VermeulT

On 3/8/2023 at 5:30 PM, Iamthesea said:

And their names were on the certificate?  The reason I ask is that we will be on an upcoming cruise and wish to purchase the FCD's.  We have relatives not sailing with us, but may like to take a future cruise with us.  The FCD's would be perfect for them! 

 

On Celebrity, we were able to make cruise deposits for a booked cruise, but had to put a name on the reservation.  Then the name could be changed.   For instance, we added our sons name knowing he would probably not be able to go.  We later changed the name to include our daughters friend.

They do not need to be onboard.  I just got off Nieuw Statendam and bought FCD for myself and husband who wasn't on this cruise.  They are connected to your mariner number and I don't think transferable. 

If they are not used in 4 years, they are refunded.  So besides giving HAL $100 to hold on to for that time - it doesn't cost you anything.

I did a booking this past week while on board.  Regular OBC for my length cruise and cabin category would have been $25 I think for the FCD but since I booked on board it will be $125, if I keep the booking.  If not, I cancel that booking, my FCD goes back on my mariner account and when I do book - I get the $25 OBC.

9 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

I don't think I would ever tell someone to turn their music down (unless it was kids), but the next time I hear phone conversations, I will have no problem telling someone that I can hear what they are saying.  Even at home, it's amazing what I hear when I am sitting on my porches.  So many of the neighbors today talk to their friends and family the entire time they are out walking.  Many have the phone on speaker mode and hold the phone out in front of them.  I could write a book on the gossip I hear.  😁

Nothing worse than walking through a store and hearing about someone's gossip.  You do not need to use speaker phone while in a public place.  Put the phone up to your ear or wait until you're alone.

3 hours ago, AFNavigator said:

The GDC has been very popular on the Pinnacle class ships--whether it generates a lot of direct revenue or not--and it nicely emphasizes HAL's Dutch heritage.

Which if they're smart - will in the long run mean revenue.  It is or should be an expression of the brand identity.

I've played music on my balcony plenty.  Never super loud, and if I hear people in an adjacent balcony I ask if it's too loud.  No one has ever had an issue.  I would have no problem if someone asked me to turn it down.  No, you don't know how far it carries.

I say stick your neck around the balcony divider or wave a hand or something and politely ask.  If they give you a hard time - then go to guest services.

On 2/19/2023 at 10:58 PM, crystalspin said:

https://rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/hal-beverage-menus/

There is some disagreement whether the Elite counts non-alcoholic drinks towards the 15 limit. They do count for the SBP.

from the FAQ on your link..

The Quench and Signature packages have a daily limit
of 15 beverages per day. The signature package counts
Zero-Proof beverage towards the daily limit. The Elite
Package has unlimited zero proof beverages and a
daily limit of 15 alcoholic beverages.

9 hours ago, Sea42 said:

I agree it's pretty underwhelming.

Beyond underwhelming.  Disappointing.  Pathetic.  Weak.  Sad.  NG!  (no good).

Why those stupid boats at the bottom.  Why not the current HAL logo?  Glad my tile area in my kitchen is done already and I didn't wait for this tile to be included.

We used our tiles in our new kitchen.

I'll keep collecting.  Never know what else will need tilework in the future. 😁

(note the smaller KLM tiles that run around the entire kitchen.  HAL tiles are over the cooktop.)

On 2/8/2023 at 3:52 PM, NCTribeFan said:

I've looked at photos (try cruisedeckplans dot com) and it looks small but not tiny.

Also try halfacts dot com

15 hours ago, rochelle_s said:

Wow an in depth look at Alaska sounds interesting!
 

Still a possibility if they don’t have serious plans for a port.

 

Think I will have to check out that itinerary.

 

Rochelle

 

 

Yes it's one 28 day Ultimate Alaska Stolstice.  The off ship laundry is an idea I hadn't considered but I'm probably going to do either the unlimited or per bag onboard.

