Djb4CC

So this stockperk app is fairly new for HAL, at least newly being required method. So this question may not yet have come up. So I have submitted my proof of ownership at the end of February (I can’t and wouldn’t provide access to my broker account) and my ownership is verified. I have applied against a future cruise and it has been processed. All good. My question is, how often do we need to verify our ownership? Like if I book another cruise, will I have to verify again (which is fine - same as old process) or is my ownership confirmed for some period of time, ie 3 months, a year from submission, each calendar year, each CCL program extension? Anyone with experience so far or perhaps on a different CCL line.

The cabana never shows up in the navigator nor booking confirmation. I agree that you should not have to worry… but bring a copy of your email that was sent with your booking. I would also suggest making the cabana one of your early stops on embarkation day so you can “stake your claim”. I did see an issue with double booking this last cruise and they had to move someone to one in a less ideal location.

So had a cabana in January on the Rotterdam for 9 days. It was the best money spent on a cruise. I have attached the food and drink “schedule” they provided. The Nami sushi at lunch was awesome. And we always tried to make sure we were back up there after a port visit by 2:30 to get the gelato and sparkling wine each day. always tried to stake out a table in the shade for lunch as not a huge fan of eating off my lap, even if it is just a burger or pizza.

For easier time then the fill with a glass in the lido is to head to the gym and they have a bottle filling station. No ice, but it is very cold water.

On the last ship I have been on, the Rotterdam, the gym had a bottle refill water station built into the drinking fountain. I am sure as they upgrade the gyms on the ships, these will become standard features.

Zaandam I can help with… there is no sauna in the change room. It is outside the changeroom about 8-10 feet down a public hallway that has several treatment rooms and the gym much further down at the end. Once you enter from the hall into the sauna area, there is a very small vestibule (6x9?) with a water fountain, and a couple of hooks and the door to the sauna; it is very brightly lit. I usually was just in my swim shorts and coverup shirt; bright a towel from the change room. I would kick off my sandals and hang up my shirt on the hook and then drop my shorts once in the sauna as there was no hiding if someone opened up the hallway door when you were in the vestibule. Take note, the height of the sauna door is a bit low and this 6’2 guy banged his head more then once over the 12 days. The sauna is a decent size, very easily seat 4, but could get 8 in shoulder to shoulder. The sauna door has a small window to the vestibule and the sauna itself is is fairly dimly lit with the light from the window being the primary light source. Had a few interesting chats with a couple of guys over my last January trip, but more often than not it was very quiet. It could be more to do with timing as I am mostly an early morning sauna-er.

Ummm… the Massdam is no longer in the Holland fleet… I had to check the website, because I thought it was long gone; your inquiry made me question myself. Are you thinking a different HAL ship?

The issue is not that cruise line changes the final price… the issue is that you will have to purchase US dollars in the future to make the payment and you have no idea what that exchange rate will be in 18 months time.

No charge to access the changeroom and there are two single stalls.

Was on the Zaandam in January and there is still a free sauna. Not sure if you are male or female, but for men, the sauna is not in the change room, it is across the public hall from the change/shower room. For the women, I was told that the sauna is located inside the changeroom itself.

As a larger person myself, was just on Zaandam in January… the bathrooms themselves are fine size, but the shower levels a little to be desired. What I ended up doing is using the shower in the spa change rooms (and usually had a sauna for a bit beforehand).

In San Diego in January, we were able to drop off our luggage, go through checking our papers, do the carry on baggage screening, and check-in, only to be sat waiting in the “pen” for our group letter and time to be announced. We had to wait for about 50 minutes before boarding. We arrived early only because that was the only time the hotel shuttle was going. so it really seems to be port specific as all the recent trips out of Ft Lauderdale and Vancouver (Oct 22) have been very much checkin time ignored.

My suggestion is to use the chat function on the website rather then the long queue on the phone. Just as the chat agent to send you an updated booking confirmation. My only issue has been on the one cruise I used a travel agent for, the chat agent was unwilling to do it and said the TA needed to request it.

