Let us know if you love HAL and why! Also let us know if you have booked with the Have it all package or the new Best deal Ever package! Are you excited about the cruising value you received! We answer all your comments!
HAL was our first cruise only. Sailed NCL, RCCL, & Princess as well. Considering an HAL 21- day now. Have it all no longer includes gratuity. I'm not following your math. In your example a 7-day veranda cost $3048. If I divide that by 7, I get $435 @ nite, not $71. As I'm looking at it the have it all deal practically doubles the cost of the stateroom. Help me out here, please. 🙏
Did the Have It All package. I got it so we could have Perrier and coffees. We don’t even really drink. Three glasses of wine the entire 7 days. They didn’t have the “regular” size, so they gave me the bigger one. They told me it would be included. It wasn’t. We didn’t even come close to using our 15 beverages a day, plus were charged for the larger sized Perrier. Just wanted some decent water. The regular canned water was so bad, I got ill drinking it. I’m picky about water, but it’s why I got the package. Our excursions were canceled. The wifi didn’t really work most of the time, during something that was really critical in my life. The dining was great, but we were charged extra for some things. The next cruise we took, we didn’t get Have It All. My gosh! We saved so much money! I will never ever again get talked into the Have it All.
Someone should have told you about the water restrictions on the have it all package to you. As for the coffees you should have complained to the guest services department especially if you didn’t sign for the charge and explain what the server told you. A hassle, yes. But not a valid charge for you. Without alcohol and poor WiFi, the package is hard to justify.
We have travelled with the Have It All package in the past and 2025 we’ve booked another HAL cruise with the full package when they ran their $1 deposit sale. I like the have it all package as there is no need for me to keep an eye on stateroom charges as the cruise progresses. I do have mobility issues and I find HAL tend to look after me better than other cruise lines. Two quick examples. We did take a Princess cruise two years ago and when I boarded and went to the Lido deck I asked for a soda and i was told I would have to find a server. On HAL if you asked a deck hand for the same thing, he would find a server point you out to them and tell them what you want. That’s what I call service. On our last cruise in May of this year I spent a lot of time on the Lido deck and one of the deck hands seeing my mobility issues would put in my order for me at the Dive In keep the pager then go back and get it for me when it was ready. Talk about getting full service in the self serve area. If your in constant need of wifi then the Have It All package is definitely worth it with all the other stuff a bonus.
I have a casino package which gives me a free outside room on the Nieuw Statendam. I upgraded to a veranda, but because I am solo, had to pay double the upgrade, making it $798. To me, and obviously not everyone, the best thing on a cruise is sitting on my balcony, watching the ocean. I got the "have it all" package for $50 per day or $350. Since it includes $100 in excursions, dinner at the Pinnacle Grill, and wifi, that alone equals about $250. Thus the drink package will cost me $100. I am not a big drinker but if I had one specialty coffee and a glass of wine only, I am already ahead. Adding in each day, some sparkling water, maybe another coffee, and maybe one of those blender drinks by the pool, I am really ahead. My last cruise on Celebrity two months ago, the lower tier drink package was about $75 per day. They have now raised it. Norwegian 's package is now over $100 per day. Spending $100 total for a week is an amazing bargain.
You sound like my wife. She loves a balcony for the exact same reason and if I ever book a non balcony room no matter if it’s in the MSC yacht club, I will hear it. The Have it All promo is an amazing deal and is basically a no brainer. Celebrity and NCL do have packages that do make the drink packages more bearable if booked at the time you make your reservations.
This is such a good explanation on the have it all package. Thanks for that. We’ll certainly have that included in our booking. Another thing that’s not clear for me is when you book a suite, like a Vista, do you get access to this special area where you have breakfast or lunch? Or is this only for the Neptune suites?
Hi Rini, Glad you liked the video. Vista suites is basically like a mini-suite on HAL. Here is a great resource to see what suite amenities you get based on the class of room you booked. www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/suites-staterooms.html
We have an up cruise and purchased the Have it All Package for 28 nights. When we subtract the premium wifi, the crew gratuities, specialty dining and 3 $100 vouchers for tours, it leaves about $15 a day for the premium drink package. My husband who rarely drinks said: “Perfect, two cokes, three waters, a cup of specialty coffee, plus gratuities and I am more than covered.
Super analysis. I learned a lot . I checked but couldn't see if you have done a similar analysis for HAL's Club Orange. If so can you let me know ow where I can find it. If not such a video would be beneficial and appreciated. Thanks
Awsum, I am excited to hear your comments as I have 2 HAL cruises booked and am considering CO. Keep up the great work. I will watch for your video. Another subject that I have never seen anything on which would be of great interest to me and other HAL cruisers who are over 70 is...can we get some detailed info on the type of medical office on-board, is it simply band aids and sea sickness medication or is there a pharmacy stocked with common antibiotics or are there x rays, defibrillators, around the clock nurses etc. Someone told me that they heard the ship's doctor's office is simply bandaids and body bags. Not sure if you have ever made a video on this or if you would be permitted to make such a video. Thanks again.
A good agent is one who fits with your cruising goals and the niche they serve. They should provides exemplary service for no additional fee. They should take the time to understand what your desires and requirements and be always available to you throughout the process. Send me an email so we can talk more. cruise.seakers.usa@gmail.com
There are 5 of us booked on NCL Star next July with the "Free Air Promo" Well the couple and her sister are flying from LAX. The sister is a solo cruiser. The couple is paying $1,750.00 for the BOGO Air. The single is paying $875.00 for her air. So, they are charging the couple double what they are charging the single person. So much for BOGO.
Single supplement is different on every sailing. Sometimes you pay double for one in a room. Sometimes it’s as low as no extra cost(very rare). You can usually see 150% on sailing they are having trouble selling.
The HIA Promo for dining, the number of dining credits you get depends upon the length of the cruise. up to 9 nights you get 1 meal, 10-20 nights 2 meals.
Coke products on HAL. Bar fountain is pretty basic but they do have cans. On Nieuw Statendam this does include the freestyle program. But other ships, it’s pretty basic. Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, sprite, maybe if you can find it Dr Pepper or Root Beer.
