oceanmom

I'm not sure how to link to an earlier topic so I suggest you go the search box above, type in the word internet, search in this forum, and the second result will give you lots of information with recent changes, as well as cost. I am cutting and pasting from that topic titled something like "Now up to four devices!!"--

(Ha, I figured out how to attach the link! Just click on the box above where it says Internet plans: now with up to four devices!)

We did okay on refaring for Alaska this fall. The fare went down by $1200 pp and the value of the promos lost equals the value of the the promos gained so I'm happy. Now to check on the next spring's Panama Canal cruise. Did have to switch from the $1 deposits to using FCDs but they were going to expire next year anyway. 

(Nope, not a better deal for Panama next year)

Not sure how many kids would have fun in the retreat cabanas with no pool or splash pad, etc. Remember the cabanas are limited in the number of people who may occupy them, four for the larger ones, two for the smaller ones. Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with one well-behaved kid sitting with mom or dad, but I wouldn't be happy if it became a playground area.

Per the pricing sheet, it does state "Cabana Club/Retreat Cabanas for two adults with two loungers" and for the Family cabanas "for four adults with four loungers" although I don't remember seeing four loungers in the family cabanas on the NS. I don't see anything printed that says "No children permitted."

We were on the NS last Christmas and the two person cabanas had space for two loungers and a small table between the lounges. They are not big. We had a total of four adults sharing two adjacent cabanas and it was perfect for us readers and nappers. Already bought one for a Panama cruise 18 months out.

There are a few dining tables in the retreat area but eating in the cabana means having the plates on your lap.

I have sensitive skin and have had problems with hotel linens in the past (I used to take along my own sheets), and use unscented laundry soap and dryer sheets at home. I have had no problems on HAL ships with either the unlimited laundry package or the hotel linens, including the Rotterdam last summer.

I find that HAL cruises including ports in England, Scotland, Ireland are much higher than other European area cruises. My theory, based on a Scottish Highlands cruise last summer, is that there are lots of Dutch and other European cruisers on those cruises. Our best price was one that included the Early Booking Bonus as Overhead Fred mentions above, and then watch for future better prices/sales. That $800 airfare bonus meant our r/t air in Business Class from the west coast US to AMS and back was around $1400 pp on FlightEase.

1 hour ago, RuthC said:

If the person you are cruising with is on your booking number, then yes, that person will get all the benefits and discounts you are eligible for. 
However, if that person is on a different booking number, it is not likely that both of you will get the discount. The discount should not apply to the other person, but sometimes 'mistakes' have happened, and the discount has been granted. If that happens in your case, consider yourself lucky (and don't mention it!)

Don't know if it depends on the ship or if the rules have changed, but in the past (4 months ago and last Christmas as well as other earlier cruises) we have gotten the discount for both cabins (parents in one cabin and adult daughters in the other) when I reserved  for 4 in advance and the cabins were linked for dining.

Sounds like they are forcing you to use it in their store instead of spending it on the ship or as a refund to your credit card. I guess I won't be going that route any more. Disappointing after directing our cruise spending ($60K in the last two years) through them. It looks like you can use it for one of their vacation packages but not cruises.

Try a Spa Neptune on the NS. The balcony was the size of a closet. The cabin was great but there wasn't room to turn around if you stepped out on the balcony.

10 hours ago, AlanF65 said:

My only question is do Flight ease (unpaid) reservations move with the booking?

Thanks

Alan

 

Yes.

Our August 2019 cruise was OBC, but I have seen some cruises mention a cash card or shop card. Just checked our 2020 cruise and 2021 cruise and the big box store still advertise both as shipboard credit, not a cash or shop card. YMMV.

Absolutely, Miss G. At least it's always worked that way for me. Whatever is on my HAL reservation moves with the booking to the Big Box. The additional OBC (usually about 8%) shows up on your shipboard account and is refundable OBC. The credit card bonus (I get one for the credit card and one for Executive membership which total about 5%) show up around the end of the year. I go to the store and get a check which I deposit at my bank. The only drawback is that the Big Box store does not usually send on the email upsells.

4 hours ago, TiogaCruiser said:

Yes, thank you for posting it. I’m going to start the process for my Spring cruise. 
 

For those who use the Big Box, did you begin by faxing the form to HAL or by notifying the Big Box? 

You can get an idea of the Big Box offers by doing a dummy booking on their travel website which lists the benefits you receive by booking with them. I email the form to HAL and at the same time call the Big Box store and tell them I am transferring the booking. Not sure you need to call them as they'll have all your contact information when the reservation transfers.

