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I have one thought on not seeing the doubled amount in your account.  The HAL rep. told me yesterday that our doubled deposit for the cancelled cruise would be split between the two of us.  Is it possible that the other half of your deposit is under another account/mariner number/name? 

I was on the telephone with my big box TA and HAL earlier today working on this issue.  Our Great Alaskan Explorer cruise (9/21) on the Maasdam was cancelled by HAL.  I confirmed that all of the money that was paid on the cruise to date will be doubled as a FCC (not just the initial deposit).  I used a FCD when i initially booked and added the March, 2020 DH Promo.  I also had other dollars credited from a cancelled air reservation.   I booked a new cruise today.  I had to pay a new deposit (I used another FCD that I had).  The FCC will not be available for some time.  It could be a couple of months I was told.  So none of the money I paid toward the cancelled cruise could be used today for a new booking.  However, the HAL rep. told me that when the FCC lands in my account, I can apply it to the cruise I booked today.  That's what sealed the deal for me to take the FCC versus a refund. When I apply the FCC when it is available, I'll have FCC remaining to use on another cruise booking. 

I agree with Sue from Canada.  Sunshine!  We first met Sunshine on the Veendam in January in the MIX Bar where she was an assistant.  We were delighted to see her again in February, 2020 on the Nieuw Statendam in the Tamarind Bar.  We were fortunate that she saw us on our first evening on the ship dining in Tamarind.  She is a very talented bartender and a warm and friendly person.  

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An update.  I was on the phone with the TA for over one hour as she worked with HAL.  In the end, the TA rep and the HAL rep agreed that the HAL rep would call its air flight department when they opened to continue the discussion.  I remained on the phone with the TA going back and forth.  In the end, I was able to recoup a portion of the air fare that I paid, less cancellation fees of $144.92 per person.  This could have been a case of the HAL rep not knowing the rules of cancellation.  I don't think it was a special deviation of compensation case, at least it was not presented to me that way.  Quite the learning experience for me (and likely all three of us on the phone).  I wish you much luck if you cancel and are in this position.  

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I am currently on the phone with my big box TA. I'm cancelling an existing 14 night cruise to Alaska scheduled for September 2020 and rebooking the "same" cruise for September 2021.  In the process I've learned that when I booked my air online with FE and paid, that the fare became non-refundable.  I specifically booked a flexible fare.  I should have done a better job reading the fine print.  I thought I had until my cruise booking cancellation date to cancel and that the air would be refundable.  A hard lesson for a novice FE user.  Has anyone experienced this issue?  Did you have any luck with contacting the airline?  My tickets are booked on Air Canada.  The TA told me that when I call AC, because I used a TA, they will tell me to call my TA.  HAL says they can't do anything.  A costly mistake on my part.  

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If I'm on the wrong part of the Boards please direct me to the correct Board.  We are scheduled for a September 2020 Great Alaskan Explorer cruise on the Maasdam.  I'm just now looking into flights from Baltimore to Vancouver. I've checked the airline sites and Flight Ease.  Flight Ease has great prices and a decent flight selection, but I'm not certain how to proceed.  When I select Flex fares, then go to select a seat, there are no seats available.  Is this because they get assigned later by the airline? Maybe when we pay the full cruise fare?  Can I upgrade the seats using Flight Ease so that a selection can be made now?  Do I have to call to do that?  Are the Flight Ease people knowledgeable?

I'm currently looking at Air Canada flights.

This is my first experience with booking air with Flight Ease.  I've read many good things about the service in the past, but my skill for searching the HAL board is limited.

Your experience, tips, etc. is very much appreciated.

Thank  you.

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This may or may not be helpful information as I’ve never booked on board and prefer to purchase FCDs.  I’m just off the NS today.  I stopped at the FC office to have a currently booked refundable cruise fared with the View and Veranda promotion.  I am unhappy with a change to the SBP and wanted to assess if my current booking is still worth the money.  The FC office could not price the cruise at a new fare because he needed to use my Mariner number and that his system would not permit the exercise as it does not permit a double booking. I’ll work on this when I return home.

