Where have you been "lurking" about for your prices??? We just got off a 7 day Sea of Cortez cruise onboard the Ryndam....Deluxe outside stateroom....most expensive available...$804.00 TOTAL port charges and taxes included..that works out to $115.00 per day. Our friends sprung for a VERANDAH SUITE for $1154 total... thats $165.00 per day. ...It was one of our most enjoyable and most inexpensive cruises yet. No wonder you always cruise alone... Me thinks that someone is not speaking the truth here.
I took those prices directly off the TRAVELOCITY site. However, I noticed the guaranteed inside is much more expensive than a standard inside, so the guarantee is most likely in error. I apologize for not having caught that obvious error earlier. Using the next inexpensive room, a standard inside for this cruise I come up with 1799.36 plus 98.64 fees for a total of $1879.99 or $190 daily. Whereas, the ELATION was $80 per day. This is SINGLE OCCUPANCY, as I stated before.
This is on the Statendam 10 day Mexican Riviera 1/30/03. As I also said before HAL doesn't give the same break to the single traveler as Carnival does. Incidentally, I've only sailed alone on my last 2 cruises and one of the characteristics of me my friends would list, if asked, would be HONESTY.
As I stated in my earlier post, I only pulled up a search on the Mexican Riviera to draw the financial comparison. This isn't a favorite or year-round haunt of HAL so there was only one cruise with which to make the comparison and because of this, HAL is probably not likely to discount it very heavily. The professional review at the opening of the HAL site on Cruisemates would be enough to keep me off the older HAL ships, even if the price were equitable. Just as Carnival struggles with the "drunks-sleeping-in the-halls" stereotype HAL has to deal with the stereotypes BILLG mentioned.
The initial comments on the new Zuiderdam's first seven day Caribbean cruise have not been very positive. Hopefully, they will get the kinks out before I sail on her in January.
Gary, I guess my complaint with you is that I have with all lurkers, if you don't like Holland then why don't you go to the Carnival board where you so obviously belong. Oh....pardon my niavete, you are here because you are a lurker and love the attention...
You will find that HAL is a more "traditional" approach to modern cruising. These ships say "ocean liner" all over them. I appreciate that more than the Princess idea of cruising which is that of a sailing Turkish Bazar/ continuos sales pitch. That said however.... HAL entertainment and ANYTHING related to the social staff is the major complaint of this line. It seems that the Asian service staff and social staff are not held to the same standards. Social staff members seem so un-polished and ill-at-ease with a decidedly experienced mix of passengers who make up the majority on HAL! HAL needs to make serious overhall in this area. I'd like to hear from my fellow HAL fans on this area? In the end though, Happy Cruising to all!
What ARE you talking about....the social staff of every Holland Ship I have been on have been nothing if not professional, helpful and, above all, friendly. I am at a loss to understand how you can say otherwise.
What can I say? You've found me out. I'm a liar and a lurker that craves attention. ROFL, hardly. I am, however, saddened that you continue to resort to one of the most common logical fallacies in any debate or discussion, the "ad hominem" fallacy. Instead of backing up your choice to cruise HAL with informative and reasoned discourse you continue to use the "personal attack". You would do well to scroll up several posts and reread, particularly the last line, of the post by BillG:
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"It shouldn't be necessary to promote one's favorite line by denigrating other lines or the passengers to whom those lines appeal. When you do so you promote a stereotype of HAL passengers as old and snobby or elitist."
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I started my "lurking" (I have 9 posts to your 10..hmmm) on the HAL boards because I had a genuine interest in the new HAL ship the Zuiderdam. I even considered the STATENDAM because it was sailing to my favorite haunt, the Mexican Riviera. When I discovered the huge price difference, especially for single occupancy, I posted this objection. After having made an adjustment to the pricing of my comparison(for Brad) because of what seemed to be an error on the TRAVELOCITY quote, I still listed the price for single occupancy as my major objection to the STATENDAM at this time($145 per day vs. $80 per day).
