New to Holland America? This is for you...AKA "HAL For Dummies"

[Cruise Suzy]

8 minutes ago, Clay Clayton said:

The end of the line for open seating was typically near the photographer's displays-so at least a hundred of people in line😳. This wasn't just at opening time, it seemed to be that way throughout the hours the dining room was open.

 

That's why we reserve a time for the MDR once onboard. Haven't been able to convince DH that fixed dining is ok.

Edited September 17, 2023 by Cruise Suzy

[Clay Clayton]

49 minutes ago, Cruise Suzy said:

 

That's why we reserve a time for the MDR once onboard. Haven't been able to convince DH that fixed dining is ok.

I'm not sure that was a possibility for us, but I could of course be wrong. 
 

We prefer open since sometimes we have a late lunch in a port and therefore aren't hungry for early sitting and other times we don't have lunch and want to eat early.  

Edited September 17, 2023 by Clay Clayton

[laufschnecke]

Thank you all for your quick and helpful answers.

[Susanmaz]

When we were on the Kdam, the lines for open seating were always long. I presume because of the 2700 passengers. When we were on the Volendam, there was never a line for open seating dining, presumably due to only 1400 passengers. We are doing Volendam again at Christmas and are doing open seating this time. It will be an experiment. 

[sandiego1]

On 9/16/2023 at 9:07 AM, AllTheSun said:

Does HAL have card shufflers you can borrow? We use a hand crank one at home.

I’ve never seen one, but then again, I wasn’t specifically looking for one.

[backroads_71]

Hello! 

I am booked for my "very first cruise ever"!  We're on HAL Nieuw Statendam going to East Caribbean. I am completely blown away how much strategy seasoned cruisers put into planning a cruise! I feel like I need the crash course "Cruising for Beginners 101". 

I have a question: can anyone tell me if I can request a specific table for 2 in the main dinning upper level BEFORE we cruise? We want the fixed time as well as we're hoping to choose a specific table. 

Also does any have an updated seating map of the main dinning room upper level on the Neiuw Statendam?

Thanks in advance! 

Heather (newbie cruiser)  

 

 

[Sea42]

9 minutes ago, backroads_71 said:

Hello! 

I am booked for my "very first cruise ever"!  We're on HAL Nieuw Statendam going to East Caribbean. I am completely blown away how much strategy seasoned cruisers put into planning a cruise! I feel like I need the crash course "Cruising for Beginners 101". 

I have a question: can anyone tell me if I can request a specific table for 2 in the main dinning upper level BEFORE we cruise? We want the fixed time as well as we're hoping to choose a specific table. 

Also does any have an updated seating map of the main dinning room upper level on the Neiuw Statendam?

Thanks in advance! 

Heather (newbie cruiser)  

 

 

Hi Heather, welcome to Cruise Critic!

You can request your preferred seating before your cruise. Contact your travel agent or HAL and make your request. There is a choice of an early seating or a late seating for fixed dining. You may or may not get what you request but, if not, you may ask again when you're onboard. In the future make that request when you book.

Carol

[backroads_71]

Thanks Carol! I will give HAL a call. 

[backroads_71]

6 minutes ago, Sea42 said:

Hi Heather, welcome to Cruise Critic!

You can request your preferred seating before your cruise. Contact your travel agent or HAL and make your request. There is a choice of an early seating or a late seating for fixed dining. You may or may not get what you request but, if not, you may ask again when you're onboard. In the future make that request when you book.

Carol

Thanks Carol! 

[Sea42]

8 minutes ago, backroads_71 said:

Thanks Carol! 

Anytime! Have fun learning about cruising. It does have its quirks compared with land travel but it can be so enjoyable.

Edited September 17, 2023 by Sea42

[SUESEABE]

@backroads_71

 

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/MDR-Table-Map.pdf

Edited September 18, 2023 by SUESEABE

[AllTheSun]

I’m about 2 weeks out. Printed off my boarding pass with its bar code. If my boarding time changes do I have to print a new bp? I plan on ignoring that nonsense 3pm time anyway lol.

[RuthC]

15 minutes ago, AllTheSun said:

I’m about 2 weeks out. Printed off my boarding pass with its bar code. If my boarding time changes do I have to print a new bp? I plan on ignoring that nonsense 3pm time anyway lol.

I see no reason to waste the time, paper, and ink. 
If HAL can't send it correctly the first time, let them deal with whatever mess they may create. 

[Dismomx5]

41 minutes ago, AllTheSun said:

I’m about 2 weeks out. Printed off my boarding pass with its bar code. If my boarding time changes do I have to print a new bp? I plan on ignoring that nonsense 3pm time anyway lol.

