SeaMatesNYC

There was a sale on Have it all? What was the price per day? Roughly (with $55 being the prevailing price).

What exactly do you believe “their arrangements” to be? Is the agency buying it, but in no way taking it into consideration when your TA gives it to you? If it does not impact your TA’s commission then the agency is absorbing the financial effect. Either way, it’s a reduction in the total profitability of the enterprise. You of course are well within your rights to not ask for a discount. Leaves more for the rest of us, I suppose. And the discounts I am receiving are unsolicited, and I assume are available to anyone willing to create an account and become a “member” of this travel agency. The one I use shows a cash discount, another provides the same amount in OBC, and the “big box” gives store credit. But with HIA plus, I don’t have a use for thousands more OBC, even for a longer cruise and I don’t shop that much at the big box. I am amused by the moral tone taken by a number of posters herein who seem to believe seeking a discount is somehow dirty or ethically unseemly. To each his/her own.

My TA will still give the discount in cash off on transferred bookings. Yours is just being rigid when they say “no, only OBC.” They likely have to “buy” the OBC anyways, so they may be getting a discount when they “buy” it, and want to use that transaction to beef up their revenue. It works just the same on the transfer as when you book up front with the TA. They are in both cases obligated to the cruise line for the non-discounted fare amount, but only collect the lower amount from you and have to make up the difference from the commission amount.

Agreed. But the ones who want to make their business rise and fall on volume, and are highly discounted as a result, must find a way to simply import that cruise line confirm into a template for the agency with little to no TA or staff data entry other than to “adjust the price” for the discount. My TA shows the price from HAL and a line item for their discount. They really change little else that I can see. Even the “discount” line is likely just a figure created by a “percentage off” table that management controls.

60 days, and here is when you need to be vigilant about credits as I’ve had them drop off for no reason during a transfer. Resolutions fixed it.

An 18% gratuity will be added to the upgrade price. Both packages include canned soda and canned and bottled still and sparkling water. For Elite, the non-alcoholic beverages do NOT count against your daily 15 drinks under the package, whereas for Signature, they do.

I think a frank conversation with the TA is in order. And I hope you got 10% on those …

For every concern I register on Let Us Know, I try to send one commendation. It feels good to know someone’s day (or more) is better as a result.

You caught them from the TA confirm you got while still onboard….

The other consideration here is are we talking a commission on a $1,000 booking or a $10,000 booking plus? Clearly, I don’t expect as large a rebate on the low price booking. Same time to book and support each but much lower commission to start with so expecting 2/3rds of $300 back is not really fair.

No, they’ve wanted it, but sometimes credits have dropped off. Not sure why and they have to call to get things reapplied that “fell off”. Additional bonus type things beyond the onboard booking bonus that were tied to Mariner number. Should go seamlessly, but I’ve found sometimes don’t, perhaps due to input error onboard?

And find someone who can cope with taking in an onboard booking and ensure everything’s transferred correctly. And still gives you a discount (especially then since you and the Future Cruise Consultant did the heavy lifting!).

24 hours on a confirm is a must for us. And we are also getting double digit discounts. If I leave a message saying I’m ready to book, I will expect a return that day, but I can always complete a booking through my agency’s portal and pretty much arrange everything I need, except transfers (rarely take). Choose cabin, dining, rate/promo, refund/no refund, all there, along with all Mariner bonus OBC and any other cruise-line cash. Can’t do Club Orange (don’t use it) but I don’t think any agency can do that electronically.

Under “Manage my Cruise” go to “Beverage Packages.” It should be there, at least it is for me. Some fares it may not be available and it may take some time for it to show, but it is clearly there for me and even on “promo” non-casino cruise bookings it has shown up for us. While it is more than just a beverage package, that’s where they put it. I’ve not seen sales. $55 per day of purchased post booking.

Well perhaps that is the source of the problem. Most people work with a TA or a PCC, but not both, at least on any given booking. They are structurally at odds. Glad you found a solution.

The issue may be that the box on the online itinerary that shows credits (for shorex and dining) may read “Redeemed” although the balance under the $100 (or 2 or 3) may stay in the background and not be “visible.” Good to know it does remain available. Michael

Do they get the CO tote bag?

I know the Effy Alaska cruise this summer is like casino comp in that they were offering a free inside cabin if one spent $2000. I did not bite. Not sure how the Park West event works, but would not be surprised if it were similar.

One variable to note is that if you had benefits attached to the booking from HAL, these will not always transfer to the new refared booking. One example I was faced with recently was a Welcome Back booking OBC bonus, which was for a new booking made by a certain date after return from a HAL cruise. Reservations would not carry this to a refared booking made after the original “book by” date on the Welcome Back offer. Perhaps I could have escalated and gotten a different result, but the refare savings were not really that great.

If it’s like the Effy Jewelry cruise, these may be big “art” spenders who received the cruise “free” based upon past purchases.

Thanks for the heads up (I’m going here next month). Per the port authority, the calls for HAL ships for all of 2024 will be at the cruise pier, Quay 68 (Kai 68). See here: https://trondheimhavn.no/en/all-calls/#anlop-table

It’s about a 30 minute walk. Not sure about taxis but Uber is currently showing about $15 at today’s exchange rates. I imagine taxis would be more expensive but have no data to support this hypothesis other than experience with the two in other European cities (or Bolt instead of Uber in some countries).

Sorry about the delivery failed. I copied it in correct from my past communications, but it is five years old. Maybe also reach out to guestrelations@hollandamerica.com and ask if they can put you in touch with the photography department...good luck! The Black Label product for us turned out awesome! The prices for prints is high and we passed on that, but with the digitals, you can find high quality printing and framing on the internet at discounted prices. You can also buy fewer files and pay less, but it is so hard to choose! Oh, and of course, you can use your OBC to pay.

Also perhaps look into insurance from any affinity organizations you may be a member of such as AAA, USAA, etc. I’ve found policies that suit my needs this way when cruise line coverage may not so well (paying for things I don’t need and not offering things I want).

They have a GUAR fare with no room assignment. I guess they could write their deck and room in by hand later if they print the luggage tag now. Perhaps better to wait and do them both at the same time, unless of course they are using luggage forward which could get complicated without a room assignment. In any case Bon Voysge!