friendswithdave

Thanks for the help, but I must be in the AARP twilight zone. When I click on "AARP Awards 3765 Points" at the top, it sends me to a new page. Scrolling down this page doesn't get me anywhere. Wife tried and did no better. Does your page say just "Rewards" at the top? Frustrating.

I'm an AARP member and can find nothing on their website about Holland America, much less their gift cards. Anyone else clue me in? Are they gone are just hard to find?

Great information, thank you! Now, just want to know how do I access the credit? I guess "will offer" means not yet ready to offer. I'll stay tuned.

The time request is something messed up on the website. No time is required. You go as you please once you book it for the week. If they require you enter a time, just stick something in there. I'm 99% sure it will be ignored.

We are almost certain the NA is being chartered on Dec 9-16, 2023. We say this because the ship is unavailable for booking on any site. While we didn't book, we planned to take this cruise this year. Any idea who is chartering the NA this December, or are we mistaken?

I think I saw one in May. All the rest are 7 day.

Hello All, I've been looking for this for awhile and see it's now available. On one cruise website I found most (but not all) HAL itineraries for Alaska in 2025. Looks like 5 ships doing routes very similar or identical to 2024. Nothing loaded for Zaandam yet but it is in Vancouver in May, 2025. If you're looking to book early, now's your chance!

We did an Alaska cruise last July on the Koningsdam. We popped in to the retreat area a few times and there was never anyone there. I mean zero people and no stewards. On an Alaska cruise I wouldn't hesitate to walk around out there while no one else is there. If you think you'll like it, book it for a day or longer. No worries about it being booked up.

Reading, thanks for sharing!

I took the "Quick Shuttle" a year ago. I would recommend the HAL transfer or the train.

We did a HAL Alaska cruise last year, I can't remember which ship. Anyway, the Cabana area was COMPLELTELY empty the entire cruise. No one on that ship felt the cabana area was worth it.

The undersold ones I am most familiar with are seven day in the Caribbean in early to mid December and one-way seven day Alaska cruises. When we sailed in December last year they said our boat was 70% full. I think that is common for these cruises before the Christmas break.

I'm sure HAL and the rest have lots of data analysts who can predict very accurately which ships will be undersold and need to go on sale or give out freebees. I expect they start looking at this 6-9 months out. Maximizing the revenue from every customer is key to their business model. This means there are some routes that need sales (and free cruises) while others can command near full price. Flexible and savvy consumers can determine which cruises will be sold on the cheap and can pursue those to their advantage. As to who gets the free cruise offers, that's a real tough one!

True on most Alaska itineraries, but the one-way trips are heavily discounted on inside rooms. Those can be had for $300 - $400 per week on most cruise lines including HAL. We've taken one of these before in an inside room and got a spectacular deal.

While it's probably obvious to most, the free trips being given away are trips HAL is CERTAIN that will not sell out - at least for inside rooms. Their algorithms probably also tell them that the people being offered these free trips will NOT be booking that or a similar trip. Two of the cruises mentioned are ones I have my eye on in December because they are typically very undersold. I cruise on these because rates are rock bottom making it affordable for me. I probably won't get a free cruise since they know I tend to book these less popular cruises already. While there are a few people frustrated they have to pay for something someone else gets for free, I'm sure this works in HAL's favor in terms of revenues. They know these cruises will not sell out so the goodwill and extra on-board spending they get out of free cruises make up for the frustration those on these boards feel.

I must admit, a 14 day cruise / land tour for just the cost of taxes? That's the best deal I've EVER heard of!!!

I'm sure they're pricing these cabanas and other shore excursions in order to MAXIMIZE their revenues, not provide decent value for passengers. Nowadays they have to do this. Their survival literally depends on it. I love a beach day but simple is fine with me and my partner. Two chairs, free drink in hand, listening to the waves and just melting. We love HMC, it is always our favorite stop.

I just called the number and checked, reminding them I am a two-star mariner. They asked if I received the email saying I received a free stateroom. My response was no. There were no discounted or free rooms available to me.

I did my best to include apples to apples. I added port taxes to the HAL fare but not the O fare. No O life, O fares, or O anything (at least I think.) Assumed cheapest balcony on O, best balcony on HAL using a Club Orange upgrade and including that in the price. Newest ship on both lines. I should add I am assuming a lower rate than is currently available on HAL because we have booked the same week and the same itinerary every year for quite a few years. I know from experience the HAL fare will drop significantly between now and then. If the O fare drops similarly, then it may be more of a fair fare comparison. I will keep watch to be sure. I tend to book ~3 months out when fares tend to drop to their lowest point on cruises in low demand. Therefore my booking time is Sept for the Dec cruises I am watching. When I do reach out to my travel agent I will probably ask for a quote on both. That will be a true apples to apples comparison. We can then make the final decision and book.

Thanks for all the feedback. I have little doubt O will be the better product. The question is - is it the better value. Comparing similar rooms and itineraries in the same month, O will be around $2100 where HAL will be around $700. It's hard for us to justify that difference given our current budget circumstances.

I expect the one-way 7 day fares have dropped dramatically as they are trying to fill empty inside rooms. Happens every year.

We tend to book in September for December cruises when prices seem to be rock bottom. I don't see that changing this year. If Vista is available then, we'll see how the prices compare. I'm sure Vista will be higher, but still may be the better value.

So I looked at a few of the 14 day cruises from HAL. They seem to be an out and back with mostly the same stops both ways. However, if you book the 14 day it is more than double the price of two consecutive 7 day cruises.

We enjoy the ports, scenery, and wildlife. It's also the escape, no cooking, cleaning, meal planning, etc. I'll take a look at the 14 day.

Did I read correctly that port fees are included in the O fare? I know they are not in the HAL fares.