SeaMatesNYC

We were recently on a San Diego RT cruise where we were told that about one third of the passengers were with an LDS (“Mormon”) group. They did give that group prime Crows Nest space at San Diego sailaway that usually holds the “Singles” “Pride” and “Young Persons” meetups, relegating these meetups to the Arts and Crafts space. And the self serve soda machine gave up the ghost midway through the sailing. There were shorter waits at the bars. Just chance? Who’s to say….🤣

This benefit from what I have read applies within the first 90 days of release of the itinerary. However, you should also ask if there is any other Mariner benefits to be had. Often if you book within 90 days of returning from a cruise you are eligible for a Welcome Back bonus of similar amount. I am of the mind that you need to always ask if there are any other credits for returning passengers (Mariners). We booked onboard recently and in addition to the "booking on board" bonus, there was another $125 each in OBC that just showed up. The Future Cruise Consultant said that these will just be attached to your Mariner Number and they get applied, and go by many different "marketing" names, depending on what promo is then being pushed!

But you would not be cancelling, simply adjusting the source of funds for payment, if I understand correctly.

Maybe just me, and not wanting to seem argumentative, but while OP states s(he) has HIA, the question posed pertains to “excess non-refundable onboard credits.” In fact if it WERE HIA redemption, the whole point of the question is mute, yes? Why use other OBC when you have gotten the item “free” (as part of HIA)?

Or if you are being offered a “private fare” thru HAL (not a casino or free inside offer) and the add on of HIA post booking is financially advantageous.

No penalty on moving excursions from prepaid to OBC. Don’t cancel in APP! Go to shore excursions desk. Dining - no personal experience with this but reports say can make change at Guest services. Again do not cancel in app as you may lose your reservation.

Last May on N Statendam out of Amsterdam, also had Coors Edge cans at Panorama Bar.

Heineken 0.0

At 4* and 5* you can get 25% off Rudi’s Sel de Mer cover and supplement charges. Nothing yet added via a vis Morimoto, if that is the Fish restaurant you may be referring to.

Historically, I have been really happy with the fish offerings in the MDR. On recent 6 night Pacific Coastal, two fish dishes were very disappointing. Mahi mahi, blah bland not interesting at all (can’t recall the sauce/preparation as it was so boring) and salmon (nothing else on menu interested me) which was so undercooked I ate only the top 1/4inch. We were already late dining so did not bother to reorder and it seemed the kitchen wanted to go to bed too! Really not that difficult to use a thermometer to measure temp/doneness on a piece of fish. Hope it is better on our upcoming 14 night RT Copenhagen on N. Statendam. Perhaps with all the “free” cabins on the 6-nighter (seemed like every other pax was on a casino offer) the quality was slipping. But I will not pay $25 for an up charge halibut. I will pay $15 surcharge for the wonderful Dover sole in Sel de Mer!

With our recent cruise on Koningsdam from San Diego for 6 night Pacific Coast, we received an "Important Update" notice about a week out with the boarding times by deck (this was never reflected on our boarding pass). This may or may not have been unique to this port/this ship (it was also true the cruise prior). We arrived prior to our assigned time by maybe 45 minutes, and there was no delay. But we were late in the schedule to begin with.

I enjoy them as well! But by the third time around, I found myself becoming a critic: "Oh my, all that red dress fabric seems to be getting the better of her! She seems afraid of it." ("Humanity" solo to "Never Enough" from "The Greatest Showman") [smirk]

The Board has renewed the benefit but any voyage after December 31, 2024 can't be submitted through Stock Perks. It says to "check back in November 2024 to submit your claim." At least when I try it does!

An update: Staff on chat as well as at the World Cruise Reservation/Agency Transfer group confirm that nothing prohibits this by policy. The only hitch is that each transfer can take 5-8 business days. So the second one might not get within the 60 days. Not an issue for me since I am only 6 days from onboard booking.

I recently made a booking onboard which went automatically to the agency of record for the voyage I was then on. I want to change agencies. I know how to do this. My question is: Can I, within the 60 days of booking, do this twice? I want to take the booking back to direct first and then when I find the best home for it, transfer a second time to an agency. Why not wait and do it once, you ask? Because “new” agencies seem to want the confirm from HAL to provide a quote of their own if they are taking over a booking. Thanks! Michael (P.S., I plan to ask HAL as well, but wanted to hear from the experts first. 😀)

My medallion came in a box with a label on it with my Name and Cabin number printed on it. While not proof positive, it would suggest Mariner Society staff monitor the voyage where the day counts are met and supply or trigger production of the labels to the ship for the itinerary when the momentous event will occur. I doubt someone specifically onboard the ship itself is monitoring, but rather it’s done at head office and labels pushed out to each voyage and applied to boxes onboard. Most of the above is just supposition. Congrats in any case! And make a trip to Guests Services on Day 27 of it does not show. Or do as AV8rix suggests above. Or not. It’s a junky medal. I wore it for 5 minutes after steward gave it to me. “Wadchya win?” asked a man in the elevator.

Just got off a 6 nighter up and back the Pacific Coast and on the third night, I qualified for the Bronze. My cabin steward caught me in the hallway the next afternoon and pulled the boxed beauty from his storage closet and presented it to me with a flourish. Quite the tear jerker event. [smirk]

Production shows on the World Stage are typically at 7:30 (sometimes 7:00) and 9:00pm. The first night "Origin Story" is usually 8:00pm. You could go to dinner at 8:30 and catch the early show prior as they don't last an hour. You will have Rolling Stone set(s) after your dinner for sure if you can get out by say 10 or 10:15. If you've not already, you can check your Navigator, and if they have started downloading schedules you will see some (tentative) information about the plan for the day and night. Dressy will eventually show up in Tonight's Dress at the top of each day, and if you are not showing that yet, they may be struggling with when to have it if as you say your sea days are "first and last."

I tend to agree with your statement, as the most recent successful communication I had re: obtaining OBC the old way via email was 2/4/24. Have not needed since but have gotten StockPerks up and running. In truth, it looks to be a much simpler way without letters, uploads and emails.

I understand your hesitance. I felt the same. Even though my brokerage was on their list to connect electronically, I did it “manually” and just uploaded a redacted page from statement without account number and all other financial info blacked out. Arguably giving it to this vendor chosen by CCL (and other public companies) is no more insecure than sending via email to some department of HAL. In any case, in response to your request, the most recent email I used was: cclshareholderhal@hollandamerica.com best of luck whichever way you go.

Emphasis on "1 point per day." I.e, if you spent more than $2,100 onboard for a 7 day cruise, you would max out at 7 points; 1 per day.

I did just that for an upcoming 6 day cruise. Booked a “private fare” rate without HIA in November 2023 thru my TA and hours later just purchased the HIA through the website. Maybe “rules” have changed since then.

Note that the non-alcoholic wine they have had on my recent cruises is only offered for sale by the bottle and they denied it’s being poured under quench package. So that part’s suspect but you might ask and get a different outcome.

If they have them in stock, should also include flavored sparkling water in cans.

Keep an eye on your bill though. I have had the Quench recently and a number of times I was served a Heineken 0.0 but regular Heineken was keyed in and charged. Just speak with a bartender or supervisor (the roaming servers won't fix it). Sad that they are now excluding juices from Gelato. Last October on Rotterdam they were included with Quench.