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

[jonfrankell]

Your flight costs aren't HAL's responsibility, though, are they? As to the cabin fare - it can't hurt to ask, but I wouldn't expect anything to come of it.

 

Thank you dakrewser for taking the time to answer my query. Jo

[IRL_Joanie]

Wonderful! Thank you Joanie:D Your RogerJett photos have been very helpful, too!

 

I told hubby, aka Crew News/Roger Jett what you said and he says "Why Thank You Ma'am:)

 

Joanie

[Sphynxie]

:)Joanie,

 

For weeks I've had a separate window open on my work computer that always displays your (food) menus page. When stressed or overworked, I click on one of them and dream of what I would choose to eat if I was on a cruise today. :)

 

You two have made my travail tolerable before I hop aboard in May! Thank you!

[Crew News]

:)Joanie,

 

For weeks I've had a separate window open on my work computer that always displays your (food) menus page. When stressed or overworked, I click on one of them and dream of what I would choose to eat if I was on a cruise today. :)

 

You two have made my travail tolerable before I hop aboard in May! Thank you!

 

Here is a picture of the Strawberry Pavlova served in the HAL Pinnacle Grill for really stressful days:

 

 

Make sure you stop by the Chocolate Seduction on Deck 3 just forward of the Shops for a chocolate fix. There are only a few tables so you just might bypass it unless you are looking for it.

Edited April 12, 2016 by Crew News

[JimAOk1945]

We will be on our first HAL cruise in August. I have read and re-read this thread and it still amazes me how thoughtful and caring people can be in posting so many helpful tips to help us HAL newbies prepare for our upcoming cruise.

 

I just want to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to this very helpful and informative thread.

[Lizzie68]

We will be on our first HAL cruise in August. I have read and re-read this thread and it still amazes me how thoughtful and caring people can be in posting so many helpful tips to help us HAL newbies prepare for our upcoming cruise.

 

I just want to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to this very helpful and informative thread.

 

Ahh, that's very nice. In general, the people on here are very helpful.

[Sphynxie]

Wow! Now I know wonder whether they named that gorgeous dessert after a ballerina or those Pavlovian drooling-for-dinner experiments. ;)

 

Thank you for that amazing photograph. Looks like I'm making Strawberry Pavlova now for tonight's dessert! I hope it turns out even half as delectable.

[Jillbus]

This is a fantastic thread! Thank you to everyone for providing such great insight!

 

We are sailing on the Westerdam to Alaska in June for our honeymoon.

 

I have cruised Carnival once and my fiance and I have sailed RCCL 4 times. We are excited to try HAL!

 

Does anyone know if the Westerdam as either a pub or wine bar?

 

Also did I understand it correctly that HAL and Carnival are somehow related when it comes to cruise points?

 

Anyone have any other interesting tips about the Westerdam?

 

Thanks!!!

[RuthC]

Also did I understand it correctly that HAL and Carnival are somehow related when it comes to cruise points?

Holland America and Carnival are two of several cruise lines owned by Carnival Corporation. As such they are sister lines (along with the others). Carnival Corporation has a policy that once you have sailed on one of their lines, you are considered a repeater on the other lines. This does not extend to counting the days sailed on the other lines, though. The "repeater" really doesn't get you much status.

 

If you have already sailed on one of the other Carnival Corporation lines, you need to make HAL aware of that. You will then board with one star status, which will get you an invitation to the Mariner's Brunch and a commemorative tile.

 

Welcome to Holland America. Have a great time in The Great Land! Alaska is special.

[Jillbus]

Holland America and Carnival are two of several cruise lines owned by Carnival Corporation. As such they are sister lines (along with the others). Carnival Corporation has a policy that once you have sailed on one of their lines, you are considered a repeater on the other lines. This does not extend to counting the days sailed on the other lines, though. The "repeater" really doesn't get you much status.

 

If you have already sailed on one of the other Carnival Corporation lines, you need to make HAL aware of that. You will then board with one star status, which will get you an invitation to the Mariner's Brunch and a commemorative tile.

