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

This is our first cruise. When we get to the port in Barcelona, how do we find our ship and where to leave our baggage?

This is our first cruise. When we get to the port in Barcelona, how do we find our ship and where to leave our baggage?

I assume you are taking a cab to the port. Just tell the driver what ship you want, and he will bring you to the correct terminal.

When you exit the cab, there will be a porter there to take your luggage, and doors to the terminal. There will be other people heading in; follow the crowd. There will also be plenty of ground crew directing you if you approach them with a question.

You may not be sure of what you are doing, but the ground crew is. Just look around, watch what is going on, and you will be fine.

Yes, we'll be taking a cab to the port. Your helpful answer has let me take a sigh of relief.

Plus I totally agree that chocolate is truly like duct tape. I think I'll go have a piece right now!

Barcelona is a wonderful port located at the end of Las Ramblas. The descriptions above are accurate. If coming by foot, there is a shuttle bus from the shoreside end of the pier out to the terminal building.

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Is the pop and water in an inside cabin of the Maasdam subject the 4star discount? There is not a mini bar in the cabin, so we were wondering if we still got the discount.

The price you pay does have something to do with getting the benefit.

From the description on the Carnival Corp site:

All bolding mine.

We had our shareholder benefit refused by Carnival once before due to the hugely discounted cruise we had booked (casino rate)...

I have a liquor package question. This our first time on HAL and our first time to consider purchasing a liquor package. We're looking at pre-buying the $45 package - they have just updated the cost of drinks covered to $9 each. Question, will this cover the majority of drinks ( alcohol & fancy coffees) Don't want to purchase and then find out the drinks we like are not covered. Did see a drink menu posted and it looked like the majority would be covered but don't know what date the menu was from. We could wait and buy on board but the package is $5.00 more per day x 16 days x 2 people so extra $180.

thanks for any help that will help me make my decision. Don't usually drink 15 drinks a day but would like to not think about it.

This will be our first HAL cruise and not wishing to appear pre-occupied with alcohol, we have a question about the beverages package. If we purchase a package, can we use it to purchase glasses of wine in the MDR or buffet, or is the beverages package restricted to the bars only?

This will be our first HAL cruise and not wishing to appear pre-occupied with alcohol, we have a question about the beverages package. If we purchase a package, can we use it to purchase glasses of wine in the MDR or buffet, or is the beverages package restricted to the bars only?

The SBP can be used anywhere drinks (including non-alcoholic) are sold, in public areas. That includes wine in the dining room.

The problem with using it to purchase wine is that very few wines are priced at or under the $9 per drink limit. People say those wines aren't too good, either. In order to include more, better, wines, you have to upgrade to the Elite Beverage Package.

The SBP can be used anywhere drinks (including non-alcoholic) are sold, in public areas. That includes wine in the dining room.

The problem with using it to purchase wine is that very few wines are priced at or under the $9 per drink limit. People say those wines aren't too good, either. In order to include more, better, wines, you have to upgrade to the Elite Beverage Package.

Hi All. Thanks so much for this helpful thread.

 

Will be sailng on our first HAL cruise on Sept 10, Noordam, Vancouver to Seward. I've read all 125 pages but ,amazingly, I still have a few questions.

 

I read somewhere that there is no Movie popcorn available on the Noordam. Is there any popcorn, anywhere?

 

We fly out of Anchorage at 8:30 pm the day Noordam docks at 6 am. There is a Kenai Fords cruise and transfer to Anchorage available on that day ( a HAL excursion). It states it is suitable for flights leaving Anchorage by 7:30 pm. That's making me nervous. Does that mean they arrive at the airport by 7:30, or by 5:30 for that 2 hr early check-in?

 

Another option for transfer to Anchorage is taking a bus. It too is listed on the HAL website. It stops at the Downtown Hospitality Center and the airport. Has anyone taken this? It is suitable for flights at noon or later, so we would have a lot of time to kill. Any suggestions? I'm not crazy about walking around Anchorage w/ our luggage. Should we go to airport first, check luggage, then go back to Anchorage? If hanging in Anchorage, what would you advise?

 

Any other advice for a transport to Anchorage? Are there excursion outfits hanging around Seward waiting for departing passengers?

 

That was more than a few questions. Thanks again.

