Crew Gratuities & WiFi Costs

[BlackJack2]

What are the current daily crew gratuities?  What are the current Wi-Fi prices?

 

Are they projected to go up in 2024?

 

Thanks! 

[FlaMariner]

From our TA website:

 

Holland America will automatically add $16.00 per day, per guest to your onboard account ($17.50 per day, per guest for Suites).

[POA1]

Wi-Fi is less expensive if you prepay. It comes out to around $17/day on a week long cruise. The price per day goes down on longer sailings.

[RuthC]

3 hours ago, POA1 said:

Wi-Fi is less expensive if you prepay. It comes out to around $17/day on a week long cruise. The price per day goes down on longer sailings.

I believe that is only for the premium level, though. The surf level can't be pre-purchased. 

[crystalspin]

By the day, Surf and Premium are $30 and $35. "DISCOUNT MAY APPLY FOR LONGER SAILINGS. 7- DAY SURF VOYAGE PRICING BEGINS AT $18 PER DAY AND 7- DAY PREMIUM VOYAGE PRICING BEGINS AT $23 PER DAY. PACKAGES ARE AVAILABLE UP TO 135 DAYS."

 

per https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/onboard-packages/cruise-ship-wifi.html

 

The differences in the levels is at that link, also bullet points with answers to FAQ.

[Crew News]

For my pending 15-day Panama Canal cruise, the onboard purchase of Surf Plan for single devices at a time averages $13.80/day and Premium Plan averages $17.30/day. 

 

Premium Plans purchased on HAL website before sailing average $14.93/day for a single device at a time and for four devices at a time average $23/day.

Edited September 30, 2023 by Crew News

[Red Haired Lady]

I am on the upcoming 48 day cruise on the Noordam. The price for the Premium plan when purchased in advance is $499.99.  About $10/day.  But I purchased a $500 HAL gift card for $450 through AARP to pay for it.  

Edited September 30, 2023 by Red Haired Lady

[IAcruising]

14 minutes ago, Red Haired Lady said:

But I purchased a $500 HAL gift card for $450 through AARP to pay for it.  

 

That's a true Iowa girl, right there. Grinding out $50 on a $10,000+ cruise. I love it.

 

[Red Haired Lady]

6 minutes ago, IAcruising said:

 

That's a true Iowa girl, right there. Grinding out $50 on a $10,000+ cruise. I love it.

 

Saving more than just $50.  Used more of those gift cards to pay for part of the cruise, too.  

[IAcruising]

Just now, Red Haired Lady said:

Saving more than just $50.  Used more of those gift cards to pay for part of the cruise, too.  

 

I have no doubt. 😉

 

[lpmpsail]

We can still purchase internet on board, correct? Would like to use our OBC for purchase. 

[Crew News]

5 hours ago, lpmpsail said:

We can still purchase internet on board, correct? Would like to use our OBC for purchase. 

Yes. 

[POA1]

On 9/29/2023 at 12:39 PM, RuthC said:

I believe that is only for the premium level, though. The surf level can't be pre-purchased. 

That is correct. When I try to purchase wifi in advance, I get Premium for less than Surf.

[Toofarfromthesea]

I wish someone would cite their experience for the cost of upgrading the HIA Surf package to the Stream package.  Particularly on medium length cruises in the 14-20 day range.

 

And does anyone know why some things can be purchased/upgraded pre-cruise while other things have to be done on board?  Like the aforementioned HIA Surf to Stream upgrade?

[gameazel]

7 minutes ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

I wish someone would cite their experience for the cost of upgrading the HIA Surf package to the Stream package.  Particularly on medium length cruises in the 14-20 day range.

 

When we were on the Rotterdam in August for seven nights, it cost $5 per person per day to upgrade from our HIA-included Surf packages to Stream, although it was slightly more expensive if we had upgraded at the start of the cruise (perhaps $40 for seven days, instead of $35?). We tested it out on the final day and were able to videocall each other, if you're interested in the package quality. 

Edited September 30, 2023 by gameazel

[Toofarfromthesea]

2 hours ago, gameazel said:

 

When we were on the Rotterdam in August for seven nights, it cost $5 per person per day to upgrade from our HIA-included Surf packages to Stream, although it was slightly more expensive if we had upgraded at the start of the cruise (perhaps $40 for seven days, instead of $35?). We tested it out on the final day and were able to videocall each other, if you're interested in the package quality. 

 

Excellent, thank you.  I think that I can extrapolate from that to it costing under $100 for a 17 day cruise.  My main reason for wanting to upgrade to Stream is that I'm a YouTube junkie, and I've seen that YouTube is accessible.

[gameazel]

@Toofarfromthesea You're most welcome! Yes, that would make sense. 

[firsttimer1971]

9 hours ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

 

Excellent, thank you.  I think that I can extrapolate from that to it costing under $100 for a 17 day cruise.  My main reason for wanting to upgrade to Stream is that I'm a YouTube junkie, and I've seen that YouTube is accessible.

It might even be less than $100. I e-mailed Ship Services this week regarding an upcoming 31-day cruise in November and asked how much it would be to upgrade from (the HIA included) Surf to Premium and received a reply that it would be $100 per person for the entire cruise. 

[VMax1700]

14 day (in Europe) is currently $50 for 14 day upgrade.  One device.