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

[Hokapontas]

On 1/26/2024 at 3:19 PM, Monarda55 said:

... so I can skedaddle to the dining kiosk to make MDR reservations. I have a gift for turning the wrong way initially in most circumstances, lol. 

Egad!! 

I am new to Hal as well, cruising in a month. 

I have to make reservations to eat in the MDR??? 

[ski ww]

4 hours ago, Hokapontas said:

Egad!! 

I am new to Hal as well, cruising in a month. 

I have to make reservations to eat in the MDR??? 

No you do not. When you booked your cruise did you or your travel agent book a set time, early or late at the same table to eat in the MDR? The reservation is for any time dining.

[Sea42]

6 hours ago, Hokapontas said:

Egad!! 

I am new to Hal as well, cruising in a month. 

I have to make reservations to eat in the MDR??? 

If you have Anytime Dining you can eat at any time that the MDR is open. Reservations may be available for MDR for specific times if you don't already have fixed time dining but are never required. Just show up. Some nights there may be a wait.

[cruiser3775]

On 1/26/2024 at 3:19 PM, Monarda55 said:

Basically I’m trying to orient myself ahead of time so I can skedaddle to the dining kiosk to make MDR reservations. I have a gift for turning the wrong way initially in most circumstances, lol. 

Most ships have plentiful signs and diagrams showing where you are, in the stair/lift lobbies. I find it helps to remember that port side cabins have even numbers and starboard side have odd numbers.  But my best help in getting around is to print off a paper plan of all the main ship decks to take with me, on two A4 pages. You can find these on cruisedeckplans:   https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/

I walk around with this, and often people ask me where I got it, and say how useful it would be.

[boeckli]

1 hour ago, cruiser3775 said:

Most ships have plentiful signs and diagrams showing where you are, in the stair/lift lobbies. I find it helps to remember that port side cabins have even numbers and starboard side have odd numbers.  But my best help in getting around is to print off a paper plan of all the main ship decks to take with me, on two A4 pages. You can find these on cruisedeckplans:   https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/

I walk around with this, and often people ask me where I got it, and say how useful it would be.

 

You can also pull up deck plans on the Navigator app (under the 'Plan' tab)

[cruiser3775]

6 hours ago, boeckli said:

ou can also pull up deck plans on the Navigator app (under the 'Plan' tab)

But they come up one deck at a time, and very small. I like having four decks to a page, spread over two A4 pages, in total, so you can work out in advance which end of the ship places are and the most efficient way to get there.  I have limited mobility, so try to avoid having to walk further than I need to.

[Hokapontas]

On 2/7/2024 at 9:03 PM, ski ww said:

No you do not. When you booked your cruise did you or your travel agent book a set time, early or late at the same table to eat in the MDR? The reservation is for any time dining.

 

I didn't, so it must mean I have any time dining. So why would someone need to hotfoot it to the MDR at the beginning of a cruise? Do some TAs not arrange it, or can't you do it online? 

[ski ww]

6 hours ago, Hokapontas said:

 

I didn't, so it must mean I have any time dining. So why would someone need to hotfoot it to the MDR at the beginning of a cruise? Do some TAs not arrange it, or can't you do it online? 

Some people that have any time dining are looking to book a specific table at the same time every night, that is different from the fixed dining.

[OregonGirl1980]

Just recently uploaded our experience on a Nieuw Statendam 7-day Western Caribbean cruise from January 2023, hope it's ok to link here. Hubby goes into some detail about the Navigator app if anyone is interested, right around the 2:18 mark. 

 

[ski ww]

Thanks for posting.

[Ayla4m]

Hi all!  Not a first time HAL cruiser, but haven't been since 2019. Is this policy on their website correct? We have to wear masks embarking/disembarking, shore excursions, etc? 

 

"Masks on board are recommended but not required indoors or outdoors. We highly recommend guests wear a mask in the World Stage and other entertainment areas, casino, spa treatment rooms, Club HAL and during other congregate events. Masks are required to be worn during the entire embarkation and debarkation process and on transportation during any Holland America Line organized shore excursions, on tenders to and from ports, and in the onboard Medical Center.   
When going ashore guests must be prepared to follow all local guidance regarding masks and physical distancing. The status of local guidelines will be shared with guests prior to disembarkation at the destination.  
Health experts advise that guests use a higher-grade mask while indoors (such as KN95 or surgical masks) that have two or more layers, completely cover the nose and mouth, fit snuggly against the side of the face and have a nose wire. Please note that visors and face shields will not be accepted as a substitute for a face mask. Holland America Line will be providing complimentary surgical mask(s) on board with replacements available upon request."

 

[Blackduck59]

We never encountered any masking rules on Zaandam in August/September of last year. Not at the embarkation port of Boston nor any of the port stops including all stops in Canada.