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We are currently on the NS and having a wonderful time.  We have been advised by a couple of beverage staff that the 1L bottles of spring water are not included in the SBP.  The cost is well below the $11 limit.  Prior to revising our reservation to include the SBP our analysis included our spring water consumption.  During our previous cruises the large bottles of Evian were included in the SBP.  Where did I miss this information?  I plan to stop by Guest Services and inquire.

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Thank you for this post.  Last year on the Veendam in January there were only a couple of sightings of the dairy alternative coconut milk or oat milk in the Lido.  I could not get either of these in the Explorations coffee bar.  I hope at least one of these two alternatives are available on the Nieuw Statendam beginning this Sunday.  

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We have purchased the unlimited laundry package on many of our cruises and it works well for us and will do so again next week.  With the package, can we send out items to just be pressed and not laundered?

Thank you.

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Alberta Quilter,

Thank you for posting about the dinner.  Do you recall if the menu is available upon boarding?  

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Has anyone recently attended the Aficionado Dinner on the Nieuw Statendam?  We sail in less than two weeks and the dinner just came to my attention.  I could not find detail on the HAL site.  Would love to hear your experiences.  

Thank you.

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Last night I was working on the HAL site to complete the check-in documents.  When I first was on the passport page it appeared that my passport information was stored.  At some point in the process, this disappeared and then it had to be entered three times before it was accepted.

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I clicked on the link Seasick Sailor posted and I'm all set for our February cruise.  We have used this service in the past, but during our cruise with HAL in January, 2019 we did not receive the forms in our stateroom and by the time I realized that we had not received the forms, it was past the deadline to sign up.  Thank you for posting.

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Thank you to Wesport for the alert on the AMEX promotion and to NMTraveller for posting the link.  My AMEX offers did not include this offer but I was able to add from the posted link.  I purchased OBC on the HAL website and two days later the $100 credit appeared on my AMEX account.  

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I would like to thank everyone that took the time to respond with the details.  I appreciate your time.  I think my plan will be to purchase/schedule the dining when we board for all four of us and not worry with purchasing the dining package for our friends prior to boarding.  

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The Mariner benefits chart indicates a $25% discount for specialty dining.  I have read on CC in the past that we can bring people with us and pay for the table and receive the discount for all.  We are cruising with friends in Feb and thought specialty dining would make a good holiday gift.  If the discount for the table is not correct, can you let me know?

Secondly, there is a Distinctive Dining Package online that includes the three restaurants we intend to give as a gift.  It is my understanding that in order to receive our Mariner discount for dining, that we have to be on the ship to purchase and not pre-purchase prior to the cruise.  Is this correct?  Does anyone know if the Distinctive Dining Package is available for purchase on the ship and would the Mariner discount apply if we purchase when we board?

Thank you for your insight.

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Does anyone know if one can play words with friends with the Surf Plan, or does it require an upgrade to the Premium Plan?

On our last two cruises we purchased the Premium Plan so that my husband could continue to play not knowing if it was necessary.  

Thank you.

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Many months ago I booked the 14 night Alaskan Explorer cruise for September, 2020.  Months after I booked,  a promotion came out that included the SBP.  I was able to have it added to my booking without an increase in price!  Most likely I saw it discussed here on CC first!

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Thank you.  I will send the documentation in tomorrow.

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Thank you to all that provided information.  

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How early is too early to send in evidence of CCL stock ownership?  My next cruise is in February 2020.

Thank you.

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If I book flights for my Alaskan cruise (September, 2020) using the Flight Ease Program, can I cancel without penalty before final payment on my cruise is due?

Thank you.

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My husband and I have spent time in Key West going back years now.  While I would agree that there are not great beaches in Key West, we have enjoyed our time at Higgs Beach.  The beach has a decent restaurant, Salute and during our trips we were able to rent chairs.  We have seen people enjoy the water but the water is nothing like the water in the Caribbean.

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Alphen,

Thank you for letting me know the status of the Zodiac this season.

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