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

[crystalspin]

3 hours ago, Steerpike58 said:

Did you have Orange Club? That's supposed to improve matters with MDR, is it not?  We are going to be on the Oosterdam in September, and dining as a couple is a non-negotiable - no table sharing for us! Could this be a problem, do you think?

Club Orange is capacity-controlled (or under-controlled per islandwoman). Not everyone can have it or it wouldn't be a "Club". 

 

We did not have CO, nor will we ever. We ate in the Lido or specialty restaurants. Pre-pandemic, we alternated sitting with others in the MDR or sitting by ourselves in the Lido. I imagine you will be waiting for a two-top in the MDR on O'dam but you can surprise me!

[StLouisCruisers]

On 5/16/2024 at 4:29 PM, cwd79 said:

Thanks for the info. Wouldn't the cabins in 1019/1015 hear the Billboard Onboard music? 

 

We are currently on Zuiderdam across the hall from 1018 in 1026. We are under the casino and hear nothing above us.  1018 should be quiet as well since they are under the carpeted craps tables. There is very little music or noise in the corridor from World Stage and none of it in our cabin. On the starboard side cabins 1015 and 1019 will be closer to the casino bar where they may have music happening.  I would stick to port side and cabin 1018.  Those cabins are quite large and I wouldn't mind staying in one at all.

[ExArkie]

8 hours ago, Steerpike58 said:

Did you have Orange Club? That's supposed to improve matters with MDR, is it not?  We are going to be on the Oosterdam in September, and dining as a couple is a non-negotiable - no table sharing for us! Could this be a problem, do you think? We tend to eat fairly late (circa 7:30 or 8pm). On Viking OCEAN, we never had a problem getting a table for 2, without reservations. On Viking RIVER, we had to really struggle to get a table for 2 and we'll never go through that again. 

As I recall on our one Viking River cruise about ten years ago, there were virtually no tales for two, only larger ones. It would be a lot harder to get a two-top when there are only two or three of them, even on a ship with just 200 (roughly) passengers. 

[jonyboy]

9 minutes ago, ExArkie said:

As I recall on our one Viking River cruise about ten years ago, there were virtually no tales for two, only larger ones. It would be a lot harder to get a two-top when there are only two or three of them, even on a ship with just 200 (roughly) passengers. 

As much as we like HAL, we did a cruise on Celebrity Edge and when it comes to dining the Edge is much better than any HAL ship we've been on.

[islandwoman]

1 hour ago, jonyboy said:

As much as we like HAL, we did a cruise on Celebrity Edge and when it comes to dining the Edge is much better than any HAL ship we've been on.

In what way?

[jonyboy]

2 minutes ago, islandwoman said:

In what way?

There are four venues.  Each has a menu for that venue only, one that is the same in each venue for each day and one menu that changes every day.  If you go to the Tuscan you can get the main menu, the Tuscan menu of the special menu for that day.  We never had to make a reservation and we never had to wait regardless of time

[Jensue9]

Firstly please forgive me if this has been answered. I am reading through this thread from page 1 and there’s now hundreds of pages 😱. I have cruise quite a few times but never with HAL. My question is about the muster still using a mobility scooter. We will be sailing on westerdam out of Auckland. I have read on this thread that muster is done standing outside. Due to a back injury I am unable to stand for long periods of time. Am I able to use my mobility scooter at muster? 

[ski ww]

2 minutes ago, Jensue9 said:

Firstly please forgive me if this has been answered. I am reading through this thread from page 1 and there’s now hundreds of pages 😱. I have cruise quite a few times but never with HAL. My question is about the muster still using a mobility scooter. We will be sailing on westerdam out of Auckland. I have read on this thread that muster is done standing outside. Due to a back injury I am unable to stand for long periods of time. Am I able to use my mobility scooter at muster? 

You watch the safety briefing on your TV and then report to your muster station to get your name & cabin # checked off. You can not watch regular TV unless you watch the safety video first, no more standing for long time.  

[Haljo1935]

5 minutes ago, Jensue9 said:

Firstly please forgive me if this has been answered. I am reading through this thread from page 1 and there’s now hundreds of pages 😱. I have cruise quite a few times but never with HAL. My question is about the muster still using a mobility scooter. We will be sailing on westerdam out of Auckland. I have read on this thread that muster is done standing outside. Due to a back injury I am unable to stand for long periods of time. Am I able to use my mobility scooter at muster? 

Muster is now done by watching a safety video on your stateroom TV. You only have to go to your muster station to get your card scanned. 

[RuthC]

10 minutes ago, Jensue9 said:

Firstly please forgive me if this has been answered. I am reading through this thread from page 1 and there’s now hundreds of pages 😱. I have cruise quite a few times but never with HAL. My question is about the muster still using a mobility scooter. We will be sailing on westerdam out of Auckland. I have read on this thread that muster is done standing outside. Due to a back injury I am unable to stand for long periods of time. Am I able to use my mobility scooter at muster? 

In a word 'yes'. 
A longer explanation is in order, however. 

Muster drill isn't the all gather at the same time, stand for the entire presentation, then get dismissed at the same time process it used to be. 
Now, you watch the procedure on the TV in your cabin, then report to your muster station to check in. There is an extended period of time over which this takes place, so fairly speedy and comfortable. 

On the Pinnacle class ships, the muster is inside, so using your scooter is easy. You drive up to your station, park, and stay put until dismissed. 

