Holland America Drinks Packages Confusion

[Crew News]

5 minutes ago, oakridger said:

Ah ha!  I feel so much better now Roger!!  LOL    If the Crow's Nest has it then it might/should actually be available in other bars also.  I have mixed feelings about the different bars having different menus.  In one sense, it highlights some special drinks to try for people who don't already know what they want, but then may seem like the unlisted drinks aren't available there.....which I would hope they are!  After dinner I enjoy the Ocean Bar to listen to live music while sipping a Tia Maria on the rocks!

 

Can you think of other benefits for passengers or HAL to have different menus at each bar?

 

~Nancy

Just checked all of the new bar menus I have posted.  No Tia Maria in the Lido Deck bars and not in the Tamarind bar.  I will be aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam on Sunday and will download all of their bar menus to compare.

 

In 2018, HAL went to a single bar menu with each bar having its own few additional drinks.  Best I can ponder is that some bars never poured a Tia Maria, or other brands, so those bars had one less bottle to track.  Thzt might be too logical.  It could just be an oversight that  LIdo Deck bars sharing the same bar menu will not serve Tia Maria.

[POA1]

The master list on the Beverage Package *sales sheet" has always been smaller than what you can actually get on the ship. I think that they're shooting for a representative sampling rather than a comprehensive list. In the case of Tia Maria, it's probably stocked in all the restaurants owing to its popularly as an after dinner cordial.

 

If you do favor something that's only stocked in a certain bar (or bars) make a note of where you saw it. This happened witt my brother in law and Patron XO, the coffee-tequila device. They had it in the Gallery bar, but not in MDR stock. We told our wine steward and he made sure to have it on hand. Needless to say, rwe showed our appreciation for the extra effort.

 

The bartenders rotate (between venues, not in circles) so they'll usually know what's where, liquor-wise.

Edited May 5, 2023 by POA1

[POA1]

WRT upgrading the SBP: We would buy enough OBC pre-cruise, to cover the upgrade. Purchased OBC is like cash and is fully refundable if not used. Promo OBC is not refundable* and is, "use it or lose it." If we ran into resistance on the upgrade, I'd explain that we prepaid for OBC to cover the upgrade cost. If the bar manager didn’t want to upgrade us, I fully understood. However, it was MY money and I was perfectly happy to take it home at the end of the trip. We sometimes had to try to upgrade at more than one bar, but we always found someone who realized that HAL was better off making MY money into THEIR money. It'd be bad negotiating for HAL to leave money on the table.

 

If you are dealing with promo OBC, like the $308 Amex Platinum credit, you're negotiating position is weaker. HAL is getting that regardless. (I don't know if the Amex promo is still in place. It's just an example.)

 

*-There is a way to turn your promo OBC into "cash OBC," but that's for another day.

[Florida_gal_50]

5 hours ago, POA1 said:

Signature is 15 total beverages, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Elite is 15 alcoholic drinks and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages. It's on the HAL site under the description of each.

 

Once you have booked, it's spelled out clearly in the Navigator app as well.

I wonder why the beverage manager struggled so much with knowing the rules.  It’s happened on other ships as well. Looks like you should give him a call and point him to where it’s clearly listed😛😉.  Hal doesn’t seem to know it’s own rules.

[Florida_gal_50]

5 hours ago, oakridger said:

Ah ha!  I feel so much better now Roger!!  LOL    If the Crow's Nest has it then it might/should actually be available in other bars also.  I have mixed feelings about the different bars having different menus.  In one sense, it highlights some special drinks to try for people who don't already know what they want, but then may seem like the unlisted drinks aren't available there.....which I would hope they are!  After dinner I enjoy the Ocean Bar to listen to live music while sipping a Tia Maria on the rocks!

 

Can you think of other benefits for passengers or HAL to have different menus at each bar?

 

~Nancy

I found it frustrating not to be able to get drinks from other bars.  For instance I liked the yuzu margarita that was the specialty in the pinnacle.  They weren’t interested in getting me for it in Canaletto.  I could understand if it was a drink from Princess.  It’s hard to get consistency as well.  They used to make the best Bloody Caesars, now mediocre.  Some come with olives, some not, some come with a salted rim.  I tell them exactly how I want it and it comes whatever way they feel like making it.  It takes so long to get a drink I don’t want to turn it back and they don’t seem to understand.  Many didn’t seem to understand the difference between a Caesar and a Mary.  This was MY experience.  Not saying it’s everyone’s experience or how it’s listed in the hal how to manual.

