valancy1

My sister and I will be on a transatlantic soon.  Wondering for those in the know, what activities you find fun to do on all those sea days.

3 minutes ago, asebastian said:

Not true. South Korea for example has a health declaration on arrival

https://cov19ent.kdca.go.kr/cpassportal/biz/beffatstmnt/main.do?lang=en

 

Also Japan, until very recently, required a Covid declaration. So things can change at an instant.

Yes they can.  But currently there are no protocols requiring anything at the cruise lines.

On 9/20/2023 at 1:51 PM, Sandifer said:

I have traveled on Hal many times but I admit I don’t know what club orange is.  

Here's how you do it.

If you're willing to do the math, sometimes you can save a nice chunk of change by adding Club Orange.

For the sake of this conversation, we will talk about a 7-day cruise.

Most popular category is the verandah so we will work with that, but this works with insides, Oceanview, and suites up to signature.

Let's say the lowest price verandah (VH--obstructed by lifeboats) is running $1,299 a person and thisnis double occupancy.  But you want a V (midship) or a VB or VS to face backwards and those are running about $1,899 pp.  $600 pp difference before taxes and fees because that's a wash.

Add Club Orange $25/pp per day for any sailing 13 days or less, and $15/pp per day 14 days and higher.  For 7 days it is $350.

Book VH for $1,299 pp=$2,598

Add Club Orange for $350*

Total before taxes & fees: $2,948

Cost of a VB as listed above $1,899 pp = $3,798

With Club Orange you get an upgrade complimentary with your upgrade. So once Club Orange is on the booking, and it is paid in full, any Vereandah category in this example would be yours to choose if it's available to be sold.

So you take that VB aft-facing stateroom for $2,498, a $1,300 savings for the same experience!

You still get the dining, priority embarkation/ debarkation/ tendering, your Club Orange line at guest services andnl shorenl excursions, and all the other stuff, but the upgrade...

Note that Club Orange is capacity controlled so if they are full, you'd have to be willing to think through a plan B. Club Orange must be paid in order to choose your stateroom.

No one can use Club Orange to upgrade to a Neptune suite and you can't go from an Oceanview to verandah.  You have to stay within the meta in which you booked.

You can use this on casino offers as well.

On 9/24/2023 at 3:14 PM, Bimmer09 said:

I am not new to cruising but new to HAL following many Princess Cruises (Elite status), 4 Celebrity (S Class and E Class) and 2 Azamara.

I have, since my last cruise (X Apex) to Iceland/UK, canceled an Azamara cruise (Turkey/Greece) in favor of a HAL Rome to Egypt, Turkey and Greece sailing September 21 2024 on the Nieuw Statendam. She appears to be doing that route as we speak. If there's anyone on board reading this let us know how it's going if you can.

I have been taking pics of HAL ships during my many cruises and posting them in my CC reviews...here are samples

 

 

I had to do a lot of research before deciding on HAL and thankfully there's a lot of positive, even glowing, YouTube videos which helped me narrow down the field for a bucket list eastern Med cruise. 

We (me and DeckChairQueen) usually sail aft for the wake views in verandahs or suites. All aft verandahs were sold out on the NS so we'll have a Vista (wanna-be) suite but that's ok. Booked on line and next day had someone from HAL volunteer to be my PCC. I was prodded to ask about Club Orange by someone who doesn't like huge dining rooms, no matter how beautiful but prefers a more intimate space. So we added that.

A delicious British biscuit

 

Seeing how early aft real estate sells out on HAL I looked for another bucket list cruise in 2025, almost 2 years out.  I booked one which has us revisit Amsterdam a city we fell in love with  this past June as we prepared to sail to Iceland. The ship sails from Rotterdam but we prefer Amsterdam as a base.

So #2 HAL is Nieuw Statendam (again!) 14 days up to the top of Norway (all new ports for us up there) and back to Rotterdam via some Scottish ports (all new to us) . Last stop is Dover which we visited this past June. 

The aft verandahs were already sold out!! Another Vista, this time the one next door to our Rome sailing.

Now we have to wait a year before we get to see if HAL is a good fit for us. I am not asking anyone to wait with me-please go on about your business.

I'll let you know when we are back by writing a long photo/video review detailing our experiences on HAL. As is my custom every meal will have his picture taken and I'll cover the public rooms and restaurants and bars and spill the beans (I'm a messy eater and lover of the Full English for breakfast).

Just popping in to introduce myself....

Norris

 

I hope someday we will cross paths.  If the VS is sold out, and budget allows, look at the AS suites as on the pinnacle class ships, they share aft facing space with VS's.  Or splurge on an SB Neptune (watch for sales and play even a little bit in the casinos for upgradeable offers) with that amazing corner wrap verandah in the back.  Deck 6 even has an adjoining verandah so a family can really share that space.

7 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

Even though covid vaccination proof is no longer required, do you still bring the vaccination record when you sail now?  

