Do wine and internet packages vary from ship to ship?

[Tampa Girl]

I just tried finding what wine packages would be available on our December 16, 2019 SA/Antarctica cruise - and came up with nothing, nada, zilch.  As for the internet packages, only the premium package was available.  I thought that these packages were fairly standard throughout the fleet, but no?  But not even one wine package?  Or do they wait until after final payment?  

[kazu]

1 hour ago, Tampa Girl said:

I just tried finding what wine packages would be available on our December 16, 2019 SA/Antarctica cruise - and came up with nothing, nada, zilch.  As for the internet packages, only the premium package was available.  I thought that these packages were fairly standard throughout the fleet, but no?  But not even one wine package?  Or do they wait until after final payment?  

 

 

The internet packages are consistent throughout the fleet from what I have seen.  They are all unlimited with 3 packages available.  

 

Only the premium is available to book on line in advance.  I’d wait until you are on board to book your package and choose the one that is best for you.  I haven’t had good luck with the premium.

 

The wine packages are the same but the availability of wines may vary.  Again, I’d wait until I am on board and see what is available in each package before choosing 😉 

 

If you want to prepay, just buy some OBC and then you are free to do what you want on board 😉 

[3rdGenCunarder]

I agree with Jacqui on the wine. They do sometimes run out of something on the list and make a substitution. I like to check to see what they actually have available before I choose a package.

 

Listing the internet  package on the website is fairly new. Perhaps listing only one is just another part of the website being stupid. Or perhaps HAL is hoping people will buy that package thinking it's the only one available. 

 

[Mary229]

 the whole fleet has the same internet packages available. There was a time during the technology upgrades they varied ship to ship.  When you get onboard you can open your device to the navigator page (free) and buy all the packages and shore excursions.   It is quick and easy 

[Tampa Girl]

Thank you all for the replies.  But I still wonder why I don't see any wine packages listed under "Indulgences."  Am I looking in the wrong place or is it that we are 7 months out from sailing?

[crystalspin]

Don't know why wine is not showing. Have never bought one, but I have seen them and have even priced the offerings on TotalWine's website. Don't recall how far in advance I was researching, though.

 

As far as internet -- a few months before our recent Zuiderdam TAtl, I'll say in January for an April sailing, I happened on some kind of flash sale on the Premium package on the HAL website. Again I don't remember if the Social and Surf plans were also on sale, as we needed the premium for my husband's work. It was on sale for US$199.99 instead of $249.99. I snapped it up.

 

The funny thing was, on the invoice produced on the ship, it showed a price AND a pre-payment of $249.99! It was like they didn't want to put the sale price in print, haha.

 

So just keep watching.

[catl331]

7 hours ago, Tampa Girl said:

But I still wonder why I don't see any wine packages listed under "Indulgences."  Am I looking in the wrong place or is it that we are 7 months out from sailing?

Isn't there a separate section called "packages"? (I don't have a booking right now and can't look.)

[shrimpboat123]

8 hours ago, Tampa Girl said:

Thank you all for the replies.  But I still wonder why I don't see any wine packages listed under "Indulgences."  Am I looking in the wrong place or is it that we are 7 months out from sailing?

 

Once you are logged in, click on Already Booked, Manage My Booking, Purchase Beverages, Wine Packages.

 

I found 11 package offerings for my cruise.

 

[TAD2005]

Buy the internet onboard and use your HAL provided OBC.   If you buy it online, you use your own cash.

[Begete]

I assume that OBC means on board credit? If so, how does one acquire them?

[Moriah]

6 minutes ago, Begete said:

I assume that OBC means on board credit? If so, how does one acquire them?

 

You can purchase OBC online with HAL before your cruise.  It will be charged to your credit card at the point of purchase, and will show up as credit on your onboard statement.  I like to do this to "prepay" for anything I will be purchasing on board like drinks - I don't get a package since I drink no more than one or two a day - and I limit myself in the casino to what I have in my account.  

Edited May 16, 2019 by Moriah

[Moriah]

7 minutes ago, Begete said:

I assume that OBC means on board credit? If so, how does one acquire them?

 

Of course, you might also acquire free OBC by booking under a promotion that includes some, or getting some from your TA as a perk that they offer...  

