cheeto

while checking my alaska eurodam cruise price on a "big common"online TA; I noticed that they had a much lower price for my SB booking for 1st & 2nd. I then went to Holland to check but they still have the price I am booked for 1st & 2nd. We booked for $3,049 and the online TA has it for $2,739 and it includes Explore 4. This is lower than what I had originally booked for before Explore 4.

 

I thought no online TA could advertise lower prices than Holland?

 

I had originally planned on transferring to a warehouse TA (the seattle store / membership store) to get the extra OBC, but after I did the math I would still save $300 with this online TA. I am now seriously considering moving over.

I was also hoping to get the additional $200 OBC that Holland offered last year in October for National Plan a Cruise Month (I know it may not be offered, fingers crossed though). If I switch my reservation over I think I may not be able to re-fare in October is HA does have this Promo again because I think they may have a cancellation / refare fee.

 

Any suggestions from HA "professionals" (this is our 1st with HA).

 

Thanks,

Nancy

I just re-priced my alaska eurodam cruise and noticed that my daughter's fare went from $499 to $299. I am going to email my PCC to have my cruise re-fared. I had already had it refared for Explore 4 on the first day it was offered but at that time the 3rd & 4th prices had not been reduced at all for my cruise.

 

Just wanted anyone with 3rd & 4th PAX to check to see if their fares went down as well. Could be a good amount of savings.

I was trying to book Alaska for 2017 in March but the TA misunderstood me and searched for 2016 and she told me that there were NO cabins in June or July that slept 4. :eek: And this was in late March for sailings that were 2-3 months away.

 

Luckily for me, I was looking for 2017 and realized that for my family we could not chance it for a last minute booking.

My PCC said "Maybe", depends upon the ship. It's a crap shoot whether you could convert it to something else.

 

You can also forgo the promo entirely for what might be a significant savings, then apply the 'savings' to something more useful.

 

Internet credit for us is just not useful.

 

 

Ugh.. I agree internet credit is not what I would spend $$ on or my time.. I did ask my PCC about not doing the promo and the rate would be the same as what I had before the $200 PP increase. In other words, nada, zip. So with the promo I am still getting at least the drink package and I guess slow internet for my daughter to use.

Curious about the $200 internet credit that is offered for Suites on the Explore4 Promo. Could we use it for something else besides internet access?

 

?nancy?

We are on the Eurodam June 3rd Alaska cruise and I found an online website that shows the Explore4 pricing. When I checked my date it still shows my 3rd pax at the original full price of $499. I was hoping that it would be reduced; I knew it would never be "free" since it was a summer cruise but what about at least reduced?

 

Our rate went up $200 per person for 1 & 2, so I was hoping the reduced 3rd would even it all out.

 

Nancy

 

My PCC confirmed that 3rd pax rate is still the same, no reduced rate. We are still going to go with the Explore 4 since my total increase of $400 is almost a wash with the Suite OBC & Pre Paid Gratuities. There is still a benefit even if having the Beverage Package is the only thing truly FREE. I didn't have that before.

We are on the Eurodam June 3rd Alaska cruise and I found an online website that shows the Explore4 pricing. When I checked my date it still shows my 3rd pax at the original full price of $499. I was hoping that it would be reduced; I knew it would never be "free" since it was a summer cruise but what about at least reduced?

 

Our rate went up $200 per person for 1 & 2, so I was hoping the reduced 3rd would even it all out.

 

Nancy

Was just wondering the same thing.

Quick Question.. My mom's Vision cruise for next year was cancelled and she was offered $200 OBC if she re-books by June 22. She would like to rebook the 23 night transpacific cruise. My question is if she books now with the BOGO can she have it repriced with this new sale on June 7th IF it is priced lower than the BOGO rate and NOT lose her $200 OBC?

I did the math and if prices stayed exactly the same, she would save $20 which really doesn't change anything but just incase it is actually lowered I want to make sure I advise my Mom correctly.

 

Thanks!

It has been more than a decade since we used traveler's checks. It was on a caribbean cruise and I think we were the only people using them and the looks we got trying to cash or use them were incredible. They ended up being more work and so we never used again. But I agree they provide a measure of security.

My parents were on the TA and booked a 10/27/17 Vision cruise for Greece & Croatia. They just got backed so I was checking their reservation and found that it now says SOLD OUT and came here to do research. This forum is sooo helpful!! Now I can explain to my parents to sit tight with their reservation and see what happens. They just booked this on May 5th, must have made the cut off before they stop accepting reservations.

I just searched ...the 6/4/17 Koningsdam 7 day Norse Legends sailing is included....if you have the offer. I searched the sailings we would be interested in but the costs are about $1500/pp more than without. We'll pass.

 

that is extremely interesting... his exact words were : The June 4, 2017 7-day Norse Legends is not part of this promotion.

 

but at $1500 more PP, it is not worth it.

I checked with my PCC if the 6/4/17 Norse Legends on the Koningsdam was eligible for the package promo and he said it was not. I did not get the code and just asked for it so I am not sure if that is why I got the answer I did.

