First Cruise on HAL, need info regarding bring on water, soda

[roxievegas]

We are Elite with Celebrity and Princess.  We are going on our first Holland cruise.

 

with Princess you can bring a case of water, and 12 pak of soda

is this allowed with HAL

 

Also, Princess allows you to purchase 12 bottles of water prior to the cruise for $7.05 =  HAL ??

 

Internet on Princess is $15.00 per day (we get half off because we are elite) for one device   - HAL?

 

after we board with Princess, they have lunch served in the MDR from noon until 1:30 -  doe HAL offer this

 

anything else I should know

 

"dummies" has 254 pages and i don't really want to go through all of that.

 

thank you for your response.

[Boatdrill]

 

From the "Know Before You Go" on the HAL website:

"Items such as sodas, energy drinks or other non-alcoholic items are not allowed on board in any form. Plastic water bottles are not allowed. However, an allowance of six liters, twelve (12) cans or cartons (500 ml in volume or less) or six (6) cans or cartons (1 liter in volume or less) of water are allowed per stateroom.  Any amount in excess of this allowance will be not be allowed onboard. Water in plastic bottles will not be allowed onboard in any quantity, including in ports of call. Guests will be asked to discard open beverages in plastic containers prior to boarding."     

[oakridger]

If you have already booked, the internet prices will be under the "Manage My Cruise" section on the website.  You can book excursions, specialty dining and other purchases of wine/spirits, gifts etc there.  The water package for the cabin is there as well as internet and beverage packages.

 

[oakridger]

Water packages are found in the "Manage My Cruise" under Beverages.  I never buy water. $$$$  Tap is fine for me!  

 

  

[oakridger]

For some reason the Surf Internet Plan isn't listed under my planner but maybe because I got the Premium included with the Early Booking Have It All plan.

 

[oakridger]

2 hours ago, roxievegas said:

after we board with Princess, they have lunch served in the MDR from noon until 1:30 -  doe HAL offer this

 

The MDR "should" be open on embarkation day from noon to 1pm.  Short hours.

 

~Nancy

[oakridger]

2 hours ago, roxievegas said:

anything else I should know

 

Which ship?  What itinerary?  Many things depend on these variables.

 

I suggest you read this Cruise Critic HAL forum for all the recent trip reports, questions and answers and the HAL website.  Probably any question anyone has ever had has already been answered here!!  

 

Have a great cruise!

 

~Nancy

[rj59]

11 minutes ago, oakridger said:

 

The MDR "should" be open on embarkation day from noon to 1pm.  Short hours.

 

~Nancy

Just be aware that HAL ships only have a single lunch menu, so you'll see the same one on every sea day, and it's things like burgers, instead of the salmon I usually get at Princess embarkation lunch. 

[oakridger]

@rj59 I agree about the MDR lunch menu now.  I enjoyed it pre covid, but the new one doesn't wow me because of the lack of variety.  I would like to see the MDR lunch menu revamped but we'll see if that happens.  Some people recently reported that they really liked it, so like most things on board, just go see for yourself!!

 

~Nancy

[roxievegas]

 

thank you for all who responded.

Finding the on board prices much higher than Princess.

Still planning to do the cruise

We do not get the beverage packages - alcohol is not a priority nor the internet.  We would end up paying as much for the extras as we do the cabin cost.

 

We enjoy the lunch because everyone else is upstairs in the buffet.

[oakridger]

11 minutes ago, roxievegas said:

Finding the on board prices much higher than Princess.

 

Here is the Ocean Bar menu for non alcoholic drinks and water.  This comes from @Crew News excellent website! 

 

 Roger Jett Photography - Digital Images in Time Roger Jett Photography (rogerjett-photography.com) 

 

 

[crystalspin]

2 hours ago, oakridger said:

For some reason the Surf Internet Plan isn't listed under my planner but maybe because I got the Premium included with the Early Booking Have It All plan.

