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Welcome Aboard Holland America Line [top]
Holland America Line has been named "Best Overall Cruise Value" by the World
Ocean and Cruise Line Society for 17 consecutive years. Innovative programs and
superior amenities have consistently placed them among the highest-rated
premium cruise lines, earning the prestigious 5-star Diamond Award from The
American Academy of Hospitality Services. As soon as you board any ship in the
Holland America fleet, you'll quickly see why Holland America has earned these
honors. With more than 136 years of experience, the cruise line has perfected
the art of cruising, offering five-star service and amenities in a welcoming
setting. Holland America Line's ships offer everything that you expect in a
great land resort, and more, from five-star dining and intimate lounges to
enjoying a presentation at the Culinary Arts Center.
Holland America Line is investing $525 million to deliver unparalleled product
and service enhancements on their fleet of five-star ships. These "Signature of
Excellence" enhancements encompass virtually every one of their ships and range
from new facilities and public spaces to added services and amenities. You'll
be sure to receive the finest premium cruise experience available, especially
with nearly one crew member for every two guests.
Dining Information [top]
All meals are included on board during your cruise. Plus, as-you-wish dining
lets you choose the venues and style that suit you - from a festive 5-course
affair to a quick casual dinner for two. Breakfast and lunch are served in open
seating in the dining room. There are two seatings for dinner. In addition,
buffets are available in the Lido Restaurant for breakfast and lunch.
Breakfast: Open seating begins at approximately 8:00 am
Lunch: Open seating begins at approximately 12:30 pm
Dinner: First seating is at approximately 6:15 pm, and second is at
approximately 8:15 pm. Vantage groups are assigned to the lower level of the
dining room for the first seating and the upper level for the second seating.
Open seating in the Lido Restaurant is also available on several nights of your
cruise.
Every effort will be made to accommodate your dining seating preference. Should
we be unable to confirm your preference, however, you will be notified prior to
departure.
Alternate Dining Rooms
As a delicious alternative to the main dining room, you might consider sampling
the cuisine at your ship's alternate, elegant and intimate restaurant - The
Pinnacle Grill - for lunch or dinner. This restaurant features fine dining in
an intimate setting and has a modest charge. You can experience this elegant
restaurant by reservation only. This restaurant is extremely popular, so
reserve early to avoid disappointment!
Onboard Attire
The right clothing can make a big difference in the enjoyment of your cruise.
First and foremost, dress for comfort. Daily life aboard ship and in ports of
call is laid-back and casual. We encourage you to wear whatever makes you feel
most comfortable - such as sportswear, shorts, sundresses, slacks, and so on.
Evening dress falls into three distinct categories. Each night a daily program
will be delivered to your stateroom announcing the suggested dress for the
following evening. Comfortable, relaxed clothing is fine for evenings
designated as casual; however, T-shirts, jeans, swimsuits, tank tops and shorts
are not allowed in the dining room, Lido restaurant, or public areas during the
evening hours. During informal nights, dresses or pantsuits for women and
jackets (tie optional) for men are standard.
On festive formal evenings, women usually wear cocktail dresses or gowns and men
usually wear business suits or tuxedos. There are approximately two formal
nights per week. (Gentlemen: Although business suits or tuxedos are suggested
attire for formal evenings, they are certainly not required. You are welcome to
wear a jacket and tie on formal nights.)
Formalwear for ladies and gentlemen can be pre-ordered for your use for the
duration of your cruise. Just call Cruise Line Formalwear at 800-551-5091 to
reserve and it will be ready in your stateroom when you board.
Please Note: Because the Alaska program includes a land tour as well as the
cruise, you can feel comfortable packing a dark business suit instead of a
tuxedo if this is your preference. In order to complement your fellow guests,
Holland America asks that you observe the suggested dress code throughout the
entire evening.
Cruise Line Special Meal Requests
The ship may be able to accommodate special dietary requirements, provided
requests are received at the time of booking. Holland America offers
alternative dining menus such as Kosher, gluten free, or any other special
medical diets (salt-free, diabetic, etc) but must be pre-ordered 90 days prior
to sailing. Please confirm any dietary requests with your Vantage Program
Manager once on board.
Money Matters While On Board [top]
U.S. dollars are the only currency accepted on board. The Holland America Line
ships sail with the tradition of a "cashless society." Passengers simply sign a
receipt for purchases just as you would at a fine hotel. On embarkation day,
you will need to register your credit or debit card (MasterCard, Visa, AmEx,
Discover, or HollandAmerica Visa). Your card will be pre-authorized for an
amount by Holland, but will only be charged for actual costs. You'll then
settle your account with one convenient transaction at the end of the cruise
with American Express, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, cash, or travelers' checks.
You will need to register your debit or credit card on embarkation day in order
to use your onboard account for purchases.
Currency Exchange
The Front Office does not handle currency exchange on board, however a currency
exchange service will be available for selected itineraries, such as the World
Cruise. U.S. dollars are accepted for exchange at most ports of call, as are
travelers' checks and major credit cards.
