richwmn

Hey Rich, I wanted to give you a shout out and thank you for your many contributions to this board. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

Your welcome, glad if I could help.

The key part of your statement is that the only refundable OBC, I believe, is OBC that you purchased. HAL OBC is generally not refundable. I'm not sure about TA OBC.

With a TA it depends on where the OBC is coming from. If they purchase it as a "gift" from their commission it is refundable. However, many of the OBCs that come from a TA are part of a package the TA buys, either thru putting together a group, which may be unrelated passengers just on the same group, or perks that they are allowed to give as "high volume" sellers.

This board has the most helpful and knowledgeable members and I appreciate the information you provide. How do you know if your suite qualifies (suite definition varies by ship per KK)? We are in a Vista Suite on the Veendam, a Neptune suite on the Westerdam which I know qualifies, and a Signature Suite on our second cruise on the the Westerdam.

 

I want to be sure I understand the OBC information. Our Explore 4 OBC or any OBC given by HAL does not qualify? JTL I was thinking of buying OBC for one of our sailings that does not have OBC so your answer makes me more likely to purchase it. Thanks :)

If you purchase OBC it is a credit toward you spending. Anything you spend, doesn't matter where the money to pay for it comes from, counts toward the bonus days. One word of caution - I was told that the cost of the beverage package, if given as a perk, does not count toward the spending bonus.

(Ruth C and I were typing at the same time)

So now it's confirmed....sorry to hear that.

 

Enjoy your cruise anyway, she's a beautiful ship with a wonderful crew.

Tell Joel (show host/pub trivia leader) hello from the Brainy Bunch:D

If that is the same Joel who was on the Zuiderdam for the Sept relocation from Vancouver to FLL, tell him hello from V2FL as well.

Has anybody ever used these for ports in the Caribbean & have you found them helpful for planning excursions on your own rather than HAL's shore excursions?

My answer to your question is no. However you might find this thread deleted since AAA is a travel agency and discussion of travel agencies is prohibited on Cruise Critics

If all goes well I will be 4 star after my next cruise!!

Let's assume your made up and based on nothing statistic is accurate for a moment: If you asked this silent majority if they had a preference between a smokey area or a non-smokey area what do you suppose they might answer?

I am not sure why you think that your "made up and based on nothing statistic" is accurate either. If you have taken any statistics courses you would find that nothing has a sharp cut off point. In this case, several people have posted on this, and other threads, that they are not bothered by smoke and smokers.

As far as what this group might answer - again it would vary. In my case if I had a balcony I would really not care. Given a choice, others might ask for the non smoking side but be ok with it if given the smoking side.

Your idea isn't logical. If only 20% of the ship smokes, why should an entire side be devoted to them, and only one side to non smokers? Why should a non smoker be stuck on the smoking side because they booked late. And, how late is late??? Like I stated earlier, we booked well over a year and had one suitable cabin to choose from. You are implying I should book as soon as the itinerary comes out, to assure my spot. If this idea was logical, don't you think HAL would have done this??? You are implying your priorities are the most logical for all of us. I don't care what side of the ship I'm on, but if people do care, I'm not going to roll my eyes and think there is something wrong with their priorities.

 

I will roll the dice and assume that most people on the itineraries I choose will be non smokers because they are able to pay big bucks for a cruise, except for the sprinkling of Europeans, who seem to still think smoking is safe. Maybe they don't have all the pollution in their air, which exacerbates COPD/cancer.

 

Most importantly, HAL WILL ban smoking. Now my hopes are up, because people mentioned June. We had a "mole" who let us know about the wine....wish this mole would come forword and drop some hints about the smoking!

Actually your response is the one that is not logical. You, and others, continue to express the problem as "black and white" where this issue contains many shades of gray. While you contend that the split is 20% smokers and 80% that can't stand to be around smoke, the split is more like 20% smokers, 60% tolerant to various degrees, and 20% that can't stand to be around smoke.

