richwmn

In the past, we've booked with both our PCC and a large travel agency. Our PCC has done just a smudge of work - answering just a couple questions for us a out an AK cruise. But I see that a nice shipboard credit can be had by booking with the large TA. Plus, I really like a few extras should we decide to book with the large TA.

I don't want to offend our PCC, but can I book with her then transfer the booking to the large TA? Will she get any 'cut'? And would something like that be, well... Just rude?

 

Transferring from a PCC to a TA is done all the time. It is my understanding that the PCC gets the credit they need by doing the original booking. Transferring to a TA does not change that.

 

As you booked with Hal, yes you can transfer to your own TA It is done all the time for the reason you mentioned, especially with on board bookings. Hal has already "caught the fish" so I'd assume their PPC would get a cut as you stated.

 

I myself have a similar question and did not think it warrented starting a new thread. If I am wrong, I apologize, but the same posters would probably have the answers to both our similar questions.

 

Can I change TA'S? I am with a large company, and I would rather give my booking to a different company, but am embarrassed to ask her. I think she will match my OBC.............what should I do? What about the insurance we already bought? I guess that will be lost? I feel lost and ignored with this cubed bread salad topping agency.:(

 

As far as changing TA's, while I have never done it I believe it is very difficult and involves getting the original TA to release the booking, something that most won't want to do.

It certainly is a logistical problem. In a society where only 18% of people smoke, it makes no business sense whatsoever to designate 50% of the balconies as smoking. To split the ship in half like that, the designations would have to be advertised so both smokers and non-smokers know which side to book, and with one side being designated smoking, it would detract the other 82% of society from booking that side. The reason no cruise line has tried it isn't because no one has thought of it. It's because it's not a good idea.

Aquahound - you are engaging in the same statistical fallacy that keeps being perpetrated on this board. While you are correct that 18%(or so) of the US populations smokes, it does not follow that the other 82% are as violently opposed to smoking as you are. Normal statistics show that about 18% of the population fall into that category. In truth, around 50-60% of the population would not be bothered to have a smoker nearby.

As to whatever group wouldn't be able to book on the side of their choice due to one side being smoking - that is compromise. We all have to sacrifice at times because of other peoples habits or preferences.

The one thing that is evident on these threads is that those that post on the non-smoking side are not willing to compromise, they want it all. Smokers, on the other hand, have had their options constantly limited and are just trying to hold on to something and are the ones who tend to compromise.

(For the record, I don't smoke and never have)

I am not sure why there are two codes for the after cruise bonus, zpm and zpn but you can only get one of those. And if you buy a future cruise deposit on board then you also get an on board credit when you book your next cruise. For those who are asking, everyone who has cruised with HAL gets a chance for the bonus if they rebook within 60 days of returning home. The amount varies based on which level of cabin you choose and the length of the cruise.

I asked about this once and was told that ZPM applies to cruises and ZPN applies to cruise tours (Alaska).

Just a quick note, all of the conversation here has revolved around combining the ZPM (Welcome Back) OBC with the Future Cruise Deposit Credit.

 

You do not have to have a FCD in order to get the ZPM credit. All that is necessary is that you book the cruise within 60(?) days of the end of your cruise.

 

You may have to ask, it seems that all TAs and even all PCCs don't know about it, but it should apply to most bookings.

If it is that important.... say 2 days to go in the beginning of a cruise..... go off and do a five or seven cruise to get those stars.

Or make sure you spending is enough before you get off your previous cruise!

Just what kind of view do you get with an "ocean view"? Is there usually a tender boat or other equipment blocking the window?

Any cabin that has a lifeboat or part of the ship blocking the view is listed as fully or partially obstructed. If that is not part of the description, you have a full view of the ocean.

https://book.hollandamerica.com/gift/loadItem.action?giftCategoryId=132

 

The link I just posted is from HAL'S wed site today, for my upcoming cruise.

 

Your link doesn't work unless you have a current cruise to log into.

Who is "they"?