Great video! A few questions... I am going with my family of 4. None of us drink alcohol and it will be a 7 night cruise in May. Would it be worth it in your opinion? We just came form a Carnival cruise and got the soda package and felt it was a waste bc it wasn't super easy getting a soda. Also what does the $100 onboard credit do? Like I can us it towards a specialty dining night? Thanks again! Also a night at specialty dining...is that like 1 app, 1 main and 1 dessert per person and is the gratuity package included for that? Also just say I want to go to a specialty dining a second night.. I pay the cover charge but does the gratuity package cover that? Sorry for so many questions! I subscribed to your channel for my long post.
If you don’t drink. It can make it tougher for you to get the most value out of the package. Getting sodas do require you to flag down someone or walking up to a potentially crowded bar. If you enjoy special coffees and teas in the AM and after dinner, the package can get more value. Or even mock tails or bottled waters. You can use the on board credit for a specialty dining night. And yes it usually includes an appetizer an entree and a dessert. They are often lenient about multiple apps and deserts. There will be an additional charge for gratuity if your specialty dining is not included in a package. The gratuity is 20% of the bill. The gratuity package is just for your daily service charges. Not for additional purchases like specialty dining. You basically can use the 100.00 on board credit for anything you want to and spend on the cruise with your cruise card. It’s basically a cabin credit. Use it or loose it.
@@CruiseSeakers Ok great...I definitely like my coffee in the AM. Thanks for your quick reply and answering all of my questions. I truly do appreciate it.
Also, be aware that anything included in the “Have it All” (“HIA”) pkg is for guests, 1 and 2 only, even though you have 4 ppl in your room. You are probably aware of this, but in case you aren’t, I thought I would mention it. You can use your onboard credits to get a soda beverage package ($67 ea) for your kids, or even the Quench pkg ($150 ea). You won’t be able to use the onboard credits until you actually board the ship, so while you can use them for excursions or specialty dining, you can’t book until you’re onboard, which means there may be no availability. Of course, they won’t run out of drink packages, so that is something you can save it for. We also have a family of 4, and we booked the “HIA”pkg because it was still worth it to us, even though we don’t drink alcohol. We can rack it up on daily virgin piña coladas, and virgin margaritas, and specialty coffees, fresh juice, etc., enough to make it worth our while. They do allow you pre-book with the specialty dining and excursion credits, so I would do that if you haven’t already done so. You can also include additional people in your cabin to your “HIA” pkg @$350 per person. However, this does not include everything persons 1 and 2 receive. I didn’t add my kids, so I can’t remember what was excluded.
Going on December 20 to January 6 great value but my wife doesn’t drink alcohol we going to be on the islands 12 days around 6 hours per day is my first cruise do you think is still worth it?
first HAL cruise was in 2014 on Westerdam to ALaska--the destination was great, but the ship was horrible--no WOW factor-- it was dirty, dated-- not impressed with the Pinnacle Grill either-- the salmon was dry and the halibut was mushy. THis summer we are trying to Rotterdam since it's the newest ship-- it has the destination we want- I've watched the reviews on this ship, and HAL has seemed to improve their ship design.
New subscriber and I wanted to say that I'm really liking your videos where you break down this kind of stuff down (appreciated the NCL free airfare video too). There's not a ton of this content out there, or it's buried within other videos you easily miss. We just returned from our first HAL cruise (Alaska). I booked with them because they seemed to offer the best package deal all around. We were mostly happy with it. Many bartenders/drink servers who walk around will accept one card handed to them for you to order a drink for you and your spouse on one card (mainly after they get to know you and I'm sure they believe it's a convenience to us cruisers, so it is appreciated). Just have to be careful of not going over your 15 limit, because your cabin account will then be charged for the additional drinks. We learned our lesson and made sure to hand them both cards or hand them the other person's card for the next drinks - not a big deal, but something to be aware of. Another lesson we learned the hard way with HAL is booking a spa cabin doesn't give you access to the spa itself. They're the only major cruise line to have this protocol and many of us in the spa cabins felt this isn't spelled out clear enough online. You assume they're like all the rest - spa cabins cost more because you are getting access to the spa. Makes sense. I would never book a high deck, forward cabin that's smaller ... and pay more for it ... had I known. Ah well, lesson learned. They wouldn't refund the additional amount we paid and I do realize the onus is on me to know what I'm booking, but the way they handled it did sour my opinion of cruising with them again.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Our goal with this channel is to break things down in very digestible parts that is easily found. Be very specific. Thanks for the tips on the 15 drink limit! Im sure the community will be very appreciative. Also, thanks for the heads up on the HAL spa cabins. Sorry it left a sour taste in your mouth for the line.
You didn't mention two additional on board credits that are applicable, One ($100.00) is applicable if your a if your a veteran, active service member, first responder & i think the 3rd is if your in the education employment field. Second is if you purchase company shares (qty100) gives you additional on board credit.
We just booked the Rotterdam for a July cruise to Norway from Amsterdam. We selected the Have it All package and already paid only half of the deposit. It’s great to get confirmation that we’ve done the right thing. Thanks for your analysis.
@@CruiseSeakers we are not heavy drinkers but like one once in awhile. It gives us each 15 drinks a day of all kinds which includes soda, specialty coffees, beer, wine and mixed drinks.
The HIA each in cabin has to take it. With two people in cabin,each person has to buy it. If just one of them wants it, they cannot . It is both or nothing.
This is a great deal. We have a 7 night coming up and did the Have it All. The package was as extra $400 per person however we got $50 onboard credit, $100 excursion credit , specialty dining and Wi-Fi. I calculated that to come out to over $250 which means the drink package only cost about $150 each.
@@CruiseSeakers at $20 a day it’s not hard to get that in drinks even without alcohol. A specialty coffee, couple of bottles of water and a few soft drinks and you are there.
According to HAL Corporate, and I have verified on several ocasions that You can upgrade to the Elite Beverage package from the signature package by paying the difference between the two. If service charges were included in your "Have it all package" then they also transfer to the upgraded drink package.
Going on 4th HAL for 14 day voyage and got the Have It All packages again. I drink diet coke and wife drinks coffee. So we usually get about 5-6 drinks per person per day. WiFi not so hot. Had to wait to get close to land to send text messages and send emails.
We just booked the HIA Package on our 1st cruise to Alaska next month. I did a lot of research and it certainly seems worth booking. Just not having to worry about that invoice at the end of the cruise and trying to keep track of what we drank, was it included in basic cruise fare or not, will be worth it in itself. But, I will let you know how well it actually is once we return in Sept. This was a last minute decision to book as we just did so last week so can't comment on the early booking offers.