Allowing one side to be guaranteed to be smoke free gives the 20% a place they can book that will satisfy them. It may not be the side they prefer, but nobody gets everything they want.

Smokers would be on the other side and would also have many choices of cabins. They too, might not get the side of the ship they prefer but we all have to make choices.

The rest of the ship would be filled with the 60% who, for what ever reason, don't care and are not bothered by smoke and smokers. These people are out there, but generally don't respond to smoking threads because it doesn't effect them.

As far as your Prinsendam cruise, you said you had only one cabin that met your requirements to book. What would you want HAL to do? Guarantee that you could get your choice of cabins whenever you book, moving people who had already booked if the happen to have booked your cabin? I seem to remember Sail7seas mentioning one time that she changed weeks on a cruise in order to get the cabin she wanted.

I believe a thread mentioned that the fax machine was only on during the normal business hours of World Cruise Reservations in Seattle. You might make sure you try during those hours.

here is a list of Rhodes Scholars (at least to 2012)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Rhodes_Scholars

note Kris Kristofferson is on it in 1958

and Bill Clinton in 1968

Do the wide variety of vapors have a scent? Legalslave mentioned 'liquid mint'..... can I smell that if I am sitting beside someone smoking that vapor? Are any or all scent free?

 

I agree it is inappropriate for faux cough or hand waving in a designated smoking area.

What about the 'real cough' from the neighboring verandah. How can you determine whether that person is truly being bothered from the smoke? Answer, you really cannot. We didn't choose to give up use of our verandah for a whole week on Eurodam. We were forced to as we were so bothered from neighboring verandah smoke. How would you know if our cough was 'faux' as suggested here?

 

 

If we are sitting on different balconies it would be difficult to tell the difference. For those who do it, it is generally the whole act as seen, not just the sound of the cough.

I wasn't referring to a smoker's cough. I was asking about the 'faux coughing' some smokers seem to describe people who cough when around second hand smoke..... as in a verandah neighbor. I've read here about 'faux coughing' and hand waving and wonder how they know it's a 'faux cough' on the next door verandah?

Yes, I agree that is something that I don't understand. But, since I don't smoke, I really don't pay attention to the theater and I bet you don't either. It is what it is. We can only hope for some change.

There are some people who deliberately(?) walk thru designated smoking areas and immediately start a "cough" that is quite noticeably fake. They also generally wave their hands to push away whatever smoke is around them. Some times this is also accompanied with comments. Again, this is in the areas where smoking is allowed and the non smokers could avoid.

Yes, that is a good point but you also have to factor the increase in population, the increase in the number of people who travel other than in their cars/campers, the increases in the percentage of vacationers who cruise.,

 

Then you can also factor in that the economy has been in a tailspin and in general, people are spending less on things that are not necessary.

We're seeing reports far more frequently. I have sailed the "S" cabins from Statendam's Inaugural year when she first introduced "S" cabins with the beautiful verandahs. We used to have to book very far out to get those cabins because they always filled early. Not any more.

Could it be possible that the mad influx of verandah cabins and suites has caused this? You stated that the Statendam introduced the "S" cabins, followed fairly quickly by 3 more "S" class and then 4 "R" class.

Then the Vista class came out with a heavy emphasis on verandah cabins, followed by the Signature class with a few more.

Quite a few more choices, don't you think?

Very late one night I was on the HAL website and found a GREAT deal so I booked and deposited it on the website. Thought I'd just phone or email on Monday and have it transferred to my PCC. No, not that easy, but we did get it transferred, after emailing a specific request that it be moved to the PCC, along with an explanation of why it had originally been booked on the website. This was before final payment.

Thanks...I wonder if the fact that you were already signed up with your PCC made a difference? My friend hadn't signed up with my PCC yet, she thought she could transfer and sign up with her at the same time.

 

I should tell her about this thread and she can come tell her story herself. :D

Funny about the differences here. When my sister signed up for the Eurodam it was after final payment, but she had already booked two cruises thru our PCC. The PCC was able to answer questions because I had the same cruise booked with her.

