richwmn

I guess they are only at February ;) We don't sail until March.

I got my notification for a Feb 12th cruise yesterday.

Also remember that a significant number of passengers will not go ashore at all and others will go ashore later just for a quick visit

On the page that shows all your reservations, at the top of each reservation, there is a link to the portion of the website for purchasing the cruise. It shows the title of the cruise. If you click on that there will be a link to email the itinerary.

Good to know. I really don't expect to use a PCC since I usually do my research and book through C.

Have not had overall good experience with PCC's assigned to me.

On NCL Jade cruise PCC told me I would have a wrap around balcony on aft suite (not correct). On recent X booking was give an A1 upgrade and the PCC made a big deal of assigning me a hump cabin (very desirable). Only after checking did I see that it was a clearly marked obstructed balcony (window washing equipment).She never even mentioned this.

If the PCC has access to some special deals or insight great but if all you are going to get is misinformation what is the point. JMHO

I have experience only with HAL PCCs and my experience has only been positive. Over the years I have had 3, all of which have been excellent.

Your listed experience has not been with HAL and while it was not good, PCCs like anything else can be good or bad and it is possible that you have just had some bad luck. Trying again with any line might provide you with a better experience.

We typically book with the big Cos. Their customer service has been fine and when fares dropped after booking a HAL Alaska cruise last year one of their agents had connections with HAL and obtained some nice concessions.

Transferring booking WITHIN ALLOWED TIME FRAMES is simple and you retain all of your initial booking benes. That said, I had been contacted by a HAL PCC who has quoted me some fares on different cruises but nothing above and beyond what I saw online. Over the weekend I saw a desirable aft cabin and booked directly through C. While I hate to shut out anyone that is trying to assist me there just isn't any advantage (from what I can see) in booking with a PCC. My impression also was that if you transfer the booking from them to another TA they don't receive 'credit' anyway. Just curious how this works.

If a PCC had worked closely with me to arrange a booking I might feel inclined not to transfer but for the little assistance seemingly offered I cannot forgo 200 plus dollars of big store credit.

It has been reported here several times, and verified by my PCC a number of times, that as long as the PCC gets the initial booking they get the 'credit' they need even if the reservation later gets moved to a TA.

Interesting....I didn't know it was refundable.

 

Too bad it can only be purchased on board. Although I do see sales sometimes with reduced deposits. But that isn't always a plus when at that time fares might be higher during those "sales". Then a reduced deposit doesn't have long term value if in the end the cruise costs more.

True, it has to be purchased on board, but if you need one and trust someone who is on a cruise or about to board, they can purchase one for you. All they need is your mariner number or the phone number that is associated with your account.

I have purchased several for others, in one case as an incentive to try HAL for some friends that have sailed on Carnival and Princess.

Has anyone else experienced this? Solution ??

We have nearly 300 days and nearly 5-star mariners.

We have three bookings (2 in December and 1 in March). My DH went in to add some restaurant reservations and realized there was nearly 3000.00 difference in pricing for a party of 2 for the December back to back bookings. No $50 might be happen chance but $3000 is real $. We tried customer service with no help.

check and make sure that all your perks are included in the new fare. You have posted to the Dec 20th Zaandam cruise which is 21 days. If you have the Explore4 package and they are now pricing without it, that would be a major part of the difference.

You mention a b2b, if the other part is the previous Zaandam cruise the total would be 35 days and dropping the Explore4 package would cover that difference.

If you want the lower fare, it would be with the perks that currently accompany it.

Quite frankly- this is unethical and quite disappointing to very loyal (now stupid) customers.

Disappointing, maybe.

Be aware that in Panama there is no option for private tours. You must be on a ships tour to leave the ship in Gatun Lake. This is a requirement of the Panamanian Government.

I copied and pasted the link in a new tab to check it's functionality, and it worked. I noticed my first name in it, but since it worked I published it. I faxed our Shareholder app, no cover needed, and it was posted to our account within 48 hours.

It worked because the link resolved to a file on the computer you were using. If you had gone to another computer, it would not have worked.

your link starts with: file:///C:, the designation file, rather than http means a local file

Have been looking and looking for shore excursions. Most are either too expensive or strenuous activity. My husband has bad knees and needs very level walking. Most of the easy ones are thousands of dollars for either a car or mini van. Are there places at the pier that offer cruisers options like we find in Mexico, Alaska and the Caribbean?

