richwmn

A couple of years ago I saw that Holland had a cruise that began in Tampa and ended in either Montreal or Quebec City which was just about perfect for us. Unfortunately, we could not make it that year. I keep looking and hoping that I’ll see that cruise, or reverse, being offered again but so far, nada. Does anyone have any knowledge of this being offered again in the near future?

April 24, 2016 Tampa to Montreal on the Veendam, 13 days.

 

They do the reverse in October but to Ft Lauderdale.

 

Better hurry!

 

Ha Ha, Carolyn posted while I was typing - my quote function isn't working!

 

Actually, this years relocation cruise was moved to leaving Fort Lauderdale on April 24th due to Veendam having a dry dock shortly. We have a small CC group and would love to have you join us.

 

The roll call is here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2233453

On a recent cruise I filled out a card at about the half way point early in the day. By that evening 3 of the people I mentioned as having done a good job thanked me for the mention.

We are planning on a cruise to Europe next spring. My question is for anyone who has used Hal's "flight ease" (I think that is what they call it.) Anyway what I want to know is.

 

Were the prices competitive with booking directly with the airlines?

 

Did you have to fly home the day the cruise ended (our sailing starts in Ft. Lauderdale) so we only need a one way flight?

 

Were the flights the "most direct" or did they put you on one of those "round the world" flights?

 

If you can stay a few days after the cruise do you need to fly home from the city the cruise ended or can you fly home from another city?

 

BTW: one of the cruises we are looking at ends in Copenhagen the other ends in Rotterdam, but we would like to be able to fly out of Zurich.

 

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

On my upcoming cruise from FLL to Montreal I asked if HAL could do the return flight out of Ottawa 3 days after the end of the cruise and was told they could only book the flight from Montreal.

click on your name above, you will get a menu which find all posts. click on that and you will find your thread

They may have done away with the activation fee. I didn't get charged it on my last 3 or 4 cruises (Oosterdam, Maasdam, Zuiderdam, maybe Veendam).

 

JTL and I were typing at the same time

Hi guys, was wonderin, does the Nieuw Amsterdam have bridge cams on the stateroom TV's? I know they got em on Princess & Rcl, but not sure about Holland America. Inquiring minds would like to know.

 

If you are asking about a camera you can view from home or office, the answer is no. As someone else mentioned, if aboard a ship you can view forward and aft on the stateroom television.

I'm sad that I have never gotten the "Welcome back" e-mail nor succeeded bagging the ZPM offer code. Did my most recent booking 2 weeks ago, did a courtesy hold and then called HAL to apply my FCD and also tried to have them apply ZPM, but they said "the code didn't go through in the booking engine". They said that if I get the e-mail later, I can call back to them, but this seems unlikely now when I already have a reservation. However I'm European and book through HAL's European website.

I think I would contact HAL via this link:

http://www.hollandamerica.com/contactUs/Main.action

and let them know what is going on. They may be able to give you the credit and may also fix the problem, which might just be an agent that needs to be instructed on what the benefit is.

I have seen a couple of discussions here about buying OBC before a cruise, and I just don't understand why people would do it. I am sure you must have a reason, it is just beyond my understanding. I would much rather my credit card be charged than to have to deal with getting a refund.

 

Everyone has their own reasons. For me, I like getting off the ship and having everything finished. I could leave the money in a checking or savings account but there is no interest currently being paid, so giving it to HAL acts as a savings account.

 

When I get on the ship, I don't have to give a Card number, so nothing to place a hold against and another place for errors. Before I get off the ship I get a refund, which has only taken a minute or two, and that provides me with pocket money on the way home and more.

 

And, as I believe someone else mentioned, there is no problem with additional charges that seem to randomly appear on Card statements. When I get off the ship all bills are paid.

 

If you are worried about Credit Card points or miles, the OBC can be purchased with the same Credit Card that you would use to pay off the account, but you would get credit for the entire amount of the OBC, not just what you spend.

 

Any number of reasons could apply.

I've read this here on CC many times but on the Eurodam last November, we got letters in our cabin part way into the cruise telling us to come to the front desk to register our credit cards. No amount of explaining that we had booked all our excursions, PG meal, soda cards, etc. before hand and still had in excess of the $420 each in gifted and pre-purchased OBC would satisfy them. They said they weren't saying we would run up any charges on the last day but this was just to protect them - ???. We told them we were honest and wouldn't do such a thing and never did give them our credit card info.

 

Ironically, DS was under-charged on one of the Lido deck sales (2 shirts for $20 and another for $10 - they only put $20 on his on-board account) and he brought it to their attention because he's honest. They were quick to investigate the mistake and set it right, of course, but still wanted our credit card numbers.