 

We are heading to Japan Sunday and the covid vaccine proof are with the passports and just wondering.....could those "get out of jail" cards keep me from being tested or being segregated at some point?  

 

I'm thinking leave them at home and add to the scrapbook. 

 

What are you wise and all-knowing folks doing these days?

 

(I tried to do this as a poll but I'm not smart enough or it is not allowed for me)

There's no need to bring it.  But if it brings you a level of peace to do so, it takes up no space.  There are no covid protocols anywhere, so just do what will bring you the most settled feeling. No judgment.

17 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Thanks! That triggers another question if I may. We checked my DW’s HAL account tonight as well, and only the $100 (military) entry shows up in her Future Cruise Credits. However, when we checked our 2025 cruise confirmation noted in post #16, my DW was given the AARP perk and I was given the Military perk.

Can a person, in this case my DW, only use the AARP perk once per year?

No.  You can use it for every cruise bit the AARP number has to be validated each year on the anniversary of your initial AARP validation if that makes sense

The $50 is AARP because that is variable.  The $100 is military appreciation because that's always $100

59 minutes ago, WanderingTheWorld said:

I don't know. I only qualified for the Educator credit. Now that is has been applied, I am no longer able to see that code.

Educator code? Guests don't see it as a code, but an offer.  If an offer is applied,  you shouldn't see an "offer" or "code" once applied. It should just show on your booking as obc.

Aarp can be applied once. Military can be applied once. But BOTH can be applied to the same person.

2 minutes ago, bajae said:

To expand on this, one per type of bonus. I have both the education and military bonuses on my booking. 

100%

Or get yourself a personal cruise consultant and they will help you through the whole process from booking to boarding.

48 minutes ago, Woofbite said:

 there are certain carriers that won't even show a seat map until the ticket is issued with a bona fide ticket number.

 

I was able to book seats immediately after the Flight Ease reservation made in May and they showed in the separate airline systems until about a week ago when they suddenly vanished.

 

I'll definitely call HAL and tell them to get the tickets issued because all sorts of things can go wrong with reservations prior to that.  I wasn't aware they would issue them early.  I called right after final payment was due and all they said was tickets would be issued a couple of weeks before the trip - no mention that early ticketing was possible.

It's called Early ticketing.  They should read disclosures to you as well.  After final payment is made they usually do it about 75 to 60 days prior because they are working on that schedule for all bookings, I'd suppose. 

7 hours ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

I have HIA on an upcoming cruise and i'm fine with the Signature drinks package.  But what I want to do is upgrade the included Surf internet package too the Stream package.  I haven't found a way to do that online.  I haven't even been able to find out what it will cost for my 17 day cruise.

You'll do it through the Navigator app on board. Example, a surf internet for 7 days is 119.99.  Purchasing the premium internet on board is 159.99, so I am sure you pay that difference for the 7 days.

6 hours ago, AryMay said:

 

That's great you were able to take advantage of the credit!

 

My PCC still says he is "checking daily" with a supervisor but so far has not been able to add either the AARP or the Educator credits to our cruises. I have forwarded my verification emails and he "promises" me that he will get the credits applied. 

 

If I do a mock booking the HAL website shows the AARP credit has been applied so not sure why it isn't happening for real! 

If the cruise was booked prior to the AARP offer, that should be the only reason* it would not be there.  This offer is combinable with all the appreciation on board credits. Those of you who are being told differently need to press your agent a bit because they are combinable with practically everything.  Here is what AARP does not combine with:

• Any Grand or World voyage

• Casino fares

• Association (AAA, American Express, etc.) rates

• Virtuoso benefits

• Book onboard/FCC offers

• Bingo/ charity offers

Note: there was someone earlier who said their agent told them it was one or the other (education or AARP). Unless the above criteria is part of the mix, then no, you should have both.

Having said that, though, 2 educators cannot each get an education appreciation bonus in the same booking. Same with first responders and military. One per stateroom.

Casino offers are a mystery.

1 hour ago, Woofbite said:

I'm frustrated that they have had our money for months and still haven't ticketed the flights.  Noticed last week seat reservations has been cancelled.  Called to reinstate, Nobody knows what happened.  HAL unable to rebook original seats but did get one flight booked with an acceptable alternate.  Other flight I was told to contact carrier.  Naturally AA said nope they couldn't do anything until ticketed.  Until then contact HAL.  And so it goes....

If you want them ticketed, then ask for early ticketing.  Or pay for restricted air, and they would then be ticketed.  The purpose of flexible air is to reserve the flights, not ticket them until closer to sailing.  Having sold air for a long time, I'll say that no matter who you go through, there are certain carriers that won't even show a seat map until the ticket is issued with a bona fide ticket number.  The purpose of flexible air is to hold the space.... without penalty until final payment, and closer to the time of sailing, issue said tickets with the airline.  If you don't like that model, then consider asking for early ticketing or purchase restricted air or purchase yourself.  Airlines cannot help you (generally speaking) when a third party owns the reservation. Will you occasionally get a person that might be able to assist? Yes, but don't be upset when they don't.  The booking number/ record locator/PNR is merely a placeholder so the airlines knows inventory.  That's it.