I even broadened my comparison to get a more objective understanding of this "obvious" disparity. I took Brad's upcoming cruise on the NOORDAM (a 14 day Caribbean) and since Carnival doesn't have any 14-dayers, selected back-to-back 7 day cruises on the TRIUMPH and then the VICTORY, choosing SINGLE OCCUPANCY for both of these in the least inexpensive cabins. The picture looks a little brighter for HAL ($147 per day for HAL vs. $104 for Carnival)
but in view of other aspects of this comparison I am still looking for the optimum HAL cruise.
I have nothing against aging passengers. One of the most delightful people at my dining table several cruises ago on the ELATION was 83 and had the time of his life as nearly everyone on the ship will attest ! However, I found the line from a post on another board about the Zuiderdam very demographically true, if not hilarious, "Clearly, even on this voyage, 95% of the passengers will be dead in 5 years". This poster, DOCTORGLASER is now being severely thrashed to death by the HAL loyal. . I think this explains HAL's struggle to get a little "tackier"and appeal to a younger less-likely-to-die crowd. Even I had hoped that the Zuiderdam would be a brand new ship with typical HAL embellishments like teak, brass, and more traditional decor. It doesn't strike me as "tacky" however. If you want to see tacky go into the disco on the ELATION.... (I think Mr. Farcus got into the Daniels a little early that day) :-)
Have a great Christmas everyone and please always remember that very few countries allow us to do what we do on these boards. God, I love this country !
I'm glad your pricing for HAL has come closer in price, because of an error on Travelocity site. Yes , their price for a single pax is not as good on HAL vs. other cruise lines. I have been on HAL before and you (most of the time) get better pricing for return pax. My first time on HAL was back in 1976 for our honeymoon. I was 23 then. Both my wife and I loved the true cruise ship style. The warm woods, the art and flowers aboard ship on HAL . We have been on others cruise line since then, but they have been colder, bigger, and too much neon lights. We like the warmer style of HAL. I also like the 900 to 1300 pax size ships on HAL.
HAL is fine. I haven't been on a HAL cruise in too long, though. I think the no tipping required policy is confusing. Some other things are the photos with pirates and the usual cruise junk sold in the shops, but these are all done by Princess and Celebrity as well. I like Celebrity and HAL, catering more to traditional cruising than the do-your-own-thing and find-your-own-restaurant style of some of the other lines. Service and food can be great on both, HAL seems way more consistent based on comments from the boards.
I just cruised on a new Celebrity ship and found it lacking compared to their earlier class of ships. I found a lot of it had to do with the RCI hull it was built on. I have my reservations about the Vista class, hopefully its Carnival-origins aren't as obvious as it is in Celebrity, but I can see some in the dining room's look and feel.
Thankfully, HAL has 4 Statendam, 2 Volendam, and 2 Rotterdam class ships to choose from if the Vista class doesn't do it for me.
I understand completely. I would probably also be enthralled by the HAL ships as I especially like traditional ship decor (teak decks, brass and warm woods).
I'm sure you and your wife are the demographic HAL is looking for.
As previous posters have stated, HAL must get more people in your age group on their ships. And to have them be as loyal as you two are is a fantastic bonus for them, I'm sure.
Our family took a cruise to Alaska on the Amsterdam which is a Holland America line. Our 19 year old daughter was having coffee and one on of the male foreign employees told our daughter that my husband was very ill and he needed to take her to us. She followed him to elevator and he pushed her from hall way onto deck and tried to force himself on her and kiss her. We reported the incident and filled out papers that we were given. We were told he would be fired and would not be allowed to work the rest of cruise which had 2 days remaining. He was working still because we saw him in main dining room so we returned to our rooms and had room service. After arriving in Vancover, we stayed two nights at a hotel across street from ship chanel. The person that had ruined our trip was on the deck of ship as it was leaving for another cruise to Alaska. We pointed at him as he saw us and was laughing. We were lied to and needless to say our cruise was ruined.We will never use Holland American nor recommend it to anyone
On Holland America ships, in the lounges they add a 15% tip to your bill automatically.
I have always tipped my steward and waiter & bus boy, but the tip depends on the service.
I have been on 4 HAL cruises, 5th coming up in June, and I can assure you that they
do affix a 15% tip to every bar bill that you sign for. When you board , you produce a
credit card and are then given (looks like a credit card) a HAL card that you produce
when you purchase anything in the bars or lounges. Check your receipts and you will
see what I mean.