For the excursions I have looked at that involved cars or vans the price listed was for the vehicle without regard to how many people participated. Check to see how many people can participate, then ask on your roll call to fill it up.

Good Afternoon, All

 

I have read lots of threads regarding transferring the booking to a TA before final payment in order to receive some onboard credit or maybe a free dinner.I am ready to proceed but had a question. I booked with the Anniversary Sale promo.We are good with the perks it offers and are satisfied with the price. If I transfer my booking, is it really a new booking and I'll lose my stuff? I wish I had moved it before the sale ended...then no question.

Anyway, hope someone can help. You guys all know so much..You'all rock!

the booking transfers "as is" and the TA can add whatever they wish.

The estimated driving time is based on traffic and other conditions, such as construction, at the time that you search. Try the same search at rush hour and then again late in the evening to see the difference.

Depending on the version of Google Maps (mobile) you're using, the time calculation is estimated throughout your journey. So, if you are going to encounter rush hour somewhere along your route, that will be factored in. If you are leaving from say, Atlanta at rush and headed to Port Everglades, it will factor in the rush hour traffic along I-75 south of Atlanta, but not the rush hours for the other metro areas you'll pass through -- unless your estimated arrival time in those areas coincides with a new rush hour in a new location.

 

It's all calculated using Waze data & projections and updated pretty much continuously. This is a big change from 5 years ago, when the interstate travel times used to be off almost an hour for every 6 traveled.

 

Also, do NOT put in your stateroom number. If the ship is docked with the opposite side toward the pier, you might accidentally fall into the canal.

Using desktop google maps, not the mobile version. Comment about being an hour shorter was an observation based on checking maps various times over the past couple of years, and this morning which would be on a weekday including several places where rush hour might have to be considered.

Sweet, if I left right now I'd be there in 16 hours and 42 minutes!

For me it is showing the trip as being an hour shorter than it used to, using pretty much the same route!

I just found out something interesting in Google Maps.

In the search box you can type "Port Everglades Terminal 21, Fort Lauderdale, FL" or whichever terminal you wish and it will position you there. You can then use your home or other address and get directions all the way to the terminal.

I see you're booked on the same cruise we are. I see HAL has now also included the Explore Four deal for that cruise. Just so you know, you can "rebook" a cruise that you haven't fully paid for yet to take advantage of the new sale offerings. However, when you rebook the cruise, you will be charged the new fare for your current cabin's category, so you should do the math first to see if it's worthwhile to rebook.

 

For us the price of our room's category has more than doubled since we booked it early last year when they first came out, so rebooking to get the Signature Beverage Package, Free Gratuities and $200 worth of Internet minutes, although a great deal, wouldn't be worth it. But depending on what you originally booked your room for versus what the current price is, you may want to check it out to see if it's worth having HAL rebook it with the Explore Four perks that now come with your room's category.

 

Also, if you're looking to cruise on more Carnival-owned cruise lines in the future, you may want to think about buying 100 shares of Carnival stock. You get free OBC (up to $200) on each future cruise you book. Here's the link that explains the details - http://www.carnivalcorp.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=140690&p=irol-sharebenefit

I am also on the Konigsdam cruise in Feb. Please join SC_GAY_Cruiser and me on the roll call at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2317499

As a just for your info type thing......talked to HAL today.

 

If you do add money to a ship board account prior to your cruise, HAL suggested I change my account from a credit/debit card to a cash basis. In my example, if I were to add $600 of ship board credit which is well more than would be put on "hold" with my credit card, your credit card will still have a hold placed on the amount even though your ship board credit is adequate.

 

I can make the final decision whether to use cash or credit/debit card at time of boarding.

 

dave

If you change your account to cash in the pre boarding docs there is no place to put a credit card number. When you check in, they will mention that you don't have a card on file. If you have enough OBC you tell them you have enough cash they will let you go, no credit card number on file == no possibility of a hold.

What if you deposited the money through the year until your cruise but for some unforeseen reason, you had to cancel the cruise totally, what would happen to the money you've deposited??

