HappyInVan

Could it be because HAL isn't paying the vendors on time? What a way to run a cruise company! 😬

Not a surprise.

Yes, I'm sure that the itineraries popular with HAL pax like you are fully booked. The problem with HAL is that they've over-expanded, and are heavily committed to highly competitive sectors like the Baja and Caribbean. Just added a $1 deposit cruise on the Pacific Coast for C$500/day (100% single supplement) for 7N in a SS cabin. FP is less than 3 months away. HAL is in trouble if they can't fill the ship at these prices with a $1 deposit.

Thanks for the heads up. Just booked 2024 C$18k Australasia cruise for a $1 deposit. Price finally fell to sensible levels. Looks like HAL is having difficulties filling its ships. $1+HIA program, followed by $25 deposit, and now $1 deposit without HIA requirement.

I was on the Koningsdam to Alaska in May 2022. I was very pleased with the rear cabin 7192. Much larger than the normal veranda, little wind, and great views. I was not bothered by fumes or noise. Back on topic, The Ko seemed to burn its fuel cleanly, The photo below shows the funnel emitting yellowish sulphur. But, it dispersed quickly while the ship was moving. Did not detect sulphur in my veranda. On the other hand, the NCL Bliss (launched 2018) was following the Ko, and emitted a thick column of smoke.

Of course, it is totally unacceptable. I presume that they are cash strapped, and need to be motivated. Suggest you check your insurance first. The claim period may have lapsed. After that, get hold of some warm body at HAL and make legal threats. Naturally, do not make any booking until the matter is resolved to your satisfaction.

Wow! 20" in 7 hours! The basements must be flooded. The roads will take days to clear. The town will take weeks to recover. Glad that I didn't book that Panama cruise to FLL.

+1

I applaud NC's courage to forgo a casino.

Relax!!!

Good for you. Unfortunately, the casino operators continue to run these programs because they are profitable.

Thats fine if you can limit your losses each trip. Many people can't. The casino operator is gambling that eventually they will clean you out. In any case, I don't see the point of spending hours in a smoky room just to save a few hundred dollars.

This is the first time, I'm using CO. Do I need to call HAL to get the cabin upgrade? Which telephone number? Or, do I wait for the cabin to be assigned? Thanks for your help.

HAL has been promoting HIA (drinks limit 15/day). So, HAL had better not disappoint.

Its about time. Hope that MSC cruises soon out of the west coast.

Fact is that Carnival is maintaining its operating standards. It has quick service in the Lido in order to reduce queues. A quick turnover is not for everyone, but quick seating and service is appreciated by many. On HAL, they don't seem to care. There's long queues and slow service. Here's a comparison between the Konningsdam (launched 2016) and Carnival Panorama (2018). The Panorama (133k GT and 4k pax double occupancy) has a crew/pax ratio similar to the smaller Koningsdam. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Koningsdam https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival_Panorama

+1 Its a choice made by HAL. They could bring up the staffing levels by paying more, or reducing the number of ships sailing. Instead, many ships will be understaffed in the hotel department.

I certainly hope so. It's hard to justify paying 5x more for Neptune over a plain Veranda. For the same price difference on MSC Yacht Club, you get value for your money.

Price management is an important biz tool. It allows a biz to adjust to real world situations. For example, lower its prices as industry prices fall. Why allow a ship to sail half full? A lower price improves the value proposition to the customer. Surely a good thing? NC can use price cuts, discounts and gifts. On the other hand, NC can raise prices as the ship fills up. Providing incentive for pax to book early. I don't have a problem paying NC's current list prices. That said, I'd like to ensure that I receive adequate value at a competitive price. MSC has the Yacht Club (ship within a ship), and now the Explora. There's Viking, Ponant, Seabourne etc. That's a lot of $$$$ biz.

I don't think NC will offer an additional discount to OC pax. I meant that NC should offer a discount to the public. Not having sailed OC, I'm wondering why I'm paying list price while OC pax get a discount. IMO, NC should have announced a 10% general discount to go with the 20% OC discount. A double discount would be a meaningful incentive for folks like you. Particularly if you already have bookings for the rest of the year. NC's next step would be to grant generous status matching (with matching discounts) for new customers. I'm Diamond with MSC.

I'm a finance guy. So, its the timing that matters. NC could have started with friendly prices. At this stage, NC is a speculative proposition . Instead, they started with a high list price. Naturally, they're not going to poach pax from the other luxury lines. So, they offer a discount (over multiple trips) to old OC pax with a grudge. This is a sign of weakness. So, my instincts tell me to wait for more meaningful discounts. Are they going to sail with half occupancy?? Typically, its the impulsive people who will have regrets.

IMO, NC has been quite clever. Raising the list price, then offering a discount. Of course, NC would have generated a lot more goodwill if the discount had been offered at the very beginning! I've never been a OC customer. So, the discount doesn't apply to me. Instead, I'll wait to see if enough sales has been made. If not, there could be a discount for everyone. For you, I would suggest that you keep your powder dry. A double discount for you might do the trick?

Enjoy! Sounds like their sales are slow.

Same problem as making charitable donations. The organization outsources sales to an aggressive entity that will bother you, and use psychological tricks. The marketeer's cut may be as high as 50%. For Princess, the important thing is that their terms and conditions may allow them to share your info with third parties, until you cancel permission. With HAL, I've opted out of 'Email, Phone, Instant Message, Text Message, Mailing Address'. Phew!

Actually, I wouldn't blame the CDC for CCL's woes. The industry went on a growth spurt from 2008 when 2-Year Treasury rates fell below 2% (10-Year below 3.5%). Carnival launched 9 ships from 2009. The latest (launched 2022) cost $1 billion at 183k GT. During the pandemic, CCL had to seek financing at junk bond rates (10%). Even today after all the talk of sailing at full capacity, CCL is trading at $8.50 (all time high of $69 in 2017). FYI, NCLH's market cap is half of CCL; while revenue is only 35% of CCL. This is the market's verdict on surplus capacity and the viability of CCL. So, banish the thoughts of building grand new ships until operating profits can catch up with interest payments.