Holland is Making Major Pricing Changes

[LAFFNVEGAS]

We've never been upgraded either, and we have sailed a few times...

 

Now I reallize why!

 

Wouldn't it stand to reason that HAL would offer upgrades or upsells to those who have paid more for the cabin they are booked in?

 

If so, those of us using a deep discounter are a little more "Type A" and would rather BE the upgrade fairy than wait for the ubiquotous visit! :cool:

It makes no difference to HAL, the discounting is done from the commission the TA receives. HAL actually has no idea what for sure you paid other than when the final payment is made less is going back to the TA in their commission. HAL still receives the exact same amount.

[Randyk47]

We've never been upgraded either, and we have sailed a few times...

 

Now I reallize why!

 

Wouldn't it stand to reason that HAL would offer upgrades or upsells to those who have paid more for the cabin they are booked in?

 

If so, those of us using a deep discounter are a little more "Type A" and would rather BE the upgrade fairy than wait for the ubiquotous visit! :cool:

 

My spin would be slightly different in terms of HAL considering what a passenger paid for a cruise. For the most part HAL gets pretty much the same for a cabin regardless of how its sold. The difference for the consumer and booking with an on-line or brick and mortar TA is how much the TA is willing to discount their commission. Of course, I'm also assuming HAL loves it the best when a cruiser books directly with HAL at basically full fare plus commission which keeps the whole transaction in-house for them. I suspect that HAL would look more favorably on a directly booked reservation than one booked with an external TA. Of course I have no data or specific evidence that supports my notion, its just my observation/opinion.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

My spin would be slightly different in terms of HAL considering what a passenger paid for a cruise. For the most part HAL gets pretty much the same for a cabin regardless of how its sold. The difference for the consumer and booking with an on-line or brick and mortar TA is how much the TA is willing to discount their commission. Of course, I'm also assuming HAL loves it the best when a cruiser books directly with HAL at basically full fare plus commission which keeps the whole transaction in-house for them. I suspect that HAL would look more favorably on a directly booked reservation than one booked with an external TA. Of course I have no data or specific evidence that supports my notion, its just my observation/opinion.

My personal experience over the last several years I have booked both with a TA and direct with HAL and actually some of my better offers for upgrades were with a TA. Last May we were booked in a HH Guarantee for the Alaska Westerdam and the week before we got the call to go to a Balcony for $99 PP then my TA says what if they want to go to an SY she was told the price would be $199PP, she then said what if they want an SA, they came back and offered $349PP, obviously we jumped:DNot sure if I had booked direct I would have had the option or opportunity.

[obriendan]

My spin would be slightly different in terms of HAL considering what a passenger paid for a cruise. For the most part HAL gets pretty much the same for a cabin regardless of how its sold. The difference for the consumer and booking with an on-line or brick and mortar TA is how much the TA is willing to discount their commission. Of course, I'm also assuming HAL loves it the best when a cruiser books directly with HAL at basically full fare plus commission which keeps the whole transaction in-house for them. I suspect that HAL would look more favorably on a directly booked reservation than one booked with an external TA. Of course I have no data or specific evidence that supports my notion, its just my observation/opinion.

 

Our only ever upgrade on HAL from C to BB on a Panama Canal cruise came through an internet discounter. So who's to say how the upgrade fairy operates?

 

Dan

[AlexandNessa]

Well, looks like this has happened.

I had been pricing the Eurodam 8/24/11, 17-night in an SA category. Price 2/23: $12,227.86. Price on 2/24: $14,192.82. With "extras," total price 2/24 is about $350 more, which isn't horrible.

[AlexandNessa]

P.S. I hope this change will bring about more changes ala Celebrity (price drop honored after final payment) or ala Disney (book a future cruise on board and get a 10% discount off cruise fare + OBC based on length of cruise which is combinable with an TA incentive).