12 days… can’t wait. Just got our boarding time… Group D at 12:30. Would have preferred an earlier boarding, but it’s all good.

Well according to the spreadsheet of saunas and steam rooms on cruise ships (which you can access from the below message and discussions), the Zaamdam does not seem to list any free sauna or steam room information at all… does not bode well for some kickback, relax, and chat time. Oh well, I am sure I will find something to keep me occupied, will just have to look harder for opportunities.

Booked on this with a friend… wanted to do a solo trip, it just could not afford the supplement. She and I went to university together 25 years ago (gasp!) and did a bit of travelling during and soon after school. Really looking forward to the relaxation. Never done the spa on one of their smaller ships… will have to do a spa tour on the first day to get the lay of the land. Really enjoy the free sauna on the Kongingsdam with the big picture window overlooking the ocean.

It is also possible it has been applied and they just did not send you an email confirmation. Get HAL or your TA to send you a copy of the cruise confirmation document. You will see if the shareholder credit has been applied.

I am very surprised to not find a discussion on the newly announced crew appreciation rate effective Jan 31, 2023. https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/crew-appreciation.html While I don’t like increasing costs anymore then the next guy, I don’t have an issue with this increase - the crew does fantastic work and it is what makes my cruise enjoyable. The thing I found interesting in the announcement was this quote: All of the Crew Appreciation and Service Charge payments made by all guests on all ships in our fleet are pooled, net of credit card transaction fees. The pooled funds are distributed throughout the year in the form of compensation, including bonuses, to crewmembers fleetwide who interact directly with guests and/or behind the scenes throughout every cruise, including those in the Bar, Dining, Entertainment, Housekeeping, Guest Services, Galley and Onboard Revenue areas. It was surprising to me that all the tips are pooled “across the line” and also that they are used as bonuses too. So the money you tip does not actually go to the specific staff on my ship.

@Junelovestocruise I can’t remember how it was addressed with mine in October, but my partner and I are at different star levels. We just arrived together and where seated, no one even asked to see our invite. If you are concerned about it, when you get the invite, take it to customer service and ask. As HAL website says, everyone on the same booking gets the benefits of the highest star passenger.

We did our first 4* tasting in October. We got two red, two white and a sparkling. The reds had been pre-poured at the table, but they only sat 3 of us at a table for 6, so we drank all that had been poured since we saw them just dumping the glasses on other tables. Plus we ate all the cheese and fruit too.

Don’t know about this particular activity, but I would not count on the navigator app schedule to be updated or stable until *at the earliest* the day before embarking.

We have done two cruises over Christmas in the past and have never seen carolers. And while there are some decorations, they really are not extensive. Regarding cabin door decorations, I have seen doors done up (at all times of the year), but was told by someone once they were told no paper door decorations due to fire risks in the hall. My guess is that if you ask, you are told the company line of no decorations, but if you just do it (and not excessive) no-one is going to tell you to take it off. The old, beg forgiveness rather then ask permission.

@sailingdutchy I have only ever applied the gift cards once on board at guest services (usually 4-5 days in once the lines have disappeared). There have been others here who have said they have used the gift card to purchase on board credit via the webpage. I guess either would work, but to my mind, if I ever had to cancel last minute, applying the credit beforehand is just one more thing to undo. I figure this 10% promotion is good because it is just coving spending I would already be doing.

Here is my opinion for what it is worth to anyone. In both the short and medium term, CCL and the other cruise line stocks are a huge gamble as an investment. The amount of debt they are carrying, future recessionary risks, lack of dividends, and the whole health environment make these a high risk investments, but on the flip side, higher risks can lead to higher rewards. If you are simply purchasing for the purpose of OBC, I think it is a reasonable investment of less then $1000 to get some future tax-free stream of money (depending on how often and for what duration of cruise you do). Do I think any of the three big corp’s shares are going to return to pre-March 2020 levels, not likely in my investment horizon, but I also do not think any of them will be going belly up…

I am Canadian and have not had any issue with buying the gift card and getting the 10% bonus cards in this promotion. I don’t see anything marketed on the website, but the third party website never asked for any details of my residency.