Just back from Westerdam

[vicocala]

Of course. Those that are picky can pick their cabin and dining that they like and need to pay for that. Why not take the approach that Celebrity seems to. They start with decent prices and get higher towards the end. They likely drop at final payment too but overall they probably end up with more money over all. HAL maybe gouges 20% of their clients and gives the farm away to 80%. If they keep this up I will be one of the 80% because I will not be paying a premium for a mediocre experience. I will happily accept that experience for $1000 less.

 

I am glad you are starting to come around on this. It makes more sense to take advantage of the rules than to try to change them.:)

[aliaschief]

We must have very low expectations! I respect everyone's opinion but we got off the Westerdam this morning (our first HAL cruise and 20th overall) and thought the food (MDR and Lido) was better than anything we've had on any other cruise. Also, the Pinnacle food and service was exceptional!! I would also add that the service and friendliness was excellent in all ways. I do agree that the casino is too small, smoky and has old slots with a very limited selection.

 

Thank you. You should post this observation on a new Holland America Cruise Critic Main Forum thread so future MS Westerdam cruisers can see.

 

Otherwise, It will be lost on this tread.

[vicocala]

When HAL is missing that revenue they will have to make it up in other ways. I wouldn't think it would be all that hard to understand. If people are drinking that much you can't tell me if they couldn't bring it on they wouldn't drink at all. If you are booking 2 months out you are absolutely not paying full fare. What would lead you to believe you are?

 

Let me share this, on Carnival and last on the Monarch, those restirctions were in place and I only bought a couple of drinks. This cruise since I can bring whatever wine or soda I want, I bought two bottles of liquor thru ship services. So I will actually be drinking more, will be using mixers of my choice, am spending more money with the cruise line and both HAL and I are happy.

 

Others have explained their cases of wine, given longer cruises and or events that make logical sense. The more restrictive the line is the more people will retaliate by not spending, or they will rebel and smuggle or they won't cruise at all.

 

The cruise lines understand all of this which is why HAL permits it.

[vicocala]

One other point. Not everyone is getting a better deal two months out. Sometimes that happens, more often prices are higher.

[sail7seas]

We must have very low expectations! I respect everyone's opinion but we got off the Westerdam this morning (our first HAL cruise and 20th overall) and thought the food (MDR and Lido) was better than anything we've had on any other cruise. Also, the Pinnacle food and service was exceptional!! I would also add that the service and friendliness was excellent in all ways. I do agree that the casino is too small, smoky and has old slots with a very limited selection.

 

I fully agree...... Pinnacle on Westerdam is very, very good. We had some wonderful dinners there and enjoyed breakfasts as well.

 

The Pinnacle Manager is doing a good job. Very pleasant, friendly gentleman we remember from Eurodam. :)

 

 

 

 

One other point. Not everyone is getting a better deal two months out. Sometimes that happens, more often prices are higher.

 

 

I also agree with this. There are SOME times the prices for our category cabin on cruises we have booked far out rose prior to final payment. More often, we have seen significant price drop just after final payment date.

 

[smileyface1948]

We also just left the Westerdam this morning after a wonderful two week collector cruise. We were in SY 6096 and could not have had a better voyage. The MDR and Pinnacle Grill were excellent and our service was great. The ship is in excellent condition with a most attentive staff. Hubby and I had no complaints only compliments. One exception... A two day bout with the noro virus and being quarantined. $ 200.00 later and we were cured! I have to agree with other posters about the smoke in the casino. It was awful. I wish they would eliminate smoking on verandas too. Our first week out, we had chain smokers next to us. Yuck! All on all, a wonderful trip and can't wait until next November for our next cruise. Put down $500.00 for our future cruise credits.

[Bearnaise]

And there are those who do not have the luxury of booking last minute. My DH is not retired and must schedule his vacations a good deal in advance. Those who must book in advance are not suckers nor fools..... they are responsible professionals, in many cases. We travel at least 4-7 times a year and he has to do his scheduling around his office responsibilities.

 

You also need to consider that those who book last minute for savings on the cruise fare but need to fly often have to pay far more for the airfare and the savings are lost. The further out one books air, often the better the price.

If one does not need air and can book last minute, they are 'lucky'.

 

So play it by ear for a change. DH can schedule the time off anyhow, book the flights, then hope for a last-minute fare reduction. It's like gambling. Very exciting!

[cruz chic]

I am glad you are starting to come around on this. It makes more sense to take advantage of the rules than to try to change them.:)

No, I'm really not coming around. I will likely continue to book far out because i want to make the most of my holidays since I still work. I will cancel just before final payment and rebook when favorable. I resent HAL and it's pricing practices and I will do whatever I have to to beat them at their own game. What really bugs me is the BS they try to shovel out about the early booking bonus. I will continue to complain about their pricing until they change it and if they don't I will play their game.