 

Welcome to Holland America. Have a great time in The Great Land! Alaska is special.

 

Thanks for the insight!

[Crew News]

This is a fantastic thread! Thank you to everyone for providing such great insight!

 

We are sailing on the Westerdam to Alaska in June for our honeymoon.

 

Does anyone know if the Westerdam as either a pub or wine bar?

 

Anyone have any other interesting tips about the Westerdam?

 

Thanks!!!

 

Welcome to HAL. Congratulations on your your impending honeymoon. You will love the Westerdam and especially Alaska.

 

There are a number of bars but none called pubs or specializing in wine.

 

Here is a link to my photographic tour of the Westerdam so that you cn locate the bars:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/photo-reviews/ms-westerdam-tour/

 

Here are scanned copies of the On Locations (daily activities) for our Westerdam cruise to Alaska in 2014 that will show typical daily things to do as well as bar specials:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/photo-reviews/alaska-ms-westerdam-location-daily-activities-2014/

 

Make sure you join your roll call and feel free to keep asking questions.

[planmaker]

After reading this thread I'm off to buy Carnival stock among other things. Great info! My question has been partially answered already but I wanted to be super sure. We have a 9:30 excursion at the end of our Alaskan cruise and I'm worried about getting off the ship in time. If I do self assist with the luggage about how long after docking can I get off? Also is there a service to get our luggage on the railroad from the ship for transfer to Anchorage?

[Btimmer]

After reading this thread I'm off to buy Carnival stock among other things. Great info! My question has been partially answered already but I wanted to be super sure. We have a 9:30 excursion at the end of our Alaskan cruise and I'm worried about getting off the ship in time. If I do self assist with the luggage about how long after docking can I get off? Also is there a service to get our luggage on the railroad from the ship for transfer to Anchorage?

 

During the cruise you will receive information about disembarkation schedules and you can specify that you need early disembarkation. Self assist will really help. I can't help with whether a 9:30 excursion will work as I don't know when the ship docks and don't know about luggage transfer service.

 

You'll love the Alaska cruise!!

[planmaker]

Thank you. I believe the ship is supposed to dock at 7. I would ask others on my cruise, but we have no roll call😔 June 5 th from Vancouver on the Zaandam in case there are any of you out there.

[Crew News]

After reading this thread I'm off to buy Carnival stock among other things. Great info! My question has been partially answered already but I wanted to be super sure. We have a 9:30 excursion at the end of our Alaskan cruise and I'm worried about getting off the ship in time. If I do self assist with the luggage about how long after docking can I get off? Also is there a service to get our luggage on the railroad from the ship for transfer to Anchorage?

 

If your excursion is through HAL and ship disembarkation is delayed (medical evacuation, late arrival, etc.), the excursion will know to wait for you.

[RuthC]

We have a 9:30 excursion at the end of our Alaskan cruise and I'm worried about getting off the ship in time. If I do self assist with the luggage about how long after docking can I get off?

Is your shore excursion with HAL, or private? Makes a difference.

 

If it's a HAL excursion, then you will be given a disembarkation time with the others on your tour, so that you can disembark (reasonably) together, and board your busses. HAL will deal with your luggage.

 

If it's a private excursion, and your guide is meeting you at the dick, then a disembarkation time of 8:00 AM should be more than enough time. Self-disembarkation is not necessary, although it would work.

 

If you are disembarking in Seward, know that times in that port are very, very early.

[sailorgirl]

Great thread but I can't go through 58 pages. So can anyone tell me about the Internet policy (costs?) on their ships. Is there any unlimited [ackage you can purchase? Thanks!

[planmaker]

I booked directly with Exit Glaciar Guides. Yes it is Seward. I spoke with this tour company and they are willing to store my luggage for the day before we catch the train. I was just curious about luggage transport because Hal offers it for the airlines and it would be nice. I feel pretty good about getting off the ship in time as long as everything goes well. I just know that if the ship is late for some reason we'll just have to get over it. I really want to hike a glacier so I rather risk not making it rather than not scheduling it at all. The next time slot runs into the railroad schedule because its a 6+ hour hike.

