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

[Haljo1935]

10 minutes ago, YourWorldWithBill said:

The process is just as @Sea Hagsaid; while I was still on the phone making my booking with my PCC, the cabin I requested was confirmed. On the Rotterdam we found the CO dining room really nice, comfortable, not too cold; but as the newest ship, the CO dining room was built into the ship, rather than just taking over another area. We'll let you know our reaction to the Nieuw Statendam in a couple of months.

NS the CO dining room is the one that was a meat locker on the first cruise post drydock. Nov 26 - Dec 10, I believe were the dates. Several others who were on during that time posted about it, as well. I do hope you find it better.

The food was good, no issue with that, but we couldn't get past the crazy cold temperature. 

Edited March 22 by Haljo1935
Typo

[YourWorldWithBill]

1 minute ago, Haljo1935 said:

NS the CO dining room is the one that was a meat locker on the first cruise post drydock. Nov 26 - Dec 10, I believe were the dates. Several others who were on during that time posted about it, as well. I do hope you find it better.

The food was good, no issue with that, but we couldn't get past the crazy cold temperature. 

They must have fixed it after your issues, because in May of last year it was fine.

[Toofarfromthesea]

2 hours ago, bfury said:

 

Thanks for the information about the upgrade.  When we made the booking the first person we spoke to didn't mention an upgrade but we called back because we had some questions and the second person noticed we hadn't done an upgrade and took care of it for us. We went from a standard verandah to a spa level verandah. We are almost at the top of the ship.  Mainly got Club Orange for the priority embarkation. I have neuropathy in my feet, due to chemo treatment, and it is difficult to stand for long periods of time. Walking is fine, standing not so good. Your info was helpful.

 

I don't know what port you are leaving from, but I also have difficulty walking so I requested boarding assistance.  I boarded in San Diego and when I got to the terminal area there was a podium with a big red umbrella.  I went up to it and whisked me into the terminal to a seated holding area.  10 minutes later a port employee came with a wheelchair and took me through the check-in process and then put me in a different holding area.  As soon as the ship was cleared for boarding a bunch of HAL employees came and got us, with wheelchairs, and we ended up being among the first to board.  None of this was predicated on having priority boarding.  It all happened because I got there early and had boarding assistance.

 

That was in San Diego in January, and no other ships were in the port embarking.  

[0106]

51 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

NS the CO dining room is the one that was a meat locker on the first cruise post drydock. Nov 26 - Dec 10, I believe were the dates. Several others who were on during that time posted about it, as well. I do hope you find it better.

On the NS from March 3-17, the CO dining room was a comfortable temperature. (I get cold easily.) 

[Haljo1935]

23 minutes ago, 0106 said:

On the NS from March 3-17, the CO dining room was a comfortable temperature. (I get cold easily.) 

That is very good news to hear they got it fixed.

[RedIguana]

16 hours ago, 0106 said:

On the NS from March 3-17, the CO dining room was a comfortable temperature. (I get cold easily.) 

I was on the March 10th-17th sailing that @0106 was on, and will concur that the temperature was comfortable.

[kfarist]

HAL newbie leaving in a week- if I have late dining but want to eat in the dining room earlier one night can I show up to the flexible dining and be seated? 

 

Thanks and apologizes if this has been answered... there are a lot of posts to search through. 

[crystalspin]

2 hours ago, kfarist said:

HAL newbie leaving in a week- if I have late dining but want to eat in the dining room earlier one night can I show up to the flexible dining and be seated? 

 

Thanks and apologizes if this has been answered... there are a lot of posts to search through. 

If you know ahead of time that you want to do this, it's good manners to let your servers know. Same as if you are going to have Specialty dining.

[kazu]

2 hours ago, kfarist said:

HAL newbie leaving in a week- if I have late dining but want to eat in the dining room earlier one night can I show up to the flexible dining and be seated? 

 

Thanks and apologizes if this has been answered... there are a lot of posts to search through. 

 

Yes you can.  You are supposed to use only one dining (fixed or flexible/open).  they will usually make an exception to it for one night.  Good plan to advise your waiters you’d like to do that and you may possibly need to discuss with the assistant dining room steward.  I needed to do it once and when I asked my waiters the asst DR came right away and said although it was not usual, it would not be a problem for one night.

[kfarist]

Thank you!

[bfury]

On 3/22/2024 at 2:11 PM, Crew News said:

The Eurodam does not have a separate Club Orange dining room or dedicated seating area.  From what I have observed, Club Orange guests are seated immediately (ahead of others in line). Club Orange does not accept reservations as they have a limited clientele. On Pinnacle-class ships with a dedicated dining room, I have seen waits up to 15 minutes with guests given beepers.

 

The Tamarind Restaurant is open every evening with the exception of one evening each cruise dedicated to a pop-up Morimoto dining experience.