Been with Holland America before, to Alaska. Now we have a Panama canal cruise coming up next year with Holland America and we were offered the Have It All package as an early booking incentive. I've got to say, with the $200 excursion credit, specially dining and drinks package, the cruise gets close to all inclusive and it helps me budget. For us, it's a very good deal.
I am on the HAL Konisdam in April and purchased the Have It All. We tried to upgrade to the Elite package (on Oct 27, 2022) including gratuity surcharge and was told not possible, not available on the 18 day cruise price. I was a little disappointed after watching this video BUT the overall value we are getting in trip, food, entertainment etc for roughly $150 each per day is really loose change! This ship is so much more comprehensive than most other including HAL ships you need 3 weeks on board just to try the individual bars, restaurants etc, plus ship excursions. Try having this quality hotel room, three meals a day plus snacks Plus 15 drinks plus entertainment for under $1000 per day, not possible.
We are going on a 17 night Panama Canal full transit in April, 2023. We have the "Have it all" package. Our travel agent called HAL and they said we can upgrade the drink package from signature to elite, but we could only do it AFTER we boarded the ship. We can't do it pre-cruise. They said they have places set up on the ship where you can do this on the first day. So, there is hope! Check it out when you board the ship!
@@valerie8320 thank you so much. We are now down to counting just the days effort we go on board. We are 3xperienced cruisers but this is our first real break since Covid so we are both super excited and looking forward to 18 days of fun. Thanks again really appreciate your reaching out to me on this. So question....we are being billed each for the daily tipping cost per person on the day we board ship. So does what you pay for elite absorb this cost?
We have cruised Carnival and RC previously. This fall we are going on our first HA cruise (7 day Eastern caribbean), and selected the "have it all" pkg. We originally chose HA because they have a priest on board, and we wanted to go to Mass while cruising. REally looking forward to this cruise in NOvember.
ijust booked a holland alaskian cruise yesterday. been debating on dong the have it all. ty you explained it great and i will be gettingit. main reason i like to have as much paid for ahead of time before the sailing. cuz i like to know the money i bring with me can go for the casino or shippoing
We cruise Holland America often, we are cruising 28 days in September using this Have it All bundled package. Used Have it All on our Mediterranean cruise last year best package on the seas!!!
Your audio is cutting out constantly. Your noise cancellation filter or noise gate is too strong. Some of your words are dropping syllables. Tone down that feature and your dialog will be better. Also you can definitely pronounce sommelier: SO-mel-YAY
If excursions were previously purchased, how do they credit the excursion credit? Do they credit your credit card or just give you an additional credit for excursions purchased onboard?
If you purchase via the cruise planner the pricing should reflect the credit you are entitled to at checkout. If not call HAL or your TA to get the issue resolved.
My wife and I just finished an eleven day cruise with HA and found it difficult to ever use the 30 daily drinks between the two of us. Especially on off ship days at the various port stops. Just fyi.
We are taking first Alaska cruise end of Aug. This will only be my 2nd cruise (1st in 1985 Carnival) and this will be my husbands 1st cruise. Hoping all goes well as we may consider a southern cruise this winter.
@@kari97632 HAL is a completely different experience than Carnival. I give you have a pleasant cruise and if you do, feel free to contact us for a nice warm weather cruise. We always have great cruise deals with great group rates. 18008741847 x1
So looking up carnival on the Celebration for the same date in a similar balcony with the same itinerary 7N, booking smart with the RU2 Cheers for You promo package that grants you the best price to purchase the drinks package, adding in the value wifi package, a dinner at fahrenheit 555, and adding in the gratuities, you are at around 2900.00 about 150.00 cheaper than HAL, but HAL does give each passenger 100.00 shore excursion credit, and 100.00 OBC credit for the cabin. (300,00 in extra value) so value wise, HAL still winds up cheaper than Carnival if you want to travel with the same amenities.
We’ve been cruising HAL exclusively for the past few years. We really like it. We’ve seen part of the world we never thought we’d see! We get HIA for the convenience as much as anything.
I am still a little confused, I bought that package for an up coming cruise, does it include the crews tips or just the drink tips? I was thinking just the tips for the drinks
It depends on when you booked. The have it all basic package includes the drink package and it’s gratuities. If you booked during the best deal ever promo they also combined the have it all package to include the daily gratuities. Check your booking or call your TA or Holland America to see what promo you were booked under. If you were to book today, you get daily gratuities included with the have it all promo under the Best Deal ever promo.
@@martinhughes1342 All Alaska cruises have pretty poor WiFi. Between the geography when in inlets and the satellites in geosynchronous orbit closer to the tropics it makes for a very poor experience.
@@martinhughes1342 very true. We had to learn our lesson to on our first Alaska cruise. Royal Caribbean with Starlink will be better, but only when away from inlets.
We always buy the Have It All. No, we don’t drink fifteen a day but we like the freedom of not even thinking about the price when we do drink. Apparently Wi-Fi has improved and we’ve seldom had a problem with it for the type of usage we do.
I'm in the same boat as you. Will never hit the 15 drinks per day, but that's not what the package is for me. Its for the freedom it gives me to try new things and the freedom of worry about post cruise settlement bills!
I understand total cost is 435 per night for 2. The goal was to se the value of the package price vs a La cart offerings, when you remove the included items which are not part of a base fare. This helps people compare apples to apples. Now mind you, in order to get this value you would need to be a cruiser who normally travels with both a WiFi package and a drink package.
Well you are being ripped off if every adult in cabin no mater if they drink or to has to have the package. That is greed with no thoughts for the Erin who does not drink. Also not one person online here ever talks about what the lines pay for alcohol. They do not pay duty or taxes at all. Let me give you a instance. On Ovation of the seas and their other ships I paid Australian 94 dollars for a particular bottle of wine that coast in Sydney AUD 17.95 per bottle. How do the lines explain that. That AUD 17.95 sin Sydney and the seller has paid duty and taxes and yet the cruise lines getting this bottle for about AUD 1.50 manage to charge AUD 94. Whois ripping who off. By the way all drink originally was fury free for passengers until such as Carnival d=started thing over the cruise lines.