The money would be refunded, or could be used toward another cruise.

Had no idea about this. Could you expand please? Thanks :)

Norwegian Getaway Will Head to Brazil for the 2016 Summer Olympics

one reference of many

http://cruiseweb.com/blog/2015/01/norwegian-getaway-will-head-to-brazil-for-the-2016-summer-olympics

I remember that three (I believe) Carnival Ships were sent to New Orleans to provide support for hurricane Katrina

Federal officials are chartering three of Carnival Cruise Lines' ships for six months, part of a plan to provide shelter for as many as 7,000 people displaced by devastating Hurricane Katrina.

 

The three ships — the Ecstasy, Sensation and Holiday — will be pulled from regular use starting Monday.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9188316/ns/us_news-katrina_the_long_road_back/t/cruise-ships-chartered-hurricane-refugees/#.V7DtO7OYqRs

Five ships were used at Jacksonville for the Super Bowl

The first ship, the 490-passenger Seven Seas Navigator from Radisson Seven Seas Cruise Line, is to dock about 7:30 a.m. today in front of the Adam's Mark hotel downtown. Later this morning, the Carnival Miracle, big enough to hold 2,108 passengers, will berth at the JaxPort Cruise Terminal on the Northside.

On Thursday, three vessels from Holland America Line will join the cargo ships at the Talleyrand Marine Terminal, 2 miles northeast of Alltel Stadium.

2014 Super Bowl in New York

The 4,028-passenger Norwegian Getaway ship will serve as lodging and an entertainment venue for Super Bowl XLVIII. The boat will dock in New York for the Feb. 2 game and will offer lodging starting the Thursday before the game through the Monday morning after the event.

again - one of several references

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/05/bud-light-hotel-superbowl-2014_n_4218929.html

Given some time, I think there were more. I seem to remember west coast of Canada for something and maybe more.

Found another:

Hotel rooms are so scarce for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver next February that four cruise ships have been chartered to add temporary rooms during the Games. Correspondent Tom Banse reports.

 

 

The Canadian government has chartered three cruise ships to house all the extra security personnel it’s bringing in for the Olympics.

 

Seattle-based Holland America Line is supplying two of those three ships from its West Coast fleet.

http://www.opb.org/news/article/cruise-ships-chartered-vancouver-olympics-lodging/

Good points, plus I might add that their "hotels" can be floated away from out of favor places to more favorable ones.

they can also be moved into areas for a week or two for use as regular hotels for special events such as the Olympics (currently NCL), Super Bowl (several times), Hurricane Relief (Katrina) etc.

My experience having done this over a dozen times.

1. Yes it is like depositing money into a savings account. Most savings accounts pay little or no interest, so that part is a wash.

2. When you do your on line check in select cash. When you check in the representative will mention that you do not have a credit card registered. You replay that you have enough OBC and that will end it.

3. Starting around 8pm the last night of the cruise you can close out your account. Be aware that when you do that, no more can be purchased on the ship unless you have a Signature Beverage Card for drinks. My excess OBC has always been refunded in cash, but I have seen others state that it can be applied to a credit card.

4. As mentioned, all your OBC shows as a credit. It has always appeared to me that as long as you spend more than your non-refundable credit there is no problem.

5. I use this method on all my cruises, so you can tell I have no regrets. When you leave the ship, all bills are paid - you owe nothing more. They don't have a credit card to charge additional amounts to.

edit to add:

If you buy OBC credit in advance it will still count towards any credit card points or miles you may participate in - to the full amount you purchase not what you spend. If you get a refund, the points or miles will still be there.

Skimming thru the answers again, I must emphasise that as long as you are close to the $60/day/person you will NOT have to register a credit card.

Again, I have done exactly this over the last six or seven years and many cruises without a problem.

See you on the Konigsdam in 6 months!

Rich

Goodmorning Richwmn!

 

You beat me to it 😀 I was going to say the same thing!

Have a great day!

 

Denise:)

Good afternoon to you - Hope the rest of your week is great!

Rich

thanks for all the responses!

 

I should have asked this in my original question.

