New Explore4 Package

[alwaysfrantic]

If they raise the price of the cruise to cover the $xplore Four, aren't you just prepaying the refund on the credit card? Almost like buying yourself OBC to get a refund on your credit card?

 

No, not at all. The price for my explore 4 was exactly the same as when I booked it a few months ago. For me the Explore 4 is free. The $800 OBC from the travel agent was just a bonus from them for transferring the booking to them. I also have some HAL credit and a shareholder credit...those will have to be used onboard or forfeited.

[RocketMan275]

No, not at all. The price for my explore 4 was exactly the same as when I booked it a few months ago. For me the Explore 4 is free. The $800 OBC from the travel agent was just a bonus from them for transferring the booking to them. I also have some HAL credit and a shareholder credit...those will have to be used onboard or forfeited.

 

That's great. Most are reporting significant price increases. I was offered two prices on the cruise I booked last week. The price without the $xplore Four was $400 PP less than with it.

[fatcat04]

I applied my Future Cruise credit on the cruise today, and opted for the Mariner fare instead of the Explore 4 fare. The lower price and included obc was more of a value than all the perks of Explore 4.

 

Thank you all for your comments. Looking forward to January now!

 

We just did the same. The OBC was the same for both E4 and Mariner with the FCD and our PCC was very honest about the 2 fares. The Mariner rate plus our OBC will just work better for us. Just happy to be back on a cruise ship after an unfortunate hiatus :D

[alwaysfrantic]

That's great. Most are reporting significant price increases. I was offered two prices on the cruise I booked last week. The price without the $xplore Four was $400 PP less than with it.

 

For mine there is no second set of prices that would have lowered my initial booking with no Explore 4. It was take it or leave it withe the price staying exactly the same. I took it!!

[bennybear]

If it is a SBC from the travel agent, yes. SBC from HAL is not refunded.

 

Thank you! If I have some of each and shareholder does HAL use theirs first?

 

My explore 4 was actually a little less than my anniversary sale and a without was not offered. So each itinerary is different.

[Kathyfromstl]

No, not at all. The price for my explore 4 was exactly the same as when I booked it a few months ago. For me the Explore 4 is free. The $800 OBC from the travel agent was just a bonus from them for transferring the booking to them. I also have some HAL credit and a shareholder credit...those will have to be used onboard or forfeited.

What type of cruise gives you this large of OBC? Do you think you would have gotten this much OBC if you initially booked with a TA instead of transferring? Just curious. I just got $200 from my TA and some add'l from HAL for Explore 4.

 

Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

[alwaysfrantic]

What type of cruise gives you this large of OBC? Do you think you would have gotten this much OBC if you initially booked with a TA instead of transferring? Just curious. I just got $200 from my TA and some add'l from HAL for Explore 4.

 

Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

 

Yes, it would have been the same. The large NW warehouse club gives the same percent as an onboard credit regardless.

[jhannah]

My advice is to keep checking fares. When E4 was announced for 2017 cruises I checked and the cost was up over $600 per person. No deal. Today I checked again and it was only $190 per person, which is only a dollar more than what the service charge would be for a 14-day cruise. With the other benefits, and since I'll pay the SC anyway, I went ahead and took the deal.

[blizzardboy]

My post a couple of days ago stating that the casino promo is in lieu of all other promos is no longer correct. Another poster mentioned someone's fare being lower than theirs because their friend got the casino promo in addition to Explore 4, which of course caught my attention. My PCC just got back from vacation and I had an email waiting upon his return and the rules changed in the last week or so. The casino promo is now compatible with Explore 4. It's been a while since I really felt the love from HAL, but this is exciting. Our fare went up a little over $700 total on our 7-day in an aft-wrap Neptune SB, but with the free suite gratuities, internet credit, PG dinner, all of which we would have paid for anyway, the Bev Pkg is less than $140 each. Even with my drinks comped in the casino, it's still a great deal.

