HMSDingy

Does HAL offered preferred pricing for us old farts.

The OP seems to have jumped ship, sort of.  I guess they didn't like the barrage of insults.  Not that I disagree with the responses.  For them to dismiss HAL for a cruise wide rule is ridiculous.   

First time sailing with HAL & I noticed that, because we're Canadian, the prices on their website are in Canadian funds. This kind of sucks because, depending on the exchange rates, the prices keep fluctuating. The beverage package I'm looking at has gone up. Is there a way to book packages & excursions in US funds as I have a US credit card & US account.

Well it looks like the HAL customer service came through. I received not one but two emails confirming that the hotel w're staying at is in fact the interim transfer pick up. Let's hope they don't change their minds.

Agree. It is very commonly discussed here that ship's transfers are way over priced. Doing it yourself is almost always a better deal. Not sure why you would think the transfers should pick you up at any hotel you happen to have booked...the buses would have to make potentially dozens of stops.

 

Your question to the reps is fine. However, it is not possible to train the people who answer the phone in all the info people ask about. People ask some incredibly unique and specialized questions...no one can know all the answers. Asking here taps a much better pool or resource of experience.

I was assured by the rep I spoke to that the hotel I had booked was the hotel that HAL offered with their package. I pointed that out in my second post. Although having cruised a number of times, we only took a ship transfer once and it was post cruise to the airport. For all of our cruises, we flew in at very least one day prior to sailing and always booked hotels ourselves. I have read posts about Romacabs and that's what we'll do. DW and I are Italian, so language is no problem. The hotel we booked looks lovely and I got a great rate using my acquired points with Expedia. Worse comes to worse and we decide to go elsewhere, I have free cancellation. Thanks for all the tips.

Thanks. My minor dilemma is with the ship transfers. We're taking a cruise on the Koningsdam next June. I called once to ask if I could get a transfer from my hotel in Rome to Civitavecchia port. I was told yes no problem, on a second call I was told no we don't pick up at that hotel because you have to book air & hotel with HAL for the transfer. On the third call nope, wrong hotel but we will pick you up at another designated hotel at a price for a one night stay that boggles the mind. I forwarded the first email and waiting for a reply. For the price they quoted me for the hotel in Rome with transfers I expect caviar & champagne.:cool:

First time with HAL and I'm already getting discouraged. I asked a simple question and got three different answers. Aren't their reps al trained the same way?

We're taking a Med cruise next June on the Koningsdam and this will be our first cruise with HAL. We chose HAL because of the itinerary. I know this question has been asked thousands of times but how are the pax dressed on the gala nights. I've heard that for European cruises, they tend to dress up.

Thanks Hank, I guess the buses are the way to.

We're visiting family in Italy post cruise and we'd like to take the train from Civitavecchia to Isernia. As I understand these replies, once off the ship we take a shuttle to the port entrance,from there another bus to the train station. Is this second bus fitted for luggage? Is there another way by taxi? Thanks in advance.

Holland America or HAL is very similar to Princess. Koningsdam is equivalent to Regal Princess and Royal Princess. You'll find the showers wonderful, no curtain and spacious. Cabin size is almost the same. Design and style is a bit more contemporary. HAL is transforming itself away from traditional ship design. Koningsdam does not have a library, nor librarian, no true promenade deck. It does have two pools, one with a magrodome. The main showroom utilizes large format video. The specialty restaurants are quite good and reasonably priced - you can book these in advance online. There are no formal nights, HAL has Gala nights! You will hear a bit of whining from long term HAL cruisers, but if you've enjoyed Princess you will also like HAL.

 

Enjoy Koningsdam!

I read on another thread that the Sel de Mer restaurant was quite expensive. Did I misunderstand? Or was it for a special offering?

Thank you all for the wonderful replies. I've seen pics of the Veranda cabins on the Koningsdam and the shower looks much bigger and inviting that those on Princess for similar type cabins. The closed closets are a plus as well. Definitely looking forward to our cruse. One last question regarding the gala nights. Save for our Panama Canal cruise, I've always worn a tux and DW a cocktail dress for the formal nights both with Princess and Royal Caribbean. What is the general dress for gala nights with HAL?

We chose our Med cruise with HAL because of the itinerary, we sail on the Koningsdam next June. Will we like it?

CapitalOne has long had a great reputation with frequent foreign travelers. Their card is free and has zero foreign exchange fees. We have compared the actual CapitalOne exchange rate to our best ATM cards (which also have zero fees) and Capital One is about the same or even a little better. When you use any ATM/Debit card in a foreign ATM machine (one should stick to bank owned ATMs) you will get the current wholesale rate of exchange (the rate used by banks) plus a 1% International Processing fee (built into the exchange rate) which is generally assessed by Visa International who is the electronic broker for a majority of ATM transactions. When you buy currency at banks or cambios you will likely pay anywhere from 3 - 20%....which might be in the form of commissions, lousy rates, or a combination of both. That is why one should be aware of the current exchange rate and act accordingly. There are lots of places where you can find the current exchange rates but we think that xe.com is one of the best.

 

For many cruisers, the exchange rates and/or fees are not a big deal. Many cruisers use very little local currency since they tend to purchase cruise line excursions and often use credit cards for local purchases. If you only need a few hundred dollars worth of currency it is hardly worthwhile to be looking around for the best deal. Where all this exchange stuff really matters is for those of us who do a lot of independent travel in foreign lands. Paying an extra 3% on $1000 will only cost you $30. But if one is spending $10,000 then we are starting to talk about some real money :).

