Newbie questions on Holland

[elbarney]

Hello to all.

I'm thinking about doing my first HAL cruise, and I have some questions that I can't find a definitive answer, neither in the official page nor in the forum, maybe I'm not using the right search terms.

So I'll ask you, sorry it they are already answered.

-The enrichment program is included in the cruise fare?

-Are there lecturers? Not port or shorex, I'm familiar with Celebrity, and in the cruises I have been on there were 2 different lecturers talking about different themes: art, sports, etc.

-As an american line, I suppose there is free tap water available. Is this right?

-Is there any kind of coffee card? I have looked in the indulgences document, and there is a soda card, but doesn't seem to exist one for budget conscious coffee drinkers :p

-Is there a charge for the room service? I know about the tipping part, but in some companies you have to pay for some of the dishes(Celebrity) or depending the time(Royal).

Thanks for your help!

[kazu]

Hello to all.

I'm thinking about doing my first HAL cruise, and I have some questions that I can't find a definitive answer, neither in the official page nor in the forum, maybe I'm not using the right search terms.

So I'll ask you, sorry it they are already answered.

-The enrichment program is included in the cruise fare? yes. Also, food demonstrations are free. To participate there is a small charge - those fill up fast.

-Are there lecturers? Not port or shorex, I'm familiar with Celebrity, and in the cruises I have been on there were 2 different lecturers talking about different themes: art, sports, etc. usually. can depend upon the length of the cruise

-As an american line, I suppose there is free tap water available. Is this right?yes - and safe to drink

-Is there any kind of coffee card? I have looked in the indulgences document, and there is a soda card, but doesn't seem to exist one for budget conscious coffee drinkers :pyou can buy the regular beverage card and use it for the coffees

-Is there a charge for the room service? I know about the tipping part, but in some companies you have to pay for some of the dishes(Celebrity) or depending the time(Royal). room service is complimentary along with anything on the room service menu.

Thanks for your help!

 

Welcome to the HAL board :D I tried to answer some of your questions above in red.

Edited January 7, 2014 by kazu

[Krazy Kruizers]

It all depends on your itinerary whether there will be any lectures -- if you are thinking about the Caribbean -- there will not be any. Europe, South America and Alaska for the glaciers, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Tahiti, World cruises and Grand Voyages will have lectures.

The water on HAL ships is better than what we get at home.

We always buy the Beverage Cards even though you do not save anything on them. They are good for coffee, cocktails, glasses and bottles of wine. We like them as they save you from checking a ton of receipts at the end of the cruise. When you use them, the cost of whatever you buy is subtracted from the card as well as the 15% service charge. Each time we get a new slip, I just throw away the old one.

It is up to you whether you want to tip the person who delivers anything you order from room service -- all food for room service is free. Most people do tip.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Breakfast Menu

Preferred Time Frame

6 AM - 6:30 AM; 6:30 - 7 AM; 7 AM - 7:30 AM; 7:30 AM - 8 AM; 8 AM - 8:30 AM; 8:30 AM - 9 AM; 9 AM - 9:30 AM; 9:30 AM - 10 AM

 

Juices

Grapefruit; Orange:; Cranberry; V-8; Prune, Tomato

 

Fresh Fruit & Yogurt

Half Grapefruit; Sliced Bananas; Sliced Oranges; Mixed Fruit; Seasonal Melons; Stewed Prunes; Plain Yogurt; Fruit Yogurt; Greek Yogurt

 

Bakery

English Muffin(1); White Toast(2); Wheat Toast(2); Rye Toast(2); Danish(1); Croissant(2); Blueberry Muffin(1); Bran Muffin(1); Bagel (1)

 

Cereals

Corn Flakes; Special K; Cheerios; Raisin Bran; Granola; Fruit Loops; Frosted Flakes; Rice Krispies; Shredded Wheat

With: Milk; 2% Milk; Skim Milk; Soy Milk

 

Two Eggs

Scrambled; Sunnyside Up; Over Easy; Poached; Hard Boiled

Omelettes

Cheese; Ham & Cheese; Vegetable & Cheese

Egg Substitute

Scrambled; Cheese Omelette; Vegetable & Cheese Omelette

Egg White

Scrambles; Cheese Omelette; Vegetable & Cheese Omelette

Sides

Ham Slices(2); Sausage Links(2); Bacon Strips(2); Veggie Links(2); Turkey Links(2); Turkey Bacon(2)

