19 years since cruising HAL few ?'s

[mattR]

We have just booked a family cruise on the Zuiderdam for Oct 2024 and have some questions.

 

Are the extra add on's that you prebook like spa booking refundable if you cancel?  What happens if they go on sale can you cancel and rebook the item to get the cheaper price? Do they still do high tea?  Do they do MDR lunch on embarkation day? Is there an app that you use to check out activities ect while onboard or is it still papers left on your bed at night?   Do they still turndown your cabin at night?  Is room service still free?  Can you order items off the main dining room menu or limited to only what's on the room service menu (non-suite) How much is dinner at the Pinnacle Grill now? Can you request a MDR table for 12?  

[oakridger]

Many of your questions have been answered recently on the HAL forums here.  Have a look at the threads and also the HAL website which will have specialty restaurant prices listed under your booking when they become available to book.  You will learn a lot here on Cruise Critic and with 1.5K posts you probably know how to find your way around.

 

That said, I'll answer a couple of the easy ones: In RED

 

20 minutes ago, mattR said:

Are the extra add on's that you prebook like spa booking refundable if you cancel?  YES  What happens if they go on sale can you cancel and rebook the item to get the cheaper price? USUALLY Do they still do high tea?  NEVER HAD HIGH TEA.  HAL HAS AN AFTERNOON TEA IN THE MDR  Do they do MDR lunch on embarkation day? USUALLY Is there an app that you use to check out activities ect while onboard or is it still papers left on your bed at night? YES THERE IS AN APP CALLED NAVIGATOR AND ALSO PAPER DAILY INFO  Do they still turndown your cabin at night? IF YOU WANT THEM TO Is room service still free? YES. NO DELIVERY CHARGE BUT A FEW ITEMS ARE EXTRA COST  Can you order items off the main dining room menu or limited to only what's on the room service menu (non-suite)  YOU CAN ORDER FROM THE MDR DURING THEIR REGULAR OPENING HOURS.  How much is dinner at the Pinnacle Grill now?    $51.43 INCLUDING GRATUITY      Can you request a MDR table for 12? ASK AT THE MDR.  IT'S LIKELY TOO BIG.  GET TWO TABLES FOR 6 NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

 

Check @Crew News excellent site for all kinds on menus and prices, etc.

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

 

Edited September 13, 2023 by oakridger

[oakridger]

My next cruise is on Zuiderdam in May 2024.  I think you will enjoy sailing on her!

 

Come back with any questions after you do a little reading on CC and we are happy to answer!!

 

~Nancy

[Haljo1935]

Welcome back to HAL!

I'll answer a few items and am sure others will fill in the blanks.

Yes, pre-paid it's are refundable provided ypu cancel according to the deadlines.

Yes there's tea a couple times during the cruise, but it is somewhat casual (being generous w/that word). No reservations. 

Yes lunch in MDR embarkation day until 1.

Navigator App - install now, limited used until you're onboard.

No real turndown service but you can ask & most will do it.

Yes room service is free, some items (very few) have a surcharge.

You can order off the MDR menu for room service w/in the first hour.

PG is increasing this month by $7pp for dinner to $46pp.

Not sure about a table for 12.

Safe travels  - enjoy your cruise!

[oakridger]

1 minute ago, Haljo1935 said:

Welcome back to HAL!

I'll answer a few items and am sure others will fill in the blanks.

Yes, pre-paid it's are refundable provided ypu cancel according to the deadlines.

Yes there's tea a couple times during the cruise, but it is somewhat casual (being generous w/that word). No reservations. 

Yes lunch in MDR embarkation day until 1.

Navigator App - install now, limited used until you're onboard.

No real turndown service but you can ask & most will do it.

Yes room service is free, some items (very few) have a surcharge.

You can order off the MDR menu for room service w/in the first hour.

PG is increasing this month by $7pp for dinner to $46pp.

Not sure about a table for 12.

Safe travels  - enjoy your cruise!

 

I guess we were typing at the same time!  At least our answers agree!!😉

 

~Nancy

Edited September 13, 2023 by oakridger

[Haljo1935]

Just now, oakridger said:

 

I guess we were typing at the same time!  At least our answers agree!!

 

~Nancy

I saw that, too 🫣

[mattR]

Thanks for the answers!  I read through the first 25 pages of the HAL board so far.  I'm sure I will be back with more questions 🙂  Like what's club orange.

[cruisemom42]

27 minutes ago, mattR said:

Thanks for the answers!  I read through the first 25 pages of the HAL board so far.  I'm sure I will be back with more questions 🙂  Like what's club orange.

