$400, 10 weeks later, NO PICTURES from Black Label!!

[Hlitner]

We find some of the posts a bit laughable is not for the complete naivete. So lets assume that HAL is not going to back their contractors. Folks should then think twice about booking any excursion (the tour office is run by contractors and the tour providers are third party contractors), should never buy anything at an Art Auction, avoid the Casino, do not buy anything in the shops, and totally ignore the port shopping lectures (also a contractor whose company is paid by the stores they recommend). As to the shopping guarantee, it is somewhat of a con to get passengers to shop in stores that pay to be recommended.

 

Hank

[kazu]

We find some of the posts a bit laughable is not for the complete naivete. So lets assume that HAL is not going to back their contractors. Folks should then think twice about booking any excursion (the tour office is run by contractors and the tour providers are third party contractors), should never buy anything at an Art Auction, avoid the Casino, do not buy anything in the shops, and totally ignore the port shopping lectures (also a contractor whose company is paid by the stores they recommend). As to the shopping guarantee, it is somewhat of a con to get passengers to shop in stores that pay to be recommended.

 

Hank

 

From my limited experience when their is an issue, HAL does NOT back their contractors. One of the main reasons I do private excursions have been enormous disappointments in very expensive "limited" shore excursions. I was told too bad too sad.

 

We have seen people post about purchase in the shops and the guarantee not being honoured.

 

As to shopping in their "recommended" stores, we avoid them like the plague.

 

I think the OP did it the right way going to the contractor. Frankly, I probably would have gone to my credit card company after the first attempt at contact and an email to HAL .

 

And I would have disputed that portion of the charge. The OP was much kinder than I would have been. We don't buy those pics but this thread was a great learning lesson for many.

 

Frankly, I find none of this laughable. This is a serious issue and while HAL might be subcontracting, the contractor should still hold some responsibility for satisfaction IMO. It happens all the time here when homes are built.

Edited September 23, 2015 by kazu

[eirekay]

I'm in the same boat. Three months later and photos still have not arrived! Has anyone else had any resolution? i.e., gotten their photos?

[TraelorMex]

I just don't get these people who purchase something (time share, jewelry, paintings, pictures) and then AFTER the purchase, perform their due diligence.

I just don't get it.

 

Has no one ever heard the term Caveat Emptor??

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

10 weeks is long enough give Holland a call..

[eirekay]

I called Holland. Also sent an e-mail. Their response is to have Black Label call us. They aren't taking responsibility or offering any help beyond asking Black Label to call.

 

With regard to Due Diligence, this was my first cruise and I really didn't appreciate that these were subcontractors that Holland America wouldn't be responsible for.:mad:

[sail7seas]

I'm in the same boat. Three months later and photos still have not arrived! Has anyone else had any resolution? i.e., gotten their photos?

 

Why did they not provide the pictures to you while still on the ship? People buy those photos all the time and they walk away from the photo shop with the pictures in hand.

 

I'd never rely upon them to do anything once I'm off the ship.

 

I'm very sorry this has happened to CC'ers and think HAL is a little too cavalier about this. I feel they owe an active role in assisting guests who are not getting what they paid for. If the charge went to their shipboard account, which presumably was paid at the end of the cruise, HAL has been enriched by that money. They have no right to it if the photos have not been supplied.

 

Edited October 22, 2015 by sail7seas

[eirekay]

We were solicited to have formal studio portraits done which was separate from the photos taken on board. We weren't told at the time of the sitting that they would be mailed to us later ~ that was told to us when we ordered them. We order $1,100 worth of photos. As an earlier poster suggested, we probably weren't too smart. We simply thought that anything associated with the cruise would have Holland behind it.

[Hlitner]

Due Diligence? That is just nutz in this situation. Many (if not most) cruisers expect that the cruise line will stand behind anyone doing business on the ship. When you go on a HAL ship you do not expect to perform due diligence for each business, activity on the ship. In the past we have blasted several cruise lines (and warned cruisers) to be careful about the onboard marketing. Cruise lines have outsourced many passenger-related services and some of us have learned to either totally ignore onboard services or be very wary. But many cruisers are just not that cynical. As to us, we have nothing to do with the onboard photographers, tour desk, and absolutely ignore anything suggested (or said) by Port Shopping Lecturers (who are simply marketing stores who pay a promotional fee).

 

Hank

[cabinluvn]

We did pictures with them in 2015 for out 20th anniversary. They were the best pictures of the two,of us we have ever had take. Expensive, but totally worth it. We received them plus a DVD of what we didn't order without any problem. Makes me wonder if the contractors are different ship to ship

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Stratheden]

I haven't yet found a way to refuse to have my photo taken when embarking - seems we are herded past the photographers - we never have our photos taken on board the ship nor at the bottom of the gangway.

 

We don't cruise to have photos of ourselves - we cruise to see places and photograph scenery.

 

Biggest waste of money in my opinion. With iphones and ipads etc. there are more photos out there than ever.