I did not. We ended up going in earlier than we were supposed to, but were prepared to wait had they refused us.

[Mimie03]

I’m trying to pre-order wine for the dining room. They give you the option of having it delivered to the DR or to your stateroom. Somehow the option for the dining room isn’t working for me. 
 

When you get onboard, can you order a wine package? Is the price higher than what’s showing now? Ie do they discount prior to cruising? If not and I can, then I won’t worry and just get it then. 
 

Alternatively, if I have it delivered to the stateroom, will we get hit with corkage fees if we try to bring it into dinner? 
 

I know the HAL site was down for a while since I also booked a specialty restaurant but in the end I got it done. This, is proving to be a tad frustrating. 

[FlaMariner]

8 minutes ago, Mimie03 said:

When you get onboard, can you order a wine package?

Yes, and we like to order the package from our MDR waiter.....He gets the credit and he's going to be pouring for you at dinner.

 

9 minutes ago, Mimie03 said:

Is the price higher than what’s showing now?

Never experienced a price difference between onboard and pre-board prices

9 minutes ago, Mimie03 said:

Alternatively, if I have it delivered to the stateroom, will we get hit with corkage fees if we try to bring it into dinner? 

No corkage.  They know you bought it when you bring it to the MDR....but as mentioned earlier, just buy it at dinner.....And you can easily ask your MDR waiter to give you an extra bottle "to go" when you want to take it back to the cabin.

 

Enjoy the journey...and the wine!

[Mimie03]

5 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

 

 

Enjoy the journey...and the wine!

Thank you. This is exactly the information k was looking for. 😁

 

[LouCoop]

On 6/17/2023 at 6:37 PM, 0106 said:

Your Hal statement should indicate a confirmed table for two. There is an early 5ish depending on the ship and late seating.  There is not 6 o’clock seating.   We will only eat at a table for 2 and it has never been a problem.  This is what I see on my statement.

Hi @0106 My statement says Confirmed Main, Request Table for 2. Is that the latest seating?

[RuthC]

25 minutes ago, LouCoop said:

My statement says Confirmed Main, Request Table for 2. Is that the latest seating?

Yes, which should be sometime around 7:30. 

[Toofarfromthesea]

I'm booked on a 1/13 17 day Hawaii cruise out of San Diego.  I have already made my final payment and I have pre-paid my crew appreciation.  With that as context I have 2 questions:

 

1) Does having made the final payment preclude me from being able to take advantage of price drops?

 

2) My cruise is one of those that now has free crew appreciation.  Is that for new bookings only?  And if not would the fact that I've pre-paid my crew appreciation preclude me from getting a credit of some kind for the free crew appreciation that is now available?

 

Thanks for any info anyone can provide.  I'd like some idea of what's possible before I call my TA.

[Mimie03]

49 minutes ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

I'm booked on a 1/13 17 day Hawaii cruise out of San Diego.  I have already made my final payment and I have pre-paid my crew appreciation.  With that as context I have 2 questions:

 

1) Does having made the final payment preclude me from being able to take advantage of price drops?

 

2) My cruise is one of those that now has free crew appreciation.  Is that for new bookings only?  And if not would the fact that I've pre-paid my crew appreciation preclude me from getting a credit of some kind for the free crew appreciation that is now available?

 

Thanks for any info anyone can provide.  I'd like some idea of what's possible before I call my TA.

I know that the crew appreciation is just for new bookings. Happened for my cruise too and that’s what my TA told me when I asked. 
 

As for price drops, none after final payment. Before final only if you’ve booked with a refundable deposit. No changes at all if it’s not refundable. Worth that said, your TA can ask to speak to a Pricing Specialist that has the authority to make an exception. Again, it happened for my cruise. 
 

Hope this helps. 

[ski ww]

It happened to us once and we got an up grade from an inside cabin to a balcony after I noticed a price drop on our cruise after final payment.

[Mimie03]

4 hours ago, ski ww said:

It happened to us once and we got an up grade from an inside cabin to a balcony after I noticed a price drop on our cruise after final payment.

When was this? I haven’t travelled since before Covid and things are much different now it seems. I feel like a cruise newbie sometimes and we are far from it.  I liked how things were before. Seems there’s some sort of restriction for everything. Hard to keep up. Thank goodness for sites like this! 

[Duane S.]

DOES HAL offer any golf themed cruises or any other cruise lines?

 

[SUESEABE]

@Duane S.  Check out Golfahoy.com