Edited July 27, 2016 by blizzardboy

[joepeka]

My post a couple of days ago stating that the casino promo is in lieu of all other promos is no longer correct. Another poster mentioned someone's fare being lower than theirs because their friend got the casino promo in addition to Explore 4, which of course caught my attention. My PCC just got back from vacation and I had an email waiting upon his return and the rules changed in the last week or so. The casino promo is now compatible with Explore 4. It's been a while since I really felt the love from HAL, but this is exciting. Our fare went up a little over $700 total on our 7-day in an aft-wrap Neptune SB, but with the free suite gratuities, internet credit, PG dinner, all of which we would have paid for anyway, the Bev Pkg is less than $140 each. Even with my drinks comped in the casino, it's still a great deal.

We had a similar nice surprise last Fall when we booked during Xplore4 and CLIA Month - the promos were combined (a first for us on any cruise line) with a nice OBC as the result (plus the SBP, comp'd dinners and reduced deposit). The price increase with Xplore4 (a few hundred pp) was wiped away by the combined promos so we took it.

Edited July 27, 2016 by joepeka

[kazu]

No, not at all. The price for my explore 4 was exactly the same as when I booked it a few months ago. For me the Explore 4 is free. The $800 OBC from the travel agent was just a bonus from them for transferring the booking to them. I also have some HAL credit and a shareholder credit...those will have to be used onboard or forfeited.

For us the price increase was close to $1500 pp (30 day cruise). compounding the problem, the price had gone up around $2000 pp prior to Explore4 since we booked.

 

I would love to have the benefit of Explore4 at a reasonable price. But $3,000? Especially considering we could be caught having to pay the higher fare price as well. I am happy for those that got it at no cost/ or a reasonable one.

 

And quite prepared to keep the price we have and pay for our drinks on board. First set of beverage cards have already been ordered :)

[serendipity1499]

For us the price increase was close to $1500 pp (30 day cruise). compounding the problem, the price had gone up around $2000 pp prior to Explore4 since we booked.

 

I would love to have the benefit of Explore4 at a reasonable price. But $3,000? Especially considering we could be caught having to pay the higher fare price as well. I am happy for those that got it at no cost/ or a reasonable one.

 

And quite prepared to keep the price we have and pay for our drinks on board. First set of beverage cards have already been ordered :)

 

Jacqui, Did you pre-order your beverage cards? Trying to decide if we should wait to get them on board or if we should pre-order ours..

 

Also trying to figure out If we should get two $100 cards or one $250 card for an 11 day cruise.. We normally each have a special coffee & one drink at happy hour per day, DH sometimes has two at happy hour.. But I might have a Baileys instead of a dessert at night, depending on what the desserts are..

[blizzardboy]

For us the price increase was close to $1500 pp (30 day cruise). compounding the problem, the price had gone up around $2000 pp prior to Explore4 since we booked.

 

I would love to have the benefit of Explore4 at a reasonable price. But $3,000? Especially considering we could be caught having to pay the higher fare price as well. I am happy for those that got it at no cost/ or a reasonable one.

 

And quite prepared to keep the price we have and pay for our drinks on board. First set of beverage cards have already been ordered :)

We've been in your situation, but not quite as bad as we were talking a shorter cruise. Our 11-day Eastern Caribbean last January literally doubled in price on our SB between booking 15 months early and sailing.

If you look at the big picture, you've saved close to $5000 you can use to cover your bar bill etc. Party on!

Edited July 27, 2016 by blizzardboy

[OVgirl]

Jacqui, Did you pre-order your beverage cards? Trying to decide if we should wait to get them on board or if we should pre-order ours..

 

Also trying to figure out If we should get two $100 cards or one $250 card for an 11 day cruise.. We normally each have a special coffee & one drink at happy hour per day, DH sometimes has two at happy hour.. But I might have a Baileys instead of a dessert at night, depending on what the desserts are..

 

The main benefit of having 2 cards is that you can be in separate places and still be able to order your own drink. If one of you goes to your stateroom with the card, the other person can still go ahead and order beverages.

 

The other benefit is that you will have the cards printed with your names, which makes it easier to know if you get the right card back from the stewards. Not sure if they are printed on the cards you purchase onboard.

[serendipity1499]

The main benefit of having 2 cards is that you can be in separate places and still be able to order your own drink. If one of you goes to your stateroom with the card, the other person can still go ahead and order beverages.

 

The other benefit is that you will have the cards printed with your names, which makes it easier to know if you get the right card back from the stewards. Not sure if they are printed on the cards you purchase onboard.

