Boatdrill

Oh yes, it's very fair for the initial booking to be transferred to an agent of the customer's choice. Agents do more than just sell a cruise and then wait a very long time -sometimes a year or more- for their commission. And rarely is the booking "all sorted" and nothing else needs to be done. After the booking is transferred, it's now handled by the agent. The agent responds to requests by the client, such as: change in fare (for example add on, or remove, Have It All), change in dinner seating, change in room location, change in room category (from verandah to suite) and on and on. Room category fare changes sometimes lower the commission, and sometimes they increase the commission. Sometimes HAL lowers the fare, and if the booking is then refared by the agent as a courtesy to the client, the commission will decrease. If the booking is later cancelled by clients, the agent is not paid the commission. If the booking is cancelled after the commission has been paid to the agent, HAL recalls the payment, and the agent is left with no commission, despite the work already done. This is one reason some agents charge their clients an upfront fee to ensure they are compensated in some way for their work on the booking. Clients may also ask for pre or post cruise hotel recommendations, and the travel agent can book them for the clients. The agent will usually receive commission directly from the hotel. However, if the client asks the agent to add a pre or post cruise HAL hotel to the booking, the agent will not be paid commission from HAL, nor the hotel. Remember: the HAL rep may complete the initial booking, but they're paid for their time, no matter what happens to the booking later on.

It's a beautiful day in San Diego today. Your sailaway will be around sunset, yes ? The sky colors should be gorgeous. Have a great cruise and Happy Thanksgiving !

Just curious...why do you want a hole punched in your key card ? Not long ago it meant that the bearer wasn't old enough to drink alcohol. I have a feeling we're not talking about that....:)

A few years ago, when I turned 4 star during a cruise, I looked forward to receiving the pin in my room, with a note; that's how it had been done before. But nothing happened, so after the cruise I contacted Mariner Society and asked. They apologized for the oversight, and mailed the pin to me. Like you, I was disappointed. The smallest details make the difference.

Just a guess....when you do your online check in, fill in the passport info and see if you can correct your DOB.

Pre LCS, that area used to be the Explorers Room bar and lounge. The bar was taken out and replaced by the LCS stage It had a classy intimate ambiance, with low lighting, comfortable couch seating and tables, plus a few stools at the bar. It was quiet with no music, and perfect for having conversations. The bartender would make Harbor Light cocktails, complete with a small flame on top. Flaming Harbor Light Drink Recipe Best Glass for "Flaming Harbor Light": Shot glass, Layer Method: Ignite flame Pour into low ball glass before drinking Ingredients in Flaming Harbor Light: 1/3 oz. Kahlua 1/3 oz. Tequila 1/3 oz. Barcardi 151 Rum

Did the referred friends book their cruise directly with HAL ? Thanks for all the info. It's very helpful.

Has anyone done this ? A friend is asking how it works. She wants to refer her friend to HAL so she can earn FCC, and her friend can get $50 onboard credit. She's having trouble with a link that's supposed to refer her friend to HAL. https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/cruise-deals/referral-program?ICID=HECIZ1028222389

The sign was easily visible last Sunday when the Noordam was in port, and people were milling around while there was a line at the security desk as they checked id's.

Gee I don't think San Diego's B Street cruise ship terminal is that awful. I always manage to get onboard just fine, and the ship always sails. That's all I need.

As for passengers on private tours ..whether in a group or just the two of you... consider leaving your names, room numbers, and tour operator/guide contact info with ship's security at the gangway. Also include where your tour is going, and estimated arrival time back at the ship. If security says they don't want it, leave it anyway. If you're not back by the sailing time at least the ship knows your whereabouts and the port agent (if necessary) can contact the local tour operator. I did this while escorting a group from the Veendam in Costa Rica, and it worked. During the tour we learned from our guide that the ship was going to sail early. We cut short the tour, and headed back in a hurry, and made it in time. However, the ship had to wait another hour or so for one of their own shore ex tours to come back; the bus was stopped in traffic. ps. be sure you have the ship's phone # and the port agent's # too.

Were you told on the tour why you were being recalled to the ship ? (just curious)

What kind of perks are you looking for ? Onboard credit ? Paid gratuities ? Dinner in Pinnacle Grill ? Ask the TA for what you want. A friend's agent arranges a private car service to take him from his home to the ship, and return after the cruise. The agent pays for it. That's what he wants and the agent obliges. He's been a loyal customer to that agent for years.

Next time try Marinetraffic.com. Last year I was on a HAL Sea of Cortez cruise, and saw a very distinctive mega yacht in the Cabo marina. Who dat ? I looked up Marinetraffic.com, found the marina, and located the yacht where it was docked. It belonged to Dan Snyder, former owner of the Washington Football Club (nee Redskins, now Commanders). If you look at Marinetraffic now, it has the M5 still docked in Smith Cove. What a beautiful, and graceful sailing yacht.

Try calling HAL Reservations Accounting at 888-663-5384. They might be able to help you, or will refer you to the correct department.

If Ships Services can't help, ask your TA to contact his/her HAL rep and ask them to find out.

Anchorage is a great port....even Captain Cook went there. I wish it was on itineraries more often.

If a cruise is shown as sold out a year in advance, consider that groups have made their room blocks for specific categories, and will continue to hold those rooms, both sold and unsold, until HAL begins to recall the unsold rooms and return them to available inventory to be sold to the general public. The recalls begin months before the departure date, so best to keep checking for availability (meaning actual rooms you can choose, not guarantees).

Where are their passports ?

The Volendam is doing two Mexican Riviera cruises from San Diego. December 10-22,2023 and the holiday cruise on December 22, 2023 - January 3, 2024. The segments are also being sold as one 24 day cruise Dec. 10 - Jan.3.

I wish everyone on the Noordam a safe passage the next few days. Another cruise line changed their routing to Alaska because of the weather forecast. From Cruise Industry News: "After sailing from Seattle on September 14 the cruise will no longer visit any port in Alaska. Instead, it will head straight to Japan, spending a total of ten days at sea before arriving in {Japan}. 'In partnership with our Fleet Operations Center, we are monitoring a low-pressure system in the greater Alaska region which is forecasted to create unusually high swells and strong winds that will impact the first part of our itinerary,' the company said in a statement given to guests onboard. 'To maintain a safe distance from the storm, we must sail south of the low-pressure system. Therefore, it will not be possible to visit Alaska,' [the company] added. The original itinerary of the repositioning cruise included visits to Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point, in addition to scenic cruising at the Hubbard Glacier."

I cruise with my flip phone (call and text only) and an international cell phone (call and text only) . Sometimes both have cell service, and sometimes just one.

I didn't post it on the CCL board because I wanted to ask Holland America guests about it, not Carnival guests. I guess I should have left out the ship's name. 🙄

Just read that the Carnival Luminosa has cancelled going to their scheduled ports in Alaska during their current repositioning cruise. They left Seattle two days ago, headed for Alaska, and then to Japan. Instead they're going straight to Japan - 10 sea days - in order to avoid a storm in the Gulf of Alaska. The guests will be compensated with onboard credit. I've heard of itinerary changes, but this one is major. Just curious if anyone has had something like that happen on a HAL cruise ?

I'm fascinated by this comment. If the great maritime explorers - Columbus, Cook, Bering, Magellan, Drake, Ponce de Leon, Cortez, Vespucci, Hudson, Cousteau, and others, including the intrepid Polynesians, et al - had this mindset, the world's history would certainly be much different. 🙂