6 Things I Would NEVER Do On Holland America. Nor Should You!
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Editorial Summary
Gary Bembridge shares personal strategies for maximizing value and enjoyment while sailing with Holland America. He emphasizes participating in signature events such as the Orange Party, Cake Me Away, and the Chocolate Surprise and Extravaganza to avoid missing unique onboard traditions. He also highlights seasonal celebrations like equator crossing ceremonies and themed holiday parties. Regarding dining, he recommends utilizing the Lido Market Buffet to take advantage of daily culinary corner features. To save money, Bembridge advises booking itineraries up to 18 months in advance to secure the Have It All package, which includes upgraded amenities like streaming Wi-Fi and elite drink packages. For those who cannot book early, he suggests monitoring seasonal promotions such as Black Friday sales or low deposit offers. He also details methods for accumulating onboard credit through various memberships and credit card offers. Finally, he provides practical advice on using Club Orange for cabin upgrades, managing laundry needs without self-service facilities, and booking specialty dining and excursions well before embarkation to ensure availability.
Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.
How This Review Compares
This review is more positive than the all-time creator consensus.
Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.
Creator's Key Takeaways
I've just spent 44 days out of the last 60 on board Holland America, where I saw way too many passenger mistakes, meaning they were wasting money and missing out on what the line does best.
I never, under any circumstances, miss their signature events.
Booking early is worth a lot. I estimate I saved and gained almost $1,200 for my recent time on board.
I never book a Holland America cruise during a non-promotional period.
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Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.
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