Exactly what happened to me 1/3 of the way across the Atlantic. :( :(

 

I actually had never thought of this until this thread; so it is definitely an eye opener! I worry about my battery life but this could be a real problem.

I can appreciate that having a good library onboard regardless if you bring books or a kindle from home would always be a plus and never a negative. Yes you could always find a book onboard that you would not have otherwise read or what if you are relying on a device and it somehow stops working :eek:.

I know I myself have been known to peruse the little shelf in the lady's restroom at my old employer's building from time to time and added a book or two back. :D

 

But on the other hand, I don't think I would ever pick or not pick a cruise based on the contents of their library.

I have hundreds on my tablet. Then again, I finish almost every book I start

 

Yup, same here. I was completely ANTI kindle for years and then 6 years ago my DH bought me one for Mother's Day. I tried to be kind and used it. I found that it was soo easy to buy books anywhere. I could download a new book in the middle of my daughter's gymnastic class! As a Mom on the go, this won me over; I don't have time to run to the Library every couple of days. Plus my kindle unlimited membership gives me access to a lot of books for $10 a month. I could never afford to buy all the books I read.

 

I have never done a cruise for more than a week, so if I was on a really long cruise, I would probably need access to wifi at some point to download new books. But either way, if I could be on a cruise for that long, I would be ecstatic!

[quote name='POA1']You're welcome. If your husband is anything like me, he wants to know 2 things: What time do we have to be there, and what should I wear. :D[/QUOTE]

This is hilarious because this is our running joke. My DH always says: "you just tell me when and where I need to show up" for our vacations when ever I ask him for input or decision making regarding the details. He likes for me to do all the research and give him the "report".

Thanks for the hint. I was looking there this morning and debating whether I wanted to mess with PayPal, even for a couple bucks.

 

If all you want is to track when the dates are added to the ship you do not need to pay, you can just register an account and set up the tracker. You only pay when you monitor an actual cruise date for prices.

i just signed up at the website that tracks prices and it turns out that it also tracks when cruises are added. I have the same situation as you for a cruise I am interested in 2018 and there are only 2 aft cabins that sleep 3 on the Koningsdam that are not neptune suites. We absolutely want to have one of them so it would be important to book super early. I clicked the box to track when new dates are added to Koningsdam. I hope it works.

 

the site is the one where you pay 99 cents per cruise price tracker but free for the tracker that checks when dates are added. you know the fish one.

Whining about whiners!?! Will it never cease?? :D

 

You should read the threads on my Disney Vacation Club board, they are complaining about the complainers!!

 

It's good coffee reading.;)

If you really sailed HAL recently, you would be aware that the only Indoor Smoking is at a limited number of machines in the Casino. That's it! If you encountered some smoke as you say, that is where you came in contact with it! The only outdoor smoking on the majority of HAL Ships are at the Seaview Bar located Lido Aft and on Verandah's!

 

 

?? for you, we are interested in booking an aft wrap neptune suite on the navigation deck under the Lido, would we be able to smell smoke from the smokers from the floor above us that are in the "allowed" smoking area? We are trying to choose between deck 4 or deck 8 and we were leaning towards 8 because we like the privacy from the deck above.

 

This is our first HAL cruise so we do not know if this smoking policy would bother us, actually never thought about it before.

 

Thanks!

Once you have the cruise totally paid for, it can't be transferred. however, you can pay the majority of the cruise leaving $100-200 or maybe a little more, then transfer.

 

Thank you, that makes sense. I am glad I asked.

I am thinking of getting the Barclay Arrival CC in order to use the rewards for my Alaska cruise in 2017. The credit card website says that travel charges from travel agents and cruise lines are eligible for cash back redemption which I hope to have a good amount by next April to redeem.

 

I got the idea from BlizzardBoy to book directly with HAL and then transfer to his big box TA that gives a 6-8% OBC. So now I was thinking I could use the new credit card to earn and use for cashback but I wanted to confirm that the charge on the credit card would show from a Travel Agent and not just the name of the Big Box / Bulk Store it is a part of.

 

I guess if it doesn't show as a TA on the credit card statement, Would I be able to pay it in full directly with HAL and still be able to switch the reservation to the Big Box TA before final payment date for their OBC?

 

It is possible I am other thinking this.

I am on the Noordam in June this year and I have booked a Retreat Cabana. I will report back on the usability for the Alaska season. Even a photo or two. Yes you can pre-book in advance. For this trip the reservation was paid for in January.

 

Excellent, thank you so much. Can't wait to hear about your experience.

I am in the middle of booking a 2017 Alaska cruise for mid July. This would be our first HAL cruise and I see that the Eurodam has Retreats / Cabanas onboard. I have searched and searched and the very little I can find is that the suggestion is that they would not be of any use in Alaska but I really couldn't find any definitive information. Is this because no HAL ship with Retreats / Cabanas onboard has sailed to Alaska as of yet? Looks like the NA will be going to Alaska next month and has them onboard; any cruisers know if they were available to pre rent for their Alaska cruise?

 

Thanks!

Nancy