On the other classes of ships it is outdoors, at the lifeboat. You can ride your scooter all the way out, and sit during the drill. The problem (for me) has always been that there is a lip getting from indoors to outside, and the rented scooter usually has low clearance and gets hung up on that lip. If you can get up, and have someone lift the scooter over (in both directions! leaving is always so crowded) that lip, you are fine. 

I have always found an alternate, indoor muster station. 
There will be someone in charge near the doorway to get outside, and that person can probably complete the check-in without you needing to go to your actual lifeboat. 

[Jensue9]

Thank you everyone for your replies. This has helped greatly relieve some stress! 

[islandwoman]

13 minutes ago, Jensue9 said:

Thank you everyone for your replies. This has helped greatly relieve some stress! 

No need to be stressed about using your scooter on a Holland America cruise.  Many people do.  HAL knows very well how to meet their needs.

[Jensue9]

6 minutes ago, islandwoman said:

No need to be stressed about using your scooter on a Holland America cruise.  Many people do.  HAL knows very well how to meet their needs.

Oh that is very reassuring. Thank you! I do make sure I’m very considerate to others while getting around. I’m very conscious of other people. 

[terrydtx]

4 hours ago, Jensue9 said:

Oh that is very reassuring. Thank you! I do make sure I’m very considerate to others while getting around. I’m very conscious of other people. 

You will feel right at home with a scooter on any HAL ship, and the crew will be there to assist you in any way you need. Since Covid the muster drill have become so easy and next to nothing. Watch the TV video and then go to the muster station to get checked in which takes a minute or two.

[Jensue9]

Hi again! I am use to princess cruise line web site and im finding HALs a little confusing. Could someone please tell me where I can see the shore excursions for my cruise, choosing dinning options etc and other optional extras for purchase for the cruise? I’ve gone into manage my cruise, completed the details they ask for to board and it says it is complete but I can’t find all the details for my cruise. I know it’s probably so obvious and I’ll feel embarrassed when told but for the life of me I can’t find it????

jenny 

[Gsel]

Once you log in you should see "Itinerary" at the top on left side. Click on that and your shore excursions should be listed under each port. HAL's website is absolutely the worst in the business, sorry you are having so much trouble!

[Jensue9]

10 minutes ago, Gsel said:

Once you log in you should see "Itinerary" at the top on left side. Click on that and your shore excursions should be listed under each port. HAL's website is absolutely the worst in the business, sorry you are having so much trouble!

Thank you so much! With your help I’ve figured it out! I knew it would be something easy! 

[Haljo1935]

11 minutes ago, Jensue9 said:

Thank you so much! With your help I’ve figured it out! I knew it would be something easy! 

Glad you found it - yes, HAL website is far from the best. But glad you're here and I hope you continue to ask questions and enjoy your cruise!

[Jensue9]

I see in manage my cruise on HAL website that they offer a coffee type package that includes a $25 coffee card as well as some sort of gift type thing. I was wondering if they offer a coffee card to purchase just on its own? We have decided against getting the drinks package for our 14 day cruise although we enjoy the odd cocktail, wine or g and t we aren’t big drinkers and some days we may not drink at all. But we do enjoy a good coffee. 

[QuattroRomeo]

3 hours ago, Jensue9 said:

type package that includes a $25 coffee card as well as some sort of gift type thing. I was wondering if they offer a coffee card to purchase just on its own? 

In the Manage my Cruise section, under Beverages, look for Beverage Cards. (4th line down under All Beverages).They are basically stored-value cards and with each purchase the money draws down from it, rather than billing to your onboard account. It is not just a card for coffee, it is for any beverage. There is no monetary advantage to using the card. Many people like it though  because it eliminates looking at these small amounts on your daily statement. 

[Jensue9]

Thank you! 

[Jensue9]

Forgive me if this is a silly question but we are sailing on westerdam out of Auckland to Sydney. What currency do I tip in? I don’t mean the normal gratuities I mean things like room service etc. Australian dollars? US dollar? NZ dollars? 

Edited May 25 by Jensue9

[crystalspin]

2 hours ago, Jensue9 said:

Forgive me if this is a silly question but we are sailing on westerdam out of Auckland to Sydney. What currency do I tip in? I don’t mean the normal gratuities I mean things like room service etc. Australian dollars? US dollar? NZ dollars? 

Any "hard" currency is OK! 

[islandwoman]

12 hours ago, Jensue9 said:

Forgive me if this is a silly question but we are sailing on westerdam out of Auckland to Sydney. What currency do I tip in? I don’t mean the normal gratuities I mean things like room service etc. Australian dollars? US dollar? NZ dollars? 

Australians don't tip.  When I was in Australia (several years ago, so things might have changed), service workers told me that they considered tips an insult.  I was told that Australian service workers were paid a living wage.  Also, at that time, cruises out of Australia didn't require or suggest tipping.  You might want to ask customer service what the policy is on your Auckland to Sydney cruise before handing out whatever currency. 

If there are any Australians or Kiwis on this thread, please clarify or correct what I've said.

[0106]

The hardworking crew on HAL ships are not Australian and neither am I.  I will tip the crew in US dollars for extraordinary service even though a “crew appreciation” is charged to my daily bill.  

I was on the Oosterdam in South America in February with many Australians.  Although they told me they don’t tip at home, they were tipping on the ship because the service was excellent and they realized that tips supplemented the wages of the crew.

Edited May 25 by 0106