 

And, oh, BTW - at the end of the cruise we were refunded over $350 between us in unused pre-purchased OBC.

 

I have done this on many cruises, at least 7 or 8, the last being on the Oosterdam last Thanksgiving (Nov 16 - 27). I have never been asked to register a card. I will see what happens in April when I leave again. This may just be another case of different ships, different policies.

If you purchase a large sum of OBC prior to your cruise (say, $1,000) will a hold of $840 be placed on your credit/debit card upon check-in for your onboard account (2 people, 7 day cruise)?

 

Thanks!

 

If you have OBC that exceeds, or at least comes close to the $840 you do not have to register a credit card at all. Just select the cash option when you do your documents.

 

When you check in, the representative will ask you if you wish to register a Card, just tell them you have sufficient OBC and they will let you proceed.

 

Some time that afternoon or the next morning go by the front desk to make sure all your credit is applied - I usually get a print out right away. You might also have cards in your cabin showing your purchased OBC. Sometimes the cards need to be signed and returned to the front desk.

 

As long as you don't exceed the OBC you have, the excess will be refunded. You can finalize your bill as early as about 10pm on the last night. If you have the Signature Beverage Package it should still work, but no other purchases can be made unless you then register a card. If you don't have a card registered your refund will be in cash.

I just saw an article on Yahoo Finance that HAL is giving away a Caribbean Cruise -

here is the link to the entry:

 

https://www.welcomeaboardsweeps.com/

 

For those who are interested, Princess also has a sweepstakes going, it is here:

 

http://www.princess.com/50th-anniversary/

 

Enjoy!

 

Rich

If you are ever in Canada for more than a day, take a look at a program on Rogers Cable called Canadian Border Patrol (or something similar). It is a half hour program showing what people try to bring into Canada. A lot of it is food, and it is at least confiscated.

 

When I was in Canada in December there was also a version of it based in Australia. On of the episodes showe someone trying to bring in something considered a delicacy in Asia, very expensive. He was fined and given the opportunity to ship it back to his home country at his own expense, or allow it to be destroyed.

First full transit from Colon to Balboa on a destroyer in '77, then a partial on the Zuiderdam in 2010. Latest was a full transit on the Zuiderdam reposition from Vancouver to FLL in Sept 14

 

Enjoyed each on for different reasons.

When looking at the Veendam schedule i noticed that there is nothing on the HAL website from when Veendam returns to Tampa on 3/27 and when she sails from FLL on 4/9. I can't seem to find any info on the missing 13 days. does anyone with a little more internet savvy than me know whats going on? Thanks, JM

 

Drydock in Bahamas. Nothing has been published as to what is to be done.

Several posters constantly try to say that the issue is black and white. They have mentioned on several occasions that since only 20% of the population smokes then 80% is opposed to all smoking. This is not true. Many people, while not smokers, are not bothered by smoking.

 

As you said, this is a very long thread but it has been mentioned several times and each time the same small group of posters dismiss any attempt to talk about that group.

 

I think you could be right about the percentages. I have to say there have been few smokers on my cruises, however, if you are unfortunate to have a balcony near one or two of them, it can totally ruin your own cruise. Some have said they simply cannot use their balcony. And the coughing and chest clearing is not pleasant to listen to when you are trying to have breakfast - that was my experience.:mad:

 

Rich, I haven't seen anyone say that 80% of cruise passengers MUST be non-smoking, but I may have missed a post or two. But it is not a prevailing comment through this thread - though it is noted that only approximately 20% of the N. American population smokes. Some say less.

 

What has prevailed through this thread is smokers advocating for comfortable and ventilated areas in the ship where smokers can sit and enjoy their cigarettes, and perhaps take their drink to. Only the "trolls" have come in from time to time to totally derail the thread with claims that non-smokers are haters of all smokers.:rolleyes: Amongst other things, LOL.

 

Lizzie - I said what I did because each time someone brings up making one side of the ship non smoking, everyone responds with a statement that 80% of the people cruising would not want to have a cabin on the smoking side. While the number that wouldn't mind, for whatever reason, is unknown they do exist.

 

I have no way of knowing for sure but while it's true that approx 20% of N. Americans smoke, I'm pretty sure the percentages are higher in the typical demographics and socio-economic groups who aren't your typical cruisers. That would mean the percentage of smokers on cruises would be less than 20%.

 

I'm sure there's plenty of people out there who don't mind cigarette smoke. I won't deny that. But my concern is black and white. I want it eradicated from stateroom balconies, period. I certainly don't hate smokers...although I do feel a certain resentment for individuals who flick their cigarette butts out their car windows or off their balconies.

Only HAL and Carnival Corp know the actual numbers of their passengers that smoke, it could be higher or lower than the general population. As others have said, when it becomes financially appropriate, they will change the policy one way or another.