If you have time to kill at Anchorage Airport, there is an interesting Aviation Museum close. It is walkable or you can catch a free shuttle outside arrivals ( white with a red band on it) The Museum staff will ring when you have finish for the shuttle to transfer you back to the airport. Allow a couple of hours plus we extended it by sitting by the lake and watching the small planes land and leave. There is a baggage hold at the airport for $6

I'm new to HAL ... my question is.... do the ships have MAH Jongg sets on board? or dominoes?

thanks

I'm new to HAL ... my question is.... do the ships have MAH Jongg sets on board? or dominoes?

thanks

They do indeed. :D

We bring our own mini dominoe set to play but like to use it in our travels (waiting for planes, etc.) and in our room.

New to HAL can you go to the main dinning room for lunch or do you always have to use the lido?

New to HAL can you go to the main dinning room for lunch or do you always have to use the lido?

Welcome to the HAL Forum.

You can go to the Main Dining Room for lunch almost every day. It may be closed on some days so check your Where & When (daily activities) to be sure. The Dive Inn is also open for lunch.

New to HAL can you go to the main dinning room for lunch or do you always have to use the lido?

You can go to the MDR for lunch any day except when there is a special function, such as the Mariners' Brunch. You can also go there for breakfast if you so choose, but I find that too slow and much prefer room service breakfast.

Waiting for the bus to the cruise port... WE ARE HERE!

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I've made it through 68 pages but have still not found an answer to this question: Will we have brewed, with milk, hot chocolate? Not the powder packet?? We have enjoyed this so often aboard Princess and hope to enjoy it on the Veendam next summer.

Thanks for the help!

msk1

I've made it through 68 pages but have still not found an answer to this question: Will we have brewed, with milk, hot chocolate? Not the powder packet?? We have enjoyed this so often aboard Princess and hope to enjoy it on the Veendam next summer.

 

 

 

Thanks for the help!

 

msk1

I believe you can get brewed hot chocolate in the Explorations Cafe on HAL. In the Lido it’s the powdered packets.

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What is brewed hot chocolate?

Just returned from an Alaska cruise on Amsterdam. Fresh, hot chocolate (non-powdered) is available in the Explorations Cafe! Neptune Lounge had the Swiss Miss packages :(

Thanks SO much for the helpful replies! We sure appreciate it!

msk1

We are sailing on Holland America for the 1st time over New Years, but it’s still necessary for me to check email daily. There does not appear to be any type of option to pre-pay for internet on the personalization portion of HA’s website. Can anyone shed some light on internet options and $?

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We are sailing on Holland America for the 1st time over New Years, but it’s still necessary for me to check email daily. There does not appear to be any type of option to pre-pay for internet on the personalization portion of HA’s website. Can anyone shed some light on internet options and $?

 

 

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You can prepay your internet by buying some OBC. If all you need to do is check email, the 100 minute package should do the trick. It's $55 if I recall correctly.

Checking email - log on, update your email and then log off. You can then read your emails without using internet time, compose your replies and then log back in and send.

Received an upsell email yesterday.

Interestingly, the upgrade from interior to obstructed verandah is less than to an OV. Still, as a solo, it would be an additional $400. Given that the itinerary (11-night K on 11/8) has only 3 sea days, I wouldn't get much use out of the balcony. And, personally, I love the nice, dark interior cabins. Sleep like a baby!

So, my question is this: does HAL ever do a second round of upsell offers for the same sailing? I'm guessing they do not, but thought I'd ask.

If they'd just waive the solo supplement I'd do it. But if I stay in my inside cabin, I'll spend money on board, which will earn me more Mariner points whereas spending it on a cabin upgrade earns me nothing except a balcony to sit on occasionally.

Received an upsell email yesterday.

 

Interestingly, the upgrade from interior to obstructed verandah is less than to an OV. Still, as a solo, it would be an additional $400. Given that the itinerary (11-night K on 11/8) has only 3 sea days, I wouldn't get much use out of the balcony. And, personally, I love the nice, dark interior cabins. Sleep like a baby!

 

So, my question is this: does HAL ever do a second round of upsell offers for the same sailing? I'm guessing they do not, but thought I'd ask.

 

If they'd just waive the solo supplement I'd do it. But if I stay in my inside cabin, I'll spend money on board, which will earn me more Mariner points whereas spending it on a cabin upgrade earns me nothing except a balcony to sit on occasionally.

In my experience, yes they do. In fact, on my last cruise I accepted an upsell on the third go-around, which was way, way lower than first offered.