Generally but not always the main dining room is open on embarkation day. They try to guide everyone to the Lido for lunch but walk by the MDR to see. Also, the Mariner Brunch is later in the cruise and you will receive an invitation in your mail slot with the time and place.

3 hours ago, richwmn said:

If you are looking at raw numbers, because RCL and Carnival process the most passengers you are probably right. However, I have always heard that HAL has the highest percentage of repeat passengers, which IMHO is a better metric. If 500 passengers return on a ship that holds 3000 passengers that is not as good as 500 returning on a ship that holds 1300.

 

I agree. Comparing the various sizes of cruise lines and the number of repeat passengers for each line is comparing apples to oranges.

Comparing percentages of repeat customers for each cruise line is better,

If a cruise line has a total of 5,000 passengers in one year and 500 of them are repeat passengers, you have a 10% repeat rate. If another has a total of 50,000 passengers in one year and 500 of them are repeat passengers, you have a 1% repeat rate. Big difference for same number of repeat passengers.

My goodness, completely different from our experience on the Rotterdam two months ago for the Scottish Highlands Explorer, and our previous cruises on the Rotterdam.

Our Neptune suite was in very good condition, concierges were helpful and knowledgeable, food was good everywhere on the ship (my only complaint is I don't like the location of the Pinnacle restaurant), on our late return at midnight from the Edinburgh Tattoo we were greeted at the shoreside tender dock with hot chocolate and sandwiches even though we were also given the option of ordering sandwiches to be waiting in our cabin, had an extra evening in Liverpool when a small tender port was cancelled due to weather. It was a memorable cruise.

I'm sorry your experience was so different from ours.

Already booked a retreat cabana for 4/2021 Panama Canal.

From the Mariner Society FAQ page:

Yes, guests receive Cruise Day credits for all previous Holland America Line cruises and Alaska Land+Sea Journeys. Bonus Cruise Day credits for suite purchases and onboard spending is a new feature applied to sailings departing on or after September 18, 2009. 

We got the "port change from Haines to Skagway" notice for the September 2020 14day Maasdam Alaska cruise.

Unless during holidays/local events. We found the Amsterdam hotel during Gay Pride week was close to the HAL price especially when considering the included breakfast and transfer as well as cancellation deadlines--and convenience of being right at the port for departure during the Saturday morning festivities. Our favorite hotel in AMS also had a 3-night minimum stay requirement which took them off the list. Similar issues for a Caribbean cruise out of FLL last Christmas week. When booking a family trip, you don't always have a choice of when you can go.

On 10/7/2019 at 4:20 AM, CruiserBruce said:

It is frequently discussed here that arranging the hotel through the cruise line is typically around double the average booking costs if you do it on your own. It is noted that this includes the airport to hotel, and hotel to ship transfers, but is still rarely a better deal than if you book your own hotel and transportation.

 

 

Our tradition is first night dining in the Canaletto. The menu might not appeal to you, but we enjoy the table service and the big windows--no MDR chaos and no cafeteria Lido experience for that first dinner on the cruise ship.

2 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

On thing we do is to send out whites one day and colors another.  Seems to work better that way - once our whites came back all grey!

I have sent out two bags at the same time, one with white/light, and another with jeans and dark socks. Just ask the room steward for a second bag.

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/mariner-society.html

Note the bullet toward the bottom of the page--How is the number of cruise day credits calculated?

16 minutes ago, mexico8 said:

How does one book Flight Ease?   When you have a booking for HAL cruise who do you contact about the flight ease prices?  I sometimes deal directly with HAL to book but sometimes with a online TA.

You need to have a HAL booking on the books, log in to your account and that booking, once there find the option for Travel Planning and then the option for pre- and post-cruise travel, which will then have an option for flights. You can book there even if you have a TA working on the cruise for you.

Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam have front-facing Spa Neptunes up on Deck 10 and 11. Be aware that there is a window, not like sliding doors, facing front and the balcony is on the side of the ship and is very small. Been there, done that, never again a Neptune Guarantee on those two ships.

6 hours ago, suec12 said:

Well I just booked for a spring trip and feel like I've won the lottery the price was such a deal! My flights are on Delta - can I expect FF credit? but really, the price was so good, I'd be OK not getting any!

We received miles, segments, and $$ from Delta for our August flights to/from Europe.

And the other poster's question, yes you can book one-way. We did a TA a couple of years ago which involved a one-way flight.