Drinks on HAL, do they offer soda cards?

JimInBuffalo · #1 (**permalink**) December 14th, 2006, 01:48 PM

A friend is leaving next month for his first cruise on HAL on the Noordam. On previous cruises with NCL they offered "Soda Cards" for those who drink carbonated drinks with a cost of about $40 per week.

Does HAL ships offer anything like this?

What are the prices like for soda, mixed drinks, wine?

thanks,
-jim

Irish Shark · #2 (**permalink**) December 14th, 2006, 01:58 PM

You can purchase a â€œsoda cardâ€? for $18 plus the gratuity for a total of $20.70 that gives you 20 sodas.

Individual sodas are $1.75 + 15%.

JimInBuffalo · #3 (**permalink**) December 14th, 2006, 05:59 PM

Irish Shark: Thanks for the prompt reply. My friend has one more question, does HAL charge extra for using the Spa facilities? I am not referring to the massage and facial-types of services but only the physical area including sauna's, jacuzzi's and exercise rooms.

Irish Shark · #4 (**permalink**) December 14th, 2006, 06:22 PM

"The Greenhouse Spa Pool," with a hydro pool (tiny), and aromatic steam showers cost $15 (even for those booking spa treatments).

The gym is free.

nmnita · #5 (**permalink**) December 14th, 2006, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimInBuffalo

A friend is leaving next month for his first cruise on HAL on the Noordam. On previous cruises with NCL they offered "Soda Cards" for those who drink carbonated drinks with a cost of about $40 per week.

Does HAL ships offer anything like this?

What are the prices like for soda, mixed drinks, wine?

thanks,
-jim

We just got off the Amsterdam: mixed drinks, basic, like marinis made with Absolute, scotch and water, etc: $6.25 plus 15% gratuity. wine, starting at about $7.00 per glass. We brought our own wine on board to drink in our cabin and to have for dinner. They did charge a $15 corkage fee but we still saved money as most wines start at about $30 per bottle plus 15% tip.

NMnita

candbgirl · #6 (**permalink**) December 18th, 2006, 09:47 PM

Can you use the soda card all over the ship? Even in the dining room?

nmnita · #7 (**permalink**) December 19th, 2006, 08:38 AM

i don't know for certain, I do know on some lines you can not. NMnita

Irish Shark · #8 (**permalink**) December 19th, 2006, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by candbgirl

Can you use the soda card all over the ship? Even in the dining room?

I have read some reviews that folks used the card in the resturants. No mention of the dinning room (unless these folks consider the dinning room a resturant.)

candbgirl · #9 (**permalink**) December 19th, 2006, 07:31 PM

That's what I mean. On RCI and Carnival you can't use the soda card in the dining room. (Although a couple of times our waiter let the girls use it.) Thanks for your replies.

DeeDee · #10 (**permalink**) December 20th, 2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by candbgirl

Can you use the soda card all over the ship? Even in the dining room?

As far as I know, yes you can.

Fruitcake · #11 (**permalink**) December 26th, 2006, 12:34 PM

My husband pre-ordered a soda card before our recent cruise. I am not sure how much it cost, but the order form was in our docs, and he faxed it to HAL.
When we got onboard he discovered he'd been given a sticker, not a soda card for 20 sodas. He had unlimited drinks for 10 days! I am not sure how that happened. I thought they'd gotten rid of the stickers.

I think he used it a few times in the dining room, too.