 

This is still being done on many of the other cruise line forums so what makes HAL different?

 

I have been in a privacy-first kind of business for more than a decade, yet I find it very hard to think of any privacy issues when captains on cruise lines are listed. High visibility of cruise line captains is IMHO part of the job (he made a good decision this, he was so nice to do such, I see many reviews that include the captain), almost similar to a pianist in Carnegie Hall whose entry on a list of upcoming performances wouldn't be considered invading his privacy either.

 

I cannot find the thread where this is discussed either, could someone provide a link?

 

The "they" is Holland America Lines. The thread is several years old and may have been deleted. I just went through my list of subscribed threads (very long) and couldn't find it. Copper John was posting the names of the ships officers and received a request from HAL to discontinue the practice.

 

As to other cruise lines allowing such lists, that is their policy. HAL may think differently about it now, but I guess no one has asked

 

I just fount the thread another way. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=571740

post #93 is John thanking me for removing a copy of the list I had posted on a web page, repeating the explanation as to why the practice was stopped

I was visiting some friends in Ottawa a few months ago and their cable tv (Rogers) had a show about people trying to bring things through Canadian Customs. Really interesting. One segment showed a lady insisting she had no meat in her bag. Upon inspection she had, if I remember correctly, some sort of small meat biscuit - several of them.

Capt Turner boarded on Sept 27. IIRC the captains have a 3 month rotation, so he should be on until about Dec 27.

Of course private tour operators are insured, how else would they be able to drive their vehicles?

While everyone in the US is required by state law to have car insurance, that may not be true in other countries. In addition, their coverage might be minimal if they even have insurance.

We've toured with many companies recommended by Rick Steve's, either Rick or his partner vette the companies.

When Rick Steve, or his company, checks out a tour guide, do they include in their writeup what insurance the provider carries?

I have toured and done multiple transfers with a well known company in Rome, they do lots of work for CNN. Anytime there is a papal story this company is in charge of transportation for the news crews.

Because of the business CNN is in, most likely they carry high insurance themselves on their employees. The fact that CNN uses a particular provider says nothing about whatever insurance the provider has.

I toured with a marvelous tour operator out of Belfast, they do lots of work for the Northern Ireland government and they tour and transfer VIPs around. Our marvelous driver Stevie recently drove Bill Clinton around.

Most likely the government of Ireland requires insurance but how much and how stable is the providing company?

I toured with a native Alaskan man in Ketchikan in his school bus vehicle. We learned he was the tour guide hired to do land tours for Bill Gates 40th birthday party. Paul Allen had chartered the Crystal Symphony and a VIP group was on board celebrating the birthday. Our tour guide was proud to tell us we were riding in the same bus and hearing the same narrative he gave to the Gates group. This guide also flew up and down the Alaskan coast to tour the group in other areas.

I've had numerous private guides say they do some work for cruise lines or they have been invited to submit proposals.

While any particular private tour provider may have insurance there may be vast differences in coverages. In addition, collecting against those policies may be problematic.

 

If you are on a cruise line sold excursion and something goes wrong, the cruise line will be the "deep pocket" that is at the beginning of any law suit that may happen. As such, they would have to have insurance above and beyond what any tour provider may have.

We booked on board last summer for a cruise in2015. We used the future cruise deposit, got OBC for the cruise and then called HAL when we got home and they gave us the Welcome Home OBC, so there is no need to wait until returning to book.

I tried to do that a couple of years ago and was told no, so YMMV.

I had the Signature Beverage Package as part of a cruise I have booked. I called yesterday and asked if the cost of the SBP counted toward on board spending. The answer was that it didn't. I had my cruise rebooked without the SBP and the cost dropped by about the cost of the package.

 

I am close to another "star" and the cost of my drinks would go a long way to achieving that level. Without credit for that spending, I would not be able to advance after that cruise.