Well it’s called a captive audience. But lines do allow you to bring 2 bottles of your own wine on board to keep in your cabin or bring to your dining. The main reason why lines require both to purchase a package is to prevent sharing. I know. It’s kinda horrible but that’s the reason. It’s also the reason why alcohol in the minibar is not included. On Royal at least, you can call up and have one person purchase the deluxe beverage package (includes alcohol) and the other the refreshment package if one person does not drink. I wish other lines did this, but with promos like the Best deal ever, the cost of the drink package is defrayed enough that it’s almost the same.
@@CruiseSeakers Yes, it really is a captive audience for sure. Incidentally it is not ll lines that allow you to bring two bottles of wine onboard. Tje other thing what is wrong with sharing? There is nothing wrong and everything right with it, but the cruise lines greed for money from anything they can get money from as you say a captive audience. Never ha[[ened before the US Ines such as Carnival, RCCL etc bought up so many cruise lines. Incidentally did you know (as I do not know where you are) that in Australia sales of cruise fares must indue port fees, taxes, and gratuities.
I have to correct you on the $100 for everyone in the cabin. It says that but they don't give it to you. I purchased the Have It All benefit for me and my kids and as it turns out it says $100 per guest but in actuality I have four people in my cabin and it only counts for the two adults. It was misleading so I said to at least two of their people that they need to change the wording. I was also told you can upgrade the drink package but I want to downgrade because I am the only one of the four over 21 on the cruise and I don't drink alcohol. They wouldn't let me do it over the phone or online but they said I might be able to do it on the cruise.
We just learned this also. They have NOT changed the wording. It still says the $100 or $200 "per person" but that isnt true as you said. Its 2 guests per cabin. VERY MISLEADING! I feel totally tricked. Definitely not PER PERSON.
@@CruiseSeakers They did let us downgrade on the ship from two alcoholic to four non-alcoholic packages. They had never done it before so they put stickers on the kids cards. It was very nice of them to do that.
@@badgerdad777 it makes sense to allow a down grade. It cost them nothing and it adds good will to the customer base. I have had clients downgrade on Celebrity recently with no problem.
New subscriber…we leave soon on HAL and have this package…my understanding was if we buy a drink say at $12 then we pay the whole $12. You say we just pay the $1.00 difference. Can you confirm?
@@CruiseSeakers We were just on the ROTTERDAM and you now only pay the difference in pricing over the $11 package drink price. So a $12 drink will only cost you $1 additional.
@@CruiseSeakers Yes the Hotel manager on the ship said they just changed the policy starting with our last cruise October 30 - November 9 on the ROTTERDAM. I would assume the change would be for all the ships.
Thank you so much for the advice. I watched your channel last night for the first time. Afterwards I did some online Holland America shopping. Today I booked a transatlantic cruise on the Rotterdam for next year. I got the “Have it all with bonus deal.” What a bargain!! Thanks you again for spreading the word. 🛳🛟🚢
Let us know if you love HAL and why! Also let us know if you have booked with the Have it all package or the new Best deal Ever package! Are you excited about the cruising value you received! We answer all your comments!
HAL was our first cruise only. Sailed NCL, RCCL, & Princess as well. Considering an HAL 21- day now. Have it all no longer includes gratuity. I'm not following your math. In your example a 7-day veranda cost $3048. If I divide that by 7, I get $435 @ nite, not $71. As I'm looking at it the have it all deal practically doubles the cost of the stateroom. Help me out here, please. 🙏
Did the Have It All package. I got it so we could have Perrier and coffees. We don’t even really drink. Three glasses of wine the entire 7 days. They didn’t have the “regular” size, so they gave me the bigger one. They told me it would be included. It wasn’t. We didn’t even come close to using our 15 beverages a day, plus were charged for the larger sized Perrier. Just wanted some decent water. The regular canned water was so bad, I got ill drinking it. I’m picky about water, but it’s why I got the package.
Our excursions were canceled. The wifi didn’t really work most of the time, during something that was really critical in my life.
The dining was great, but we were charged extra for some things.
The next cruise we took, we didn’t get Have It All. My gosh! We saved so much money! I will never ever again get talked into the Have it All.
Someone should have told you about the water restrictions on the have it all package to you. As for the coffees you should have complained to the guest services department especially if you didn’t sign for the charge and explain what the server told you. A hassle, yes. But not a valid charge for you.
Without alcohol and poor WiFi, the package is hard to justify.
The “Have It All” marketing scheme is just one way HAL executives try to separate you from your money. The smart cruisers don’t bite!🥳😂
We have travelled with the Have It All package in the past and 2025 we’ve booked another HAL cruise with the full package when they ran their $1 deposit sale. I like the have it all package as there is no need for me to keep an eye on stateroom charges as the cruise progresses. I do have mobility issues and I find HAL tend to look after me better than other cruise lines. Two quick examples. We did take a Princess cruise two years ago and when I boarded and went to the Lido deck I asked for a soda and i was told I would have to find a server. On HAL if you asked a deck hand for the same thing, he would find a server point you out to them and tell them what you want. That’s what I call service. On our last cruise in May of this year I spent a lot of time on the Lido deck and one of the deck hands seeing my mobility issues would put in my order for me at the Dive In keep the pager then go back and get it for me when it was ready. Talk about getting full service in the self serve area.
If your in constant need of wifi then the Have It All package is definitely worth it with all the other stuff a bonus.
HAL is a great line. Great service good food. Wonderful musicians.
I have a casino package which gives me a free outside room on the Nieuw Statendam. I upgraded to a veranda, but because I am solo, had to pay double the upgrade, making it $798. To me, and obviously not everyone, the best thing on a cruise is sitting on my balcony, watching the ocean. I got the "have it all" package for $50 per day or $350. Since it includes $100 in excursions, dinner at the Pinnacle Grill, and wifi, that alone equals about $250. Thus the drink package will cost me $100. I am not a big drinker but if I had one specialty coffee and a glass of wine only, I am already ahead. Adding in each day, some sparkling water, maybe another coffee, and maybe one of those blender drinks by the pool, I am really ahead. My last cruise on Celebrity two months ago, the lower tier drink package was about $75 per day. They have now raised it. Norwegian 's package is now over $100 per day. Spending $100 total for a week is an amazing bargain.
You sound like my wife. She loves a balcony for the exact same reason and if I ever book a non balcony room no matter if it’s in the MSC yacht club, I will hear it.
