FlaMariner

I never book thru HAL but check out the prices....When I see "we pick" on HAL I think that is a GUARANTEE and "you pick" is when you identify a specific cabin to book..... What do I not understand?

No more "lower price" for our guarantees.

We've had a HAL Barclay Card for years and we've stopped using it and we are trying to use up our rewards and it is very difficult. For us, the items for redemption are not really available when we try to redeem....For instance, we attempt to buy a 7 day spa pass but it does not work on a 14 day cruise....and you do not know that until the requested redemption never arrives. Yes, it is in the fine print. My advice is to attempt to call the rewards number and get them to explain it to you....and answer your questions...although we find they are not very familiar with the HAL items. My other piece of advice is to just use the card towards HAL charges. That's easy to redeem when the charge hits w/a click online. We are ditching the card because of the above as well as the redemption rate.....It's not that great for HAL purchases and our other cards have higher cash back. I wish HAL would roll out a credit card that really gives value....we'd be all over it!

I believe PS bags are from Gucci and include gold zippers....but not certain as I have never been near a PS. In our Inside Cabin, the bags are modeled after Winn-Dixie's sleek plastic. Enjoy the journey.....no matter the tote bag.

Acceptable ship elevator passenger capacity drops as the cruise days pass.....Scientifically proven. Less capacity on the ship elevators at disembarkation than embarkation.

Agree...that's why I said "good upgrade"...an upgrade is only defined by the passenger.

Agree. I'm sure HAL does not want to move folks around but I'm sure it will/does happen. And I'd also hope/think/wish HAL would toss good upgrades/$$$/comps at those that are moved. For us, changing cabins is no big deal.....especially if we get a real upgrade...but I understand that some are very attached to their chosen cabin.

They buy soda, they bring along parents, their parents buy pictures of them, they go on shore excursions, some pay a fare...and they only eat inexpensive chicken tenders...LOL.....If I owned a cruise ship and had vacant beds I'd try to fill them up....with kids or adults. $$$$$. Our kids sailed on HAL and now they are 30 somethings and they are still sailing on HAL. As 3 star Mariners now they began adding to the bottom line of HAL at an early age and continue to do so. $$$$$

Experienced the same for the Caribbean during our 2022 Thanksgiving cruise......

Canvas on Oosterdam in March 2023 and Westerdam in October 2023. Her Majesty keeps them in the car for grocery runs.

Agree but...... ....we've had (rarely) situations where the price drop was such that we cancelled and re-booked and came out ahead even with loosing the deposit.....the FCD is $100 and we've cancelled and re-booked and lost our deposit (w/OBC) and still came out ahead....It's all a math equation/business case.....and it gets complicated with deposits/OBC/HIA/incentives (on purpose, I'm sure) and good luck!

Makes sense. They are all working hard to increase occupancy. Follows the same category as the new "stand by" program......max out the capacity. I can hear them in the corporate office: "the ship is sailing, get as many 'heads in beds' as you can...we've got a huge debt to payoff and we need to turn a profit to stay employed" I understand that a lot of folks are very picky about their particular cabin so that's the price to pay for higher 'yield management'. For us, we see no issue with this. I realize for other folks, it's a big deal.

Agree. The Oosterdam is awesome....was on her last year (South America) and boarding her in a few weeks to head to Europe...enjoyed her so much...No issues..clean, everything worked, great staff.......Less votes does not mean there is an issue.... Enjoy the journey....on any of the 'dam ships.

Awesome cruise on a great ship! We did that cruise last March...had a blast..Loved South America....Looking forward to following this....good times. (Also, we board her after you and head to Europe!) Have fun and keep posting!

My experience....FWIW Sales come and go and come and go.... Instead of tracking sales, I keep up with a few cruises we want and check the prices often. I compare prices based on "per day" base fare price for the cabin choice we desire. OBC/incentives are factored in to the "per day" price but port fees/taxes are not. When any of those prices hits a price we think is good, we book......I then continue to track the price of the booked cruise and re-fare if it drops (before final payment). Price drops are few and you need to factor in the loss/gain of OBC/incentives/deposits in the decision to re-fare. "Sales" or not, it's all about the per day price of the fare and they ebb and flow frequently......We book when we think it is a value for us. Good luck playing the booking game......and Enjoy the Journey

Thanks. Does that mean that all the men you have seen in the MDR on "formal" night are all dressed in a suit and tie or tux (no "dressy" night folks on "formal" night: khaki pants, collared shirt, no tie folks visible?).

I did not realize that. We hope to graduate to a "Grand Voyage" someday soon.....the prices per night are always much higher than our current HAL cruises....This "formal" requirement is a minor hurdle/obstacle/nuisance. So.....for the Grand Voyage folks, do you know if they enforce the "formal" requirement.....If I showed up in my "dressy" attire on a "Grand Voyage" "formal" evening would I be discharged to lido?

Yes. That link does pull up a list of cruises that are available for "Mariner Early booking bonus".....Happy hunting...It is a nice benefit...especially for early bookers. And welcome back to HAL.

LOL: Discussion with neighbor: "I might be out of town for 42 days or not tomorrow"

Also, the current Inside rate of $42/day for the 4/7 NS TA makes it less than the stand-by rate.....And you know your fate today! (source for the rate is the huge online TA site)

Will the cruise line book the flight for that time? What do they say about "flights must depart after xx time"? If the cruise line is fine with it, then I am...and I'd take the cruise line shuttle. If the cruise line is not fine with it, then I'm out. (It's not their first rodeo and I use their time parameter to plan mine)

For us, it means expensive and long....but here is the definition from a Holland America Line press release: A Holland America Line Grand Voyage is the pinnacle of cruising. Ranging from 71 to 127 days, these longer journeys take travelers to the far corners of the world across six continents......

We had 4 "dressy nights" on our Holland America Line 14 day TA's. (2019 and 2021 & 2022). But as mentioned, "dressy" is no big deal....I wear kaki pants & collared shirt. Comfortable and Love it!

Congrats....4* (free laundry) on the next 'dam cruise..... Here is the FAQ from the HAL website related to your question.... For all cruises except Grand Voyages, your elevated benefits will take effect on your next Holland America Line cruise. If you cross a star level threshold while on board a Grand Voyage (based on days sailed), you will be upgraded to your new star level for the remainder of that voyage.

Since we've seen Rome, we are taking this tour in April during our port stop in Civitavecchia......to Tarquinia and Tuscania...... https://www.italytours.eu/shore-excursions/civitavecchia-rome-shore-excursions/tarquinia-tuscania-shore-excursion/