UM-Fan

On 5/19/2023 at 12:01 PM, Figg1437 said:

When you all say $$$ what are we talking about in US dollars price range? 

Around 300 dollars US is a good ballpark range.

38 minutes ago, Himself said:

I, like many of you, am glad he is an insider in the Cruise industry and wish him well.  I hope he remembers Holland America line is NOT Carnival  Cruise Line and HAL ships are not "fun ships."  We have a different breed of cruiser.  HAL passengers are a bit more stayed than are Carnival cruisers. 

As usual well said and I agree 100%.

16 minutes ago, taxmantoo said:

Congratulations and best of luck. Nice of HAL to appoint someone with Guest Services experience. I look forward to Mr. Antorcha and Mr. Kruse working together to both bring back some of the HAL traditions beloved by so many and introduce innovations to improve the HAL experience even more.

I hope we do get some of the things back that has made HAL special.  If so, it might take a while with money being tight once cruising resumes.

5 minutes ago, NavArch64 said:

Very impressive credentials.

I definitely like the fact he knows the cruise industry. 

What are everyone's thoughts on the new President?

25 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

 

Are you sure that drink was on the BB King menu and not Billboard?  That sounds like a Billboard themed drink.  

This past winter on the Nieuw Statendam, it was the first drink that they listed on a table tent style drink menu at BB Kings. But agree that it does sound like a better name for a Billboard themed drink.

9 hours ago, Crew News said:

As requested.

 

Thanks for posting. I was on your photography website earlier this weekend and saw this menu, but it didn't list the specific drink that I was looking for.  I saw by the date, that you took this pic was earlier in 2019. Now I am curious if the drink is ship specific or something that came out later in 2019 or 2020.

Since it doesn't look like we will be sailing anytime soon,  I am continuing to miss my favorite drink in the BB Kings Blues Club.  It is called the "The Top of the Charts".  I can't seem to recall all of the ingredients.  Anyone have a picture of the menu showing it so I can refresh my memory as to what it includes, so I can try and hopefully duplicate it myself until I can once again order one at sea and listen to some great music?

8 minutes ago, DeeniEncinitas said:

I am sorry to all in this time of crisis. So now 125% FCC no refund.  I have 125% FCC and refund from our Rotterdam 3/11-3/15 cruise. Is that because we were on the ship at the time and was flown home on the 15?. So sad. I hope all receive everything! PS I also am still waiting. It will be 2 months on the 15th. My PCC said she hopes it is soon! Will see

Denise😊

Unfortunately it isn't just HAL having issues with refunds. I am at 62 days today waiting on Princess to refund my money and nothing yet only promises it is coming soon.  First it was a couple of weeks and then went to I will see it within 60 days and that is now past.

I have to feel sorry for all of those businesses in Alaska that rely on cruise ship passengers spending money in their shops to be able to make a living.

3 minutes ago, ger_77 said:

I wondered about that as well.  Perhaps they use the photo from your previous cruise; we haven't had a security photo taken in a couple of years, they just use one on file.

 

Smooth Sailing!  🙂🙂🙂

If they would go back into the previous years and get a photo of me when I was younger and didn't weight as much as I do now I would love that!! LOL

4 hours ago, RedneckBob said:

Hi y'all, Redneckbob hear.

 

I don't know if this has been talked about so hear goes; just completed a 11 day cruise from Port Everglades on Celebrity. No more waiting in line to checkin. Do checkin on line and get one of those boarding passes like flying on plane. When your status is called, just board boat, go to room to drop off your belongings, room key in box next to door. 

 

When you arrive back in PE, they have this face recognizing device that you look at and five seconds later you are on your way. No more US Custom Agents, unless you have something to declare. Once left ship five minutes to get out of terminal. I guess technology is a good thing. 

How does your security photo get taken so it can be attached to your stateroom key card?

6 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

The OP is booked on a 14 day back to back cruise that covers the week of March 8 and March 15th, is the cruise on March 15th also still available? The March 15th sailing could be what caused the whole cancellation.

According to what I just looked at, both the March 8th sailing and a March 15th sailing is still able to be booked via my TA's website. As of last night when I looked at HAL's website, both sailings were able to be booked online as well.

So this is odd.  I am booked on the March 8th cruise. I just contacted my TA and they looked in the HAL system and they told me the cruise was still active.  So I asked that they call the cruise line directly and confirm and the HAL rep indeed stated that the sailing is still active.  Now I don't know what to do!!

7 hours ago, Robinsoncruiseso said:

Funny.  I am a TA and I can apply an AMEX payment online Through HAL’s TA booking engine. No additional charge to our agency.

SargassoPirate from post #17 and bEwAbG from post #21 basically summed up the issue I had with the TA and AmEx.  It is an unfortunate outcome because of some business decisions by two companies.

6 hours ago, mame42 said:

I called the emergency number listed in my cruise documents when I had a problem with a Hal transfer from airport to hotel in Amsterdam, only to be told that the number was no longer in service !!!