The Have it All promo is an amazing deal and is basically a no brainer. Celebrity and NCL do have packages that do make the drink packages more bearable if booked at the time you make your reservations.
Can also get an onboard credit fom AARP if you are a member.
Awesome tip!
Seasoned HAL cruiser here. Have booked one. Looking at a second one. This is a real good deal.
It’s one of the best offers I have seen in some time.
Love HAL. Looking forward to my have it all cruise on the Rotterdam in January
Enjoy your cruise!
Very informative video. Lots of details. You kind of answered all my questions. Well done!
Glad I was able to help you with your questions! Thank you for the kind words
This is such a good explanation on the have it all package. Thanks for that. We’ll certainly have that included in our booking.
Another thing that’s not clear for me is when you book a suite, like a Vista, do you get access to this special area where you have breakfast or lunch?
Or is this only for the Neptune suites?
Hi Rini, Glad you liked the video. Vista suites is basically like a mini-suite on HAL. Here is a great resource to see what suite amenities you get based on the class of room you booked. www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/suites-staterooms.html
We have an up cruise and purchased the Have it All Package for 28 nights. When we subtract the premium wifi, the crew gratuities, specialty dining and 3 $100 vouchers for tours, it leaves about $15 a day for the premium drink package. My husband who rarely drinks said: “Perfect, two cokes, three waters, a cup of specialty coffee, plus gratuities and I am more than covered.
Yes! The have it all package is a wonderful promo even if you are not a big drinker.
Thank you for the very informative video. I am doing a Have it All in of February 2025.
Enjoy your cruise!
Super analysis. I learned a lot . I checked but couldn't see if you have done a similar analysis for HAL's Club Orange. If so can you let me know ow where I can find it. If not such a video would be beneficial and appreciated. Thanks
I don’t have one but it’s a great idea!
Awsum, I am excited to hear your comments as I have 2 HAL cruises booked and am considering CO. Keep up the great work. I will watch for your video.
Another subject that I have never seen anything on which would be of great interest to me and other HAL cruisers who are over 70 is...can we get some detailed info on the type of medical office on-board, is it simply band aids and sea sickness medication or is there a pharmacy stocked with common antibiotics or are there x rays, defibrillators, around the clock nurses etc. Someone told me that they heard the ship's doctor's office is simply bandaids and body bags. Not sure if you have ever made a video on this or if you would be permitted to make such a video. Thanks again.
I've sailed with them with the drink package and I don't think there's any booze in the cocktails. I had several drinks and didn't feel a thing.
Interesting. I have never had that issue. But I’m a relative light weight when it comes to drinking.
@@CruiseSeakers I wish I was, it would be cheaper!
Great explanation. We are booked for January. Can you confirm…is the 15 drink limit per person?
Yes it’s per person.
I really enjoy your videos. Can you recommend a good cruise travel agent?
A good agent is one who fits with your cruising goals and the niche they serve.
They should provides exemplary service for no additional fee. They should take the time to understand what your desires and requirements and be always available to you throughout the process.
Send me an email so we can talk more. cruise.seakers.usa@gmail.com
Good info, thanks a lot.
Anytime! Thanks for watching!
There are 5 of us booked on NCL Star next July with the "Free Air Promo" Well the couple and her sister are flying from LAX. The sister is a solo cruiser. The couple is paying $1,750.00 for the BOGO Air. The single is paying $875.00 for her air. So, they are charging the couple double what they are charging the single person. So much for BOGO.
Yea.. Its a little bit of a wierd game NCL plays with this promo. Like I said in the video. Do your research our use a good travel advisor.
Just going to upgrade to the Best ever deal.
It’s a great deal. I don’t believe it goes by that name anymore but the holiday deal going on right now is pretty darn good.
Great explanation!
Thanks!
Good info, thanks.
When having a meal at the dining room, with the Have it all package, they will bring us our wine by the glass at the table ?
Yes they will!
@@CruiseSeakers thank you !!
Can you talk about single supplement?
Single supplement is different on every sailing. Sometimes you pay double for one in a room. Sometimes it’s as low as no extra cost(very rare). You can usually see 150% on sailing they are having trouble selling.
what does 9-Day Dining Hia Promo mean ?
The HIA Promo for dining, the number of dining credits you get depends upon the length of the cruise. up to 9 nights you get 1 meal, 10-20 nights 2 meals.
What sodas are available with this package? Would this include the Coke Freestyle on the Nieuw Statendam?
Coke products on HAL. Bar fountain is pretty basic but they do have cans. On Nieuw Statendam this does include the freestyle program. But other ships, it’s pretty basic. Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, sprite, maybe if you can find it Dr Pepper or Root Beer.
Great video! A few questions... I am going with my family of 4. None of us drink alcohol and it will be a 7 night cruise in May. Would it be worth it in your opinion? We just came form a Carnival cruise and got the soda package and felt it was a waste bc it wasn't super easy getting a soda. Also what does the $100 onboard credit do? Like I can us it towards a specialty dining night? Thanks again! Also a night at specialty dining...is that like 1 app, 1 main and 1 dessert per person and is the gratuity package included for that? Also just say I want to go to a specialty dining a second night.. I pay the cover charge but does the gratuity package cover that? Sorry for so many questions! I subscribed to your channel for my long post.
If you don’t drink. It can make it tougher for you to get the most value out of the package. Getting sodas do require you to flag down someone or walking up to a potentially crowded bar.
If you enjoy special coffees and teas in the AM and after dinner, the package can get more value. Or even mock tails or bottled waters.
You can use the on board credit for a specialty dining night. And yes it usually includes an appetizer an entree and a dessert. They are often lenient about multiple apps and deserts.
There will be an additional charge for gratuity if your specialty dining is not included in a package. The gratuity is 20% of the bill.
The gratuity package is just for your daily service charges. Not for additional purchases like specialty dining.
You basically can use the 100.00 on board credit for anything you want to and spend on the cruise with your cruise card. It’s basically a cabin credit. Use it or loose it.
@@CruiseSeakers Ok great...I definitely like my coffee in the AM. Thanks for your quick reply and answering all of my questions. I truly do appreciate it.
@@DarksouIjah Anytime! Enjoy your cruise!