[Haljo1935]

No longer required for any of the ports I've visited and not on NS, NA, Eurodam, or K'dam in the past year+. 

[Cathygh]

HI I'm new to HAL and have the HIA package, sailing a year from now. Can I  use the shorex credit before we board? Or do we have to pay upfront for any excursions we book now? Thanks

[puppycanducruise]

59 minutes ago, Cathygh said:

HI I'm new to HAL and have the HIA package, sailing a year from now. Can I  use the shorex credit before we board? Or do we have to pay upfront for any excursions we book now? Thanks

Use the shorex credit as soon as you see a shore excursion you want.  Some excursions are sold out long before the cruise so you don't want to miss out.

[Cathygh]

20 minutes ago, puppycanducruise said:

Use the shorex credit as soon as you see a shore excursion you want.  Some excursions are sold out long before the cruise so you don't want to miss out.

Thank you for the heads up. I am used to other lines where nothing sells out till close to sailing date

[FLCruiser97]

2 hours ago, puppycanducruise said:

Use the shorex credit as soon as you see a shore excursion you want.  Some excursions are sold out long before the cruise so you don't want to miss out.

We too have this HIA on our TA in April. However, our shore excursions were not available to book until about 90 days out as well as the specialty restaurant credit.

[bajae]

2 hours ago, FLCruiser97 said:

We too have this HIA on our TA in April. However, our shore excursions were not available to book until about 90 days out as well as the specialty restaurant credit.

It may depend on the cruise, but the shore excursions were available with my Hawaiian cruise a year out. 

[FLCruiser97]

4 hours ago, bajae said:

It may depend on the cruise, but the shore excursions were available with my Hawaiian cruise a year out. 

Yes, that is true. Every sailing is different.

[Hokapontas]

On 2/14/2024 at 9:44 AM, OregonGirl1980 said:

Just recently uploaded our experience on a Nieuw Statendam 7-day Western Caribbean cruise from January 2023, hope it's ok to link here. Hubby goes into some detail about the Navigator app if anyone is interested, right around the 2:18 mark. 

 

Hi! That brought up a question: is the Gala dinner (before 9 mins in) a 'formal' night, or a normal dinner in the gdr? I thought formal nights were on sea days, so am guessing my hubby needs a jacket with him for a normal dinner? 

[RuthC]

6 minutes ago, Hokapontas said:

I thought formal nights were on sea days, so am guessing my hubby needs a jacket with him for a normal dinner? 

HAL no longer has 'formal' or 'Gala' nights. They have reduced the sartorial splendor to 'dressy' nights now. 
No jeans allowed in the dining room, and a shirt with collar is the minimum required of men, although you will see some passengers dressed up a good deal more. 
Women tend to dress a little more. 

[Hokapontas]

I seem to be finding this our right now, there is no chance of Ironing anything on the Noordam?? 

I always need to iron because of the suitcase and the clothes, you know. 

I have read somewhere there is a press service. How long does that take? 

[Blackduck59]

We haven't done the "pressing" service, but when we send a bag of laundry out in the early morning it is often back later that day. If we send it out in the evening it is often back when we come back from breakfast the next day. That being said sometimes it takes longer. I'm sorry you weren't prepared for no iron being available, many cruise lines don't allow them.

Edited February 19 by Blackduck59

[Hokapontas]

31 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

We haven't done the "pressing" service, but when we send a bag of laundry out in the early morning it is often back later that day. If we send it out in the evening it is often back when we come back from breakfast the next day. That being said sometimes it takes longer. I'm sorry you weren't prepared for no iron being available, many cruise lines don't allow them.

 

On another cruise line we go on, the laundry room is full of ppl ironing their clothing in order to eat dinner. Especially at the beginning of the cruise. It's a lovely, social place. 

We haven't sent laundry to the service since my husband's polo shirt was shrunk. 

I guess I am going to be looking for non crinkle things, and steaming the in the shower. 

[Blackduck59]

12 minutes ago, Hokapontas said:

 

On another cruise line we go on, the laundry room is full of ppl ironing their clothing in order to eat dinner. Especially at the beginning of the cruise. It's a lovely, social place. 

We haven't sent laundry to the service since my husband's polo shirt was shrunk. 

I guess I am going to be looking for non crinkle things, and steaming the in the shower. 

The laundry service on HAL is outstanding, and very reasonable. While the laundromat on those few ships that have them may be great, neither my wife or I, am interested in using one when there is a very good laundry service available at a reasonable cost. For our next adventure which will be down under a year from now we will be so happy to get on the ship after 26 days on land touring, doing our own laundry in whatever facilities we can find. Once we board we will get the "unlimited " laundry package and not have to do laundry ourselves until we get home 43 days later.

Edited February 19 by Blackduck59