Oh my..... My issue pales in comparison to yours.  I hope it all worked out for you anyway!

3 hours ago, SargassoPirate said:

 

My TA is the travel department of a big box warehouse club.  They don't accept AmEx anymore, just Visa (with some great perks if we use their Visa card). 

You summed up my AmEx card situation. 😃

5 hours ago, bobalink said:

I did not know HAL has gift cards! I would have purchased some, but not if it's that big of a hassle!

 

I purchase Princess gift cards online using a link on their website. So easy! (screen shot attached)

 

It seems like HAL could do the same, I wonder why they don't?

 

 

 

They are a fairly new thing with HAL, I believe they have only been around for a couple of months.  According to HAL they will eventually be available for sale via their website, but currently you need to call the Mariner Society to buy them directly from the cruise line or places like Kroger offer them too.  Right now when you go to the gift card section of the HAL website you can only check your gift card balance online.

2 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

Easier way - buy yourself $500 in On Board Credit (for your cabin) via the HAL website.  Quick, easy and very flexible as it can be used for anything (daily grats, drinks, spa, gambling, etc).  I did not use all of mine and since I used a Visa card for my onboard expenses and for the cruise (Am Ex for the OBC) the $300 I had left was credited back to my Visa card!

My TA gives me onboard credit as part of the service they provide. Then I usually get some type of cruise line onboard credit.  I most generally don't use all they give me so I kind of hated to buy some with the AmEx card just to have it come back mostly unused as a credit at the end of my cruise.

7 hours ago, Roz said:

 

Believe me, I understand wanting to save $150.  I've had similar offers on my AMEX card.  Here's what I don't understand....the TA should be putting the charge thru to HAL.  When I make a deposit or payment on a cruise, my AMEX statement shows the charge being made to Holland America, not my TA's agency.  

 

Roz

My TA was adamant that they can't process a payment with AmEx. I even asked if they wouldn't just mind calling the cruise line and processing the payment through them and I was told that they couldn't do that.  I do know when I use any other card with my TA, all charges are shown as being billed through HAL.  So I don't get why they couldn't do it with AmEx.

1 hour ago, SilvertoGold said:

UM-Fan:  you have a LOT more patience, when stressed out no less, than I could ever have.  

Your experience was unacceptable, of course. Thanks for writing this up: it was an "interesting" read (scary!).  You do need a cruise!

 

aledomom:  I was thinking the telephone companies are the same, too, but let's add Hydro, as well.

 

 

In the end it all turned out okay. I am just amazed on how HAL does such great training with the crew onboard, but then they can't  train the folks that work in the IT department to post the correct information and then train all of the folks that answer the phones to be all on the same page to provide correct answers to those that call in.  I am amazed that you can call three people at the HAL offices and get three different answers. (Yes it has happened to me more then once.)

2 hours ago, aledomom said:

Sounds like my experiences dealing with AT&T!

At one point I felt like I was dealing with Comcast!! LOL

5 hours ago, Roz said:

UM-Fan, your post reminds me why I buy my HAL gift cards at Kroger. 😀

 

Roz

Well to add to my story Roz, I was fortunate enough to receive an offer on my AmEx card that if I booked a cruise with HAL and spent a minimum of 500 dollars I would receive a rebate back to my card for 150 dollars.  So I called my TA and tried to take advantage of that but my TA does not accept AmEx for payment. So the only way they could think of to be able to take advantage of the offer would be to buy a gift card directly from HAL on my AmEx card then to call the TA back and book the cruise using the newly purchased gift card. What I won't do to save 150 dollars..... 😀

I love sailing on HAL ships. By nature I am fairly easy going, but dealing with HAL stresses me to the max sometimes!  I have been trying to purchase a gift card from HAL all morning.  It literally took me six phone calls to actually get it done.  They have published a phone number on their website that states to purchase gift cards call this number.  I called the number three times to wait for a representative to pick up. Was on hold for more then 30 minutes each time with nobody ever answering.  I called and spoke with the Mariner Society and they gave me a website to use instead.  I hung up (should have tried it while I was on the phone with them the first time) tried the site address they gave and it came up as an error page on the HAL site.  Called the gift card number once again and waited for more then 30 minutes and no answer. Called back to the Mariner Society once again and finally got someone that took the time to help. Seems the number that they have published for gift card purchases belongs to Club Orange. (Don't get me started on why Club Orange won't answer the phone) I explained that I used the number that was published on HAL's own site and received an I'm sorry answer. (Bet the same wrong number will still be on the site for months)   They then proceeded to tell me that gift cards can only be purchased through the Mariner Society. Don't know why the first call to the Mariner Society didn't tell me that!!  Finally after 3 hours and 42 minutes, gift card finally purchased.

I almost need go on a cruise to help me let go of the stress caused by dealing with the cruise line! LOL

Yes they do, however I have not used it.  Here is more information about it.

https://www.verizonwireless.com/solutions-and-services/international-travel/