On the ship, The Navigator App is going to be your constant companion and your best friend. It will inform and assist everything you do during the cruise.
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-the app is free to download -available for both Apple and Android devices -you don't have to purchase an internet plan to use the app on boardIf you use an IOS (Apple) device, go to the App Store on your phone or tablet. If you use an Android phone or tablet, go to Google Play.
Click on "Search".
In the Search field, type, "HAL Navigator". Choose the Holland America Line Navigator app and click to download.
If you don't already have a Holland America Line account, create one using the instructions HERE
You'll use your email address and the password you selected for the HAL website to register The Navigator App.
Before you board the ship, you can basically do pretty much the same things you can do on the regular Holland America website. I've divided your options into general Holland America things you can find, and things you can do that are specific to an individual booking.
You can search for (and book) other cruises using a variety of search criteria (e.g., region of the world, departure date, cruise length, ship, or a specific port of call
You can research the destinations Holland America sails to. You can get information about featured ports, the best times to sail to that destination, see featured shore excursions, and get tips and travel advice.
You can find information about each of their ships and general information about the cabins, the Spa and Salon, the fitness center, the dining venues, the music and entertainment venues, and onboard activities.
You can look up the itinerary of the cruise.
You can check out the deck plans for the ship.
You can check out the FAQ sections on Shipboard Life, Dining, Drinks & Attire, Going Ashore, End of Cruise, and other miscellaneous information.
The big magilla is that you can complete your cruise check-in using The Navigator App. Once you've done that, you'll be able actually purchase shore excursions and reserve and purchase other things for the cruise.
You can get your digital boarding pass (once you've completed check-in) about xxx days before the cruise sails. This will allow you to check in by just scanning the boarding pass code from your phone at the pier (which can save a LOT of time).
You can investigate and book shore excursions.
You can make specialty dining reservations.
You can make bookings for spa services.
Most of these things can be done just as easily on the HAL website. In fact to do many of them, you actually end up on the HAL website itself via your phone or tablet's default browser (usually Safari for Apple devices and Edge for Android devices). In fact, it's really easier to just go directly to the HAL website to do most of these things before you actually get on board.
On board the ship, however, it's a completely different story.
As was explained on the left-hand side of this page, you navigate through The Navigator App via the menu at the bottom of the screen. Most of the options are found by click on the HAL ship logo in the bottom center of your screen. We'll break things down by each of the options.
HomeThis option takes you to TheNavigator App’s Home screen. The home screen will always show you the current temperature and ship's time (which can actually be very important). Virtually all of the rest of the options on the Home screen actually just take you to the HAL website.
PlanThis option takes you