 

 

 

[POA1]

One little tip - It's not going to be as efficient for you, but I think the results will be better

 

When you are posting questions, shoot for one or two in a topic rather than a barrage of everything that you want to know at once. It's easier for people to answer when your questions come in bite sized chunks. This is especially true when someone is typing on their oh-so-tiny phone keyboard.

 

Granted, there will be those people who will not answer your torrent of queries but instead give you advice - sage, one might say - that is kinda sorta related, but doesn't really address a single one of your questions.

[AllTheSun]

4 hours ago, mattR said:

Thanks for the answers!  I read through the first 25 pages of the HAL board so far.  I'm sure I will be back with more questions 🙂  Like what's club orange.

I went back about 50 pages on the NEW to Hal thread stickied at the top of the forum and worked my way up to the current post over the course of a week or two. You would have most found all of your questions answered and you would have a lot more to consider that you didn’t think to ask about so I encourage you to do the same.

[horseymike]

4 hours ago, mattR said:

Thanks for the answers!  I read through the first 25 pages of the HAL board so far.  I'm sure I will be back with more questions 🙂  Like what's club orange.

its a room where you must wear orange clothing , they serve orange juice and pumpkin pie.😀

[horseymike]

only kidding , it is an inclusive package for an additional charge. the website lists the details very well.

hope you have a great cruise .🛳️

[SybilUnrest]

We just booked a cruise for January 2024 (on Koningsdam) - the last time I cruised on HAL was December 2006, so I’m interested to see how things have changed and I’ll report back to you! (We did do a QM2 crossing last year and that was what I remember HAL in the 90s as being like, when I was a teenager, and based on what I’ve read here on CC and seen elsewhere, I’m looking forward to seeing how things have changed.)

[Roz]

There are no tables for 12.  Even if there were,  it would be difficult to carry on a conversation with the whole table.  Would you consider 2 tables of 6?  Are you sure all 12 people in your party want to dine together every night at the same time? 

[syesmar]

@mattR There have been a number of changes with HAL over 19 years. Some have been mentioned here and here and here. Just thought I’d pass the threads along in case you wanted to read more.

Happy Planning!

[POA1]

3 hours ago, horseymike said:

only kidding , it is an inclusive package for an additional charge. the website lists the details very well.

hope you have a great cruise .🛳️

You forgot the mascot, the Club Orange Bird.

[OlsSalt]

Closest to "high tea" was the Royal Dutch Tea that provided hot delicious entrees, which sadly they no longer offer nor do they offer the Indonesian Tea.  Daily regular tea served with sweets and savories still offered. 

 

You may notice the biggest improvement is the much more subdued decor. It is more coordinated rather than the garish mist-mash decor that HAL ships suffered from a decade or so ago.  Bilious carpets, fire sale closeouts from defunct casinos, and where on earth did they get some of those overly large hallway decor pieces?  Did the infamous Blue Boy statuary passing as benches in the elevator foyers ever get keel-hauled. 

 

That said, HAL will never be trendy, just sold and comfortable but with a little more design sense now than in the past. The warm welcoming HAL crew and staff remains exemplary. Food is fresher with a lot more variety, than a decade ago when it was pretty much meat and potatoes. Buffet food has  great variety and appeal. Sadly the daily home made fresh bread has become frozen dough offerings which are still good,, but not even close to the daily from scratch breads in the past. 

 

No more final night MDR grand finale with juggling waiters and parading staff between courses.  Classical music offerings severely limited now. No more male dance hosts.  Most ships lost the larger dedicated library spaces. Most staff-passenger interactive programs  are gone. No more Float Your Boat competitions. 

 

Some things not missed, but many improvements have occurred over the past 19 years ago, but the basics are unchanged. HAL remains a high value cruise line for what it charges. I hope you report back what you notice most after your own HAL hiatus. 

[YourWorldWithBill]

9 hours ago, mattR said:

Thanks for the answers!  I read through the first 25 pages of the HAL board so far.  I'm sure I will be back with more questions 🙂  Like what's club orange.

On another board there is a lengthy discussion of Club Orange, with most people thinking it's definitely worth it. We really liked the Navigator app on our last cruise, as it seemed many of the bugs had been worked out. I used it to order lunch from specialty restaurants and occasionally pulled up a map while walking around the ship.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

9 hours ago, mattR said:

Thanks for the answers!  I read through the first 25 pages of the HAL board so far.  I'm sure I will be back with more questions 🙂  Like what's club orange.

Google is your friend.   Ask your question in Google - chances are you will get an immediate answer.

 

What is Club Orange