[Begete]

Thank you, Moriah. I am having some difficulty navigating the Holland America website. I did find the answer to Tampa Girl’s question, because when I went to “already booked” there was a tab for at least 50 different beverage packages.

 

What I cannot find, and hoping someone can help me, is a list of what kinds of things are included in the price of your cruise and what things require additional payment. For example, on our upcoming cruise, we have many days at sea. Is there a self service laundry? or must one pay to have laundry done? This is particularly important to me as I am allergic to fabric softener and scented detergents, so would prefer to do my own, regardless of cost.

 

I am also not much of a drinker, and cannot figure out if my favorite beverage, iced tea, is available free of charge. Is non carbonated water free? in containers one may take on excursions? Can one simply purchase a bottle of wine and use it over several days? May one drink the free bottle one is allowed to bring on board in the dining room, or only in one’s stateroom? What is available via room service? Is room service available at all hours?

 

Are there bridge games on board?

 

If anyone can provide some insight into how to better navigate the website it would be much appreciated.

[Moriah]

12 minutes ago, Begete said:

Thank you, Moriah. I am having some difficulty navigating the Holland America website. I did find the answer to Tampa Girl’s question, because when I went to “already booked” there was a tab for at least 50 different beverage packages.

 

What I cannot find, and hoping someone can help me, is a list of what kinds of things are included in the price of your cruise and what things require additional payment. For example, on our upcoming cruise, we have many days at sea. Is there a self service laundry? or must one pay to have laundry done? This is particularly important to me as I am allergic to fabric softener and scented detergents, so would prefer to do my own, regardless of cost.

 

I am also not much of a drinker, and cannot figure out if my favorite beverage, iced tea, is available free of charge. Is non carbonated water free? in containers one may take on excursions? Can one simply purchase a bottle of wine and use it over several days? May one drink the free bottle one is allowed to bring on board in the dining room, or only in one’s stateroom? What is available via room service? Is room service available at all hours?

 

Are there bridge games on board?

 

If anyone can provide some insight into how to better navigate the website it would be much appreciated.

 

I'm not sure there is a specific place on the website that answers all these questions in one place.  Please tell us which ship you will be on.  Self Service laundry is only available on Amsterdam and Maasdam, if I'm not mistaken.  All ships (including those two) have laundry service you can pay for.  You can stuff a bag, making it quite affordable, and sometimes there are deals - you can also purchase unlimited laundry service - this includes pressing and dry cleaning - the price depends on your length of cruise. As for detergent allergy, that's a tough one. i do not believe the ship's laundry uses fabric softener, but I'm not entirely sure.. the laundry is not highly scented when it comes back, which is good, but I don't know for sure if the detergent they use is hypoallergenic. 

 

Iced tea is indeed available free of charge.  It is unsweetened.

 

Still water is also freely available. If you want a container, bring one on board, or buy one plastic bottle of water and reuse it. The ship's water is good quality and you can refill your bottle in the Lido (or even in your bathroom sink - really anywhere)

 

The water, as said, is good quality, so unless for some reason you insist on drinking only bottled water, you are okay in the dining room, and of course you can drink your own water anywhere on the ship. 

 

If you have wine left over from a bottle you purchase in the MDR, your waiter can have it saved for you for the next day.

 

The room service menu is quiet extensive and there is always something available 24 hours that is for no charge.  Recently there have been changes making some items chargeable.  There will be a menu that explains all this in your stateroom.

 

I am not a bridge player but I believe I have seen mention of bridge... will leave that question for someone else!

 

As for navigating the website - sigh... yeah.  You are probably doing as well as any of us! It's not the best site...

Hope this is helpful!

 

Edited May 16, 2019 by Moriah

[Tampa Girl]

18 hours ago, catl331 said:

Isn't there a separate section called "packages"? (I don't have a booking right now and can't look.)

 

There is, but no wine package.  I have done everything suggested  "Already Booked", Manage Your Bookings; Indulgences; and Packages.  No wine.  I have to assume that they have not gotten around to listing them.  