[sail7seas]

We did pictures with them in 2015 for out 20th anniversary. They were the best pictures of the two,of us we have ever had take. Expensive, but totally worth it. We received them plus a DVD of what we didn't order without any problem. Makes me wonder if the contractors are different ship to ship

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

How long did it take after you left the ship until you received the photos and DVD?

[eirekay]

Our pictures were beautiful too, which is why we spent so much. Yours may be a different vendor because we had to pay for the digital copies and we are only supposed to get the 6 images that we bought.

 

AN UPDATE - since posting this issue on CC, as well as Twitter and Facebook, I received a phone call about 20 minutes ago from Black Label who tells me that my pictures will be sent out on Monday, october 26th! Success at last!

[sail7seas]

Great news. Happy to hear you will get your photos.

[cabinluvn]

Since it was more than 5'years ago, my memory is not the best, but I wasn't worried, so,it must have been in a timely manner

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Hlitner]

I haven't yet found a way to refuse to have my photo taken when embarking - seems we are herded past the photographers - we never have our photos taken on board the ship nor at the bottom of the gangway.

 

We don't cruise to have photos of ourselves - we cruise to see places and photograph scenery.

 

Biggest waste of money in my opinion. With iphones and ipads etc. there are more photos out there than ever.

 

Come into my world! We often avoid the ship's photographers or simply tell them "no pictures please" or "no thank you." If they do take our picture they are wasting their time because we have not purchased a single cruise pix in our last 50 or so cruises.

 

Hank

[Hlitner]

I haven't yet found a way to refuse to have my photo taken when embarking - seems we are herded past the photographers - we never have our photos taken on board the ship nor at the bottom of the gangway.

 

We don't cruise to have photos of ourselves - we cruise to see places and photograph scenery.

 

Biggest waste of money in my opinion. With iphones and ipads etc. there are more photos out there than ever.

 

Come into my world! We often avoid the ship's photographers or simply tell them "no pictures please" or "no thank you." If they do take our picture they are wasting their time because we have not purchased a single cruise pix in our last 50 or so cruises. We did take advantage when RCI gave Diamond Members a coupon for a free 8x10 formal picture. But like many benefits, this one disappeared a few years ago.

 

Hank

[aussiedisneyfan]

Why did they not provide the pictures to you while still on the ship? People buy those photos all the time and they walk away from the photo shop with the pictures in hand.

 

I'd never rely upon them to do anything once I'm off the ship.

 

I'm very sorry this has happened to CC'ers and think HAL is a little too cavalier about this. I feel they owe an active role in assisting guests who are not getting what they paid for. If the charge went to their shipboard account, which presumably was paid at the end of the cruise, HAL has been enriched by that money. They have no right to it if the photos have not been supplied.

 

 

The Black Label photos cannot be taken from the ship as they are specially mounted and presented, hence the huge costs.

 

It gets even better if you don't live in the states. We had a sitting and viewing and then got hit with the costs. After wanting us to spend $800 they then informed us that postage was only to (mainland?) USA and we would be hit with an additional $150? to ship them to Australia. That did it for us and we walked away.

[sail7seas]

Wow, that's crazy. Such prices!! How were they going to mail them that would cost $150 for some photos? :eek:

[ithaca gal]

Wow, that's crazy. Such prices!! How were they going to mail them that would cost $150 for some photos? :eek:

 

Haha! Probably the same way that Park West was going to send my "free" print in a tube -- all I would have to pay is the $30 shipping charge. HAHAHA!

[Bailey & Sophie]

I haven't yet found a way to refuse to have my photo taken when embarking - seems we are herded past the photographers.

 

Once we realized that it's not mandatory, we just walk around them. If that doesn't work, we pretty much ignore them.

[chill6x6]

You know....we were really thinking....no PLANNING on having some pictures taken on formal night on our up coming Eurodam cruise. Would be the first time EVER. Pretty apprehensive now after hearing all this....

[3rdGenCunarder]

You know....we were really thinking....no PLANNING on having some pictures taken on formal night on our up coming Eurodam cruise. Would be the first time EVER. Pretty apprehensive now after hearing all this....

 

If you do the regular portraits that they set up for in the public areas, those are printed on board and you can just pick them up and buy them if you like them. And if you don't like them, just take them off the rack, hand them in at the desk, and say "no, thank you." It's the special "studio sittings" where the prices go up and you don't get the photos right away.

[Tarpeian Rock]

I haven't yet found a way to refuse to have my photo taken when embarking - seems we are herded past the photographers - we never have our photos taken on board the ship nor at the bottom of the gangway.

 

We don't cruise to have photos of ourselves - we cruise to see places and photograph scenery.

 

Biggest waste of money in my opinion. With iphones and ipads etc. there are more photos out there than ever.

 

 

When we're on a cruise line that has embarkation photographers, we just cry out "Witness Protection Program," keep our hands in front of our faces, and keep moving.

[momatibm]

When we're on a cruise line that has embarkation photographers, we just cry out "Witness Protection Program," keep our hands in front of our faces, and keep moving.

 

 

'In Transit' also works.

 

When they come to the table -- I tell them we are being 'green' -- they look at me like I'm crazy --- I point out I am not going to buy them anyway, so I am saving the paper and ink.