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

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'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.

We're leaving on the HAL 10-Day Southern Carib Seafarer cruise on the
Volendam on Nov. 1 -- yippee!!

I agree, yippee! I'll be on board also. Is this your first HAL cruise?

Were you asking about tipping in general or HAL specifically?

FYI, if you have not cruised through Port Everglades recently be sure to have
your photo ID handy as you enter the port. They stop all vehicles and want to
see ID for everyone.

13 more sleeps--
Susan
Last: Jubilee 5/8/03 W. Caribbean
Next: Volendam 11/1/03
To read about our ballooning adventures go to www.rubberduckie.com

I'm glad port security is keeping us safe that way. We all know that
terrorists don't have photo IDs, or if they do, it clearly has terrorist
written on the ID.



FYI, if you have not cruised through Port Everglades recently be sure to have
your photo ID handy as you enter the port. They stop all vehicles and want
to
see ID for everyone.

Asking about tipping in general. I know HAL has a "no tipping policy"
so they don't come out and ask for tips or give you their handy-dandy
tipping envelopes, but I'm planning to give tips. I mainly want to know
how much to plan for the various "tip receivers" so I bring enough cash.

I was on a HAL cruise a couple of years ago, and I did tip then, too,
but the numbers have all gone out of my head. I seem to remember
something like $3.50/day/room guest to the room steward, $2.50 to my
dining room head waiter, or something like that. Who else? I took my
last HAL cruise with my folks so they took care of everyone but my room
steward for me.

BTW, thanks for the heads-up on having our ID ready. We're planning to
come in via the hotel's shuttle, but we'll have 'em out for anyone who
cares to ask.

Thanks!
Karen


Susan wrote:

We're leaving on the HAL 10-Day Southern Carib Seafarer cruise on the
Volendam on Nov. 1 -- yippee!!

I agree, yippee! I'll be on board also. Is this your first HAL cruise?

Were you asking about tipping in general or HAL specifically?

FYI, if you have not cruised through Port Everglades recently be sure to have
your photo ID handy as you enter the port. They stop all vehicles and want to
see ID for everyone.

13 more sleeps--
Susan
Last: Jubilee 5/8/03 W. Caribbean
Next: Volendam 11/1/03
To read about our ballooning adventures go to www.rubberduckie.com

--

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Karen M Chan | | Whatever Happens... Smile!
http://www.linkline.com/personal/kmchan/index.html


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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.

Karen,

While HAL has a "no tipping required" (different from a no tipping) policy,
you're absolutely correct to feel that good service should be rewarded.
Typical recommendations from other cruise lines are $3.50 per person per day
for the room steward and waiter, with $2.50/person/day for the assistant
waiter. Typical tips for the bar waiters and sommelier if you use their
services.

HAL has been revamping their boarding procedures over the summer. Those
passengers arriving early are being invited to board the ship, though they may
not be able to access their cabin until around 1PM. You are, however, welcome
to go to the Lido Buffet for lunch or wander the ship. Takes the crowds out of
the boarding area and allows you more time onboard.

Enjoy! I'll be on the 2 Volendam cruises after you

Amber

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.

We are doing the same cruise on Dec. 11. I hope you will post a
detailed review.

Have a great cruise!

Laura

Karen M Chan wrote:
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

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