oakridger

Excellent tool @POA1!! It is now pinned in my Favorites Bar right next to the HAL website. I guess we'll keep you around on CC for a while longer!! 😁 ~Nancy

Very nice review (as usual!!). You were certainly lucky with the weather. I'll watch for when you are next on board! ~Nancy

You will select your dining preference when you book the cruise, either with your Travel Agent or HAL Personal Cruise Consultant (PCC). Fixed early or late seating. You can request a table for two or for more if you want to share. You should get the same table and waiters each evening with fixed dining. The other choice is As You Wish Dining where you just show up at the Main Dining Room when you want to eat. You can request a table for two or agree to share a table each night. I'm told it's possible to reserve some dining times when you have the As You Wish Dining but it wasn't working on my last cruise so don't know the current status. From HAL website: Frequently Asked Questions | Holland America Cruise Ship Dining & Restaurants | Holland America Line What ship will you be sailing on? More specific info can be given as different ships have different venues available. If you pay extra for Club Orange, on the Pinnacle Class ships there is a separate dining room. No reservations accepted there. ~Nancy

What great weather you are having!! Thank you for the pictures. ~Nancy

You can read the rules of beverage packages and Frequently Asked Questions in the same link: Beverage-Package-Contents.pdf (rogerjett-photography.com)

Sorry, can't share packages. If one adult in the cabin gets it, then all other adults in the room must purchase it. If it's a minor then they must purchase the Quench non alcoholic package.

The bar menus are in the Roger Jett Photography link I posted in post #3. Sodas are $2.75 etc.... Ocean-Bar-Menu.pdf (rogerjett-photography.com) Beverage-Package-Contents.pdf (rogerjett-photography.com) The drinks list doesn't list everything If you have the package and order a drink above the limit of $11 you just pay the difference and the 18% gratuity. Is there something else you don't see there? ~Nancy

PROMOTIONAL CREDIT *Shore excursions credit will automatically be applied in the cart to the highest valued shore excursions.

Actually @lissie you are able to book excursions online ahead of time with your HIA excursion credits. I have done that on all my recent cruises. (Last September through November 2022). When you log into "Manage my Cruise" there is a place to click to use the credits for Specialty Dining also. ~Nancy

@tobymurphYour basic fare also does get included drinks of regular coffee, tea, milk, tap water, lemonade, hot chocolate (I think) and iced tea in the restaurants and room service. For me, I drink maybe 5 or 6 alcoholic drinks per day plus about 3 or 4 Diet Cokes per day, (depending on the cruise) so that would equal the price of the drink package alone, so the HIA is of value to me! The WiFi, excursions and Specialty restaurants would just be gravy for me. When HAL sometimes also offers the HIA with included Crew Appreciation, Premium WiFi, Elite Beverage Package plus some OBC on Early Booking bonus basis then no hesitation!!! Have a good cruise! ~Nancy

These subjects in a nutshell if you haven't read the HAL threads discussing this yet.......From the HAL website: Do the math to see if your usage will be worth the approximately $50 pp/per day for the HIA. Cruise Drink & Beverage Packages | Holland America Line Cruise Wi-Fi Plans & Internet Packages | Holland America Line Crew Appreciation and Service Charge Policy (hollandamerica.com) Frequently Asked Cruise Questions - Know Before You Go (hollandamerica.com) The Know before you go link talks about what beverages can be brought (or not) on board. This site from Cruise Critic's own @Crew News has so much information about drink prices and specialty dining menus and prices. Thanks Roger!! Roger Jett Photography - Digital Images in Time Roger Jett Photography (rogerjett-photography.com)

Happily, I'm not too old to learn something new John!! 😊 I appreciate it! ~Nancy

Oh dear! I've apparently made a faux pas!! My apologies @Copper10-8 and to all our Dutch Cruise Critic friends!!! It must sound to you like people calling San Francisco "San Fran" or "Frisco" does to us locals!! It's like finger nails on the chalk board when I hear it!! Thanks for the info on Ijmuiden also....as I kind of figured, it's about the docking fees!! By the way, what is the correct pronunciation of Ijmuiden? I googled it and got five different answers! ~Nancy

I have not seen the unlimited ever being less pre boarding than just ordering it when you get onboard and turn in your first bag of laundry. The prices recently changed but it was either $7 or $9/per cabin per day. You must buy the entire cruise worth of days. Last chance to turn in laundry is about 48 hours before the end of the cruise. @Crew News is in Alaska now. Maybe he can fill us in on the current price? Thanks, ~Nancy

Do any of our Danish or maritime experts have any idea why HAL is sometimes using Ijmuiden instead of Amsterdam for debarkation/embarkation? My TA next May 2024 from Ft. Lauderdale to Ijmuiden on Zuiderdam ends there. I want to stay a few days in Amsterdam after the cruise so it would have been so much easier to end there! Just curious! Thanks, ~ Nancy

I definitely like having a group in the Ocean Bar and it's a good addition to the options in the evenings. Glad HAL added them. ~Nancy

I just was on a back to back from Vancouver in October 2022 and we had to get off and check through Canadian and US boarder Immigration people. We were permitted to get back on the ship when they (or one of them?) gave the okay. It wasn't a long wait as I recall. I love Vancouver but I had already spent a few days there pre first cruise to Alaska so didn't want to tour around before getting back on for a Panama Canal cruise. Have a great trip! ~Nancy

It depends on which port you are docked. Some ports you and stay on board and others, particularly in the US, you need to get off for immigration checks then can get back on again if you want. What port are you referring to? ~Nancy

Please note that orange is not mandatory to join in! Go to the party and have fun if you want, even without orange clothes or accessories! ~Nancy

Thanks @Dave in Hawaii for the different and beautiful pictures! I'm still considering a cruise to FP but if I do, I really want to stay and spend some time on land for a couple of weeks. Possibly Moorea. I've been on a couple cruises there so want to branch out a bit. ~Nancy

Another poster reported that the new chairs missed the port and will be put on the ship. I don't remember which thread they put this info on but it was a day or two ago. ~Nancy

@lana094 it may be more cost effective to just pay the overage plus 18% gratuity above the $11 HIA Signature Beverage Package maximum. It depends on what your favorite drink is and how many you think you would have in a day but do the math and see for yourself before paying the upgrade. ~Nancy

I love the pictures leaving Amsterdam! I certainly hope that the Netherlands does not permit "smoke" pollutants spewing into the air! California definitely doesn't!! I'm going to guess that what you see is actually steam. Since I'm interested in the answer to this (retired Environmental/Petroleum Chemist) I'll dig around in Google to see if I can find out. It's a good start to your trip and I will be watching for more of your posts as you have time! Thanks, ~Nancy

Can OP change the fare classification after they already paid in full? If it's before final payment date, I would think they could cancel and immediately rebook with the Advantage fare as the others mentioned above. If the "online booking company" won't do it, I'd at least try calling HAL to ask about it. If it's after final payment date, then it's an expensive lesson unfortunately. @Leo-the-fox welcome to Cruise Critic and please let us know if you were able to change the fare. If not, then try to learn, move past it, and have a great cruise!! ~Nancy

I bought ones $ at the Guest Services on Rotterdam. ~Nancy