I had booked a HAL cruise online. I then got an email from a PCC. For the heck of it, I contacted her via email. She was able to get the online reservation transferred to her. (I think she had to wait 72 hours or something because of the way the computer system works). I eventually cancelled that cruise, but I wanted to share that just as a PCC can transfer a cruise to a TA, they are able to transfer online bookings.

Rules change after final payment, this was and maybe that is the difference.

Joanie, can HAL PCC's give "group" rates?

Not Joanie, but I believe they can to a point. I have had a conversation a few years ago when several people booked with me that if I could get a couple more she could offer some benefits.

I am now thoroughly confused. When I booked online on HAL's site, I was automatically assigned a PPC. I was notified of this via email. When I saw the price drop, I initially emailed my PPC, however, I believe she was off during the weekend. So fearing that the price drop would disappear in a day or two, I called the general HAL number and the person answering the phone had my booking up on his screen in a flash. No idea how the heck he had it up that quickly unless they have call display and he brought my file up before answering the phone. Anyhow, back to my booking. I told him about the price drop, he looked it up and gave it to me. So who was this guy? A PPC or a HAL service rep as I suspect? It really didn't appear that he had any trouble accessing my booking so I am not understanding this idea that the PPCs and the HAL service reps are in silos so to speak.

The online bookings belong to the general number reps. You were assigned a PCC, but since s(he) had not helped you yet your reservation was not transferred to him/her. And yes, they do have caller id. My sister booked a recent cruise online and because of that our PCC was not able to help with that reservation.

On another note, I find it strange and unfair that HAL has two levels for booking, as explained earlier by Richwmn. How counterproductive is that? All I can add to this is that when I booked directly with whomever (no idea of their title), and then later transferred to a TA - I have since received 2 emails from two different HAL employees insisting that they are my Personal Cruise Consultant. Evidently, HAL has a strange system of keeping track of their customers, so I advised each of them that I am working with a TA. I had yet another one leave me a voice mail. So I guess I have 3 PCCs....

Thanks for taking the time to post the clear explanation. It is now underlined in my brain. :)

I guess I did understand correctly after all but you explained the reason for the different levels of service.

It still seems like a Mickey Mouse way of doing things though----but what do I know? :confused:

Add Carnival to the group that is know to have a similar department, although they call theirs PVP (Personal Vacation Planner). I also believe that Disney has a similar department, although with Disney they are able to sell the theme park experience as well as their cruises.

I am not sure why some people think this is "strange and unfair" or "Mickey Mouse". It is, I believe, a way of a company taking care of their best customers. If you have the "right" American Express card they take better care of you then most of their customers. Major department stores do the same thing. As cruz chic mentioned, the existence of the PCC is clearly on the main page of HALs website, so anyone can get one.

you have me confused - is a PCC not working for HAL? If they are then are they not a representative of HAL? Just trying to clarify my understanding of your comment

Two different departments at HAL sell cruises.

The first is a general call in number. When you call you get whoever is available to answer the phone. Each time you get a varying level of expertise. This is where you would likely get a different answer each time you call as those who answer the phone are the least experienced.

The second is the PCC department. Here you are assigned a representative who gets to know you a little better. My understanding is that agents are moved into this department based on tenure, knowledge and customer feedback. These agents are more likely to know what all the specials are and take the time to find the one with the best price for you.

I have been told that there is a barrier between the two departments. You can not easily transfer a cruise from the general number to a PCC.

Just saw this, congratulations to the winners

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/holland-america-line-crowns-brenton-180000891.html

I asked my HAL PCC about this, because I didn't want to deprive him of any commission. The way it was explained to me is that the PCC gets some sort of points when the cruiser actually takes the cruise, even if the booking has been transferred from the PCC to a TA. Those points are used to calculate not-exactly-commission, but more along the lines of bonus money. The PCC earns a wage/salary, and then earns bonus money when the cruiser cruises, regardless of whether a TA ultimately ends up with the booking. From what I was told, the PCC gets the same # of points whether the booking is moved to a TA or remains with the PCC.