I'm not saying you are wrong. Sailing HAL on 2/2 for the first time. I just know on other message boards longtime HAL cruisers have said there are no tips added on your tab including lounges, because they tip every bar server with cash when they order a drink.
We have been cruising HAL ship since 1976. They have never charged a 15% bar tip on your bill. As of last year cruise ( 4/02) they have not charged any. In 15 days I will find out if the policy has changed at all. I will report back after 2/17/03.
Have 179 days on HAL and have NEVER - Never seen HAL add any tip to any bill, regardless of location and service. Someone must be confused with what Cruise Line they were on.
Re Betty Jan.18'03 - Just pulled out our December '02 bill from our Rotterdam cruise - no mention is made of 15% being added to our bar bills - e.g. Wine Bar - $4.35; Ocean Bar - $9.00; Lido Main Bar - $3.75. We're not heavy drinkers and seldon have more than one drink each before dinner in the Ocean Bar - $9.00 - Wine Bar , probably my glass of wine with diner - Lido Main Bar - a beer with my hamburger or whatever. Crows Nest and Casino Bar reflect the same charges - don't know where you're getting the 15% from.
Browsing, I came up with the following (edited)
"Author:*luci*
Date:***05-09-02 13:51
Overall HAL is a good cruise line, but I prefer the service on Princess and RCCL. It seems to me that the staff work a little bit harder when they know they want tips."
It seems to me that you have it backwards - HAL staff do not expect to be rewarded for good service, it's what they are trained to provide - any gratuity is at your discretion and is greatly appreciated - 99% of the time HAL waitstaff have eraned it. Princess and RCCL, as I understand it, add a gratuity to your bill - why should the staff worry about 'impressing' you?
It's also my understanding that you can have your 'prepaid tip/gratuity' removed from your bill but to me, that's an unnecessary hassle - we much prefer to tip as we choose for the good service provided. We've never left a HAL ship without tipping.
Peaches,Brad and Asctony - you guys snuck in ahead of me - seems we're all in agreement Smile - smile - smile!!!!!!!!!!!!
As a Canadians, that US$4.35 for a glass of wine comes out about CA$6.50 +/- Ordering locally it would be about the same, depending on the restuarant or bar - let's compare apples with apples.
Hal does NOT add 15% to your bar bill. They never have in the past nor do they now. My bar bills from this past Dec did not include any gratuity.
I don't know what "card" you are talking about. Perhaps you have cruise lines mixed up. The only card I ever received on Hal is the cabin key card at check in.
Betty: I have sailed with HAL for 22 years, over 40 cruises and nearly 400 days of sailing. Never, never, in all that time have they added 15% gratuity to any bar bills.
Also, when you check in at the pier, you are given your room key, which is used to also make purchases in the stores. You are not given any kind of a card when you register your credit card at the front desk.
Betty, we were on the Ryndam Dec 14-24 and as a courtesy to you I checked all the bar bills I had saved and not one, NOT ONE, had a surcharge. I am positive that on the other 3 Holland cruises we have been on the same was the norm. And when you board you DO NOT produce a credit card, you do that sometime in the first few days or before you leave the ship at the front desk of the ship. You must be confusing another cruise line with Holland, or you are just another Troll...
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Complaints about HAL
I honestly do not remember the policy on RCCL, Celebrity, and NCL when we cruised on those lines. But I have no recollection of tipping for bar service and we are very good and conscientious tippers, so I think maybe those lines do add a surcharge. Mrs. Barnes must have been confusing HAL with other lines.
I was on the Veendam's New Years cruise and I didn't see it at all. I tipped each server generously once a night for the first drink. Then a bonus on the last night.
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Re: Re: Complaints about HAL
. I think this explains HAL's struggle to get a little "tackier"and appeal to a younger less-likely-to-die crowd. Even I had hoped that the Zuiderdam would be a brand new ship with typical HAL embellishments like teak, brass, and more traditional decor. It doesn't strike me as "tacky" however. If you want to see tacky go into the disco on the ELATION....
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