 

For current HAL menus use the link in the bottom right corner of my signature.

Thank you so much for the information you provided.  I went to your link and got a ton of information that I was interested in.  

[Toofarfromthesea]

43 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

If you know ahead of time that you want to do this, it's good manners to let your servers know. Same as if you are going to have Specialty dining.

 

It's also good manners to let your tablemates, if you have any, whenever you won't be at your regular fixed dining.

[blessedmommyx3]

I am new to Holland America and leave on the Koningsdam next weekend. It says 'cashless' - does that apply to the casino as well, or does the casino accept cash?

[Haljo1935]

15 minutes ago, blessedmommyx3 said:

I am new to Holland America and leave on the Koningsdam next weekend. It says 'cashless' - does that apply to the casino as well, or does the casino accept cash?

Casino does not accept cash.

[Nickelpenny]

58 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

Casino does not accept cash.

I was able to put cash into the slots on the Zaandam a week ago so I don't know if that is true  fleetwide.

[Haljo1935]

21 minutes ago, Nickelpenny said:

I was able to put cash into the slots on the Zaandam a week ago so I don't know if that is true  fleetwide.

Oh good - we know that went well for you! The last time I played in a casino I used my card, so clearly a change.

[rwethereyet1969]

SO......a question for the ladies....

 

When sending your laundry in the HAL bag, do you put your bra in loose or do you bring a lingerie bag for your bra?  Just wondering if I should bring a lingerie bag to keep my bras from getting too twisted or snagged on other items or do the laundry staff automatically put bras in a lingerie bag when washing?

[FlaMariner]

Her Majesty simply add her brassiere to the laundry check off list and in the laundry bag it goes....right along with my socks and underwear and all our other dirty clothes....She says it comes back all nice and clean.

[FLCruiser97]

1 hour ago, rwethereyet1969 said:

SO......a question for the ladies....

 

When sending your laundry in the HAL bag, do you put your bra in loose or do you bring a lingerie bag for your bra?  Just wondering if I should bring a lingerie bag to keep my bras from getting too twisted or snagged on other items or do the laundry staff automatically put bras in a lingerie bag when washing?

Since I don't put my bras in the dryer (hang dry only) I wouldn't send them out to laundry. That being said, if Mrs. FlaMariner sends hers out then it should be safe without a lingerie bag.

[Haljo1935]

1 hour ago, rwethereyet1969 said:

SO......a question for the ladies....

 

When sending your laundry in the HAL bag, do you put your bra in loose or do you bring a lingerie bag for your bra?  Just wondering if I should bring a lingerie bag to keep my bras from getting too twisted or snagged on other items or do the laundry staff automatically put bras in a lingerie bag when washing?

I've done both and since I've not had an issue when I didn't send in a lingerie bag, I stopped using them.

If you want them air dried, just put a note that you don't want bras to be put in the dryer and they will air dry them. They do a great job w/special requests. 

[rwethereyet1969]

Thank you all for the replies.  Since you all--including her Majesty (;  have had no issues just sending bras to the laundry "bagless," I shall do the same.  One more thing I can leave off my packing list.

[islandwoman]

This discussion brings up another laundry question:  If I have clothing that includes items that need to be dry low and items that need to be hung dry and maybe even items that could be dry medium, do I need to send them in 2-3 separate bags with different instructions on each bag? 

[Haljo1935]

1 hour ago, islandwoman said:

This discussion brings up another laundry question:  If I have clothing that includes items that need to be dry low and items that need to be hung dry and maybe even items that could be dry medium, do I need to send them in 2-3 separate bags with different instructions on each bag? 

You can send in 3 separate bags with the drying instructions noted for the bag - very easy to do if you have unlimited,  just ask cabin steward for extra bags.

You can still this if you buy laundry by-the-bag - just note on the laundry slip how you want each piece dried.

[Moriah]

Hm, never even thought about it.  I just stick my bras into the bag with all the other laundry, and they always come back perfect.  Which is interesting, since at home, I always wash them on delicate cycle and hang dry them.  Maybe that's not really necessary! 🙂

[Moriah]

13 hours ago, islandwoman said:

This discussion brings up another laundry question:  If I have clothing that includes items that need to be dry low and items that need to be hung dry and maybe even items that could be dry medium, do I need to send them in 2-3 separate bags with different instructions on each bag? 

 

I used to think I had to say "cold water" and other instructions, but for the last several years (starting a few years before the pandemic shut down cruising), I have just stuffed everything in the bag and sent it with no special requests at all, and my laundry ALWAYS comes back as good or far BETTER than it does when I wash it myself at home.  They are professionals - and they are really really good at what they do.  They know more about how to wash/dry all kinds of fabrics than we do... wish I'd figured it out a long time ago and saved myself all the extra hassle when sending laundry on the ship.