 

I want to pay for someone else's 'required' gratuities that is a member of our cabin, but then allow the person to register their own credit card on their cruise charge card for any additional purchases they make. Right now the person's account has my credit card assigned to their account, but I would like to switch this once we get onboard. So can I just go pay cash at the front desk for the gratuities for their account, and then have our cabin mate change the account to have their credit card, and not mine? I understood that the amount I would pay would just get credited to their account, and not necessarily applied to the "Gratuities" amount, but if the person made no other charges on the cruise, then they would be even steven.

A caution on this. If your card is registered and then you wait until you board and go to the front desk, it is possible that both cards will have the $60/person/day hold applied.

I would do like John mentioned and go ahead and put their card on the account and then once on board go to the front desk and apply the cash. Or even easier, call ships services and buy them obc as a gift - very easy to do.

Yes

 

But remember that HAL will still require you to pay $60 per person per day inadvance.

You can also pre-purchase OBC before you leave which would then be used for any on board expenses including the HSC. It is under "Gifts and Indulgences" where you can purchase just about any amount you would like as multiples of each 'card' are available. This is refundable OBC if you do not use it all.

And if you do purchase OBC in advance or at the Front Desk, you do not have to register a card so there is no "Hold". If you register a card, the full $60/person/day hold is placed on the card no matter how much OBC you have.

So I presume you developed these friendships while cruising with the folks you met first on roll calls? Did you then plan subsequent cruises with such folks? My husband and I would like to make some "cruising buddies," but perhaps we would have to cruise more frequently than we do now in order to make that happen.

 

 

Yes! Cruises and meeting up on land as well :)

 

Unfortunately most of my cruise buddies live on the opposite coast. That just makes us more eager to plan future cruises together and seeing each other when we happen to be near each others' homes.

 

Right now four cruise friends will be on my January cruise, and possibly 7 on my October 2017 cruise. :)

Not cruising along, but we are in the same boat.

 

The people we have met are not in our area and far away, but we have had the pleasure to repeat cruises with them. We have stayed connected and contact each other and if itineraries suit and timing we are lucky enough to cruise with life long friends.

 

Making it happen is not hard, we participated in the roll call,met some people, "connected".

 

I consider myself blessed by the people I have met on roll calls. anytime I can cruise with the people we enjoy it makes it easy to convince DH to book ;):D

What constitutes an Active Roll Call? I met Cruising-Along on a Roll Call in April of 2012, then actually met her and her DH waiting for the shuttle from the hotel to the ship. That Roll Call had a total of 915 entries. We stayed in touch and in Sept of 14 when I flew to Seattle prior to a Vancouver departure to Alaska we spent the day together. Shortly after that she mentioned doing the same cruise again, which was this last April. That Roll Call had 625 entries, but a core of about 10, most of which are signed up for the reverse cruise in October of next year. That Roll Call has barely started.

So by some standards, neither of the Roll Calls was very active, but the people got along both on-line and in person.

I have also stayed in touch with another couple who were not active on the Roll Call but I met on the ship and they have started replying to the Roll Calls. I changed my plans for December because they let me know they had booked a similarly timed cruise on a different HAL ship and asked me to join them.

I had another couple pick me up at a port near their home and spent the day with them before returning to the ship.

These friendships are very special to me and I hope to cruise with each of them again.

There are also many people I have talked to on Cruise Critics that I would like to share a cruise with to have a chance to meet them. Maybe it will happen one day.

Question for Crew News (per your public profile) or anyone else: I see that a NORTHERN (San Diego to Vancouver) Pacific Coastal cruise can be linked to a 7-day (or longer, I assume) Alaska cruise.

 

In the past, I had inquired with HAL if I could do an Alaskan cruise linked to a SOUTHERN (Vancouver to San Diego) Pacific Coastal and was told "no" because of the Passenger Services Act (which I though I understood). Is this because the Southern one is traveling TO the US, rather than FROM the US?

 

Thanks for any information.:confused:

 

Penny

The key is where YOU start your cruise. If YOU start in a US port you can not end in another US port without going to a FAR (non N American/Caribbean) port. If you start in a Foreign port, it doesn't matter where YOU end up.

If the Northern Route is starting in San Diego and ending in Vancouver there is no violation. If it ends in Seattle there would be.

If the Southern Route started in Vancouver there would also be no problem but starting in Seattle would not allow you to stay on to San Diego.