Shore excursions offer comfortable, convenient, and engaging travel experiences, such as wine tasting in Burgundy, zip-lining in Costa Rica, or photographing penguins in Chile. Holland America Line is launching a new “Have It All” premium package that includes shore excursions, beverages, specialty dining, and Wi-Fi in one base cruise fare. The package includes drinks up to $11 with 15 drinks each day, Wi-fi, one specialty dining credit, and $100 to use towards shore excursions.
Holland America has three shore excursions from Ketchikan to the Misty Fjords, which involve a seaplane, providing a great chance to see these beautiful places. If you find a better price on any tour, Holland America will refund 100% of the price difference in the form of an onboard credit.
You can plan activities, purchase shore excursions, make reservations, and more right from your phone while on board. Access to premium shore excursions from your Holland America Line cruise at substantially lower prices, and enjoy a more intimate cruise tour experience away from crowds.
If traveling on a Holland America cruise ship to Hawaii, book a shore excursion with Roberts Hawaii to explore the beauty of Hawaii. Search by date to book, and access to premium shore excursions from your Koningsdam cruise at substantially lower prices. Shore excursion tickets will be delivered to your suite, and all pricing is in U.S. Dollars.
📹 Holland America Cruise SECRETS & Tips All Cruisers Need to Know..
Are you planning a Holland America cruise & wondering what to expect? There are so many things about Holland America cruise …
How much do cruise excursions cost?
The cost of a tour typically ranges from $50 to $175 per person, with the price varying depending on the duration and activities included. In certain regions of the world, the cost of a tour may be higher.
When can you book shore excursions on Holland America?
It is possible to reserve and prepay for shore excursions online up to three days prior to the sailing date. Digital tour tickets are accessible via the “My Account” section of the Navigator application. Passengers may download the aforementioned application prior to embarkation or request tours at the shore excursion office.
Is it cheaper to buy shore excursions on the ship?
Cruise line shore excursions can be more expensive than comparable or identical alternatives. For instance, booking a shore excursion to a resort with a waterpark in the Bahamas through the cruise line is $19 cheaper per person than booking it directly through the resort itself. However, booking directly or through a third party can be easier on personal finances.
There are several advantages of booking shore excursions through the cruise line. There are often dozens of options listed for each port, making it time-consuming to research options. Cruise line excursions are designed to fit into your time in port, and the tour operator typically meets you upon arrival and provides transportation.
Seashore excursions sold through the cruise line are designed to get you back to the ship well before it leaves. However, if you are running late, the cruise line will either get you back to the ship on time or wait for you. Cruise lines also carefully select which excursion operators they are willing to do business with, as some foreign countries may have different safety standards than the United States.
Do you take your passport on shore excursions?
When going ashore, it is generally not necessary to show your passport, but it is advisable to bring a photocopy of your original passport. This is useful for police stops or boarding trains. Memorizing your passport number and expiration date is also acceptable. Another option is to take a photo of your passport I. D. page and email it to yourself, making it easily accessible. If you venture ashore independently and use a local bus or train service, remove all documents and cash from your bag and never leave your passport unattended. These tips help protect your passport and other belongings while ashore, but it is crucial to always leave it on board if you don’t need it.
Is Holland America more expensive than Princess?
Holland America and Princess Cruises are both competitive in pricing, with varying prices depending on cabin type, cruise length, and time of year. Holland America is slightly more expensive due to older vessels in Alaska. Princess Cruises often includes more in their pricing, such as pub lunches, pizza, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and alcoholic drinks in their Princess Premier and Plus packages. For solo travelers, double-occupancy staterooms can earn double points, which some lines offer when paying for two staterooms.
Why are shore excursions so expensive?
Ship-sponsored tours are often more expensive than directly offered tours through the operator, as the cruise line serves as the middleman and inflates fees to take a cut before paying the tour company. Independent tours take smaller groups, allowing for more personalized experiences. When booking a private tour, you may be one of fewer than 20 people, compared to the smaller group sizes of third-party tours. Therefore, it’s essential to choose the right tour option for your travel needs.
Is it cheaper to book excursions on the ship?
Cruise line shore excursions can be more expensive than comparable or identical alternatives. For instance, booking a shore excursion to a resort with a waterpark in the Bahamas through the cruise line is $19 cheaper per person than booking it directly through the resort itself. However, booking directly or through a third party can be easier on personal finances.
There are several advantages of booking shore excursions through the cruise line. There are often dozens of options listed for each port, making it time-consuming to research options. Cruise line excursions are designed to fit into your time in port, and the tour operator typically meets you upon arrival and provides transportation.