 

You're right forgot that your name is printed on the cards ordered in advance.. I'll pre-order two $100 cards & one $50 card.. If they are not all used up, have heard we will receive a refund on the balance.. Is that true? Although can't see us having anything left over, since we can use them for coffee's, soft drinks & water too..

Edited July 28, 2016 by serendipity1499

[blizzardboy]

The main benefit of having 2 cards is that you can be in separate places and still be able to order your own drink. If one of you goes to your stateroom with the card, the other person can still go ahead and order beverages.

 

The other benefit is that you will have the cards printed with your names, which makes it easier to know if you get the right card back from the stewards. Not sure if they are printed on the cards you purchase onboard.

 

I have only had the bev pkg included with Exp 4. They now load it on the cruiser's room card which is extremely convenient. I was surprised to read your post talking about obtaining separate cards. I didn't realize they hadn't moved all pkgs to the room cards.

[OVgirl]

I have only had the bev pkg included with Exp 4. They now load it on the cruiser's room card which is extremely convenient. I was surprised to read your post talking about obtaining separate cards. I didn't realize they hadn't moved all pkgs to the room cards.

 

I haven't bought the drink cards recently, so don't know if they are still a separate card.

[OVgirl]

You're right forgot that your name is printed on the cards ordered in advance.. I'll pre-order two $100 cards & one $50 card.. If they are not all used up, have heard we will receive a refund on the balance.. Is that true? Although can't see us having anything left over, since we can use them for coffee's, soft drinks & water too..

 

Yes you will get any left over balance credited back to your credit card. We didn't have any left either when we bought them. Some people say it might not be refunded automatically, so might be worth checking with front desk if you have any left.

[kazu]

I haven't bought the drink cards recently, so don't know if they are still a separate card.

 

The beverage cards you purchase are still separate cards. At least, they were in May, 2016 on our Westerdam cruise.

[RuthC]

I haven't bought the drink cards recently, so don't know if they are still a separate card.

There's a difference between the beverage card and the Signature Beverage Package.

Blizzardboy is combining the two in one post, when they are not the same.

[OVgirl]

There's a difference between the beverage card and the Signature Beverage Package.

Blizzardboy is combining the two in one post, when they are not the same.

 

That's what I thought as well. Nice getting the drink cards that are preprinted with your name.

[Cruising-along]

You're right forgot that your name is printed on the cards ordered in advance.. I'll pre-order two $100 cards & one $50 card.. If they are not all used up, have heard we will receive a refund on the balance.. Is that true? Although can't see us having anything left over, since we can use them for coffee's, soft drinks & water too..

 

FYI, you would do better to buy specialty coffees with OBC. Using a beverage card won't give you the Mariner discount. The full amount is taken from the balance, not the 25% or 50% off you would get. (learned this the hard way) :)

[RuthC]

Nice getting the drink cards that are preprinted with your name.

Sure is!

 

One time there were 15 of us going to cocktails together every evening. In order to keep the cards straight the steward put a piece of masking tape (or similar white tape) on the back of each card, and wrote our name on our cards.

That made things so much less confusing when we were all ordering at once! The value of having our names pre-printed became apparent on that cruise.

[serendipity1499]

FYI, you would do better to buy specialty coffees with OBC. Using a beverage card won't give you the Mariner discount. The full amount is taken from the balance, not the 25% or 50% off you would get. (learned this the hard way) :)

 

Ah ha..Forgot about the coffee discount.. OK so now will only pre-purchase the beverage cards for alcoholic drinks.. I figure that each of what we drink is approx. $7 including tip, so $250 should cover almost 36 drinks for two of us in 11 days.. Doubt if we'll have much left over..

 

Thanks for reminding me!

Edited July 28, 2016 by serendipity1499

[Cruising-along]

Ah ha..Forgot about the coffee discount.. OK so now will only pre-purchase the beverage cards for alcoholic drinks.. I figure that each of what we drink is approx. $7 including tip, so $250 should cover almost 36 drinks for two of us in 11 days.. Doubt if we'll have much left over..

 

 

 

Thanks for reminding me!

 

 

You're welcome! I love my special coffees but want my 50% discount too ;)