HAL Overbooked?

[sghetrick]

My TA just called me saying that HAL was offering a special to anyone who is flexible with their 2005 sailings.....if you moved your cruise to another 7 day cruise you would get a 50% rebate.......has anyone else received this call?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Which ship?

What sailing date?

Several people got similar notices via e-mails and TA's this past summer when the Maasdam overbooked one of its sailings.

[DonMaryCar]

Which cruise are you on? We have a guarantee on the Volendam on 10/16 and still have no cabin assignment, wonder if that is one that is overbooked. Gosh I hope they get me on the ship.

 

Mary;)

[FlorenceItaly]

Please give us details :). Thanks.

 

Marie

[sghetrick]

Sorry - I always forget to be more specific......I'm on the Zuiderdam 10/15

[sail7seas]

Throughout all of our years of cruising with HAL, it happened to us once. They never implied we would not be able to go on our cruise. We already had our documents. But they offered some benefit to us for giving up our Suite. They never speficially said they were overbooked but the implication was clear.

 

At first, we said No.....we are going on this cruise.

The offer got better. We again said, No, Thank you.

Finally, TA asked what it would take for us to give up the Suite.

 

We presented what we thought was a 'pie in the sky' request.

They agreed to it and we gave up our Suite.

 

It was one of the best decisions we ever made.

We went on an alternative cruise and had the time of our lives. We met people we are very, very good friends with today. People we really care about. We never before had such a wonderful time on any ship, any cruise......but have since...with the same people. :)

 

HAL must have needed/wanted our mid-ship Suite very badly. We are thrilled we were able 'to accomodate them'.

 

[FlorenceItaly]

I just looked at my "options" since we are booked on the Zuiderdam, December 3. It doesn't seem there are many if I were offered this deal. As, I would still like to be able to use my airfare. I just love a deal, so would love to be offered the opportunity to give up my room :). It appears that the first two weeks in December are very popular weeks to cruise!

 

Marie

[vicocala]

I have an SS on October 15th. I have heard nothing from Orbitz or e-mails from HAL. I booked a lot of excursions though, so they may not want me to cancel. It would cost em a fortune. LOL

[vicocala]

BTW, what type of room do you have? Is it reserved or a guarantee?

 

Thanks!

[tomc]

Several of us on this summer's cruise got "buyout" offers just days before boarding. I mean, four days in one or two cases. I could not adjust my plans and had to stick with the arrangements I had made over a year earlier. After the second call, my TA reminded them that I was a very early booker and had an inflexible work schedule.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I was one of the ones given an offer siliar this past summer just about a week or two before we sailed the Maasdam. Of course we turned down the offer.:D

[wander]

Why would you say "of course" you turned it down? Maybe you could not change your plans and that I understand, but the few times we have been offered an alternative to a specific cruise the deal was so very sweet that we jumped on the offer. We have gotten some wonderful opportunities that way with HAL.

 

Our best deal, however, was with Orient the month after 9/11. Our original cruise included several Arab countries and the Suez canal. The itinerary was completely changed (we went around Africa). Then we were given an offer of 14 additional days on the ship, $4,000 back and having all our tips covered. Now that was a really sweet deal. Of course, one had to be able to add days to their trip or get off early, but either way it was a really great offer and fantastic cruise.

[sghetrick]

I am in a VA guaranteed but I received my cabin number last week - I also have a lot of excursions booked and gifts etc booked....so I don't think they look at the extras you have purchsed...

[vicocala]

Thanks, I wonder if they ask the guarantee cabins first. Not that it matters that much, I mentioned it to the wife and she said "You got me all excited about going on a cruise and I already have a substitute teacher booked, we are going!"

 

LOL, I guess she is ready for a vacation! ;)

 

Are you going to take them up on the offer?

[sghetrick]

No, my husband basically said that he is way to excited to go in less than 2 weeks and there was no way he could wait longer :)

[MeJo1]

No, my husband basically said that he is way to excited to go in less than 2 weeks and there was no way he could wait longer :)

 

:) Glad you didn't change sghetrick, we will be with you on the 15th. Won't be long now.

Take care,

[sghetrick]

We are definitely counting down the days!

[TriGirl]

My fiancee and I are booked on that cruise as well. We have our documents and a cabin assigned, we haven't gotten anything from our TA. (I booked through Expedia). I had no idea the ship was full.

[sghetrick]

Yeah it's definitely full now - I looked earlier today at a few sites and they didn't even list it anymore.

[vicocala]

Those of you who are sailing on the October 15 sailing, we have a roll call board and we are having a little get together before muster drill. Come over and intoduce yourselves, if you like. You are welcome to join us!

[jerfl]

I was wondering why a cabin number had not been assigned yet. I booked a Cat N GTD 8 days ago through an online agency with no agent contact for a a decent last minute rate. Immediately filled out Immigration info. At that time, about 4PM on a Sunday afternoon, there were only 9 cabins left-5 L, 3 MM. and 1 M. 24 hours later, there was nothing left. I want no offers, I want to go ! Thanks for the info.

[jhannah]

You may not know your cabin until you check in at the pier. Sometimes a number will show up a few days before sailing ... but sometimes not. They may need to leave things "open" until the last minute to maintain flexibility in assigning cabins.

[sail7seas]

My fiancee and I are booked on that cruise as well. We have our documents and a cabin assigned, we haven't gotten anything from our TA. (I booked through Expedia). I had no idea the ship was full.

 

 

Almost all of the cruises are sailing full (or close to it) these days.

[vicocala]

Hmmm....

 

Interesting that no one on the roll call board has heard anything about this. :confused:

[sghetrick]

I have no idea....I booked through Orbitz and they were the ones to call me on behalf of HAL....