The only thing is that Flight Ease guarantees you get to the ship.  So if something happens and you miss the ship due to an airline snafu, they will get you to the ship.  

9 minutes ago, Babr said:

Doesn’t the single supplement apply if one of two people in a cabin cancels? The policy says it does not protect double occupancy. Or triple or quad, for that 

19 minutes ago, Hobar said:

On my second and third call, I offered to pay more to upgrade to Elite (so I could avoid having to deal with it on board) but both times was told no.  I know I can prepay grats, but posters have said no benefit and at least one poster said they pre-paid but was charged each day/night and so paid double, which then had to be disputed and more aggravation.  I booked in August for March 2024.  I am tired of reading stops and terms, etc.  This is supposed to be a vacation, not work.  But I see I am not alone - far 

4 minutes ago, Cruise Junky said:

Honestly, no idea. It was just part of the early booking promo

 

 

Early booking bonus. 

6 minutes ago, Babr said:

 

 

 

Just be sure the unvaccinated ones are in the same cabin. HAL does not protect double or multiple occupancy rates. In other words, if one cancels, the remaining passenger(s) will be refared.

Not so. There are too many variables to even adequately approach this. This is not hard and fast... caveat emptor.

1 minute ago, Hobar said:

How did you get the Elite package drinks in Have It All?  

(When I booked directly with HAL, i said to please include everything, including gratuities and Elite - rep said, yes, all included.  I come to see only Signature, and no gratuities, so I call back and am told, yet, grats included, but only Signature and can upgrade to Elite on board.  Ok, no biggie - until I see posts that it’s a crap shoot whether you can upgrade on board.  So I call a third time and am told nope, no grats included and you’ve got Signature.  Anyway, it is what it is, which I have learned is the way of HAL based on so many posts, and so I’ll just roll with it. 

It's unfortunate you were told this.  You can upgrade to Elite beverage package PRIOR to sailing.  There is even a pre-sailing pricing.

You can't "build" a package.  You can have the Have itnall and what it contains.  But you can't ask to please give me prepaid gratuities as example.  The only way to get the Elite bev package as part of HIA is book something that is still in the Early Booking time frame.  Which, for 2024, is quickly approaching its sunset. There is still an early booking window for 2025.  Nothing with Elite is available in 2023.  When offers are posted, *every* one has terms and conditions. Read them because all stipulations are there.

On 9/12/2023 at 5:51 PM, AryMay said:

I have been verified for the Educator Credit and the AARP credit. I have email confirmations for both dated several days before booking a B2B cruise in 2024. When I booked these two cruises last week, my PCC said there was a glitch in the system (which I've read about on other threads) and he couldn't add the credits. I've called a couple of times to check on the status but so far he hasn't returned my calls.

 

Has anyone been able to use both the Educator and AARP credits on a single cruise? Can I use these credits on more than one cruise? My husband has a casino discount on the cruises, but it isn't a huge amount. Certainly not the free offers that many get. 

 

Thanks for anyone who can share their experiences...just trying to figure out how these offers work. It is frustrating to see HAL make these offers but then have so much trouble taking advantage of them.

Yes you can.  There are certain extra promotions that do not allow it (casino rates as example), so ask your PCC. But AARP and Education *generally*  can be put together.

On 9/13/2023 at 9:40 PM, YourWorldWithBill said:

As @Laminatorsaid, it is a mystery how the casino perks are doled out. And for small gamblers (no one knows what qualifies as small, medium, large, or well-done) the amount offered is often equal to the least expensive inside cabin. It would be pretty unusual for them to include the HIA, but that can depend on the amount of play and how booked the cruise is. How long a person plays is usually an important factor.

My experience: I was on a sailing in Alaska. I spent a little in the casino.  I just got an offer with a select sailing list with a comp interior room (cruise fare reimbursed as obc...still have to pay tfpe's) and a little bit of casino cash.  I'm pretty happy that I spent money there.  We are going to Hawaii for a steal.  

On 9/11/2023 at 9:48 AM, K2IE said:

In the past, we've paid $50 per day per person for Have It All.

We're planning a cruise for next summer and under the current HIA promotion, which includes the Elite drink package as well as crew appreciation, it seems to amount to about $70 per day per person.  So not actuall a deal, but they're building in the charges.

Does HAL normally raise the price of HIA when adding crew appreciation or upgrading the drink package?  If I recall correctly, last time we had a crew appreciatio promotion the price of HIA remained at $50.

Is this going to be the new way of things or does it depend upon the promotion in effect?

Not so much interested in theories, but if anyone has some hard facts please enlighten me.

Thanks,

Dan

How about getting pricing for a non HIA rate (like maybe a mariner rate or the standard refundable depisit rate and then do the math in your head for adding it at $50/day compared to the actual HIA rate). That's how you can see if there's a better way to get the same thing, either for same money or a bit of savings.