[quote name='PathfinderEss'][COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=4]I always find these threads so interesting because we all have expierenced different things.
On our last b2b in Vancouver we were told that we could go down anytime as long as we went thru US customs before the ship left at 5 pm. We did not go down until around 3 pm. The new passengers were getting on at 11:30 am., they certainly were not calling our names to get off the ship and we caused no problems for the newly embarking passengers. So it doesn't always work the same, you just need to be aware of what the ship and port want you to do and follow it.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/quote]

In contrast, last month in Vancouver, the in transit passengers met in the Queens Lounge, then we were led into the terminal building, thru immigration and back on the ship. As we headed back toward the ship, I noticed that the new passengers were being processed for boarding.

Thanks to all who have replied. We have decided to stay about an hour outside of FLL, the night before our cruise and drive in to the port the morning we depart. We will then park in the cruise port parking as most people seem very satisfied with this, and report it to be little or no hassle.

 

We are heading to FLL from the north, so now, any suggestions of a good place to stay an hour or so North the Sunday prior to our cruise?

 

Toad, why an hour outside of FLL, we're staying in Coral Springs before our December 21 cruise at a Courtyard Marriott. About 14 miles from the port but still out of the high end hotels. Great Italian restaurant in Pompano Beach a short distance away, I mean GREAT!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

If cost is a consideration, staying outside of Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties will be a bit cheaper. Might be a little more than an hour from the port, but easily manageable.

If I'm not mistaken, the FCC has to be applied to a cruise (cruise booked) prior to expiration but the cruise does not have to be taken before expiration.

Had no problems getting one three weeks ago on the Zuiderdam.

 

If it is a "fleet wide" policy, it is newer than that.

 

Rich

Just ask the front desk to credit this to your charge card on file or if you want a cash and you give them a few days notice, that can be sometimes arranged.

 

Any obc that HAL does not give you such as a pre-purchase like yours or from your TA can be refunded.

You do not have to give any notice. If you want any refund as cash, they are happy to do so.

Rich - Was there a limit to the # of devices on the plan, or would you have to get one plan for your computer, and another for your smartphone?

I did not try multiple devices. However, you still had the opportunity to log in and out of the network so I would guess that you could use multiple devices as long as they were not at the same time

 

Rich

I was on the Zuiderdam for the last Alaska cruise, then the relocation from Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale.

 

Unlimited Prices were:

$99 for the 7 Day Alaska

$299 for the 20 Day Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale

$249 for the 17 Day San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale

 

Service was, IMO, no worse that other ships with the per minute prices, however I wouldn't have paid as much by the minute.

 

Rich

We are cruising for the first time in a long time and first time using a travel agent. Our TA booked us at 8pm for dining each night on our cruise and I'm a little concerned because what if we get hungry at 6pm? Do we have to wait till 8 or can we go earlier?

 

No, you cannot go earlier. You could switch to "Anytime" or "Open" dining, where you go when you want and can request seating with others or on your own, and wait times depend on what is available. Many passengers prefer this option. You cannot switch back, once you change to Open dining. Or you could see if you can switch to early dining (usually around 5:30 pm) when you board.

 

You also have the option to eat at the Lido any time during the dinner period, either for a full meal or a snack to "tide you over" until your meal time.

My PCC also keeps a copy of my most recent redacted statement and uses it if possible. My last two cruises were covered by the same statement, and the most recent credit showed up before I was going to request it.

AFAIK this language

This benefit is available to shareholders holding a minimum of 100 shares of Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc. Employees, travel agents cruising at travel agent rates, tour conductors or anyone cruising on a reduced-rate or complimentary basis are excluded from this offer.

has always been included in the offer (emphasis mine). I seem to remember postings in the past about interline rates being included in the "reduced-rate" category.

Unfortunately I will be getting off Zuiderdam that morning and won't be home until after she sails again. Wish I was able to stay aboard for another 10 days!

It is getting close to Noon - wonder where she is?

Just exiting Pedro Miguel, next web cam is at Centennial Bridge. Looks like we should be at Gatun around 2pm, running about an hour later than the schedule they posted last night.