[Begete]

Tampa girl.....if there is a way for us to communicate via email, I would be happy to go back to the HA site and tell you, or email you a ULR, on the various beverage packages.....There were MANY wine packages, even single bottle offers! and we are on the same ship, slightly different voyage, yours right after mine.

 

OK, Here is how you find it, Tampa Girl. Go to the HA website, then Already Booked, then Manage My Booking. You will be asked for your email address and password. When you put that in,  it should say “Welcome and your name”.  There may be a necessity to go to something called “Before you go.” or the Before you Go screen may just show up. Then, down the left side of your screen, there is a list of things to do, before you go. One of them is “Beverage packages”

 

Let me know if this worked. It is a really long list of beverage packages, and towards the end are wine and champagne packages. They even have beer packages!

Edited May 16, 2019 by Begete
elaborating

[Tampa Girl]

4 hours ago, Begete said:

Tampa girl.....if there is a way for us to communicate via email, I would be happy to go back to the HA site and tell you, or email you a ULR, on the various beverage packages.....There were MANY wine packages, even single bottle offers! and we are on the same ship, slightly different voyage, yours right after mine.

 

OK, Here is how you find it, Tampa Girl. Go to the HA website, then Already Booked, then Manage My Booking. You will be asked for your email address and password. When you put that in,  it should say “Welcome and your name”.  There may be a necessity to go to something called “Before you go.” or the Before you Go screen may just show up. Then, down the left side of your screen, there is a list of things to do, before you go. One of them is “Beverage packages”

 

Let me know if this worked. It is a really long list of beverage packages, and towards the end are wine and champagne packages. They even have beer packages!

 

Finally found it - thank you!  It was not under either Indulgences or Packages.  However, finally I scrolled all the way down and found it under Purchase Beverages.  Now . . . I can't get back to HAL's home page but when I type in hollandamerica.com, the only thing that comes up is an ad for "EARLY BOOKING".  This website is going to drive me into the nut house!

[SilvertoGold]

Be careful about the wine packages.  Noordam,  Australia to Vancouver, there were two wine list making the rounds, only one of which was the one being used for this particular cruise.  The other was the Australian one for the previous cruises around Australia/NZ.  It was discontinued after a couple of days.

[TAD2005]

8 hours ago, Moriah said:

 

Of course, you might also acquire free OBC by booking under a promotion that includes some, or getting some from your TA as a perk that they offer...  

There are 2 different types of OBC  (onboard credit).   One type is what you purchase online with your own money, before the cruise and any that your travel agent may purchase for you.  Those credits are like cash in the bank, (HAL's bank) and you can use it for anything onboard, including casino.  If you don't use it all, it is refunded at the end of the cruise, or credited back to your credit card.

The other kind is HAL provided promotional OBC.  The free stuff.  HAL uses it as an incentive and it shows up on your account.  It can be used for almost everything onboard, like shore excursions, beverages and beverage packages, specialty dinners, Spa treatments, internet packages, hotel service charge, etc.  You cannot use HAL provided free OBC in the casino or for cash advances at the front desk.   It is strictly "use it or lose it".  If you don't use it all up, it is gone when you disembark.

One note.... If you decide to use your OBC (from any source) to purchase the Signature Beverage Package (SBP) while onboard, you will pay $10 plus 15% extra per day/per person.   The online cost is $44.95 per day, the onboard cost is $54.95 per day (recent change) and HAL doesn't differentiate where the OBC came from.  You will pay the extra $10 per day penalty, even if you have loaded up your account with your own money.   So, unless you have a huge amount of OBC from HAL, it's always cheaper to buy the SBP online, at least 4 days before your cruise.  This price differential does not apply to the Elite Beverage Package.  It is the same price ($59.95 per day plus 15%) if you buy it online or onboard.

[Judyrem]

On 5/16/2019 at 4:43 PM, Tampa Girl said:

 

Finally found it - thank you!  It was not under either Indulgences or Packages.  However, finally I scrolled all the way down and found it under Purchase Beverages.  Now . . . I can't get back to HAL's home page but when I type in hollandamerica.com, the only thing that comes up is an ad for "EARLY BOOKING".  This website is going to drive me into the nut house!

Welcome to the club! 😜  One of the worst web sites ever.