Also, be aware that anything included in the “Have it All” (“HIA”) pkg is for guests, 1 and 2 only, even though you have 4 ppl in your room. You are probably aware of this, but in case you aren’t, I thought I would mention it. You can use your onboard credits to get a soda beverage package ($67 ea) for your kids, or even the Quench pkg ($150 ea). You won’t be able to use the onboard credits until you actually board the ship, so while you can use them for excursions or specialty dining, you can’t book until you’re onboard, which means there may be no availability. Of course, they won’t run out of drink packages, so that is something you can save it for. We also have a family of 4, and we booked the “HIA”pkg because it was still worth it to us, even though we don’t drink alcohol. We can rack it up on daily virgin piña coladas, and virgin margaritas, and specialty coffees, fresh juice, etc., enough to make it worth our while. They do allow you pre-book with the specialty dining and excursion credits, so I would do that if you haven’t already done so.
You can also include additional people in your cabin to your “HIA” pkg @$350 per person. However, this does not include everything persons 1 and 2 receive. I didn’t add my kids, so I can’t remember what was excluded.
@@2ysur2ysib all great additional points!!!
Fantastic
Thanks!
Going on December 20 to January 6 great value but my wife doesn’t drink alcohol we going to be on the islands 12 days around 6 hours per day is my first cruise do you think is still worth it?
Is she a specialty coffee or soda drinker? Mocktails? If so it still might be worth it.
first HAL cruise was in 2014 on Westerdam to ALaska--the destination was great, but the ship was horrible--no WOW factor-- it was dirty, dated-- not impressed with the Pinnacle Grill either-- the salmon was dry and the halibut was mushy. THis summer we are trying to Rotterdam since it's the newest ship-- it has the destination we want- I've watched the reviews on this ship, and HAL has seemed to improve their ship design.
The new ships are quite nice and if you love music, they are very music forward.
The video concept is good, but that's a lot of up close face-time. 😬
I agree. I need to find good places to incorporate more jump cuts to stock footage.
You're voice trails off into a wisper after each sentence, have no idea what you said.
Thanks! I recently fixed my noise gate on the mic causing this.
New subscriber and I wanted to say that I'm really liking your videos where you break down this kind of stuff down (appreciated the NCL free airfare video too). There's not a ton of this content out there, or it's buried within other videos you easily miss. We just returned from our first HAL cruise (Alaska). I booked with them because they seemed to offer the best package deal all around. We were mostly happy with it. Many bartenders/drink servers who walk around will accept one card handed to them for you to order a drink for you and your spouse on one card (mainly after they get to know you and I'm sure they believe it's a convenience to us cruisers, so it is appreciated). Just have to be careful of not going over your 15 limit, because your cabin account will then be charged for the additional drinks. We learned our lesson and made sure to hand them both cards or hand them the other person's card for the next drinks - not a big deal, but something to be aware of. Another lesson we learned the hard way with HAL is booking a spa cabin doesn't give you access to the spa itself. They're the only major cruise line to have this protocol and many of us in the spa cabins felt this isn't spelled out clear enough online. You assume they're like all the rest - spa cabins cost more because you are getting access to the spa. Makes sense. I would never book a high deck, forward cabin that's smaller ... and pay more for it ... had I known. Ah well, lesson learned. They wouldn't refund the additional amount we paid and I do realize the onus is on me to know what I'm booking, but the way they handled it did sour my opinion of cruising with them again.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Our goal with this channel is to break things down in very digestible parts that is easily found. Be very specific.
Thanks for the tips on the 15 drink limit! Im sure the community will be very appreciative.
Also, thanks for the heads up on the HAL spa cabins. Sorry it left a sour taste in your mouth for the line.
if i drank 15 alchoal drinks a day. lets just say i would not reme4mber much of my cruise lol
I never could do 15 in a day.. Just dont have it in me!
Thank you so much for explaining the Holland America promotional package. I finally understand what I will be receiving.
So glad I was able to help!
You didn't mention two additional on board credits that are applicable, One ($100.00) is applicable if your a if your a veteran, active service member, first responder & i think the 3rd is if your in the education employment field. Second is if you purchase company shares (qty100) gives you additional on board credit.
Thanks for pointing this out. Both are great add on benefits.
We just booked the Rotterdam for a July cruise to Norway from Amsterdam. We selected the Have it All package and already paid only half of the deposit. It’s great to get confirmation that we’ve done the right thing. Thanks for your analysis.
It’s a great package if you wish to drink when you cruise.
@@CruiseSeakers we are not heavy drinkers but like one once in awhile. It gives us each 15 drinks a day of all kinds which includes soda, specialty coffees, beer, wine and mixed drinks.
The HIA each in cabin has to take it. With two people in cabin,each person has to buy it. If just one of them wants it, they cannot . It is both or nothing.
Yep. That is pretty industry standard
This is a great deal. We have a 7 night coming up and did the Have it All. The package was as extra $400 per person however we got $50 onboard credit, $100 excursion credit , specialty dining and Wi-Fi. I calculated that to come out to over $250 which means the drink package only cost about $150 each.
It is a great deal! If you love to cruise with a drink package, its one of the best deal around.
@@CruiseSeakers at $20 a day it’s not hard to get that in drinks even without alcohol. A specialty coffee, couple of bottles of water and a few soft drinks and you are there.
@@davva360 So true!
According to HAL Corporate, and I have verified on several ocasions that You can upgrade to the Elite Beverage package from the signature package by paying the difference between the two. If service charges were included in your "Have it all package" then they also transfer to the upgraded drink package.
Awesome comment! That’s for contributing to the community
Going on 4th HAL for 14 day voyage and got the Have It All packages again. I drink diet coke and wife drinks coffee. So we usually get about 5-6 drinks per person per day. WiFi not so hot. Had to wait to get close to land to send text messages and send emails.
Hopefully the testing of starlink on carnival goes well and they can roll it out to HAL.
@@CruiseSeakers Right! The are owned by same company so you would think both lines would upgrade equipment at same time. Thanks for the video
We just booked the HIA Package on our 1st cruise to Alaska next month. I did a lot of research and it certainly seems worth booking. Just not having to worry about that invoice at the end of the cruise and trying to keep track of what we drank, was it included in basic cruise fare or not, will be worth it in itself. But, I will let you know how well it actually is once we return in
Sept. This was a last minute decision to book as we just did so last week so can't comment on the early booking offers.
Enjoy your cruise. I’m sure you will love the freedom HIA gives you.
