richwmn

Have you every felt that there was a black cloud hanging over your head. That is my experience on this Maasdam cruise. If some thing could go wrong, it has or probably will.

..snip..

Checked my bill and the CCL shareholders OBC was missing. The company insists that it is included in my Travel Agents Invoice. Since she has no way of knowing what my stock holdings are and I had contacted CCL directly this is obviously wrong. We're not talking chump change here.

..snip..

This is the only thing I wish to comment on. Your stockholder credit is part of the record provided to a Travel Agent. I have had more than one TA mention the credit after I transferred the cruise to them.

UPDATE Jun 28th - Heard back from World Reservations this morning at 944am EST via email, and they accepted my proof of stock ownership that i had E-MAILED last night (per what my PCC told me).

OBC has been already added to my reservations.

So in summary - HAL has joined the 21st century and will accept emails for this! lol... No need to fax anymore! :p

HAL was in "the 21st century" for a long time. Then about a year or more ago it was decreed, I believe by Carnival Corp, that email would no longer be acceptable. Most likely at the time it was due to the number of exploits available in the pdf format that most people used as an attachment. It has been reported here from time to time that HAL took an email from a specific person, but the policy most likely remains.

edit - found an earlier post that stated:

Current as of March 27, 2013:

"Please note that in order to protect our guest’s privacy, we no longer encourage sending financial information via email. Your next CCL shareholder benefit request can be sent by fax or mail to the following:

Mailing Address: Holland America Line, Attention WCR, 300 Elliott Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119

Fax: 206-281-0627"

posted 9/11/2013 by scriptohio

thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1806751

post #24

Your OBC originated in Seattle, and shipboard accounting interfaces with Home Office accounting. Believe me, they know when you've used their portion of OBC versus TA or Guest prepaid OBC. You may not see the drinks paid for by a Beverage Pkg on your final statement, but in Seattle they can see every drink you've ordered. What level of clearance is required to "see" this back office stuff, I don't know. I was working with a manager from Seattle when it was explained to me.

My experience on this --

On the Maasdam last April I didn't know I had the explore 4 package. Over the first couple of days my drinks were inconsistently placed on my cabin bill. When I checked on it the Beverage Manager told me that they were just getting the accounting set up for it and that the drinks were supposed to go in a different folio. Once that got set up, no more drinks appeared.

The second thing that happened was on the Oosterdam. when I went to check out the first person looked at the screen, then call a supervisor who approved the amount. I can only guess that they were checking my spending against the Non Refundable Credit.

Will HAL automatically put it on my credit card or can I get it in cash before disembark? If cash, can I get it at anytime to use in a port?

 

Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

I know you can receive it in cash on the last evening. Others on this board have indicated that they received a credit on a card. I know that on one cruise after I had cashed out, I got a call on the final morning that I needed to go to the front desk because a credit had been added to my account and I needed to pick up a small extra amount.

If you try to get cash, other than using the slot card trick, prior to closing your account they will charge a fee for getting it. I don't remember how much.

From richwmn:

 

 

Rotterdam Dec 19, 14 day Christmas and New Years

Konigsdam Feb 12, 7 day Eastern Caribbean

Veendam Oct 7, 13 day Canada New England to Fort Lauderdale.

changed the Rotterdam to Prinsendam!

the replacement leaves a day earlier on Dec 18 and is 2 days longer!

pricing was right!

I remain unclear as to why anyone would want to prepay anything. If you have any self discipline at all, if you are able to pay something in advance, you will surely be able to pay it as much as a month later, when your credit card bill comes.

navybankerteacher - you make the same comment each time someone mentions pre-paying. Well, different strokes for different folks.

Some of us just feel better that an obligation is paid off and we can go on to other expenses. Some people see the money in an account and forget about things coming up and spend it. Out of sight, out of mind helps a bunch of people.

The amount of interest someone might get by holding on to the money is minimum, so that shouldn't really be a consideration.

I applaud you that you have the self discipline to put back the money and have the full amount available at final payment. But you really don't need to put down those who choose to pay a different way, for whatever reason they have.

Question: I booked a cruise while we were on Westerdam last March. I've already transferred it to my TA. My question is this: How long can you hold the cruise at Holland before it's too late to transfer to the TA? Is final payment the deadline? I think I've read that there is a time limit on other cruise lines.

You can hold the cruise with HAL right up to final payment (we transfer a few days-week before). I know Celebrity has a time limit, it was a shock when we found that out! :eek:

One other thing, you must still owe something on the cruise in order to be able to transfer it. On the cruises I have transferred, I pay down to a couple hundred dollars, transfer and pay off. That way I know that Holland has the money.

Didn't HAL originally sign a 10 year contract for Crown Bay? Shouldn't it be over by now? Did they renew?