[ironin]

Looks like the TA in question finally changed to full-pricing w/ bonus points convertible to OBC's. Discounted rates still appear on initial page for some sailings but standard rates apply when selecting stateroom. It looks like bonus points+free trip insurance adds up to about the same value as cash discount but the free trip insurance now provided didn't look impressive to me (BWDIK?)

[RevNeal]

Well, looks like this has happened.

I had been pricing the Eurodam 8/24/11, 17-night in an SA category. Price 2/23: $12,227.86. Price on 2/24: $14,192.82. With "extras," total price 2/24 is about $350 more, which isn't horrible.

 

I ran the numbers on HAL's website for that cruise in that category. Without the Cancellation plan the total comes to: $14,420.82 for two people. That still seems rather steep to me, but then I don't ever book SA category. I would rather do this cruise in a J on Main Deck for $5,740.82 for two or $4,100.41 as a solo (at 150% Single Supplement), and cruise a couple more times elsewhere. :) But, then, that's just me.

[pspercy]

Carnival to raise summer cruise prices by up to 5 pct

 

Carnival, which owns the Holland America and PrincessCruises lines, said for period from Jan. 1 through Feb. 21, bookings were at unprecedented levels for the line's 22 ships.

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/idCNSGE61N0LE20100224?rpc=44

[serendipity1499]

Carnival to raise summer cruise prices by up to 5 pct

 

Carnival, which owns the Holland America and PrincessCruises lines, said for period from Jan. 1 through Feb. 21, bookings were at unprecedented levels for the line's 22 ships.

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/idCNSGE61N0LE20100224?rpc=44

 

The article only applies to Carnival Cruise Lines not Carnival Corporation..Therefore it does not mean that HAL prices will increase...

However, I'm pleased, as Carnival Corporation stock went up $2.16 today for a total of $35.83...That's the highest it's been in several years...:):) And they are paying a dividend! next month...:D:D

Cheers...:)Betty

[serendipity1499]

I sent this TA e-mails to two different addresses posted on their Web site on Feb 12 & again on Feb. 14..Requested a price for Two "C" or "D" cabins on the Noordam, Collectors cruise on Nov. 13..Even gave them my phone number..

Did not want a guarantee, but have now decided to book a guarantee, or we won't be on that ship..

No one from their office ever answered my e-mail or even called us...Guess they are not interested in our business.. ;) LOL

A TA, which we've used before, answered us immediately... We're going to bite the bullet & book a guarantee with him..

Cheers....:)Betty

[carlabob]

Looks like the TA in question finally changed to full-pricing w/ bonus points convertible to OBC's. Discounted rates still appear on initial page for some sailings but standard rates apply when selecting stateroom. It looks like bonus points+free trip insurance adds up to about the same value as cash discount but the free trip insurance now provided didn't look impressive to me (BWDIK?)

 

We've booked w/the TA in question in the past w/no issues and booked a Med sailing for 2011 through them just last week. After reading your post I went back to the site to check pricing for our sailing and went through the entire process up to the point of entering cc info. and the pricing is identical to the "pre-increase" cost @ which we purchased. No offer of convertible bonus points or insurance in lieu of lower price. All was the same. So, I tried the same experiment w/another HAL sailing I'd been watching for weeks and again, went through the cabin selection process to the payment screen and again, no change - the price is still booking @ the same $ as previously.

 

The only difference that I note @ the site is that the warning language regarding impending price increase has been removed.

 

I guess it's possible that select sailings have been increased?

[kelleherdl]

I repriced the 2011 Canada/NE cruise I booked 10 days ago with the TA in question. The HAL prices do show up with the final page before entering passenger information. I figured that taking into account the insurance, which I did not take, and ~$300 OBC (by assigned points) I was still about $700 ahead by booking before the pricing change. But again that does not take into account any additional discounting that might have been negotiated by speaking with an agent.

 

So I can say I am happy I bit....

 

Dennis

[say]

Before the cut-off date we booked 3 HAL cruises for 2011 with this TA and happy we did so as of today every cruise we booked has gone up considerably, i.e. matching HAL's price. The TA is offering free ins. and points for ship credits. The ship credits cannot be used in the Casino or for gratituties.