[curtdesilets]

Just so you know, 15 drinks per day seems like a lot to me.  I am glad it is only the difference in price if a drink is over $11, which it seems a lot are.  The smoking drinks in Ocean Bar are worth a try incidentally. 

[Crew News]

7 hours ago, POA1 said:

WRT upgrading the SBP: We would buy enough OBC pre-cruise, to cover the upgrade. Purchased OBC is like cash and is fully refundable if not used. Promo OBC is not refundable* and is, "use it or lose it." If we ran into resistance on the upgrade, I'd explain that we prepaid for OBC to cover the upgrade cost. If the bar manager didn’t want to upgrade us, I fully understood. However, it was MY money and I was perfectly happy to take it home at the end of the trip. We sometimes had to try to upgrade at more than one bar, but we always found someone who realized that HAL was better off making MY money into THEIR money. It'd be bad negotiating for HAL to leave money on the table.

 

If you are dealing with promo OBC, like the $308 Amex Platinum credit, you're negotiating position is weaker. HAL is getting that regardless. (I don't know if the Amex promo is still in place. It's just an example.)

 

*-There is a way to turn your promo OBC into "cash OBC," but that's for another day.

I think HAL caught onto one of the ways when they closed the Casino option about four years ago.

[POA1]

9 hours ago, Crew News said:

I think HAL caught onto one of the ways when they closed the Casino option about four years ago.

True. 😇 I never really understood the appeal of figuring out OBC money laundering schemes. Hope you are having a great cruise! I hope to catch up on all my live report reading this weekend.

[singleflyer]

New to HAL and cruising in general.  Does soda count towards the 15 beverage limit?  For example, I love a club soda from a soda machine (or bar "gun").  Don't need it in a bottle or can.  Thanks!

[Crew News]

45 minutes ago, singleflyer said:

New to HAL and cruising in general.  Does soda count towards the 15 beverage limit?  For example, I love a club soda from a soda machine (or bar "gun").  Don't need it in a bottle or can.  Thanks!

Yes for the Signature Beverage.

No for the Elite Beverage Package.

 

See the upper left portion of Page 2 of the following link:

 

Beverage Package Contents & Rules

[lextsy]

Assuming you cannot upgrade to Elite if you have purchased the SDP HIA promo which I did, my partner doesn't drink at all. What is the consensus on drink sharing between partners on the same state room. My main query is me using my quota all on wine, whisky and beer and using my partners for soda and coke

[CruiserBruce]

4 hours ago, lextsy said:

Assuming you cannot upgrade to Elite if you have purchased the SDP HIA promo which I did, my partner doesn't drink at all. What is the consensus on drink sharing between partners on the same state room. My main query is me using my quota all on wine, whisky and beer and using my partners for soda and coke

Don't do it.

 

Both people 18 or over in a room have to buy the HIA, or the drink plan, if you buy that by itself.

[lextsy]

Just now, CruiserBruce said:

Don't do it.

 

Both people 18 or over in a room have to buy the HIA, or the drink plan, if you buy that by itself.

 

We both do have the HIA package, i was meaning if we are sitting down at dinner or at a bar and we both order a drink on our package can we taste our partners drinks etc or if i run out of my drinks and my partner has some left how strict are they if i drink from my partners glass...

[CruiserBruce]

1 hour ago, lextsy said:

 

We both do have the HIA package, i was meaning if we are sitting down at dinner or at a bar and we both order a drink on our package can we taste our partners drinks etc or if i run out of my drinks and my partner has some left how strict are they if i drink from my partners glass...

I am sure you can taste your partner's drink. But if you run out, your partner can't "buy you a drink".

[BunnyLebowski]

How accurate are the bar menus that Cruise News has so helpfully posted online? Do the bars actually stock the wines and liquors listed? On our last 2 Celebrity cruises, they were “out” of most of the higher priced wines by the glass, as well as some of the better gins and scotches. 