 

Whether or not that is the truth, I'm not sure, but that's what I was told. ;)

I have no reason to doubt you. However, my daughter happens to be a cruise planner for another cruise line. She gets a commission on each cabin sold. She tells me there is nothing more frustrating that working with a customer for a half hour on the phone only to have the customer say they will think it over and then book with a travel agent based on the advice my daughter had given them. Interestingly enough, my daughter says the company never presses her to push certain cabins or cruises but work for whats in the best interest of the customer. In this regard, there may be an advantage booking direct with the cruise line at least with my daughter's company.

I also work with a PCC, and have been told multiple times the same thing as CowPrincess. I have also transferred two cruises to a TA after booking and my PCC had no problem whatsoever with it.

Other cruise lines may work it another way, but I firmly believe that the credit for the initial booking is all a HAL PCC needs to get whatever credit they need, to make quota or whatever.

Whew ... there's no reformer like a reformed smoker :D:D

 

Those who are totally against smoking and smokers have every other cruise line regularly sailing out of USA ports to choose from if being aboard with smokers is so totally terrible for them or their health.

 

It's not like they're forced to sail in clouds of 2nd hand smoke - they have choices. I hear them coming back at me with "but we love HAL" and I'm sure they do but as the smokers are fond of reminding us - times are changing - and so is the demographic of cruisers and cruise line's niches. For them maybe, at least for now, HAL is not the perfect fit.

Taking your example, smokers also have lots and lots of choices for vacations. Why do they have to cruise? Hal is my favorite cruise line. If you have a favorite would you be pleased to be told to have sloppy second instead? Does catering to a small segment of the population actually work for any business?

At least summersigh is comparing "Apples" to "Apples". cruz chic is saying that smokers should just not cruise. And by the way, many of the other vacation choices have smoking restrictions as well.

My friend's service dog detects by smell when her blood sugar is dangerously low. Before she had the dog, she went into a coma from the extremely low blood sugar. Hope this helps, and Merry Christmas.

 

LC

Oooh. As a diabetic I hope it's a pleasant smell.:o:(

The show described it as "Fruity", but I will defer to LandlockedColorado who has more direct knowledge.

I also say excellent question.

 

I freely admit not knowing anything about these types of dogs and I am curious.

 

I know diabetics who know by the way they feel if their sugar is high or low and will test themselves or take what they need to take to regulate themselves. Don't understand how a dog would know this.

Truth or Fiction I don't know, but as part of the plot line for an episode of NCIS it was said that when one of the characters blood sugar was off he had a distinct but not overwhelming smell. Maybe others do as well which is enough for the dog to smell but not necessarily humans.

Kazu - since you asked so nicely, here is my story.

My mother, most likely from all the "Love Boat" shows, had always wanted to

go on a cruise. My father, career Navy, had always answered that he had

spent enough time haze gray and underway and he never wanted to be on a ship

again. In 2000 after my father died, my mother moved in with me and

announced she was taking my sister and me on a cruise.

My sister found a travel agent who suggested that the best fit for the three

of us was Holland America. This ended up to be the Zaandam on a Western

Caribbean in September of 2000. We all had a good time mostly because of a

couple of the crew members.

That might have been the end of it, except a couple of months later I saw an

add for a seminar I wanted to take and it was aboard the Maasdam, again in

September but an Eastern Caribbean. The second cruise was as good as the

first and I have now done pretty much a cruise a year since then.

Like many others, I started out on 7 day cruises. Later I found that I

liked the longer cruises and have done several of them. My last cruise

cruise was with tommui987 from Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale along with his

wife and son, my trivia partners.

I am close enough to Fort Lauderdale to be able to do Caribbean cruises

fairly easily. I met some wonderful people on a cruise who live in Ottawa

who were kind enough to host me after one cruise and before another. Also

a couple in Seattle (cruising-along + DH) who spent some time with me

before the last cruise.