Nang

These links provide the costs

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/onboard-packages/beverage-packages.html

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/onboard-packages/cruise-ship-wifi.html

The level of the drinks/internet included in HIA do at times change but is most often Signature and Surf.

I believe an 18% service charge is added for the packages but not to the cost of HIA.

On 6/3/2023 at 12:27 AM, cbr663 said:

Depends on how far out the cruise start date is.  Check on-line to see if HAL has opened up the reservations for your cruise.  If so, you can book them online and use the promo to pay for them.  Use the online website though as I don't think the Navigator will have this feature until just prior to sailing.  Navigator is really best used on the ship and just days prior to sailing.

In my experience you can access bookings for excursions/dinners via Navigator way before a cruise is due to sail. In fact, I have not noticed any timing difference with access to bookings via the app or the website.

13 hours ago, Roz said:

I wiped out everything  - history,  data, cached files,  etc.  Reinstalled the !@#$%& app and nada, white screen.  Why can I use banking and airline apps on my new phone but not a cruise line app? I'm royally honked off. 

Wrong sequence possibly???? For me, and I have a Samsung, I uninstalled the app, reinstalled and only then cleared both data and cache for the app. The white screen did not reappear and I was able to log in and it all works. I realise this makes no sense but who knows, it might work for you as well.

4 hours ago, lissie said:

Those itineraries are very USA-centric. I'm cruising to US/Canada/Greenland/Iceland and its only the later 2 countries with the "visa required for some".  They are both part of Schengen and  do not require a visa for me or even an visa waiver. Canada and the USA both do require me to have that paperwork in place though.  If you are cruising through the Med next  year you may need an ETIAS for Greece. 

 

Just like airlines, cruise lines take no responsibility on providing the correct visa information so its always worth double checking their advice 

Just as "Canada centric" as well, but even more apt is "misleading for many". Could not agree with you more on the need to double check.

The itinerary I received from HAL for this cruise lists several ports as "Visa required for some" but not the one for Egypt. I will trust the "advice" in the itinerary (and that provided above).

23 hours ago, Nang said:

 

I have read both your responses on this topic which have been very useful. I am hoping you can provide some information on the X96 express bus from the port to the airport. Using the O.A.S.A. website I have determined that the cost one-way to the airport is 5.50 euro and that it takes about 90 minutes with a bus about every 25-30 minutes. However I can't find the location of the pick up points at the port on that site. The map posted by Cruisemom suggests it could be a 2km walk to the bus stop which will not wash with The Boss. Any additional detail you could provide would be much appreciated.

Did some more digging around on the bus website and managed to confirm that the X96 stops at the Piraeus Metro station so its over a 2km walk with luggage. I expect we will be get a taxi or book WelcomePickUps.

On 6/19/2022 at 11:06 PM, cruisemom42 said:

The map posted first shows the three Terminals (A, B, and C) for cruise passengers -- and you can see how long the walk is from Terminal B to the metro/train station.

 

The second map shows the stops for the X80 express bus, although unfortunately the legend is on top of the Terminal B area -- still, if VMax1700 says they stop there, I believe.  (I've only ever arrived at Terminal B, on smaller ships.)

 

 

 

On 6/19/2022 at 9:27 PM, VMax1700 said:

The return bus leaves from outside McDonald's on Syntagma Square.

This is the ticket kiosk at Terminal B.

 

Th

 

I have read both your responses on this topic which have been very useful. I am hoping you can provide some information on the X96 express bus from the port to the airport. Using the O.A.S.A. website I have determined that the cost one-way to the airport is 5.50 euro and that it takes about 90 minutes with a bus about every 25-30 minutes. However I can't find the location of the pick up points at the port on that site. The map posted by Cruisemom suggests it could be a 2km walk to the bus stop which will not wash with The Boss. Any additional detail you could provide would be much appreciated.

Its about 10 non-alcoholic drinks (mocktails, coffees, water) a day every day to break even. If you are happy with tap water (which is fine for me) and, even if you are not, for most people pay as you go would be better value. For me on my own, (alcoholic) drinks packages work but The Boss doesn't drink as much as me so we pay as you go on P&O.

Start by looking at HAL excursions which will give you an idea of the most popular things to do in a particular port. You can find HAL offerings by going into your booking on their website.

I then search on Google for "cruise ship tours from Naples" and scroll past all the Trip Advisor, Viator results to find those offered by the local tour companies. I narrow my options by cost/interest and then check Google or Trip Advisor or Viator ratings of the providers.