Only the Premium Internet can be bought before sailing. Since installation StarLink on some ships and the removal of Social as an internet level, I have not seen the on-board prices for Surf. So many people are getting it with HIA...

 

I believe the on board, per-day prices are US$29.99/day for Surf and 34.99 for Premium (can't find the page that shows that, it is late here), but the cost per day drops off significantly if bought for whole or remainder of cruise. 

[Crew News]

1 hour ago, crystalspin said:

Only the Premium Internet can be bought before sailing. Since installation StarLink on some ships and the removal of Social as an internet level, I have not seen the on-board prices for Surf. So many people are getting it with HIA...

 

I believe the on board, per-day prices are US$29.99/day for Surf and 34.99 for Premium (can't find the page that shows that, it is late here), but the cost per day drops off significantly if bought for whole or remainder of cruise. 

Internet prices HAL link:  https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/onboard-packages/cruise-ship-wifi.html

[AKJonesy]

@roxievegas I am only addressing the question relating to bringing on soda.  So, as you have already seen someone has posted that information from the HAL site.  I am sort of tired of this policy because it DOES NOT line up with reality.  I don't bring on any soda upon embarkation.  EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY TIME I have been in a port after embarkation, I have brought soda back to the ship.  Crew members do this as well.  But, here is what I do so that I don't get anything confiscated.  I ASK the security people when I get off the ship in port, "can I bring cans of soda back on the ship".  EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY TIME the answer is yes and every time I have bought and brought the cans on ship at the port stop with no problem.  I don't know where you are going, but I usually find a grocery store or two on my cruises and that is when I buy and bring back soda.  Maybe it is just that at the embarkation ports they are more strict and don't want people doing this; IDK.  

[roxievegas]

1 minute ago, AKJonesy said:

@roxievegas I am only addressing the question relating to bringing on soda.  So, as you have already seen someone has posted that information from the HAL site.  I am sort of tired of this policy because it DOES NOT line up with reality.  I don't bring on any soda upon embarkation.  EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY TIME I have been in a port after embarkation, I have brought soda back to the ship.  Crew members do this as well.  But, here is what I do so that I don't get anything confiscated.  I ASK the security people when I get off the ship in port, "can I bring cans of soda back on the ship".  EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY TIME the answer is yes and every time I have bought and brought the cans on ship at the port stop with no problem.  I don't know where you are going, but I usually find a grocery store or two on my cruises and that is when I buy and bring back soda.  Maybe it is just that at the embarkation ports they are more strict and don't want people doing this; IDK.  

We will try this on our first port day.  thank you

[roxievegas]

Princess has an international cafe - coffee and free danish and sandwiches

 

the coffee is $3.50 per 16 oz cup (like the grande at starbucks)

 

does Hal have a coffee bar and what is the cost.  I looked at the website given above, but missed anything regarding coffee costs.

 

If water is $5.00 per bottle and coffee runs the same, the one package for $17.99 might be the way to go.

[Boatdrill]

I'm glad that although you have found "the on board prices much higher than Princess", you're "Still planning to do the cruise".  Frankly with the many "Princess has" comparisons, you may not be happy on HAL. It's a different brand (on purpose), and different atmosphere than other lines (also on purpose).  

If you share which HAL ship you'll be on, you'll get more specific information.

 

I hope you have a great cruise, and find all the resources available here and on the HAL website to be helpful.   

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 5, 2023 by Boatdrill

[OlsSalt]

2 hours ago, AKJonesy said:

@roxievegas I am only addressing the question relating to bringing on soda.  So, as you have already seen someone has posted that information from the HAL site.  I am sort of tired of this policy because it DOES NOT line up with reality.  I don't bring on any soda upon embarkation.  EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY TIME I have been in a port after embarkation, I have brought soda back to the ship.  Crew members do this as well.  But, here is what I do so that I don't get anything confiscated.  I ASK the security people when I get off the ship in port, "can I bring cans of soda back on the ship".  EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY TIME the answer is yes and every time I have bought and brought the cans on ship at the port stop with no problem.  I don't know where you are going, but I usually find a grocery store or two on my cruises and that is when I buy and bring back soda.  Maybe it is just that at the embarkation ports they are more strict and don't want people doing this; IDK.  

