SBP Question - New to Holland

Hi everyone!

We are about to become first time cruisers on Holland America on May 4th. We bought the cruise during the Explore 4 promotion and got the SBP. I have read everything about the program.

The only question I have is.....does this Explore 4 promo/SBP show anywhere on our cruise documents or on out sign in? I have seen nothing in my reservation (but I am not very familiar with the website).

I am in the process of finalizing our documents and I do not see any reference to our purchase. Is there something I should be looking for in our documents?

I also noticed that my reservation will still allow me to buy the SBP in gifts and indulgences. This has me wondering if I don't have the package anymore.

Help! :confused::confused:

Thanks

You didn't actually "purchase" anything - it was included - so there's nothing to show up on your docs. It should be noted on your deposit receipt, though. If not, check with your TA.

As to still being listed - everything is always listed, whether it's already been acquired or not.

Thank you. At least I now know not to go looking for it.

We had the Explore4 package one time. Our TA sent us a confirmation of our reservation which showed that we had qualified for the Explore4 package and it included the Signature Beverage Package.

When it came time to print out our E-Docs, the Explore4 Package was listed on the last page of the documents. So I printed out the first page and the last page.

As to other purchases -- anything else we pre-bought on line through HAL, we got a confirmation of those purchases right away and I printed them out right away.

Ours showed on our confirmation from our travel agent. You can always call your TA or HAL if you booked through them.

Ours showed (item by item and for each person) on the second page of the "Guest Booking Confirmation" emailed to me from HAL when I booked.

"VALUE-ADDED ITEMS

Guest 1

Signature Beverage

Package Promo

Promotional Pinnacle Grill

Dinner

Promotional Canaletto

Dinner

Guest 2

Signature Beverage

Package Promo

Promotional Pinnacle Grill

Dinner

Promotional Canaletto

Dinner

For full terms and conditions regarding Explore4 please visit http://www.hollandamerica.com/Explore4"

The OBC showed on the first page under "Guest Information", below our names, with an amount for each of us.

If you used a TA, you may have to ask for a written confirmation. I always carry everything in writing just in case.:):)

Cheers!

We did explore 4 and our Guest Booking Confirmation reflects Signature Beverage Promotion and Pinnacle Grill Promotion. I knew that we were getting beverage package but did not know it included Pennicle Grill?? Was that in Explore 4 or maybe something from my travel agent?.....and does that mean we have free night at Pennicle Grill included?

We did explore 4 and our Guest Booking Confirmation reflects Signature Beverage Promotion and Pinnacle Grill Promotion. I knew that we were getting beverage package but did not know it included Pennicle Grill?? Was that in Explore 4 or maybe something from my travel agent?.....and does that mean we have free night at Pennicle Grill included?

Yes. When you board there'll be a card in your cabin notifying you of the day and time. Should you wish a different time/day fo to the podium in the mid-ship lobby on the Lido deck to change it.

We did explore 4 and our Guest Booking Confirmation reflects Signature Beverage Promotion and Pinnacle Grill Promotion. I knew that we were getting beverage package but did not know it included Pennicle Grill?? Was that in Explore 4 or maybe something from my travel agent?.....and does that mean we have free night at Pennicle Grill included?

Yes, a dinner at the Pinnacle Grill is included in the Explore 4 promotion.

What I wonder about is - why is it called Explore 4? 4 of what??

Pat

 

 

Yes, a dinner at the Pinnacle Grill is included in the Explore 4 promotion.

 

What I wonder about is - why is it called Explore 4? 4 of what??

 

Pat

As I recall the 4 came from the number of things you got - Signature Beverage Package, Pinnacle Dinner, reduced deposit, and reduced fare for 3rd and/or 4th passenger.

I think OBC was in there somewhere.

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I think OBC was in there somewhere.

 

 

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Correct. :)

I think OBC was in there somewhere.

 

 

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I think that was only for suites.

Hi everyone!

 

We are about to become first time cruisers on Holland America on May 4th. We bought the cruise during the Explore 4 promotion and got the SBP. I have read everything about the program.

 

The only question I have is.....does this Explore 4 promo/SBP show anywhere on our cruise documents or on out sign in? I have seen nothing in my reservation (but I am not very familiar with the website).