Hank

Thanks for the clear explanation Hank, if I may be so informal. Although Canadian, I rarely purchase US $ for our cruises as I have both a US credit card and US bank account. But for our upcoming cruise, we will be staying in Italy for a week post cruise and I will like to have cash in hand, not $10,000 mind you.:D:D:(:D:D

You are wise to look investigate the purchase of euros in advance. I have seen euros marked up by anywhere from zero to 22%. Compare any quotes you receive to those shown at https://finance.yahoo.com/currency-converter/

 

Personally, I make foreign purchases with a Capital One credit card, which has 0% markup, and I withdraw euro from foreign ATM's for a 1% markup and no withdrawal fees. These rates I looked up years ago probably still hold true for US residents:

0% to 3% for credit card purchases made abroad*

0% to 3% plus $0 to $5 for ATM withdrawals made abroad*

5.5% for foreign currency purchases made at a Wells Fargo branch

13% and up at a US airport Travelex outlet. Poor exchange rate, then their $9.99 fee kills you on small purchases.

Charging foreign currency on my credit card would cost an immediate 3% with interest of 20% starting immediately*

 

*Rates are set by the card issuer.

By a 1% mark up do you mean the exchange rate is 1.1%? Same question for purchasing foreign currencies with Capital One. 0%?

I realize things are different for our neighbours south of the border when it comes to banking, but up here you can get some reasonable rates from banks and better ones in large urban centres.

 

I learned the hard way a long time ago to never get to a foreign country without their currency. ATM's may not work. Things happen and you are stuck.

 

So, we always take a working supply of the currency(ies) we need and then can hit an ATM when it is convenient for more. Just another viewpoint ;)

Same here in Montreal. We have an abundance of foreign exchange houses. We've always bought foreign currencies prior to traveling. As an extra bonus, my son works for the Royal Bank and gets employee rates.

Interesting how things are different based on locality. Where I'm from prom kids do wear tuxedos and evening gowns... and so do adults who attend formal gatherings.

It's possible that the donation center thought that the items may have been dated? I know that I wouldn't dream of wearing some of the outfits I wore 15 years ago. :o

Same in my neck of the woods. I can post pics of my nieces & nephews in their gowns & tuxes. Save for one cruise, I've always worn a tux and DW in a cocktail dress. We are comfortable dressing up but to each their own. On our next Med cruise in June I might do the same.

You can decide each evening from your specific list. Easy peasy! And if you don't drink the whole bottle, it will be marked with your stateroom number and kept for you for the next evening. We found our saved bottle would follow us - one evening, the day after a dinner in the Pinnacle, we had dinner in the Tamarind, and mentioned we had a partial bottle somewhere - it was immediately brought out from behind the bar!:cool:

Really easy peasy. DW and I are both Italian and we rarely leave leftover wine!;p

Our last cruise was in 2015 with Princess and I do not recall the specialty restaurants being so pricey. I don't think we went past $50 per person. But then again it was a different cruise line. I like the wine packages offered and as we are sailing her next June, I will definitely buy one. To be quite honest, I never purchased wine packages on any of our cruises. My mistake. Do we choose the bottles at purchase or can we decide each evening with our meals?

:confused:We did a Med cruise on K'dam last April and Tuxes were in the minority. Mostly dark suits or smart jacket, pants and dressy shirt (tie optional).

Unfortunately, apart from a lucky few, most of us need air travel to join the ship and dress code has changed to reflect this. I loved the tux, but now it takes up too much space in the baggage.

That's true if you own a tux, but I rent mine for the basic reason of luggage space. It's there in my cabin pressed & ready to wear. I've always rented them from the same place. Rarely had an issue.

I always dressed formal and my dh always in tuxedo.

 

 

I would not dream of packing a formal dress anymore. I am so done with that. A cock tail dress is as 'dressed up' as I get now, on the ships.

DW does the cocktail dress as well but still like to wear a tux and the different styles offered, some are just suits unless you go the classic look.

Excellent review & pics. We are sailing on her next June for a Greek Islands cruise and reading your review has made me anxious for that trip. This will be our first with HAL and a ship as large as the Koningsdam.

I have a question for her Gala nights. For all of my last cruises except for one, I've worn a tux. I don't own one, I rent mostly because of the baggage restrictions. I've been told that for HAL cruises in Europe, most pax tend to dress up for Gala nights. Comments?

Just off the Konigsdam and saw everything from jeans to black tie on Gala nights. Maybe 2 or 3 black tie with the rest business casual or worse. You are severely overestimating the importance of attire.

We are sailing on the Konigsdam next June for a cruise to the Greek Islands. This will be our first with HAL and for all of my last cruises except for one, I've worn a tux. I don't own one, I rent mostly because of the baggage restrictions. I'v been told that for HAL cruises in Europe, most pax tend to dress up for Gala nights. Comments?

To each their own opinion. Doesn't mean mine isn't valid.

Social media is just as bad. Seems like no one respects other opinions anymore. Being a first time HAL passenger, I'm looking forward to our European cruise on the Koningsdam.

Thanks! It was 38 C this afternoon here in Montreal. Withe the humidex that's 47 or roughly 116 F. :o