 

I hope you enjoy your down time vacation days.  Zero-waste demands now made on cruise ships has radically changed prior cruise expectation. When did you last sail Celebrity or Princess?

[Crew News]

3 hours ago, roxievegas said:

Princess has an international cafe - coffee and free danish and sandwiches

 

the coffee is $3.50 per 16 oz cup (like the grande at starbucks)

 

does Hal have a coffee bar and what is the cost.  I looked at the website given above, but missed anything regarding coffee costs.

 

If water is $5.00 per bottle and coffee runs the same, the one package for $17.99 might be the way to go.

HAL has an Explorations Cafe with a barista for coffee on all ships.  The Pinnacle-class ships also have the Grand Dutch Cafes that has three baristas for coffee.

 

Explorations Cafe Menu       Grand Dutch Cafe Menu

[jeh10641]

My last HAL cruise was December 2021. At that time, I brought on board over a dozen paper containers of Premier Protein shakes with no problem or questions asked. Port Everglades was my embarkation port. Ship was Rotterdam.

Jim

[roxievegas]

43 minutes ago, Crew News said:

HAL has an Explorations Cafe with a barista for coffee on all ships.  The Pinnacle-class ships also have the Grand Dutch Cafes that has three baristas for coffee.

 

Explorations Cafe Menu       Grand Dutch Cafe Menu

thank you

[roxievegas]

2 hours ago, OlsSalt said:

 

I hope you enjoy your down time vacation days.  Zero-waste demands now made on cruise ships has radically changed prior cruise expectation. When did you last sail Celebrity or Princess?

 

2 hours ago, Boatdrill said:

I'm glad that although you have found "the on board prices much higher than Princess", you're "Still planning to do the cruise".  Frankly with the many "Princess has" comparisons, you may not be happy on HAL. It's a different brand (on purpose), and different atmosphere than other lines (also on purpose).  

If you share which HAL ship you'll be on, you'll get more specific information.

 

I hope you have a great cruise, and find all the resources available here and on the HAL website to be helpful.   

 

 

 

 

 

We are looking at the cruise to get ourselves established with Holland.  We have seen several Alaska cruises that we like better with Holland than Celebrity or Princess.  We get casino offers with Princess, which is a free cabin - once we do our first cruise with Holland, we are hoping to get offers from them.  We really liked Celebrity, then tried Princess and did our 15 cruises with Princess to get to Elite status.  We will continue to do Princess if we get an offer that we can not refuse.

thanks to all for information, hate to take a cruise and spend the time figuring out stuff on our own.

[Banditswife]

Not sure which ship you are looking at or already booked, but the Pinnacle class ships have the Grand Dutch Cafe.  In the Gr Dutch cafe are many options for pastries, yogurt parfait, sandwiches.  These are all included in your cruise fare.  I think Explorations Cafe also has a few complimentary pastries.

We used to be avid Carnival cruisers, still enjoy our loyalty perks with them.  We tried HAL for an itinerary not offered by Carnival & ended up liking the more relaxed atmosphere of HAL, the older demographic.  If you play in the casino, you will most likely get offers after your 1st HAL cruise.  Try HAL & you might just like it as well as your usual brands.  Yes, there will be things HAL lacks from your usual brand, but they will excel in other areas.  One thing HAL excels at are their itineraries...

[OlsSalt]

Love to learn more from the casino franchise about their expectations of winnings, that supports giving out their "free cruises". There must be some math that works in favor of the house, so they can keep making these "free" offers. What does HAL get in enhanced revenues from these "free" offers? 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 5, 2023 by OlsSalt

[Boatdrill]

Has anyone received a free cruise (literally free - no charge for base cruise fare) from HAL because of their casino play ?