Condiments

Assorted Jams; Half & Half; Honey; Butter; Margarine; Cream Cheese; Peanut Butter; Ketchup; Tabasco; Nutella; Orange Marmalade

 

Beverages

Regular Coffee; Decaf Coffee; Tea; Decaf Tea; Hot Chocolate; Milk; 2% Milk; Skim Milk; Soy Milk

 

If you can wait until the main dining room opens -- usually 7:30 on port days and 8 on sea days, you can write in anything you want like Eggs Benedict. Waffles, Chocolate croissants, etc.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Available 24 hours:

 

Smoked Atlantic Salmon - pickled red onion, capers & cream cheese

 

Mesclun Garden Greens - tomato, cucumber, alfalfa sprouts & blue cheese crumbles

 

Triple Decker Club Sandwich - sliced turkey, ham, bacon, tomato & lettuce served on toasted bread of your choice

 

All American Hamburger - broiled 1/4 pound beef patty on a sesame bun with dill pickle & coleslaw - add cheddar or Swiss cheese

 

Open faced Omelet - ham & cheese or vegetables

 

Selection of assorted cheese with crackers

 

Apple tart with whipped cream

 

Chocolate cake with raspberry sauce

 

A plate of chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk

 

Fruit salad - selected fruits in season

　

　

Available from 12 noon until 10 PM:

 

Appetizers & Soups:

Bay shrimp cocktail with cocktail sauce

Smoked Atlantic Salmon

French onion soup baked with Gruyere cheese

Soup of the day

 

Salads:

Mesclun Garden Greens

Chef salad - mixed greens, ham, salami, swiss cheese, turkey, hard boiled egg - choice of Italian or blue cheese dressing

Caesar salad - tossed with Caesar dressing, croutons & parmesan - add bay shrimp or grilled chicken breast

 

Sandwiches & Burgers:

All are served with a choice of potato salad or potato chips

 

Triple decker club sandwich

Broiled California chicken breast sandwich on multi=grain bread with avocado & honey mustard sauce

Grilled tuna melt - tuna salad & Swiss cheese on rye bread with pickle spears

Thai Vegetarian wrap - eggplant, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts & cilantro rolled with rice & green curry sauce in a tomato tortilla

Steak sandwich - sirloin steak on sourdough bread sauteed with onion & bell pepper

All American Hamburger

 

Entrees:

Seared salmon steak - dill-lime fusion, broccoli florets, carrot batonnet & country mashed potatoes

Penne Primavera - tossed in marinara sauce with Italian roasted vegetables - add grilled chicken breast

Pizza:

margarita (tomato sauce & cheese)

Pepperoni

Vegetarian (mushroom & bell pepper)

 

Desserts:

Apple tart

Chocolate cake

Creme caramel surrounded in berry compote

Fruit jello

fruit salad

Vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce

Selection of assorted cheese with crackers

　

　

And remember that you can always order from the dinner menu. Just remember to order within the first half hour from when the dinning room opens. You can select whatever time you want to eat.

[elbarney]

Thank you very much for your help, kazu and Krazy Kruizers!

I'm evaluating 3 different mediterranean cruises(11 nights), so I hope I'll have lecturers!

I think that with your responses I have all my questions answered.

I hope I'll try HAL this summer.

Thanks.

[puppycanducruise]

We were on the Eurodam on an 11 day cruise last spring.

They had a "Destination Specialist" who could answer port questions and give highlights of each port's attractions and excursions. He didn't really give lectures.

When we did a partial panama cruise years ago, there was a speaker who gave several talks about the construction of the canal and politics surrounding it. Nothing like that on our European cruises.

Hope you have a great cruise. European cruises are very port intensive, so much to see! Enjoy!

[kazu]

Thank you very much for your help, kazu and Krazy Kruizers!

I'm evaluating 3 different mediterranean cruises(11 nights), so I hope I'll have lecturers!

I think that with your responses I have all my questions answered.

I hope I'll try HAL this summer.

Thanks.