Am trying to figure out if I should buy a beverage package or just drinks individually. If the beverage menus are accurate, there’s more than enough for me to enjoy, but if not we may be disappointed. Thanks!

[cheeseheads4ever]

New to HAL! So if you have the “have it all” signature drink package, soda, water and juice count to your daily 15? 15 seems like a lot but a couple coffees, sodas and drinks through the day and I can see you could hit 15. What happens when you hit 15 they cut you off or are you on your own dime after that?

I know this has to have been covered but just looking for a few answers.

we were on westerdam 10 years ago and really liked it…

Thanks for any help!

[iceman93]

After 15 you're on your own dime.  And I have to say, my wife and I probably drink more than the average passenger and never hit that limit.  Here's an example of a "max" day:

 

1) fancy coffee drink from the crow's nest while getting ready in the morning

2) mimosa at breakfast

3+4) two cans of water to take on a shore excursion

5+6) two glasses of wine with lunch

7) poolside cocktail in the afternoon

8) soda mid-afternoon

9) cocktail with the evening show

10) pre-dinner cocktail

11+12) two glasses of wine with dinner

13) post-dinner apertif

14) cocktail at BB King's

15) pre-bedtime whiskey or cognac

 

I have trouble imagining us drinking more than that, either alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks.  And if on one particular day we both wanted more, it's not that expensive to pay for them.  Honestly, I think the beverage packages are a good step towards making HAL more upscale and towards an all-inclusive environment.

Edited May 28, 2023 by iceman93

[cheeseheads4ever]

Thanks for the input. 

[Florida_gal_50]

13 hours ago, law chick said:

How accurate are the bar menus that Cruise News has so helpfully posted online? Do the bars actually stock the wines and liquors listed? On our last 2 Celebrity cruises, they were “out” of most of the higher priced wines by the glass, as well as some of the better gins and scotches. 

Am trying to figure out if I should buy a beverage package or just drinks individually. If the beverage menus are accurate, there’s more than enough for me to enjoy, but if not we may be disappointed. Thanks!

They are accurate.  He keeps his information very up to date.  Will they have everything on board?  That’s the big question.

[BunnyLebowski]

45 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

They are accurate.  He keeps his information very up to date.  Will they have everything on board?  That’s the big question.

You’re right I could have phrased my question better. What I’m really wondering is how closely does the stock of the onboard bars match the description on the menus, particularly within the past few months? Are there reports of bars being out of things like on other cruise lines, or do they generally have the wine you order in stock? Thanks. 

[Florida_gal_50]

8 minutes ago, law chick said:

You’re right I could have phrased my question better. What I’m really wondering is how closely does the stock of the onboard bars match the description on the menus, particularly within the past few months? Are there reports of bars being out of things like on other cruise lines, or do they generally have the wine you order in stock? Thanks. 

That’s anyones guess and could change from week to week.  The westerdam was really struggling with being out of a lot.  Is it still?  Who knows. I don’t think until you get on the ship that will be able to be answered.  What you could try is starting a separate thread and asking about your ship in particular.  Even then, you might not get a great idea if supplies fail to show that week.

[Destiny0315]

12 hours ago, iceman93 said:

After 15 you're on your own dime.  And I have to say, my wife and I probably drink more than the average passenger and never hit that limit.  Here's an example of a "max" day:

 

1) fancy coffee drink from the crow's nest while getting ready in the morning

2) mimosa at breakfast

3+4) two cans of water to take on a shore excursion

5+6) two glasses of wine with lunch

7) poolside cocktail in the afternoon

😎 soda mid-afternoon

9) cocktail with the evening show

10) pre-dinner cocktail

11+12) two glasses of wine with dinner

13) post-dinner apertif

14) cocktail at BB King's

15) pre-bedtime whiskey or cognac

 

I have trouble imagining us drinking more than that, either alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks.  And if on one particular day we both wanted more, it's not that expensive to pay for them.  Honestly, I think the beverage packages are a good step towards making HAL more upscale and towards an all-inclusive environment.

I would be very curious what your D to B ratio* is per day?🙂

   *drinks to bathroom visits