Prior to the HAL ships leaving the Caribbean at the end of April this year, all dam ships used Crown Bay as opposed to WICO/Havensight. The only exceptions were on 03 FEB 16 and 08 MAR 16 when WEDM and PRDM used one of the inner harbor anchorages and tendered due to six and five other cruise ships in port on those days. Sounds like the Crown Bay lease got renewed

I found a web site for what looks to be an excursion provider for St. Thomas. It states that the 10 year lease took effect Oct. 1, 2006. That would mean that the current lease ends with the new Caribbean season. Does anyone know for sure if the lease was renewed?

... and the smokers who want suites would complain.

And the non smokers that like balconies in that area would complain louder, then book them anyway and complain more.

Another thing to consider, since this is a work computer.

Many times a corporation will have an internal website which is based on the capabilities of a particular version of Internet Explorer. This internal web site may break with newer versions of IE, so the corporate IT department freezes IE at whatever version works properly with the internal site. This older version might not work properly with external web sites, but that is not a concern of the IT department.

I'm using my work computer and don't have admin rights to switch browsers. IE is so widely used, I don't understand why the HAL website doesn't support it. Thanks for all your suggestions.

 

Roz

IE, and now Edge, is not as compliant to the established standards as the other browsers and Microsoft has a history of introducing "features" which break websites. In addition, some companies chose to program their websites to these Microsoft "features" making their sites unusable by people with other browsers, and even other versions of the Microsoft products.

It is easier for companies now to make their sites standard compliant.

Sunday, we just got off our 1st HAL cruise on the Oosterdam. We expected a final statement delivered to our stateroom, as it has been done on the other cruise lines we have sailed with. When we woke up, nothing was outside our cabin in the morning of disembarkation. We did not have time to go ask for one because we were scheduled on an early departure to FCO.

Does anyone know how we can obtain a copy of our statement now?

Does HAL not usually deliver them to the staterooms?

One way to get a copy of your final bill for any cruise is to fill out an email form on the HAL website

http://www.hollandamerica.com/contactUs/Main.action

if the link doesn't work, go to the bottom of the HAL home page and click on "Contact Us", Then on the left click on "Email Us".

When you get to the form, one of the options for the topic line is

"Onboard Bill Questions/Request a copy"

BTW, you can use this for any completed cruise.

For a just completed cruise it will most likely take a few days to load the information to the main computer system

I've read here that HAL no longer provides cash refunds. If that is not the case and it is still possible to get cash for surplus OBC, so much the better.

Not sure where you got that information, but in early May I received cash for my remaining OBC.

Is there a way to send a gift or letter to a crew memeber on board any given ship? I am especially interested in sending something, i.e. letter, to a crew member on the Zaandam. It is on the Alaska run now. Any suggestions?

I can answer that there is a way. Several years ago I sent something to a crew member at his request. He gave me an address at the port to send it to. I believe it was in San Diego. Perhaps Copper John can chime in and give the correct address.

Rich

Just went back and checked:

The format is:

Ship Name

Crew Member Name and Position (ie Barman, Cabin Steward etc)

address of (I believe) port agent

I've been looking for a dining room chart for the Koningsdam. It's not yet available on halfacts and googling it doesn't pull up a chart. Anyone know a source for the K's upper level dining room table numbers? Can it be acquired from HAL itself?

We don't have it yet unfortunately.

 

Ships Services may be able to get it - I haven't tried yet.

I was just told that it is not available yet, but they are working on it.

I called HAL about this today. We are doing a seven day to Alaska in a couple of weeks. I have about $500 in credit that I purchased. I wanted to buy another $500 for a total of $1000 in purchased credit. I still have to register a card. If choosing the cash option, they still want a cash deposit, over and above the OBC. I had thought I was getting that out of The way by purchasing OBC. Apparently, I wasnt.

Maybe the person you spoke with didn't understand that your OBCs would exceed the $60/p/d requirement. Buy enough, and if they ask for a deposit at the pier just tell them you have already made one.

When you check in they will mention that you don't have a card on file. All I do at this point is tell them that I have cash on deposit and that ends it. As I mentioned above, I have not had a card registered in my last 8 or 9 cruises.

Usually I have more OBC available then the $60/day, but on at least one it was slightly less and there was no problem. I have never been asked at check in how much OBC I have. I guess you could have much less and as long as you don't spend near that much, they might allow it.

What is policy in Seattle is not always done on the ships!

Are they open while in port?

The answer to the first question depends on the ship, 7 do and 7 don't.

Yes - Veendam, Maasdam, Zaandam, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Volendam, Princendam

No - Oosterdam, Noordam, Westerdam, Zuiderdam, Eurodam, Neuw Amsterdam, Konigsdam

Second question - I believe they are open every day 8 am or so to 9 pm or so

even in port

Veendam well on the way to Montreal. I and a few others had been curious about the possibility of high water levels preventing the final leg but all looks well.