Check out the itinerary.  It's amazing!  https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/find-a-cruise/A4L28A/W438.html

4 hours ago, YXU AC*SE said:

The referred friend is a plus one on your booking and not their own?   You are the 'referrer'.  The 'referred' would be your nephew's gf -- but she would have to be on her own booking. Perhaps I am misunderstanding ?   And per the terms of the programme you get FCC for your next booking only when she is paid in full / past final payment, while the referred party gets 50$ OBC for their current booking.    Scott. 

so the fact that we're on the same booking is [one of] the issue[s]?

7 minutes ago, YXU AC*SE said:

The mechanics: 

 

"4. How to refer a friend. Visit the Site and follow the on-screen instructions to fill out the “Refer a Friend” web form on the Site with all requested information. Then, HAL will verify if the referred friend is eligible and, if so, will distribute an email to such individual that invites them to participate in the Program.

"After being deemed eligible, the referred friend must book an eligible HAL voyage [my emphasis added] and, while booking, must enter the referrer’s first name, last name, and email into the webform. Once the referred friend creates a booking on an eligible voyage, the referred friend shall receive a $50 USD onboard credit (“OBC”), with a limit of $50 USD OBC per stateroom booked in connection with the referral. When the referred friend booking hits final payment date or full payment is received, whichever comes later, the referrer will receive a $50 USD Future Cruise Credit (“FCC”). HAL shall not be responsible for honoring the Program if the referred friend does not successfully input the referrer’s Mariner number when booking. OBC and FCCs are promotional credits and are subject to the additional terms set forth herein and in Section 6."

source:  https://refer.hollandamerica.com/zone/terms

 

And the programme itself is third-party provisioned -- Extole -- which is likely why no one internal to HAL is able to assist.   https://www.extole.com/powered-by-extole/    Scott. 

 

Perhaps it's the "eligible HAL Voyage" part...

and I'm not quite sure I understand "while booking, must enter the referrer’s first name, last name, and email into the webform" part.  We are in the same cabin and in the same booking with my mariner number so that part was set. 

Of course she's no longer eligible since she now has a mariner number. 

29 minutes ago, Bostonjetset said:

Good luck. I referred two other couples (all new to HAL) to our Scotland cruise in April and got nothing. Booked through PCC and she said I would have had to enter their info online and they would need to book through an emailed link or something complicated. They just booked through my PCC after I booked so everything could be linked together. She couldn’t add it and I didn’t want to jump through hoops for $50 but it is a little sucky that they make it so complicated. 

Sucky indeed. 

I promote HAL to everyone I know... never expecting more than that they have a wonderful vacation.  I finally have a new to cruising friend that I know is ready to book and the terms are too complicated.

Anyone know the best department at HAL to contact regarding the Referral program?  I referred my nephew's girlfriend before booking our March cruise.  I booked us.  But I'm not showing the referral or the $50 OBC credit for either of us.  I'd like to find out what went "wrong" with our process.

Thanks.

18 hours ago, JennysUncle said:

On the Signature ships there is a space between the casino and the BB King (soon to be Rolling Stone) lounge.  Originally that was the Northern Lights disco (a flop) with adjacent bar, and lately ? an art gallery / game room.  It's too bad if this will be annexed to the casino - it would have been an excellent place to add the Grand Dutch Cafe to those ships.

 

That would be fabulous!

My expectations went down 10 years ago. 

We had a horrible experience in the MDR on the Eurodam... so bad we met with the Hotel Director the next day. Traditional Dining is long gone. He claimed much of it was due to being in port past early dining times. Cruisers felt they needed to cut short their day in port or skip an excursion that would come back late or miss dinner.

The biggest problem with anytime dining is that instead of the galley being prepared to serve say 1000 appetizers at 545p and entrees at 615p etc and again at 7p and 730p or whatever - they now have to be able to serve a couple hundred at any given time.  This has greatly reduced the quality and consistency of the food.  I have barely set food in MDR since.

I do not for the life of me understand why they dedicate so much space and technology in the World Stage for a handful of talks.  I don't need full blown Broadway shows but do SOMETHING with that space daily.  Get a comedian or variety show.