 

Would love to see said posts. Would also like to see the posts that say that same 80 enjoy the smell. If that was the case why would we have this thread?

I never said 80% enjoy the smell. Over the population of non smokers there are some that can't stand the smell. Others, to varying degrees, don't mind the smell. Either they have family members/friends that smoke and they wish to get along, or the smell just isn't enough to bother them. Again, there is a wide spectrum of responses.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I have one further question. Since CCL stock is lower at this time we are thinking of buying the stock. This will add another obc to our account.

 

1) how can I find out for sure how much the stock obc will be. (tried the search function) I see what people say, but that is not from CCL/HAL. Is there some place that ccl/HAl has this listed?

 

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=140690&p=irol-sharebenefit

 

 

2) Would the stock obc be part of the non-refundable or the refundable credit.

 

non refundable

 

We are booked on a 28 day cruise in a balcony cabin. Does the length and cabin type make a difference in the obc?

 

length of cruise only

 

Thanks guys.

 

answers within your post

This thread is very long, so I very well could have missed it. Who said that? :confused:

 

Several posters constantly try to say that the issue is black and white. They have mentioned on several occasions that since only 20% of the population smokes then 80% is opposed to all smoking. This is not true. Many people, while not smokers, are not bothered by smoking.

 

As you said, this is a very long thread but it has been mentioned several times and each time the same small group of posters dismiss any attempt to talk about that group.

You are right on target with this post.

 

I read this thread, and it so much tries to divide passengers into the two sides of smokers and against smoking (at the very least on balconies). But there is a large contingent of passengers who just don't care if there is smoking on balconies, smoking areas both inside and outdoors on the ship, passing by smoking areas, and many other nuances of the topic.

 

There are three sides to the story, and no one truly knows how large that "doesn't matter to me" group is.

 

Unfortunately every time someone brings up the "I Don't Care" group, a number of regular posters to this thread tell us in no uncertain terms that such a group does not exist.

I got the survey as well and was thanked after getting 1/4 of the way.

 

I guess this means no free cruise or gift certificate.

Just wondering if those who say the OBC has to be spent have ever purchased OBC or had it purchased for them?

I also by OBC prior to the cruise. If you have enough between given OBC and purchased OBC you do not have to register a card. And as was mentioned, any left over at the end of the cruise is refunded, in my case always in cash on the last night before retiring for the evening. This becomes my spending money for any post cruise activities

We have been given the okay by HAL to embark in Copenhagen (just a port day) rather than Amsterdam. However, we've not been given any information about how that works since the terminal and security won't be set up for embarkation. I'm sure there no set answer but any help from someone who has done it would be appreciated (doesn't need to be port specific):

 

How early should we be at the port (want to spend most of the day with friends)?

 

How will we get our new key cards (it's really a third segment and continuing cruise, just off the ship for a few days)?

 

Who should we talk to with specific questions - the cruise line directly or try to go through our travel agent?

 

We cruise a lot but this is a bit more complex.

 

Thanks

 

While not identical, I think my experience is close enough to give you an idea of how it will go.

 

In 2014 I had a cruise that started with an overnight in Quebec City then continued on to Boston. Normal boarding ended, I guess, around 4pm. I showed up around 9pm to board and had no problems at all.

 

First I had to go to the entrance to the terminal. The cab driver that took me to the ship pointed me to the wrong place, which I realized soon after heading the way he indicated. When I arrived at the entrance to the terminal I had to present my documents and was allowed in and pointed toward the ship. I had to show my documents twice more, before I got to the ship. At the ship I showed my documents to the officer scanning cards and he let me board, telling me to go to the front desk to check it. Just inside the ship a steward was waiting to take my bag to the cabin.

 

I went to the front desk and was quickly checked in and handed my card.

 

All in all, it was simple and well organized.

 

Rich

Thank you. I saw on another thread someone posted about Florida departures board but couldn't find it! Thanks I will keep looking!

 

 

Try here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=495

Just saw this news release dated today

 

http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/holland-america-lines-ms-eurodam-receives-innovative-new-bar-entertainment-venues-and-suite-upgrades-in-dry-dock-565799101.html

 

When ms Eurodam re-entered service Dec. 20, 2015, following a scheduled 14-day dry dock in the Bahamas, guests were introduced to several new concepts recently announced by Holland America Line. The most notable new additions are Lincoln Center Stage, in partnership with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, showcasing an ensemble performing chamber music; Billboard Onboard, in partnership with Billboard, featuring 50 years of chart-topping hits; and Gallery Bar, making its debut in the former Northern Lights venue.

Merry Christmas from a solo cruiser in Athens