 

Roy

We left early to be sure we made it under the bridge - Montreal tomorrow. sorry to get off

Are you certain they will consider OBC the same as a cash account? They may, I don't know myself but I could see where they may not, particularly if it is not shipboard credits that have been purchased by the cruiser. I would be interested if anyone has actually done this in some form or fashion and how HAL treated it.

I have not registered a credit card for the last 8 or 9 cruises, including the one I am now on, and have had a combination of OBC and purchased credit. At check in they mention that I don't have a card registered and I reply that I have a cash account. Then I board the ship - no problems at all.

I have found that even if you load up your onboard account with cash before boarding, HAL will still zap your credit/debit card for the customary $60/$30 per day/per person credit hold. ($30 per day for cruises longer than 25 days). I had enough prepaid OBC on my account on the first day to cover 90% of my anticipated expenses. But HAL still snatched $2500 of my credit card balance and held it for the duration of the cruise, plus about 4 days, then it drops off. It is true that the funds are not actually charged against your card, but they are unavailable for you to use during the cruise. Definitely use a card that has a high available balance, just in case you find that perfect Rolex watch on a shore excursion !!

 

Another item.... Any OBC given by HAL or your TA cannot be used for advance, online purchases, such as shore excursions, PG or Canaletto dinners. You must pay for those with a credit card, and use your OBC for things like HSC, laundry packages, internet, casino, etc.

 

If you do go overboard with OBC, funded by you or your TA, any unused will be refunded at the end of your cruise. Or, find out what you have left over on last night, and throw it all straight up on red 7 on the roulette table. Who knows ??

If you have enough on board credit just tell them you have a cash account and you don't need to register a card and therefore have no hold

Okay Rich, we will be onboard in two days but I'm dying to know if the TV's and DVD players were replaced with the new TV system on the Veendam. Please and thank you. :)

Unfortunately, the old TV and DVD combination is still here, and no indication of any ability to check you statement on a laptop or tablet. The kiosk is present in the lobby, but has not worked yet.

Rich

Can you advise who are the Captain, CD, Location Guide, and Piano Bar player?

 

Have a wonderful cruise. I think that's a great itinerary (and good luck with the temporary terminal in Montreal).

 

Thanks

 

Roy

I am aboard now.

Captain is Noel O'Driscoll

GRM is Rencel Recto

Piano Bar is Jeff the Piano Man

Location Guide is Jeremy

Show Host is Joel

CD is Sarah

Adagio is a Duo

There is a HALCATs with Karen and a Neptunes

any other questions I will try to answer

I will be embarking on the Veendam this Thursday and am very excited. This cruise I'm flying solo (a gift to myself for my 51st birthday on May 3). My family and I did a similar itinerary last August on Maasdam- so I'm familiar with Holland America and the New England/ Canadian ports, but this time it's a 9-day instead of a 7-day with Gaspe and Saguenay Canada thrown into the mix (both new to me).

 

I understand that Veendam was in drydock and I'll let you know how it looks after I board in Boston on 4/28 and download pictures upon my return.

 

I'm booked into room H381 (which is a connecting room unfortunately) and I hope there isn't noise between the staterooms. I was originally booked in an inside guarantee but the price dropped and they upgraded me for free to an outside- so I'm not going to complain.

Please come by the Meet & Greet in the Crows Nest, port side, after your day in Bar Harbour at 4pm

Veendam is currently on her first cruise since drydock - a 15 day Southern Caribbean. No one has replied from the ship, and the cruise doesn't end until Sunday morning the 24th, when I board. Hopefully someone will respond after Sunday.

Quote "I have been told several times by my PCC that she doesn't lose anything by transferring the cruise to a Travel Agent"

 

But what does the TA get out of handling the transfer? Why would you transfer anyway?

We have always used a TA, but recently have had contact with a PCC. I am trying to justify dealing with the PCC and then transferring to a TA. Our TA is just a local travel agent with big ties, so a OBC would not be forthcoming. However she does prepare and agenda for us. Will a PCC do the same?

Since you quoted me without using the quote function, I will also answer.

I make my initial booking with the PCC I have used for several years. In most cases the booking stays with her.

When I do transfer the booking to a TA, the PCC retains the credit she needs for getting the initial booking, the TA gets whatever commission they would normally get for the cruise - they do not have to get the initial booking to get that commission. In return, the TA generally rebates some of their commission in the form of OBC.

On the cruise I am about to take, I transferred the cruise to a friend who is trying to get started. For this cruise I was not offered enough to warrant me transferring the cruise, but I did to help the friend. She still gets the commission.