[joe122]

My TA told me that traditionally prices tend to drop as you approach the sail date, because the line wants to unload the unsold cabins. My cruise (and probably many others) appears to be the exact opposite.

My booking was placed during a period of significantly declining sales. This trend continued and I received a considerable discount on the unpaid balance. The room also came with a large OBC. Checking on the TA’s website today, I find the price has increased about $480 for my category C on the main deck. [The free insurance is of no interest to me for a number of reasons that I cannot post.] It is also interesting to note that there are 28 unsold cabins on that deck and 26 of them have an unobstructed ocean view. 45 days out, increasing the price nearly $500 will sell those cabins? I don’t understand the reasoning, as higher prices will result in fewer sales.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Before the cut-off date we booked 3 HAL cruises for 2011 with this TA and happy we did so as of today every cruise we booked has gone up considerably, i.e. matching HAL's price. The TA is offering free ins. and points for ship credits. The ship credits cannot be used in the Casino or for gratituties.

If a TA is purchasing Ship Board credit for you on Holland America It can be used toward Gratuties, this is wrong if they are telling you cannot. I also might be wrong but I believe you can also use it in the Casino.

[Kipling]

At least one online TA (the hyphenated one!) is still selling at a discounted price.

[carlabob]

After reading all of the posts indicating the higher pricing, I again re-checked my booking & another one I'd been watching @ the TA site in question - still the same as prior to the "price change". But, this time I checked it 2 different ways: first by accessing the members' only section (this is where the lower pricing is still available and identical to that which I booked last week) and secondly through the general public box (top right of page). The general public, non-member pricing is higher & offers the insurance & credits toward OBC. I did this for 2 different sailings w/the same result.

[rich_cathybrock]

After reading all of the posts indicating the higher pricing, I again re-checked my booking & another one I'd been watching @ the TA site in question - still the same as prior to the "price change". But, this time I checked it 2 different ways: first by accessing the members' only section (this is where the lower pricing is still available and identical to that which I booked last week) and secondly through the general public box (top right of page). The general public, non-member pricing is higher & offers the insurance & credits toward OBC. I did this for 2 different sailings w/the same result.

 

I can't thank you enough for pointing this out! I had completely forgotten I even had an ID on the site, as I never logged in before to check prices. When I read the earlier post about the increase, I was just ready to surrender to the fact that we wouldn't be getting those great discounts anymore :(.

 

I, too, logged in and looked, and was delighted to see the web rates are still in tact. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

 

And, as we have seen in the past for Med cruises, prices have risen on average some $400.00 per person since we booked, so we really got a great deal on this cruise. (When I book, I print out the pricing for the entire class of cabins so I can reference it later, since web pages are updated constantly, and it's been of particular help with all the goings on this year.)

 

I am sure feeling better - now when does Holland post their 2011 Med itinerary??? :D

[ironin]

Thanks for the tip, carlabob! I'm happy to stand corrected ;-)

[carlabob]

I can't thank you enough for pointing this out! I had completely forgotten I even had an ID on the site, as I never logged in before to check prices. When I read the earlier post about the increase, I was just ready to surrender to the fact that we wouldn't be getting those great discounts anymore :(.

 

I, too, logged in and looked, and was delighted to see the web rates are still in tact. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

 

And, as we have seen in the past for Med cruises, prices have risen on average some $400.00 per person since we booked, so we really got a great deal on this cruise. (When I book, I print out the pricing for the entire class of cabins so I can reference it later, since web pages are updated constantly, and it's been of particular help with all the goings on this year.)

 

I am sure feeling better - now when does Holland post their 2011 Med itinerary??? :D

 

Rich-Cathy,

 

Glad it worked for you. I was starting to think I was alone in the twilight zone of lower prices. Not a bad place to be, but did consider for a moment that I was delusional

 

In answer to your question about HAL's Med itinerary for 2011, I believe it's been out for a few weeks. We booked the Noordam R/T from Rome on 5/21/2011...the same sailing I referenced as having re-checked pricing.