Great breakdown on the HAL pricing. I’m late to this video but definitely informative!
It’s still a decent breakdown even with some slight changes HAL always does. Thanks for the complement!
Been with Holland America before, to Alaska. Now we have a Panama canal cruise coming up next year with Holland America and we were offered the Have It All package as an early booking incentive. I've got to say, with the $200 excursion credit, specially dining and drinks package, the cruise gets close to all inclusive and it helps me budget. For us, it's a very good deal.
The bundled promos do make the premier lines pricing pretty attractive if you plan on cruising with those extra amenities.
Very informative thank you
Glad it was helpful!
I am on the HAL Konisdam in April and purchased the Have It All. We tried to upgrade to the Elite package (on Oct 27, 2022) including gratuity surcharge and was told not possible, not available on the 18 day cruise price. I was a little disappointed after watching this video BUT the overall value we are getting in trip, food, entertainment etc for roughly $150 each per day is really loose change! This ship is so much more comprehensive than most other including HAL ships you need 3 weeks on board just to try the individual bars, restaurants etc, plus ship excursions. Try having this quality hotel room, three meals a day plus snacks Plus 15 drinks plus entertainment for under $1000 per day, not possible.
Sorry that the longer cruise didn’t give you an option to move to the Elite package. But Koningsdam is a beautiful ship. Enjoy your cruise!
We are going on a 17 night Panama Canal full transit in April, 2023. We have the "Have it all" package. Our travel agent called HAL and they said we can upgrade the drink package from signature to elite, but we could only do it AFTER we boarded the ship. We can't do it pre-cruise. They said they have places set up on the ship where you can do this on the first day. So, there is hope! Check it out when you board the ship!
@@valerie8320 thank you so much. We are now down to counting just the days effort we go on board. We are 3xperienced cruisers but this is our first real break since Covid so we are both super excited and looking forward to 18 days of fun. Thanks again really appreciate your reaching out to me on this. So question....we are being billed each for the daily tipping cost per person on the day we board ship. So does what you pay for elite absorb this cost?
We have cruised Carnival and RC previously. This fall we are going on our first HA cruise (7 day Eastern caribbean), and selected the "have it all" pkg. We originally chose HA because they have a priest on board, and we wanted to go to Mass while cruising. REally looking forward to this cruise in NOvember.
You are going to be impressed with the next level of service and food. Also less crowds.
ijust booked a holland alaskian cruise yesterday. been debating on dong the have it all. ty you explained it great and i will be gettingit. main reason i like to have as much paid for ahead of time before the sailing. cuz i like to know the money i bring with me can go for the casino or shippoing
Its all about the freedom from additional charges!
We cruise Holland America often, we are cruising 28 days in September using this Have it All bundled package. Used Have it All on our Mediterranean cruise last year best package on the seas!!!
Especially for the Early Booking Have it All!
Your audio is cutting out constantly. Your noise cancellation filter or noise gate is too strong. Some of your words are dropping syllables. Tone down that feature and your dialog will be better.
Also you can definitely pronounce sommelier: SO-mel-YAY
Thanks for the points. I’ll check my noise gate. I believe it has been fixed in more recent videos. But I will check again.
If excursions were previously purchased, how do they credit the excursion credit? Do they credit your credit card or just give you an additional credit for excursions purchased onboard?
If you purchase via the cruise planner the pricing should reflect the credit you are entitled to at checkout. If not call HAL or your TA to get the issue resolved.
My wife and I just finished an eleven day cruise with HA and found it difficult to ever use the 30 daily drinks between the two of us. Especially on off ship days at the various port stops. Just fyi.
So true. 15 drinks is a lot.
My 74 day voyage to antarctica is a challenge for the beverage package. I don't drink much alcohol so I'm not sure the value is there.
74 days can make that package very pricy.
Quick Question:
March 2023 Panama Canal partial. Holland or Princess?
I personally prefer Princess. Mainly because they bring on the ship amazingly informative people during the transit of the canal.
We love Holland America!! Been on many Alaskan cruise! Thank you!❤❤
Glad you liked the video!
We are taking first Alaska cruise end of Aug. This will only be my 2nd cruise (1st in 1985 Carnival) and this will be my husbands 1st cruise. Hoping all goes well as we may consider a southern cruise this winter.
@@kari97632 HAL is a completely different experience than Carnival. I give you have a pleasant cruise and if you do, feel free to contact us for a nice warm weather cruise. We always have great cruise deals with great group rates. 18008741847 x1
@@kari97632 going in July , Land and sea. Can't wait!
We go on this cruise in September/October thank you for the information
Enjoy the cruise!
Have loved cruising on HAL since 1973. Just booked Have It All for 2023. Best promotion we have ever seen.
It’s a great promo!
Can you compare to Carnival?
So looking up carnival on the Celebration for the same date in a similar balcony with the same itinerary 7N, booking smart with the RU2 Cheers for You promo package that grants you the best price to purchase the drinks package, adding in the value wifi package, a dinner at fahrenheit 555, and adding in the gratuities, you are at around 2900.00 about 150.00 cheaper than HAL, but HAL does give each passenger 100.00 shore excursion credit, and 100.00 OBC credit for the cabin. (300,00 in extra value) so value wise, HAL still winds up cheaper than Carnival if you want to travel with the same amenities.
@@CruiseSeakers thanks!
Are you considering the other person in the cabin? Or you sailing solo?
When doing price comparisons I do it based on double occupancy. You never know what a given sailings solo supplement is.
We’ve been cruising HAL exclusively for the past few years. We really like it. We’ve seen part of the world we never thought we’d see! We get HIA for the convenience as much as anything.
I really love the HAL itineraries!
@@CruiseSeakers they ARE amazing!
15 drinks per day lol ohhh god.
Yea.. That's a whole lot of drinks!
Great info! Thank you very much for this content.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Is the Thermal Suites pass worth it?
I love the thermal suites on NCL. HAL in not as keen with. Everyone is different. I just don’t use it enough to warrant the purchase.
How much is the gratuity per day per person?
As of February 1st 2023, it’s 16.00 per person per night for non-suite guests and 17.50 per person per night for suite guests.
@@CruiseSeakers thank you! I Also heard you cannot pay for the gratuities with your onboard credit is that correct?
Port fees and taxes included?
When I do a price comparison it’s including port fees and taxes. It’s a total cruise cost comparison.