[PeaceLoveCruise]

The only people that are getting low fares as far as I can see are those that are booking after final payment while gouging those that commit early. They need to change their strategy because this game is getting tiresome. I really don`t care where I end up on the ship so if this is how they want to play I`ll be happy to oblige. I`ll be happy to keep $1000 in my pocket instead of theirs.

 

We must be the exception to THAT rule. We booked in March, sailed in November and it appears we paid 1/3 the price others did in our same category. So... I disagree with your observation. (PS... We also had 2 price drops and an onboard credit which made it even cheaper than when we first booked!) Service was as good as if we paid $10,000 for the cruise in our opinion!

[cruz chic]

One other point. Not everyone is getting a better deal two months out. Sometimes that happens, more often prices are higher.

Other then holiday sailings or exotic cruises I find that hard to believe.

[sail7seas]

So play it by ear for a change. DH can schedule the time off anyhow, book the flights, then hope for a last-minute fare reduction. It's like gambling. Very exciting!

 

 

Not my idea of fun. :D

 

Different strokes for different folks and all that. ;)

 

[cruz chic]

Let me share this, on Carnival and last on the Monarch, those restirctions were in place and I only bought a couple of drinks. This cruise since I can bring whatever wine or soda I want, I bought two bottles of liquor thru ship services. So I will actually be drinking more, will be using mixers of my choice, am spending more money with the cruise line and both HAL and I are happy.

 

Others have explained their cases of wine, given longer cruises and or events that make logical sense. The more restrictive the line is the more people will retaliate by not spending, or they will rebel and smuggle or they won't cruise at all.

 

The cruise lines understand all of this which is why HAL permits it.

If someone is bringing 2 cases of wine on for a 1 week cruise I highly doubt if they will drink nothing on board if they were only permitted to bring a bottle or 2 on. I have no idea how many bottles are in a case but suggest that person is a pretty serious drinker if that is what they need to get them through a week. If they are bringing it on for 40 people that is entirely different.

[vicocala]

Other then holiday sailings or exotic cruises I find that hard to believe.

 

 

On most cruise lines it's true. There are some sailings that are slow and they do put a big discount on, which is how I got my deal. But overall and with most cruise lines it is an accurate statement, especially if you want to pick your cabin. GTY's are almost always a bit lower, but you are "paying" for the lower fare with the risk you assume.

 

I have plenty of time and watch the most common cruise lines and while I haven't put them all in a spreadsheet, the eyeball test leads me to believe in my statement.

 

The reason I took this cruise is I could see that there was a market inefficiency which allowed me to take advantage. You only hear the good stories as most won't want to admit they had to pay more.

[sail7seas]

No, I'm really not coming around. I will likely continue to book far out because i want to make the most of my holidays since I still work. I will cancel just before final payment and rebook when favorable. I resent HAL and it's pricing practices and I will do whatever I have to to beat them at their own game. What really bugs me is the BS they try to shovel out about the early booking bonus. I will continue to complain about their pricing until they change it and if they don't I will play their game.

 

 

If you book insurance, how will that work if you book a cruise, write insurance, cancel that cruise and then rebook the same cruise?

 

You have to have insurance from date of first deposit in order for pre-existing to be covered. First deposit would be the date you first booked that cruise. If you cancel, that insurance has to be voided. If you rebook, you cannot rebook the insurance and have pre-existing covered......... can you? Or does none of that matter to you? It does to us so we have to be aware in that circumstsance.

[cruz chic]

We must be the exception to THAT rule. We booked in March, sailed in November and it appears we paid 1/3 the price others did in our same category. So... I disagree with your observation. (PS... We also had 2 price drops and an onboard credit which made it even cheaper than when we first booked!) Service was as good as if we paid $10,000 for the cruise in our opinion!

Isn't this the cruise Kazu was on? She said the prices were low when she booked. I was curious so I took a look and I could have gotten an Deluxe suite for less than I paid for my VB cabin on the N.A.. Unless you booked the PH I'm surprised you got a better price. I'd like to know your secret and I'm quite sure you are the exception.

[sail7seas]

Isn't this the cruise Kazu was on? She said the prices were low when she booked. I was curious so I took a look and I could have gotten an Deluxe suite for less than I paid for my VB cabin on the N.A.. Unless you booked the PH I'm surprised you got a better price. I'd like to know your secret and I'm quite sure you are the exception.

 

 

We were on our second week when Kazu boarded.

We booked long in advance and paid full, high fare.

No bargains for us.

 

Kazu booked late and whatever she paid is for her to discuss ..... or not.

 

[PeaceLoveCruise]

Isn't this the cruise Kazu was on? She said the prices were low when she booked. I was curious so I took a look and I could have gotten an Deluxe suite for less than I paid for my VB cabin on the N.A.. Unless you booked the PH I'm surprised you got a better price. I'd like to know your secret and I'm quite sure you are the exception.