[rich_cathybrock]

Carlabob - you are a gem! I can JUSTIFY booking 2011 now that I can tell my husband how much money I am saving! :eek:

[MadManOfBethesda]

However, I'm pleased, as Carnival Corporation stock went up $2.16 today for a total of $35.83...That's the highest it's been in several years...:)

 

Well, not quite. CCL was over $41 less than 18 months ago. But given that it dropped to about $15 in November 2008, I am more than happy that it has risen back up to $36. Especially since I sold a covered call with a strike price of $35 which expired last month.

[LindaKE]

Sorry to be dense, but some of what I'm reading makes no sense to me. We've never cruised HAL but are planning to in 2011. The 2011 Alaskan itineraries aren't out yet, so I can't check prices to compare for price drop, alternate TA etc. I checked with a PCC at HAL, who said that itineraries will be published in April and suggested a future booking deposit which would allow us to book before the itineraries are available on line. We want to be able to choose our cabin and are being picky, so we plan to book as soon as possible and should qualify for any early booking discount.

 

In the past when I've checked prices with online TAs for both Princess and NCL, I've found the same prices direct and with the TA. I've also noticed that the on line TAs don't have the future dates available for a while after I find them on the cruise line's direct site.

 

On our last NCL cruise, I was able to get our price lowered about $200 pp by watching the prices and calling NCL if I saw a drop. And our cabin cost about $500 pp less than it was going for a few weeks before the cruise. Will I be able to do the same booking direct with HAL, or would I do better to wait until I can compare prices with TAs?

[serendipity1499]

Sorry to be dense, but some of what I'm reading makes no sense to me. We've never cruised HAL but are planning to in 2011. The 2011 Alaskan itineraries aren't out yet, so I can't check prices to compare for price drop, alternate TA etc. I checked with a PCC at HAL, who said that itineraries will be published in April and suggested a future booking deposit which would allow us to book before the itineraries are available on line. We want to be able to choose our cabin and are being picky, so we plan to book as soon as possible and should qualify for any early booking discount.

 

In the past when I've checked prices with online TAs for both Princess and NCL, I've found the same prices direct and with the TA. I've also noticed that the on line TAs don't have the future dates available for a while after I find them on the cruise line's direct site.

 

On our last NCL cruise, I was able to get our price lowered about $200 pp by watching the prices and calling NCL if I saw a drop. And our cabin cost about $500 pp less than it was going for a few weeks before the cruise. Will I be able to do the same booking direct with HAL, or would I do better to wait until I can compare prices with TAs?

 

 

Linda, there is no problem booking directly with HAL & later transferring the booking to a TA, to receive a lower price..

For instance: With Friends, we booked two outside cabins for our April 2006 Amazon Cruise in April 2005, (one year before departure) with HAL directly..Our cabins were on Deck A..

In August of 2005, Thanks to several CC posters, I was pricing the same cruise with on-line Travel Agents & found we could save over $1,000 on each cabin by using one of the On-line Agents, which then advertised on Cruise Critic....

Called HAL, was told by a Supervisor they could not meet their high producing TA's prices..However, he suggested I FAX Hal an OK to transfer our booking to the on-line Agent..We did this & actually received two better cabins on Main Deck for about $1,000 less..

You may or may not save, depending on if a TA has group space, on your ship, but there is no problem with transferring a direct booking to a TA..

In addition, we always place a future cruise deposit ($100)directly on board..Never assign it to any ship or a specific departure or even to a specific TA..Later on we book with a TA & they pick up the deposit from HAL..

We always get an OBC from our TA, plus the OBC from HAL for putting down a future cruise deposit, plus OBC from HAL for our Carnival stock..On our last cruise (26 days) we had $500 in OBC's...Believe it or not, HAL gave us credit toward our Mariners status for the full amount we spent including the OBC, which surprised me...:)

Cheers...:)Betty