[RuthC]

I booked directly with Exit Glaciar Guides. Yes it is Seward. I spoke with this tour company and they are willing to store my luggage for the day before we catch the train.

Luggage problem solved.

When you get the disembarkation arrangements form fairly early in the cruise, take note of the arrival and disembarkation times. Then decide what works better---self disembarkation or a later time---based on when disembarkation is scheduled to start. As I posted, it's very, very early in Seward.

[vivAtornado]

I have never had this problem before, but i can't quite decode my express docs regarding boarding time. 4pm is scheduled for sail away. i am reading in my docs that 1 is the right time? in another place it looks like 10. i really can't tell. can anyone help me translate!?? I've never had this problem before, its a little embarrassing!

 

also - the whole boarding process is pretty terrible, and on my last cruise (which happened to be carnival) i was able to purchase pre boarding and it was amazing. we were on board by 11am. is this something available to HAL?

 

thanks :)

[mllewis48]

I have never had this problem before, but i can't quite decode my express docs regarding boarding time. 4pm is scheduled for sail away. i am reading in my docs that 1 is the right time? in another place it looks like 10. i really can't tell. can anyone help me translate!?? I've never had this problem before, its a little embarrassing!

 

 

 

also - the whole boarding process is pretty terrible, and on my last cruise (which happened to be carnival) i was able to purchase pre boarding and it was amazing. we were on board by 11am. is this something available to HAL?

 

 

 

thanks :)

 

 

 

Depending on your departure port we usually get the the pier around 11:30 and boarding starts around noon. If you're are not 4 or 5 star or in a Suite you get a number for boarding. In Ft Lauderdale it goes pretty smooth, we usually get onboard shortly after noon and go straight to the cabin.

 

Good luck

Edited April 16, 2016 by mllewis48

[planmaker]

Thank you!

[Kathyfromstl]

Can I ask a question about your comment on boarding? When you mention Suite does that include Signature Suite? Do they board differently?

[mllewis48]

Can I ask a question about your comment on boarding? When you mention Suite does that include Signature Suite? Do they board differently?

 

 

 

Only Neptune and Pinnacle plus 4 and 5 * Mariners use a separate line to board.

[Crew News]

I can only speak for the ports from which we have embarked (Fort Lauderdale, Seattle, San Diego, and Vancouver) and relate our experience.

 

HAL changed the stateroom readiness policy a few years ago and now all staterooms are normally ready for occupancy when boarding starts. With a very few exceptions, there is a standard 11:30 AM embarkation time at the ports of Fort Lauderdale, Vancouver, and Seattle.

 

Our Hotel Manager explained during a recent cruise that the terminals may not begin to accept passenger processing through Security screening until all disembarking passengers have left the ship. The goal is to have the ship cleared ("zeroed out") by 10:00 AM. There are many stories of passengers lingering and thus delaying opening the terminal to new passengers.

 

We usually see the terminal doors open for Security screening between 10:15 and 10:30 AM. Because the ship's greeting staff needs to be at the head of the gangway to direct embarking passengers, ship's Captains allow boarding to start at the stroke of 11:30 AM

 

Pinnacle Suite guests are escorted to their stateroom before the 11:30 AM time followed by handicapped passengers and those traveling with them at 11:30 AM. Neptune Suites and 4/5 Star Mariners follow with general boarding being called by the numbered groups based on check-in times.

 

My best guess is that if you are in line when the terminal doors open for Security processing, you will be in your stateroom by 12:00 PM. Talking with fellow passengers, I learned that the ideal "no-waiting" arrival time at the terminal is 12:30 PM as most Express Docs say to arrive at 1:00 PM.

 

Sometimes the process is thrown a curve when the ship arrives late, medical evacuations, computer issues, Code Red cleaning of the ship, etc. happen.