Recommended Ship-Boarding Time? (and a tipping question)

Karen M Chan wrote in message ...
We're leaving on the HAL 10-Day Southern Carib Seafarer cruise on the
Volendam on Nov. 1 -- yippee!! The documents say embarkation time is
3:00 p.m. (with a 5:00 pm. departure time) -- what's a good time to
arrive at Port Everglades to go through security, etc.? Can we get on
the ship earlier than 3:00?

We'll have arrived in Ft. Lauderdale the night before, so in theory we
could arrive any time, but don't want to waste a lot of time just
sitting around looking at the ship from the outside... we'd rather be
boarded early to look at the ship from the INside!

Also, can someone tell me what's the recommended tipping schedule for
the various people who make our stay comfy and fun, like the room
steward, dinner maitre'd, etc.?

Thanks!
Karen


We like getting to the pier early. Most ships board around noon. If
their tickets say 3pm, I would call HAL up to varify the time,
1-800-426-0329. I would still get there early. Holland America has a
no tipping policy, but you can tip whatever you want if you like. The
average tipping on other lines are approximently the following.
Waiter - 3.50 per person per day
Busboy - 1.75 to 2.00 per person per day
Room steward - 3.50 per person per day

Tipping is not required on any line. It's only to show your
appriciation.

Randi

We will be on this cruise ! Yes we are HAL regulars -live near by.
Boarding is never Quite the same each time --mostly because of security.

We will be on DEC 11th cruise

We've never been on HAL but it sounds like a pain trying to find the waiters
who gave you drinks during the week or carrying money with you in order to
tip on the spot. I suppose it goes along with their "no tipping" policy.

"Ray Goldenberg" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 11:07:55 GMT, "Rich Cacace" richcacace-REMOVE TO
wrote:

I've never been on a cruise where the 15 % tip for drinks was not added
automatically to the total. Do you actually tip cash for each & every
drink? If so, I think your tipping twice for the service.

Hi Rich,

HAL does not collect a 15% gratuity on drinks. I have observed that
most passengers go around the last day and evening and give their
gratuities out to those that have served them on their cruise
vacation. This is what we always do.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

THEY find YOU. No problem!

Eileen

Rich Cacace wrote:
We've never been on HAL but it sounds like a pain trying to find the waiters
who gave you drinks during the week or carrying money with you in order to
tip on the spot. I suppose it goes along with their "no tipping" policy.

I think I'd rather have it added to the bill.

"Eileen Garland" wrote in message
...
THEY find YOU. No problem!

Eileen

Rich Cacace wrote:
We've never been on HAL but it sounds like a pain trying to find the
waiters
who gave you drinks during the week or carrying money with you in order
to
tip on the spot. I suppose it goes along with their "no tipping"
policy.

That is what I do since I don't frequent one lounge. You aren't tipping
twice since the tip is not included in the bill. It's like tipping the
waiter in a bar at home.



I've never been on a cruise where the 15 % tip for drinks was not added
automatically to the total. Do you actually tip cash for each & every
drink? If so, I think your tipping twice for the service.

"Odysseus" wrote in message
news:NAFkb.832563$uu5.145976@sccrnsc04...


Tip the same as you would on any other mass market line. You will need
to carry cash for drink servers because you can't add the tip to your
bill.

I would like it if HAL would let me add a tip into the bill. It would make
things a lot easier. I like HAL. It's my favorite mass market line. But this
is one policy I wish they would alter.

Let me reiterate for the ump-teenth time. HAL does not have a "no tipping'
policy. It's "no tipping required."

We've never been on HAL but it sounds like a pain trying to find the waiters
who gave you drinks during the week or carrying money with you in order to
tip on the spot. I suppose it goes along with their "no tipping" policy.

"Ray Goldenberg" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 11:07:55 GMT, "Rich Cacace" richcacace-REMOVE TO
wrote:

I've never been on a cruise where the 15 % tip for drinks was not added
automatically to the total. Do you actually tip cash for each & every
drink? If so, I think your tipping twice for the service.

Hi Rich,

HAL does not collect a 15% gratuity on drinks. I have observed that
most passengers go around the last day and evening and give their
gratuities out to those that have served them on their cruise
vacation. This is what we always do.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

HAL has changed their boarding at FLL. Now you can board starting at 11:30,
but may not be able to get into your room until 1.

Mark T.
"Ron C" wrote in message
om...
When we went on the Volendam last Spring we arrived about 11:30 and
had a considerable wait.Plus they didn't have enough seating so we had
to stand. It was long enough that our luggage made it to the room
before we did. I would wait until 1:00 or later if you mind waiting.

Ron

Odysseus wrote in message
news:NAFkb.832563$uu5.145976@sccrnsc04...

We'll have arrived in Ft. Lauderdale the night before, so in theory we
could arrive any time, but don't want to waste a lot of time just
sitting around looking at the ship from the outside... we'd rather be
boarded early to look at the ship from the INside!

My experience has been that if you arrive between 11:00 and 11:30 AM,
you
don't have much of a wait to board.

Also, can someone tell me what's the recommended tipping schedule for
the various people who make our stay comfy and fun, like the room
steward, dinner maitre'd, etc.?


Tip the same as you would on any other mass market line. You will need
to carry cash for drink servers because you can't add the tip to your
bill.

Ah, not so, grasshopper. The people on HAL don't ever tag along after you
looking for a handout on the last night. Nice attitude to end the cruise.

Mark T.
"Eileen Garland" wrote in message
...
THEY find YOU. No problem!

Eileen

Rich Cacace wrote:
We've never been on HAL but it sounds like a pain trying to find the
waiters
who gave you drinks during the week or carrying money with you in order
to
tip on the spot. I suppose it goes along with their "no tipping"
policy.