Gratuities
Gratuities are not included in the cruise fares. For your convenience, a per
person daily amount set by Holland America ($11 per person per day as of
January 1, 2010; subject to change at any time) will be charged to your
shipboard account and distributed to your ship personnel for dining and
stateroom service. You will be provided with the opportunity to modify the
amount charged to your account before the end of your cruise. In addition,
should you wish, gratuities for other special services may be given directly to
deserving individuals. For bar charges and dining room wine purchases, a 15%
gratuity is automatically added to all charges.
In addition, the recommended gratuity for your Vantage Program Manager is $5 to
$8 per person per day.
General Information About Your Ship [top]
Air Conditioning
All cabins and public rooms on board are fully air-conditioned. Individual cabin
temperature can be regulated by passengers.
Electrical Current
The current on board all Holland America Line ships is 110 volts (A standard
U.S. 2-pin plug is required.)
Keeping in Touch
All cabins have a telephone for inter-ship calls. Reception will provide the
desired connections (depending on the ship's location). Please keep in mind
that ship-to-shore telephone calls can range from $12 to $15 per minute. Please
refer to the instructions provided in the information packet in your cabin. Fax
facilities and E-mail service are also available. Fees for your use of fax,
internet, and e-mail will be charged to your shipboard account. Keep in mind
that phone centers and Internet cafés in various ports may offer less expensive
alternatives for keeping in touch.
Laundry
Complete laundry, pressing, and dry cleaning facilities are available on board
your Holland America ship. Ironing rooms, coin-operated washing machines, and
dryers are also available for your use - available on some ships.
Medical Facilities
There is a medical center on board ship. A licensed doctor and registered nurses
are in permanent attendance. The on board pharmacy stocks various medication.
There will be a fee charged for all medical services and medications obtained
on board.
Please note that Medicare and U.S. health insurance and Medicare are generally
not accepted on board ships or in foreign destinations. Claims are made upon
return to the USA and should be filed through your health insurance provider or
through the Travel Protection Plan if you have purchased it. All receipts and
doctors reports are required to process claims.
Special Cabin Requests
Although the special group rate you have taken advantage of on your Vantage
cruise does not guarantee cabin selection, we will be happy to advise the
cruise line of any special requests. We must receive your request at the time
of booking. Please note that cabins within your category may be located on
several different decks and cabin availability on your deck of choice may be
limited.
Periodically, cruise lines randomly upgrade passengers for space allocation
purposes. Please keep in mind that these upgrades are at the discretion of the
cruise line and selection of passengers to be upgraded is not in Vantage's
control.
Special Occasions at Sea
If you will be celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or honeymoon during your
cruise, the cruise line will honor the event with a special cake in the dining
room. Please advise Vantage of such occasions at time of booking. We will
forward the information to the cruise line. Please verify the arrangements with
your Vantage Program Manager once you are on board.
Shore Excursions [top]
Holland America's "Shore Excursions" booklet will be provided in a mailing prior
to your departure. This booklet will provide detailed descriptions of the
excursions offered by the cruise line, including degree of difficulty, meals,
and tour highlights. You will have the opportunity to purchase these tours
while on board ship through your Vantage Program Manager.
The optional shore excursions that are offered while you are on board ocean
cruise ships are offered solely by the cruise line and must be reserved
directly through them. Each cruise line determines its own reservation policy.
To pre-reserve shore excursions: onboard or online at www.hollandamerica.com;
you'll need your 7- digit HAL identification number from your cruise cabin
confirmation notice that Vantage sends you approximately 7 to 10 days after
making your reservation.
Signature of
Excellence
While aboard enjoy Holland America's "Signature of Excellence Enhancements":
In your stateroom:
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Twice daily Housekeeping
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Nightly turndown service
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Luxurious terry cloth bathrobes
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Complimentary 24 hour in room dining
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Ice service; shoeshine service
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Luxurious Euro-Top beds & premium linens, and flat-panel TVs with DVD
players
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A complimentary fresh fruit bowl
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Large, extra fluffy Egyptian cotton towels
Relax and recharge:
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Tranquil Greenhouse spa & Salon
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Jacuzzi hot tub, sauna, steam room
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Two outdoor pools, one with sliding glass roof
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Fitness Center with Yoga,
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Lavish Las Vegas style production shows
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Talented vocalists, illusionists, comedians & other acts
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Casino gaming
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Onboard movies
Personal Growth:
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Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine Magazine with kitchen
demonstration
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Explorations Café, offering over 2000 books, Internet, puzzles (varies by ship)
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Explorations Speaker Series featuring experts on history, culture & ports
of call
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And cuisine of ports of call
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24 hour email access
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Digital workshop: learn photography, video editing, and web while cruising
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Self-guided onboard art tours
Incredible onboard Dining:
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Complimentary 24 hour in-room dining
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"As your Wish" TM dining - lets you choose venues and style that
suite you! from festive five course meal to a quick, casual dinner.
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Signature touches - such as late night snack, Chocolate dessert extravaganza,
daily afternoon Tea Service and Royal Dutch High Tea service once during cruise
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Hot hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour
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Ice cream bar
Holland America's awards & Accolades:
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Best overall Cruise Value - 17 consecutive years voted. World Ocean &
Cruise Liner Society
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Consistently Among the Highest-rated Cruise Lines - Conde Nast Traveler
Readers Choice Awards
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Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards
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