My husband doesn't want to cruise anymore.  HAL doesn't provide the experience anymore that he enjoyed so much.  I still enjoy cruising, and now often go with my sister.  We do specialty restaurants a few nights and the lido the others.  One our last cruise we had Club Orange and really enjoyed the food, atmosphere and attentive staff.  I go understanding what HAL is now and enjoy my journey. 

That March 19th Nieuw Amsterdam trip is the one with 2 x Half Moon Cay stops.  It's currently showing $315 special price (no HIA) for me for an inside.  That's very tempting as is.  You tell me I can go for less than that and there would be no hesitation.  None.

13 hours ago, bdd123 said:

I want one of these offers and can travel spur of the moment.  What do I need to do?  LOL.

Me too!

Are these offers linked to your mariner number?

I hope they add Grand Dutch Cafe before 2024.

For the 28 day Alaska 2024 it's $1540 right now to get HIA.  It includes - 3 specialty dinners, top wifi, 3 x $100 shore excursions, gratuities,  and upgraded drink package, plus mariners get $400 per cabin OBC.

We don't drink much.  Wifi typically not needed but with 14 sea days, wouldn't be bad to have.  In 28 days - having the specialty dinners will be a nice change of pace.  But if you do the math - $448 based on current non suite fee for gratuities, $300 shore excursions. $100 in dinners, wifi they say is a $420 value... I'll put $50 on it as I could do without.  This leaves HIA cost to about $650 or $23 per day.  I'm willing to do that.  it's three "drinks"... it's having a soda if I feel like it... grab a water before going ashore... juice or specialty coffee outside of breakfast...

And that value doesn't even include the $400 OBC.

For the Caribbean in March 2023 which I'm considering... it's $400.  You get wifi, $100 shore excursion, 1 specialty dinner and drinks. For a 7 day cruise - I can do without wifi.  I'd be forcing myself to use the excursion credit.  The dinner would be nice. For me, the drinks would cost $35/day and I'd be forcing myself to drink 5 a day to break even.

SO in sum - It depends on the package and if you find the amenities of value to you.

To each their own.

10 hours ago, Queen of DaNile said:

Thanks for the tip about unlimited. We'll be sailing 27 days in SE Asia so unlimited would mean taking less clothes and always having them clean Our quote works out to $7. per day - something to consider.

That was the idea - pack less.

9 hours ago, crystalspin said:

Remember that it's $7/day per cabin which can make it worthwhile financially looked at in the broad range. 

Even better!

6 hours ago, aussiedisneyfan said:

We are on the 28 day alaska and you can already order the unlimited laundry.  It is $196 so $7 per day. 🙂

 

Thanks!  As soon as I confirm my hold - I'll call and add it to lock in the price.

Can anyone give me a rough guess on laundry prices for a 28 day cruise (I'll be doing Alaska Jun 2024)?

And if you have the info also - Thermo Suite pass?

Trying to get an idea on overall trip cost and my budget.

16 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

Not sure, but why wouldn't HMC have a port charge? 

it's their port... ok so maybe not NO charge.  But this 7 day trip has $208 in port charges.  The 2024 28 day Alaska itinerary has $645 in port charges... just seems off.

Interesting that the port charges for this cruise are $208 per person.  Considering HMC has none, so it's only Grand Turk and Amber Cove... $100 pp each?  seems high, no?

11 hours ago, oakridger said:

Never saw that before, but there it is on the website.  Only other two stops on that 7 day are Amber Cove and Grand Turk.  Hmmm......not a bad itinerary though for a "just floating around the Caribbean" trip!

Perfect indeed

I had already started seeing this.  Very few 7 day cruises this fall and next spring vs 10 and 14 days. I'm looking forward to the choices.  I LOVED the 14 day Alaska itinerary I did in 2015 and have looked at the new version.  this 28 day is a MUST DO.  like MUST MUST MUST. 

The biggest value of adding CO to your booking is the upgrade. For $70, the OP got a room upgrade worth possibly hundreds.  The separate dining on the newer ships is gold to me too.  Quiet. Quick. Hot food. The priority lines at boarding and the front desk came in handy too.