Seashore excursions sold through the cruise line are designed to get you back to the ship well before it leaves. However, if you are running late, the cruise line will either get you back to the ship on time or wait for you. Cruise lines also carefully select which excursion operators they are willing to do business with, as some foreign countries may have different safety standards than the United States.
Do you have to pay to go to shore on a cruise?
Most ports of call don’t require a shore excursion to explore, as you can walk into town or catch a cab. However, in some destinations, a shore excursion or independently operated guided tour is highly encouraged, especially in areas where navigation is difficult or tourism infrastructure is not yet fully developed. Join over 700, 000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides, and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts.
Can you wear jeans to dinner on a Holland America cruise?
Jeans that are free of holes, tears, and embroidery are deemed appropriate for most evenings in all restaurants. However, on dressy nights, they are only permitted in casual dining establishments.
Can you wear jeans on a Holland America cruise?
The policy has been revised to indicate that smart casual attire is appropriate for evenings, while shorts, pool/beachwear, distressed jeans, and men’s tank tops are to be reserved for daytime wear and are not permitted in fine dining restaurants. Dressy Nights evoke the grand traditions of cruising, with guests attired in accordance with the prevailing standards of elegance for special events such as a five-course gourmet dinner in the Dining Room.
Is Holland America an expensive cruise line?
Holland America cruises are mainstream and mass market cruises, similar to brands like Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises, but not luxury. They are slightly higher priced than Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, or Norwegian Cruise Line. Holland America offers delicious, sustainable food, abundant live music options, and extensive itineraries, from Alaska sailings with land stays to long world voyages. However, they don’t feel like a never-ending frat party or a resort geared for families. To determine if Holland America Line is right for your next cruise, consider these factors.
📹 Is the Holland America Drink Package Worth it?
We answer all your questions about the @HollandAmericaLine drink packages. From what’s included, to the value, and the …
Here’s a trick Holland America pulls, as I’ve witnessed first hand. Holland America serves “pay for” and “drink package” soft drinks in two separate style beverage glasses. This allows the staff to see who is paying for (gratuities), and who has a drink package. Guess who gets better service. I purchased a soft drink package and after your first order good luck getting another; it’s like you don’t exist. Another member of our party was not a “drink package” participant, as we sat together at a table in the lounge, we both ordered cokes from the same waiter, and they were served in to separate style glasses. As long as we sat together we had great service. Once he left to go to his room, service was slow to nonexistent. I then noticed this was common practice in all the lounges. A drink package is worthless if they actively ignore you for better clientele.
If you are considering a drink package along with any other add-ons, like WiFi, consider the “Have It All” package. It includes the “Signature” drink package, Wifi, $100 or $200 per person shore excursion credits (depending on room and length of cruise) and two meals at two of the upscale dining options. You’ll have to do the math to see if it’s worth your while but with our 11day Caribbean cruise it most certainly was. The cost per day for WiFi (not ships WiFi but the real deal) makes the “Have It All” package a strong contender.
My wife and I just got off of the Eurodam last week. We had the Coke package. Here’s what they need to tell you. A drink is always put in a glass with ice and is about the equivalent of 1/3 of a can of Coke. A can of Coke cost $2.75. They will only leave a soda can if you have a quench package. The Coke package is a hassle for the server. They usually have to open a can and leave it behind the counter (unless you are at certain bars). In several cases, the bartender gave us the cans and just charged us $2.75 anyway (even when given the card). For our next HAL trip, we won’t get any drink packages. For us, it’s cheaper and less hassle to pay as we go.
We added on a package for our 10 day Canada New England cruise. The cost was $100 total per day for the 2 of us. The offer included the drink package, wi fi for each of us, $200 shore excursion credit per person and 2 speciality dining experiences for each of us. Note that this was offered after we had booked but 30 days before we sail. Given that the least expensive alcoholic drink package was $55 per day, this was a money saver. You were basically getting the shore excursion credit, wi fi and the speciality dining for free.
Just back from Alaska, I took the elite drink package. For me, WELL worth the 10 dollar a day upgrade. Unlimited cappuccinos, espresso mocha coffees also unlimited fancy water and unlimited freshly squeezed orange juice and can’t forget pineapple and champagne.. includes 15 alcohol beverages up to $15. One cherry bourbon beautifully done with small cherry smoke was awesome that cost me $1.80.. That drink was 16,80 . And my fridge was talked full with Perrier no charge.. I found without the elite package. The drinks were put in smaller glasses so every glass you’re paying a tip on and paying more because there’s not much in it that’s where the elite package came in handy.
We cruised on Holland America in April of 2023 and had the Have-it-All (Signature Drink) Package. CONTRARY to what this article says, when I ordered a $15 Single Malt Scotch (Maclellan 12), I only paid the $4 difference between the Signature Drink Package max, and the cost of this drink. I was very pleased to find that a glass of Gran Mariner was less than the maximum with the Signature Drink Package.