 

You are welcome. Glad we could help. I've done a number of Med/European cruises - most were longer ones and on those we did have lecturers. I don't know if they do on the shorter ones. The lecturers we had were very good and very interesting :D

[dadroy]

One itsy bitsy thing about room service. List EVERYTHING you want. So if you order coffee, thats all you are going to get! Want cream? Put down how many, otherwise you get one. Same with sugar. Want jam with your toast, add what flavor and how many. I could go on an on, but it comes as a surprise when you get your coffee without anything else.:D

[Vict0riann]

I do believe it's only the "specialty" coffees you have to pay extra for.

[innlady1]

As the others have said, you will have lecturers on the Mediterranean cruise. We really enjoyed the one on ours...on the Nieuw Amsterdam. On the Caribbean jaunts, it's mostly shopping tips...and I don't go to those.

[Crew News]

One itsy bitsy thing about room service. List EVERYTHING you want. So if you order coffee, thats all you are going to get! Want cream? Put down how many, otherwise you get one. Same with sugar. Want jam with your toast, add what flavor and how many. I could go on an on, but it comes as a surprise when you get your coffee without anything else.:D

 

If you would like a glass for any milk that you have checked on the room service tag, ensure that you write in "glass" or you will be drinking from the carton.

 

You can see the Room Service Breakfast card as well as the Specialty Restaurant menus here:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/?page_id=908

Edited January 9, 2014 by Crew News
Added Room Service Tag

[elbarney]

Thank you very much to all for your information.

I have another question, how formal is the attire for the formal tea?

I'd like to experience it, but I don't own a tux. I usually pack my bussiness suits and shirts, tie and sport jacket for the formal nights, but I'm worried that HAL will be a little more formal. I'd like to have some real life feedback about what is considered fine by experienced passengers.

Thank you for your information.

[billbunger]

Even though the tea may be called formal or high tea the dress is casual. It is usually held in mid afternoon.

[whogo]

It is up to you whether you want to tip the person who delivers anything you order from room service -- all food for room service is free. Most people do tip.

I think we do not know whether most people tip room service. People who don't tip room service rarely mention it on Cruise Critic. Room service personnel do not linger in expectation of a tip.

[lindaler]

As far as tipping goes, you had better have it set out before they come. The room service guys are in and set up and out so fast you wouldn't have time to dig around for money. They really try to not interfere with your time so they come in quietly and fast. If you have your tip sitting out then you have time to hand it to them.

[falcon10156]

1. I usually tip room service a little bit but always have it ready as they do not wait for or expect it.

 

2. Coffee at the specialty coffee shop (rather specialty coffee or not) has a charge. You should get coffee in the lido (or room service) if you do not want to be charged.

 

3. All afternoon teas are casual. They usually have a Dutch Tea and an Indonesian tea. Both are great.

 

Debbie

Edited January 10, 2014 by falcon10156

[AlohaPride]

You have GOT to try the room service club sandwich, chocolate chip cookies, and a big glass of milk. Best. Meal. Ever. LOL

[falcon10156]

The Bread pudding is a must try. :)

 

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[Thebes]

Even though the tea may be called formal or high tea the dress is casual. It is usually held in mid afternoon.

 

Wonder if one can get that tea delivered to their retreat cabana somehow ?

[kazu]

Thank you very much to all for your information.

I have another question, how formal is the attire for the formal tea?

I'd like to experience it, but I don't own a tux. I usually pack my bussiness suits and shirts, tie and sport jacket for the formal nights, but I'm worried that HAL will be a little more formal. I'd like to have some real life feedback about what is considered fine by experienced passengers.

Thank you for your information.

 

Your business suit, shirt, tie and even sports jacket are just fine for formal nights. You might see some tuxes but they will not be in the majority and your formal attire that you have is just fine and what many wear.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Afternoon tea -- held at 3 PM -- most of the time it is in the main dining room.

We have seen people show up in all types of clothing including one time with a woman in bathing suit with a see through cover-up.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Wonder if one can get that tea delivered to their retreat cabana somehow ?

 

 

You can ask the person who works in that area if they would get you some tea and pastries.

But you would be better off just going to the tea. Choices for tea and choices for the pastries.

[lindaler]

When we went to the formal tea, we dressed nice but casual. For me the formal part was the method they served you and the fancier refreshments that went with the tea. We really enjoyed the different teas and coffees served on the themed days for the teas.

[Thebes]

You can ask the person who works in that area if they would get you some tea and pastries.

But you would be better off just going to the tea. Choices for tea and choices for the pastries.

 

Thanks KK. It makes sense to go and select rather than blindly asking.