On Holland's website the " Have it all" says service fees are included. Is that tips or are tips not included? Thanks
Yes. Service fees are the daily charges that would normally be added to your folio. It’s also including the gratuities for your drink package.
I am still a little confused, I bought that package for an up coming cruise, does it include the crews tips or just the drink tips? I was thinking just the tips for the drinks
It depends on when you booked. The have it all basic package includes the drink package and it’s gratuities. If you booked during the best deal ever promo they also combined the have it all package to include the daily gratuities. Check your booking or call your TA or Holland America to see what promo you were booked under. If you were to book today, you get daily gratuities included with the have it all promo under the Best Deal ever promo.
Yes all tips included
And it adds up
$10 drink is 11.80
I always do have it all
Premium juice
Special coffee
On and on
Love HA cruises
Glad you found HA! Everyone has “their” cruise line.
The premium Wifi package sucks. Could not stream at all.
What ship were you on and what itinerary?
@@CruiseSeakers Koningsdam and Alaska.
@@martinhughes1342 All Alaska cruises have pretty poor WiFi. Between the geography when in inlets and the satellites in geosynchronous orbit closer to the tropics it makes for a very poor experience.
@@CruiseSeakers It would be nice if they were to mention that before you sign up and pay for for a weeks worth.
@@martinhughes1342 very true. We had to learn our lesson to on our first Alaska cruise.
Royal Caribbean with Starlink will be better, but only when away from inlets.
We always buy the Have It All. No, we don’t drink fifteen a day but we like the freedom of not even thinking about the price when we do drink. Apparently Wi-Fi has improved and we’ve seldom had a problem with it for the type of usage we do.
I'm in the same boat as you. Will never hit the 15 drinks per day, but that's not what the package is for me. Its for the freedom it gives me to try new things and the freedom of worry about post cruise settlement bills!
Your blowing smoke, you spent $3,048 for a 7-day cruise 3048÷7= 435.42. I don't care how you try to disguise it, that's $435.42 a night.
I understand total cost is 435 per night for 2. The goal was to se the value of the package price vs a La cart offerings, when you remove the included items which are not part of a base fare.
This helps people compare apples to apples.
Now mind you, in order to get this value you would need to be a cruiser who normally travels with both a WiFi package and a drink package.
Well you are being ripped off if every adult in cabin no mater if they drink or to has to have the package. That is greed with no thoughts for the Erin who does not drink. Also not one person online here ever talks about what the lines pay for alcohol. They do not pay duty or taxes at all. Let me give you a instance. On Ovation of the seas and their other ships I paid Australian 94 dollars for a particular bottle of wine that coast in Sydney AUD 17.95 per bottle. How do the lines explain that. That AUD 17.95 sin Sydney and the seller has paid duty and taxes and yet the cruise lines getting this bottle for about AUD 1.50 manage to charge AUD 94. Whois ripping who off. By the way all drink originally was fury free for passengers until such as Carnival d=started thing over the cruise lines.
Well it’s called a captive audience. But lines do allow you to bring 2 bottles of your own wine on board to keep in your cabin or bring to your dining.
The main reason why lines require both to purchase a package is to prevent sharing. I know. It’s kinda horrible but that’s the reason. It’s also the reason why alcohol in the minibar is not included.
On Royal at least, you can call up and have one person purchase the deluxe beverage package (includes alcohol) and the other the refreshment package if one person does not drink. I wish other lines did this, but with promos like the Best deal ever, the cost of the drink package is defrayed enough that it’s almost the same.
@@CruiseSeakers Yes, it really is a captive audience for sure. Incidentally it is not ll lines that allow you to bring two bottles of wine onboard. Tje other thing what is wrong with sharing? There is nothing wrong and everything right with it, but the cruise lines greed for money from anything they can get money from as you say a captive audience. Never ha[[ened before the US Ines such as Carnival, RCCL etc bought up so many cruise lines. Incidentally did you know (as I do not know where you are) that in Australia sales of cruise fares must indue port fees, taxes, and gratuities.
I have to correct you on the $100 for everyone in the cabin. It says that but they don't give it to you. I purchased the Have It All benefit for me and my kids and as it turns out it says $100 per guest but in actuality I have four people in my cabin and it only counts for the two adults. It was misleading so I said to at least two of their people that they need to change the wording. I was also told you can upgrade the drink package but I want to downgrade because I am the only one of the four over 21 on the cruise and I don't drink alcohol. They wouldn't let me do it over the phone or online but they said I might be able to do it on the cruise.
Thanks for the insight. Down grades is something I never heard of.
We just learned this also. They have NOT changed the wording. It still says the $100 or $200 "per person" but that isnt true as you said. Its 2 guests per cabin. VERY MISLEADING! I feel totally tricked. Definitely not PER PERSON.
@@CruiseSeakers They did let us downgrade on the ship from two alcoholic to four non-alcoholic packages. They had never done it before so they put stickers on the kids cards. It was very nice of them to do that.
@@badgerdad777 it makes sense to allow a down grade. It cost them nothing and it adds good will to the customer base. I have had clients downgrade on Celebrity recently with no problem.
New subscriber…we leave soon on HAL and have this package…my understanding was if we buy a drink say at $12 then we pay the whole $12. You say we just pay the $1.00 difference. Can you confirm?
You are correct. I got myself confused with Royal Caribbean’s policy. Thank you for pointing this out.
@@CruiseSeakers We were just on the ROTTERDAM and you now only pay the difference in pricing over the $11 package drink price. So a $12 drink will only cost you $1 additional.
@@TCtubing Amazing! Is this something new? It’s not what I experienced before and I have not seen a change of policy notice issued by the line.
@@CruiseSeakers Yes the Hotel manager on the ship said they just changed the policy starting with our last cruise October 30 - November 9 on the ROTTERDAM. I would assume the change would be for all the ships.
@@TCtubing this is a great change! Thanks for posting it!
Thank you so much for the advice. I watched your channel last night for the first time. Afterwards I did some online Holland America shopping. Today I booked a transatlantic cruise on the Rotterdam for next year. I got the “Have it all with bonus deal.” What a bargain!! Thanks you again for spreading the word. 🛳🛟🚢
Glad you got such a great deal!
If I understand you correctly you are going transatlantic on April 13 2024 - me too. Perhaps we shall meet up.