I just can’t understand why anyone would pay for beverages when the included selection is great! We’ll get a couple sodas, waters, and alcoholic drinks during the week, but otherwise it sounds like a complete waste of money to me that I’d rather put towards excursions… anything else. We just don’t drink that much! Lol!
Good info. The website is a little confusing. Under the elite package it says “unlimited non alcohol drinks”, but then when you go to book it, it said “any beverage $15 a day (up to 15 beverages a day) “. I called someone and they said non alcohol drinks count towards 15. Then I called again and got someone else and they said they don’t count. So glad to get clarification
I have been got to have it all package with Holland America since 2021 and I find that it’s worth it. With specialty dining that comes with this package depends on the length of the cruise to get either 1 or 2 specialty dining restaurants. Same is for the shore excursions, could between 100 & 200 dollars towards an excursion
I used to cruise exclusively on HAL until I sailed on Celebrity some six years ago and have never gone back to HAL, until this coming month (Dec 2022) and will sail on the Rotterdam. This past month I returned from a back to back on the Apex (Med and crossing)! Its an impressive ship and cruise line. I am none the less looking forward to my sailing on a 10 day southern Caribbean and returning to HAL. Based on your article, I don’t know if I will be impressed! Signing for your drink while having an all inclusive drink package seems like a waste of energy and time for staff and guest. If the serves deserves the extra tip I always have money to give them directly! Thus they are guaranteed receiving their tips directly! I have noticed they do like to charge XTRA for many other things! Not a good sign! Although the ship looks impressive I hope the service and food is equally impressive!
Would you have drank that much if you didn’t have the package? That’s what I ask myself. That helps me determine if I shud buy the package. I have found I drink less when I don’t have the package. I drink more because I want to make sure I take full advantage of the package not because I want the drink. So for me, I pay as I go. I buy a drink because I want it not because I feel compelled to buy one. And I save lots more money that way.
My wife and I are planning our first HAL cruise to SE Asia in Jan 2026. They are currently offering the Early Bonus Booking Have it all that includes the elite drink package and crew gratuity for the price of the regular Have it all. Seems like a good deal since we both love our drinks. Does anyone know when the Early Booking Bonus offers end and the regular Have it all program begins?
Thank you for this very informative article! We are headed on our first cruise next month, on the HAL Westerdam to Alaska. We have the Have It All package that we got at an additional discount/deal and I think it will be worth every penny. The only thing we didn’t need from it is the internet package – I want to totally unplug and enjoy time with my spouse and family – but it’s nice to have it if in a pinch we need it, especially as we have several sea days. I was nervous about owing 18% gratuity per drink on our 15 drink limit but it sounds like this was pre-paid with the Have It all (which did include gratuity), so that’s awesome. Question — do they have fountain sodas and if so when and where? I am a big Diet Coke drinker but I really only prefer it from the fountain and not the can.
Question, we have the elite package . I am traveling with my adult son who has autism. I see the mini bar stuff in the room and am terrified. He will blow through it if I don’t hide it. He just will want a drink or snack at night. Can we bring anything back to the room? We are registered with guest accessibility already . This is a once in a lifetime for both of us. His first time flying and cruising. He is 20. I just have to be right with him the entire time. I’ve paid for everything up front . The all inclusive package where we get a shore excursion and onboard credits plus fine restaurant . Just help with the mini bar situation!! He will just want water and diet soda. Thank you experienced cruisers !!!
Thank you for the info. We have a land based casino offer and are using it on Holland America for a November, ’23 sailing to the Southern Caribbean. Because it’s a comp cruise, we are not entitled to book the Have It All Package. We are a couple where one of us drinks alcohol, and the other can not because of medical reasons. We are still required to purchase the alcohol package for both of us or neither of us. Other lines allow us to have one purchase the package, and the other is required to purchase a non alcoholic package similar to Quench on Holland. Not real thrilled with this. Holland best blow us away on their other offerings (food, shows, excursions, etc) or it will most likely be a one and done.
My son, 20, is excited about the Coca Cola machine on our Nieuw Statendam cruise next month. He said you get a special cup to access the machine. Is that right? Is it fun making the special syrup blends yourself? He drinks gallons of fountain Coke, so I’m thinking the $8 a day would be worth it for us.
I was on the Koningsdam in May. While I have some criticisms about the buffet and the MDR was not always as good as it could be, it’s the drinks package that was the big let down. I had the signature plan and was never even aware that there was a better one. Misinformation and confusion over the drinks package undermined the cruise and I am unlikely to use HAL going forward.