casino with a tray of comp drinks.

 

If you get invited to some sort of "by invitation" party, e.g., the VIP party or the Suite reception, there will be stewards offering trays of alcoholic drinks, usually wine.

 

We don't attend the Captain's Toast, so this is only speculation, but I suspect there would be glasses of wine offered there by roaming stewards.

 

I don't go to the casino, so I can't comment on that. The by invitations parties do have trays of drinks that are brought around, but there is no pressure to take one. If you don't want to be approached, perhaps bringing a soda with you will discourage that. There are non alcoholic beverages available as well.

 

If you are invited to the Mariner's brunch, there is champagne served. When you are seated, move the glass away from you or turn it over and nothing will be made of it.

 

What I like about HAL is that while alcohol is available, I've never seen it pushed on people nor have I seen more than one inebriated person in four cruises.

 

One caution: read the menus carefully in the dining room. There are dishes that are "splashed" with alcohol or contain alcohol. Your server will be helpful in guiding you to avoid them.

 

Debbie

[Beth8649]

Great, helpful info! Super idea to carry a soda pop around! I will really pay attention to the menus. I don't drink any near beer or wine stuff.

 

I went round-Robbin with the bartender at my daughter's wedding. They only brought champeign to the tables so I went to ask for ginger ale for my glass... I was offered everything alcoholic and all the near and virgin stuff, finally, the hostess came over and said a foreign word and I got 7up.

 

I'd be afraid of the near stuff. I've totally stayed away from anything remotely alcoholic, except saganaki cheese.

 

Thank you all, for all the useful tips!!! Your tips will give me an extra layer of protection. Thanks!!!

Edited July 18, 2015 by Beth8649
Spelling

[dfish]

You will be fine, Beth. You are prepared, have a game plan and the support you need. Now, relax and enjoy the cruise.

[take us away]

My now gone DH also did not drink and he never had a problem while cruising. We would have the mini-bar cleaned out after we boarded so we knew it was gone (no surprise stash in the cabin), no issue in the casino as they do not walk around with pre-made drinks, and even though Trivia was in the Ocean Bar, the staff had platters of water on the bar top and gladly served soda. We would stop in to the Ocean Bar and watch the dancings most evenings before dinner and the staff knew by day 2 or 3 to just bring him a club soda with lime.

[KrystaGali]

I will be traveling with a friend of Bill W in the near future and I, too, reached out to cruise critic for advice and how to support my traveling companion. Something that I never would have thought of was to look ahead of time at my ports of call for some meeting sites and times.

[frankc98376]

You can call Ship Services, provide them your reservation number and request that your mini bar be emptied.

 

Has always worked for us- we bring our own soda on board.

[cruz chic]

Getting back to the casino I have had a drink there. They are not free and I've never seen them roaming the casino with a tray full of drinks. I only spend short time periods in the casino and don't go everyday.

[Watson's aunt]

Hi

 

On every cruise I have been on there have been Friends of Bll on the cruises.

 

Mary

[Beth8649]

There were great meetings on our cruise @ 5pm. Unfortunately, Mass was at 5pm, and hanukkah (on one possibly more days) @ 5pm. I was very divided between Mass & Bill W. I went to Bill W. except for Dec 8th. Only 1 day, was I the only attendee. The rest of the days we averaged 3-4 members.

 

Hilariously, one meeting was interrupted by an employee to invite us all to a rum tasting party. We all got a big laugh!

 

Smoking area was next to the outside bar, so tablemates were almost always buzzed. A very "slippery" place. So, grateful for the Bill W. meetings!!! So, grateful for my non-stop seasickness, too!!!

 

If you don't have the big book on your phone, a good tip is to download chapter 5 PDF. There are no hard cards on the ship, and no supplied coffee in the meeting room. So, you need to get your coffee in advance.

[kevingastreich]

Not sure if you drink NA beer or wine but I did check and they have both onboard. The NA wine is Sutter Fre' and it is by far the better of the brands available out there. I think there might be only a couple brands of NA beer. Oh, they also have Sutter Fre' Brut Champagne too. I think HAL does a great job providing options for all of us.

 

Have a wonderful trip!

 

On the Oosterdam last October the N/A beer was Buckler's. Not too bad either.

[kevingastreich]

Wow! This is great! I think I would have passed out or been swearing if I found the booze hidden in the room. It would have been too much like my old life to handle. I'll check that foot stool ASAP, when we get into our cabin.

 

And, thanks for suggesting some phone apps that don't require the Internet. I'll go download them today.

 

With the $50 for $25 soda pop card, where can one get the canned pop on the Westerdam?

 

Thank you, all, so very much for sharing!!!

 

Is the casino safe? Or do they come by with pre-filled drinks and offer you one?

 

I was just thinking how we are all going to need each other: AA with the bars, GA with the casino, and NA with the port stops. It's great to have so many friends everywhere!!!

 

We like to go to the art auctions. Very frequently there will be people handing out free champagne...just so you know.

[K&RCurt]

My Mrs is a friend of Bill (and before anyone gets upset about it...she is very open about it and I am not violating her anonymity as she takes the "Anonymous" part to mean respecting OTHER's anonymity.)

 

We always call ships' services ahead and the mini bar has always been emptied when we got into the cabin. Neither of us ever realized the stool was also a storage area, so the stuff might have been there, but we were none the wiser.

 

My DW enjoys non-alcoholic frozen fruity drinks, virgin coladas etc. The bar staff are SUPER careful to thoroughly wash the blenders and utensils before using them for a NA drink. One of the great things about HAL is that they do not "push" alcohol like other lines so the temptation is lessened.

 

All of the cruises we have been on the FOB meeting has been at 4:00. DW says anywhere from 2 to 20 people attend. On our last cruise it turned out DW had met one of our table-mates earlier in the day at the FOB meeting, so they both had support during dinner as well.

 

I am confident you will do fine and have a great time.

Edited December 23, 2015 by K&RCurt