 

I am in the process of finalizing our documents and I do not see any reference to our purchase. Is there something I should be looking for in our documents?

 

I also noticed that my reservation will still allow me to buy the SBP in gifts and indulgences. This has me wondering if I don't have the package anymore.

 

Help! :confused::confused:

 

Thanks

If you're new to the Signature Beverage Package (SBP), you can purchase it for your entire cruise at $44.95 per person/per day plus 15% service. Or, you get it free as part of the Explore-4 promotion. When it is part of the E-4, you don't pay the 15% service, it is included in the promotion.

You get 15 drinks per day of any type. You can have Bloody Mary's for breakfast and Zombies for a night cap if you wish. They can be all alcoholic or a mix of drinks, wine, bottles of water, soda in cans, beers, specialty coffees, etc. The per/drink price limit is $8.00. That is the drink price, and since the service is already paid, the drink can cost $8 and it's included in the package. There are rules about a time limit of 5 minutes between drinks, no sharing. However, the rules, like most everything on HAL, differs depending on the ship. I was able to order doubles of my drinks and they simply charged me for 2 drinks, but it never hit the final bill. The only problem with the SBP on HAL is the limit of $8.00 as it applies to wines by the glass. The selection of wines available for $8 or less is limited. There are other sites where you can view the total bar menu and see the prices. You cannot get wines by the bottle with the SBP.

Some CC members say that they would never exceed 15 drinks per day. That is probably true, but with the present drink prices, the package pays for itself after 6 or 7 drinks. The rest is savings. If you like a specialty coffee in the morning, a few beers or drinks at lunch, drinks before dinner, some wine with dinner, and a drink or two in the casino or showroom after dinner, and a bottle of water to take back to your cabin, you are already up to 7 or 8 beverages.

The nicest thing is not having to deal with all the little drink receipts each day, and that big shock when you get the final bill on the last evening. How much did I drink ?????

We booked our upcoming cruise with the explore 4. Partially obstructed cabin and got $50 OBC. Neptunes got more. It really pays to buy FCD while onboard. The OBC is worth it

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I think that was only for suites.

No we booked balcony room and the 4 was: sbp; pg dinner; obc; reduced deposit

No we booked balcony room and the 4 was: sbp; pg dinner; obc; reduced deposit

Guess we booked when it was different. Good to know, and will keep watching for it.

we are not big drinkers, but we had the explore 4 on our last cruise in April 2016, and loved not worrying about "how much our drinks were adding up to" My mom doesn't even drink alcohol, but they had an entire page of Mocktails for her and she became very fond of the Sunshine Lemonade. She also loved the Explorers Lounge cappuccino, a cappuccino after dinner, and bottled water. I can't say we EVER came close to the 15 drink limit, but it was lovely not to worry about it!

you get dinner in the PG

we are not big drinkers, but we had the explore 4 on our last cruise in April 2016, and loved not worrying about "how much our drinks were adding up to" My mom doesn't even drink alcohol, but they had an entire page of Mocktails for her and she became very fond of the Sunshine Lemonade. She also loved the Explorers Lounge cappuccino, a cappuccino after dinner, and bottled water. I can't say we EVER came close to the 15 drink limit, but it was lovely not to worry about it!

you get dinner in the PG

This is slightly off topic, but since you cannot book PG ahead (online) if you have it comp'd (like with Explore4), did you have difficulty getting an on-board reservation for a day and time that you wanted?

You will get a card in your stateroom telling you when your reservation is. If it is not to your liking, you can take the card to the PG when you board and change it. If we are on a longer cruise and do the wine package that includes two pinnacle dinners, we usually request they be on the first gala night when the menu is not the best and the last night of he cruise...ditto the reason. They don't seem to be too busy those nights

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You will get a card in your stateroom telling you when your reservation is. If it is not to your liking, you can take the card to the PG when you board and change it. If we are on a longer cruise and do the wine package that includes two pinnacle dinners, we usually request they be on the first gala night when the menu is not the best and the last night of he cruise...ditto the reason. They don't seem to be too busy those nights

 

 

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Thank you! I do now recall someone mentioning that they will pre-assign you a day/time for the comp'd PG I just did not know if it was difficult to get it changed to a night more to your suiting. The last night is a good suggestion as we've heard (though not observed) the MDR is not great on the last night of the cruise. :)