Does HAL allow TA-arranged ship visits?

[Laurino]

Does HAL allow ship visits, arranged by travel agents for their potential clients on port days? I've been on those kinds of visits on NCL and Princess (last summer in Copenhagen).

 

I'm having trouble finding a Swedish or Danish TA that deals with HAL (I usually book online) so I thought of contacting HAL directly (via e-mail) to inquire when there will be a ship visit (in Sweden/Denmark) and which TA to contact. But I'm getting really strange answers from HAL, which seems to imply that visits are not allowed? Is there a specific person on HAL I should contact instead?

 

I'm trying to persuade my parents-in-law to try cruising, but so far they will only commit to a ship visit, later maybe a shorter "trial cruise". I would like to show them our preferred lines, HAL or Celebrity, to give the "right impression".

[CruiserBruce]

Yes. We got to tour Oosterdam when it was just a few months old, and they had some great deals available when we were on board. Don't know how often they do this, though.

Edited April 20, 2014 by CruiserBruce

[Ray in NH]

Does HAL allow ship visits, arranged by travel agents for their potential clients on port days? I've been on those kinds of visits on NCL and Princess (last summer in Copenhagen).

 

I'm having trouble finding a Swedish or Danish TA that deals with HAL (I usually book online) so I thought of contacting HAL directly (via e-mail) to inquire when there will be a ship visit (in Sweden/Denmark) and which TA to contact. But I'm getting really strange answers from HAL, which seems to imply that visits are not allowed? Is there a specific person on HAL I should contact instead?

 

I'm trying to persuade my parents-in-law to try cruising, but so far they will only commit to a ship visit, later maybe a shorter "trial cruise". I would like to show them our preferred lines, HAL or Celebrity, to give the "right impression".

 

I think the answer to this, may depend on which travel agent/agency requests the visit, and how much business they do with HAL. Are there any large travel agencies near you with whom you can inquire about this type of visit?

 

I know that we have been able to visit some ships in this manner. Be prepared to submit to security screening the same as any passenger would need to do. In the US that has meant providing passport information, in advance, to the cruise line and security officials.

 

Good Luck in your quest.

 

Ray in NH

[Mary Ellen]

The port involved may be a factor too. Our TA tried to prearrange to have a potiential client on board (we were sailing with our TA) during a stop. The cruise line said OK, but the port officials said no. Good luck. :)

[Laurino]

Ray - Yes, when we visited NCL and Princess we had to make a reservation with our passport number and pre-pay for the visit. They held our passports as a deposit during the visit. We also went through security. This is all ok. I guess I'll have to widen my search for TAs.

 

Mary Ellen - the port shouldn't be a problem, since we visited other ships last year and other ships are available again. We've been offered visits to RCI, MSC, NCL and Costa so far this year - but I think those lines would be a bad match for my parents-in-law and I don't like those lines myself.

[PathfinderEss]

.......and here is another yes. We have done it several time on two different cruise lines. A great way to look around to see if you like the ship. Most TA can arrange for your tour.

[RollieUK]

We have done HAL ship visits in the UK with our TA in both Harwich and Dover. We also had lunch onboard.

 

Our TA is a cruise specialist and is one of the main HAL TAs in UK. You probably need to find the equivalent in Sweden.

Edited April 21, 2014 by RollieUK

[MobyandDick]

HAL's website recommends travel partners under "Locate a travel advisor" :

Denmark

BVTravel Group ApS

Indiakaj 12, DK 2100

Copenhagen Oe

Denmark

Phone: +45 70 200 100

Email: info@bvtravel.dk

Most cruise companies work with intermediairies daily and also depend for business and can not imagine that HAL does not do special get-to-know programmes with this mentioned partner.

[Laurino]

MobyandDick - Thank you, I'll contact the Danish TA. Their own webpage doesn't mention HAL, but lets see what happens. I've already contacted the Swedish TA suggested on HALs site.

 

Thank you all for your replies. I'm contacting as many Swedish TA:s as I can find :)

[sail7seas]

Good luck.

Please let us know if you are able to arrange a visit.

[Laurino]

It took a while, but I've had some success with arranging a ship visit. The cruise season has begun in the Baltic, and it's nice to see the ships coming again :D

 

One of the larger Swedish TA:s eventually offered av ship visit on Eurodam on 26-June and also on Rotterdam on 2-June, both in Stockholm. Unfortunately my parents-in-law wouldn't commit to those visits due to the distance from home etc :( Admittedly it would have been inconvenient for myself too, with lost workdays and hotel nights etc. No HAL visits in Copenhagen as of yet, though I keep a lookout. Strange though that HAL didn't mention the visits in Stockholm.

 

However I managed to book (with a local TA) a ship visit on Celebrity Eclipse on 10-June in Copenhagen, for all of us and we're all excited about this :) I've become somewhat of a "cruise-ambassador" among family, friends and colleagues - so two of my work colleagues will also join the visit on Eclipse and we'll be 6 all-in-all. There are visits on Eclipse also in Stockholm.

[Typhoon1]

It is usually done with new builds.

 

You're TA should be able to make contact with someone at HAL. With a little luck, the TA might be able to arrange something on current ships in the fleet.

Edited May 15, 2014 by Typhoon1