 

Yes it is. Jacqui and I discussed the price I received and she agreed... GREAT DEAL! Part of my secret is killing people with kindness, complimenting constantly, asking for things whether I will get them or not, and having an AMAZING contact at HAL!!!! I'm not the exception as I heard others who also benefitted from amazing deals. No super secret, just great planning and kept a positive attitude! Karma! :D

[cruz chic]

If you book insurance, how will that work if you book a cruise, write insurance, cancel that cruise and then rebook the same cruise?

 

You have to have insurance from date of first deposit in order for pre-existing to be covered. First deposit would be the date you first booked that cruise. If you cancel, that insurance has to be voided. If you rebook, you cannot rebook the insurance and have pre-existing covered......... can you? Or does none of that matter to you? It does to us so we have to be aware in that circumstsance.

Actually I'm in kind of a bad place right now. Most of my pre-existing conditions have had no change in a while. That all changed recently. I've had a knee issue for years and finally had a MRI to find out I have a torn meniscus. I'm going to be going for surgery sometime in the spring or summer. Because I just got into see the surgeon in the last couple of months I can't book anything and have it covered by normal insurance so I'm sorta screwed right now. My only choice is to take HAL's pricy insurance so it really doesn't matter. I have health insurance thru my present employer and since that may change in the near term I'm going to need to reassess. That said if I take HALs insurance before final I will not be able to take the insurance without losing the money for it.

[vicocala]

I also expect that the time between Thanksgiving and the Christmas cruises are a very tough time for the cruise line considering so many want to shop and are having social functions.

 

To make judgements on the whole year during this period would be flawed IMHO, just as trying to judge pricing for the year with hurricane season being your price points would be flawed.

 

I am finding that spring break pricing the week of March 23, 2013 is still pretty high or the cabins are selling out and not available. I am sure the same happens to the summer sailings.

[cruz chic]

Yes it is. Jacqui and I discussed the price I received and she agreed... GREAT DEAL! Part of my secret is killing people with kindness, complimenting constantly, asking for things whether I will get them or not, and having an AMAZING contact at HAL!!!! I'm not the exception as I heard others who also benefitted from amazing deals. No super secret, just great planning and kept a positive attitude! Karma! :D

I didn't realize they had separate pricing for people that kill with kindness:D. Too bad everyone didn't know that secret.

[cruz chic]

We were on our second week when Kazu boarded.

We booked long in advance and paid full, high fare.

No bargains for us.

 

Kazu booked late and whatever she paid is for her to discuss ..... or not.

 

I didn't ask for the price she paid. She made the comment and I looked at the website. No secret there. I am just making a comment on the price I saw.

[sail7seas]

Actually I'm in kind of a bad place right now. Most of my pre-existing conditions have had no change in a while. That all changed recently. I've had a knee issue for years and finally had a MRI to find out I have a torn meniscus. I'm going to be going for surgery sometime in the spring or summer. Because I just got into see the surgeon in the last couple of months I can't book anything and have it covered by normal insurance so I'm sorta screwed right now. My only choice is to take HAL's pricy insurance so it really doesn't matter. I have health insurance thru my present employer and since that may change in the near term I'm going to need to reassess. That said if I take HALs insurance before final I will not be able to take the insurance without losing the money for it.

 

 

I'm sorry to hear about your knee. Hope you get on with the surgery ASAP so you can put it behind you.

 

Booking HAL's 'coverage' really is not helpful for medical coverage. They only pay $10,000. HAL's policies are more cancellation coverage than medical.

 

[PeaceLoveCruise]

I didn't realize they had separate pricing for people that kill with kindness:D. Too bad everyone didn't know that secret.

 

It's the Secret of Life. You'd be surprised what HAL did for us if you ever knew! They made one small (yet big) mistake and they MORE than bent over backwards to make up for it!

 

Yes. There are different price points for being kind and patient. Most of the World already knows this secret. :D

[cruz chic]

I also expect that the time between Thanksgiving and the Christmas cruises are a very tough time for the cruise line considering so many want to shop and are having social functions.

 

To make judgements on the whole year during this period would be flawed IMHO, just as trying to judge pricing for the year with hurricane season being your price points would be flawed.

 

I am finding that spring break pricing the week of March 23, 2013 is still pretty high or the cabins are selling out and not available. I am sure the same happens to the summer sailings.

I'm not basing my comments on recent pricing. I've been following pricing since the summer and the trend has been low for months so this is not just a couple week thing. I'm struggling to get ready for Xmas since I returned from my cruise a week ago. I'm not fond of cruising this late in the year. Had I decided to go in Sept and Oct this year there were some unbeatable low pricing. I've heard that HAL is going to change it's pricing for those that book further out. I hope they make good on that.

[cruz chic]

I'm sorry to hear about your knee. Hope you get on with the surgery ASAP so you can put it behind you.

 

Booking HAL's 'coverage' really is not helpful for medical coverage. They only pay $10,000. HAL's policies are more cancellation coverage than medical.

 

I do realize that for medical. I get coverage through my employer and preexisting conditions are not an issue.