Most descriptions of the tours, including those offered by HAL, will advise on the amount of travel time. As CruiserBruce has said, the vast majority of tours commence at the port but it can be a short or very long drive to get to where the tour proper begins.

duplicate post

16 hours ago, terrydtx said:

 You can bring on two bottles of wine  per person and pay the corkage if you take them to the MDR. 

 

I believe the policy is corkage is paid for all bottles irrespective of where you drink them, even if in your stateroom. There is no specified limit other than not excessive.

Guests may bring Wine and Champagne onboard, however a corkage fee of USD $20.00 (which is subject to change without notice) will be applied to each bottle (max 750 ml in volume or less). Limitations apply. Wine brought in quantities deemed to be excessive by the vessel or security will be refused.

from https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/faq/know-before-you-go.html

6 hours ago, Sea42 said:

Thanks for the information but for me the goal was the hike not the train ride.

Have you considered doing the train ride up and hiking down by yourself? I am sure you could source a hiking trail map via the internet.

7 hours ago, Maya_C said:

Is the Orange Party usually late at night? 

 

 

Not overly, about 9.30 from memory.

10 minutes ago, FrannyB595 said:

Can anyone give us newbies more info about the Orange party? Orange Bar Crawl?  Also, we enjoy listening to live music and late-night is good, but we don't drink.  Is that going to be awkward?  Thanks for any comments/suggestions/info! 

Never heard of Orange Bar Crawl but HAL used to do a bar crawl. I thought they had stopped but could be wrong.

The Orange Party is held in one of the larger bar areas such as BB Kings. You are encouraged to wear Orange, as much or as little as you like. Chocolates and finger food is provided.

Dinkers and staff won't notice or care what you drink or don't drink.

Great Northern -  Imp pint $10:00 NSW schooner $9:50

Aussie Bottled beer/ VB cans - was $9 or $9:50 (not sure what Crown lager was)

Sommersby cider Imp pint $10:50

(this was in March)

I always check before booking what I am getting from my travel agent and what I would get dealing directly with HAL. My agent has in several cases suggested I do not book the package his company is promoting but to get him to just book the cruise and air separately. That is clearly "code" for he knows it is not a good deal for me.

If you want to know what extras you might get with Inspirations just ask them to spell them out. You can't get reliable confirmation here, talk to Inspirations.

The K currently has BB Kings, Rolling Stone Rock Room and the Billboard On Board (dual piano players/singers). The Lincoln Center Stage will have gone from the music walk by November but is supposedly moving to the main theatre for a show or two on most (?) sailings.

Beer is typically $9:50 - $11:00. My go to drink, Great Northern imperial pints are $10.

I assume you can call back to Australia or do you need to use data with something like FB Messenger calls?

Have to agree on all that you wrote. All sorts of conspiracy theories were posed for the "real" reasons the fiords and Wellington were missed. Only thing I was disappointed in was breakfast in the Pantry. Yes I could have arose earlier and breakfasted in the Waterfront, which was good, but I like to sleep late and still get a hot breakfast, cool - slightly warm eggs doesn't cut it. A minor issue for sure. 

We met some great and interesting people and I was very impressed with Matt the ex cop who had some very interesting stories about his days as a police officer - he is an excellent speaker.

P&O cancelled Wellington as well last week and the Fioordlands the week before.

Holland America currently has drinks, wifi, $200 shore excursion credit, 2 speciality dining dinners for $AUD70/day on select cruises for 14 days or more with $300 excursion and 3 dinners if 21 days or more.

Not half priced according to https://www.hollandamerica.com/blog/whats-new/why-to-join-holland-america-mariner-s ociety-loyalty-program/ 

15 minutes ago, jakkojakko said:

Dutch means the country of the Netherlands. Belgium is a different country, so having belgian beers in a dutch cafe is not a given.

Netherlands vs Belgium is a red herring.  The issue is that a beer advertised as being available was not, its nothing to do with the origins of the beer or the name of the cafe.

7 hours ago, arxcards said:

They are currently on a 3 night cruise to nowhere, and it makes much more sense to take care of it on an itinerary that doesn't have set ports to go to. They have been cruising slowly near Kangaroo Island, in a similar location that one of the other ships had their hull cleaned. If they aren't doing it today/tomorrow, it is really bad planning

Good call arxcard, as it turns out the hull was cleaned this morning. We got a message this afternoon from P&O to say its all done and we are allowed into NZ ports, but still not the fjords.