Official: Oosterdam has been re-deployed April-Nov. 2017

[Lady Arwen]

Same for me - no luck so far with either the travel agency's efforts (:mad:) and what HAL offered.:(

The two alternative cruises we had chosen as possibilities are both double the price of what we paid, as HAL will only honor the per-diem-rate and both cruises are significantly longer.One of them on Westerdam is the exact price as given in the catalogue... I think we'll graciously decline and look for greener pastures elsewhere now.

Obviously it much depends on both your travel agent and the cruise nitpickers at Holland America when some people have been successful and others haven't. Today I read on a German cruise forum that someone was able to re-book at very favourable rates for a Northern Europe cruise instead of the Oosterdam which was definitely excluded in the e-mail sent by HAL. Things like that make me furious because it's unfair even if I'm happy for the customer who got the good deal. I'll try that as a last resort because I can easily find three cruises to Northern Europe I'd be willing to book at those daily rates promised...

If not, it's goodbye Holland America and Hello, Azamara or Celebrity again for a while!

 

I totally agree with you. Everyone should have been offered something that made the customer happy (of course, within reason). Those of us who moved quickly and were booked directly with HAL seemed to have received better deals. Seems that those later to the party were not dealt with so generously. Not fair, indeed!

[mame42]

I totally agree with you. Everyone should have been offered something that made the customer happy (of course, within reason). Those of us who moved quickly and were booked directly with HAL seemed to have received better deals. Seems that those later to the party were not dealt with so generously. Not fair, indeed!

 

Although I was booked on the Koningsdam, the first ship redeployed, not the Oosterdam, we had to jump through similar hoops. I had not booked directly with HAL, but through my TA. We did act quickly, but my TA still spent hours on the phone with HAL each day for almost two weeks, working her way through layers of bureaucracy to achieve the desired result. I could not have done it without her.

[grayjay]

Although I was booked on the Koningsdam, the first ship redeployed, not the Oosterdam, we had to jump through similar hoops. I had not booked directly with HAL, but through my TA. We did act quickly, but my TA still spent hours on the phone with HAL each day for almost two weeks, working her way through layers of bureaucracy to achieve the desired result. I could not have done it without her.

 

And that is exactly the point and the problem - as I used a travel agency, I have to work through and with them. And I have not been as lucky because they just didn't do their job. But after having voiced just a bit of my anger about their disinterested work they now seem to have stopped trying altogether and are moving at a snail's pace on the one hand and without even attempting to speak with a supervisor, for example , to find a reasonable solution that still gives money to the cruiseline and a feeling of being a happy customer to me!

Well - lesson learned....

[Lady Arwen]

And that is exactly the point and the problem - as I used a travel agency, I have to work through and with them. And I have not been as lucky because they just didn't do their job. But after having voiced just a bit of my anger about their disinterested work they now seem to have stopped trying altogether and are moving at a snail's pace on the one hand and without even attempting to speak with a supervisor, for example , to find a reasonable solution that still gives money to the cruiseline and a feeling of being a happy customer to me!

Well - lesson learned....

 

I truly believe that booking directly with HAL was the best thing we could have done in this particular case. They literally bent over backward to help me WITHOUT added cost and frustration. Unfortunately, your travel agent, and it appears you are not alone, did not step to the plate and work effectively to get you want you deserved. Yes, lesson learned.

[flteacher]

Yes, Alaska. Downgraded my suite on the Amsterdam to a stateroom on Oosterdam. I'm not pleased at all, but will only consider HAL for what I want.

They sent a "booking confirmation" email. Had to open and scroll down. Not enough class, courtesy, I could go on...to even mention a bloody ship change, just sent an email that got gnored because I had all my ducks in a row.

I'll be saving money and booking tours privately.

[TampaMike]

As several have mentioned it is due to the Europe market facing many challenges. The Eastern Med (Turkey) is becoming less friendly for cruise ships. The embarkation ports of Athens and Civitavecchia have been nightmares for the cruise lines these past seasons with strikes at the port, stevedore strikes and transportation strikes (train, bus and even taxi). Capacity is surplus with more ships staying longer seasons into winter and megaships deployed to the Med cannot be filled. HAL cannot rely on North Americans to fill the ships and Europeans travelling habits are reacting to economy and socio political issues on the continent. North Africa is all but off limits with even Costa with year round presence in the Med, reducing calls. And reminiscent of the Haitian boat lift of the 80s in the Caribbean, cruise ships are regularly called to standby for refugees fleeing North Africa. Suez transits are becoming rare and not uncommon for a military vessel to escort (as was Prinsendam). For some time now, cruise ships have been a concern for attacks in the area and quietly precautions are mounting. One incident will all but shut down the Med market.

 

This happened to the Prinsendam back in 2004 when she was abruptly yanked from eastern Med deployment and re-positioned to SFO for 14 day Alaska cruises. I am sure HAL is sorry for the inconvenience (with reasonable forewarning), but the stakes are getting high.

[tgeonetta]

Anyone on a 7-day be able to rebook with any offers? I have a few offers from my travel agent, just curious what others are being offered from the 7 day.:confused::confused:

[ttpilot]

Anyone on a 7-day be able to rebook with any offers? I have a few offers from my travel agent, just curious what others are being offered from the 7 day.:confused::confused:

 

Hi Tgeonetta,

 

yes, we were also booked on a 7 night cruise on the Oosterdam.

We have looked for two other cruises by ouerselve and asked our travel agency to contact HAL for a good price.

Option one was the Koningsdam 7 night to Norway and option 2 was Westerdam for a 12 day trip in the Med.

For both trips they offered us very good prices, much much cheaper as if wee would book them now.

We have choosen the trip with the Koningsdam.

They give us also 100$ per person on board critic and they pay for reebooking our flights.

 

We are from Germany, so the HAL service in Europe is also good.

 

Greetings

 

Jan

[haleygirl]

Anyone on a 7-day be able to rebook with any offers? I have a few offers from my travel agent, just curious what others are being offered from the 7 day.:confused::confused:

 

I am still waiting to close the loop on our offer from my ta. They have told me that HAL has offered us to take one of their 12-day cruises on the Westerdam for additional $350 per person plus HAL will change our flights as well. It seems like a great deal but until I close the loop I am skeptical. I chose to take the 12-day Mediterranean Explorer cruise leaving Rome and arriving in Barcelona because I have already put a deposit on an apartment in Barcelona. As soon as I have final confirmation of the switch over I will let you know.

[haleygirl]

Hi Tgeonetta,

 

yes, we were also booked on a 7 night cruise on the Oosterdam.

We have looked for two other cruises by ouerselve and asked our travel agency to contact HAL for a good price.

Option one was the Koningsdam 7 night to Norway and option 2 was Westerdam for a 12 day trip in the Med.

For both trips they offered us very good prices, much much cheaper as if wee would book them now.

We have choosen the trip with the Koningsdam.

They give us also 100$ per person on board critic and they pay for reebooking our flights.

 

We are from Germany, so the HAL service in Europe is also good.

 

Greetings

 

Jan

 

Hi Jan,

 

Good to hear that you were able to get a good deal from your ta and HAL. :)

[SeaBands]

for cruise from Fl. to Seattle. It says it will leave from Tampa which is better for us both for driving and return flights. Hope that this won't be changed as they did to us this year moving departure to FLL.

[Shippy]

...advertising a sale on the Oosterdam for Alaska next year.

Seems strange that the Holland site took a while to announce it.

[haleygirl]

I am still waiting to close the loop on our offer from my ta. They have told me that HAL has offered us to take one of their 12-day cruises on the Westerdam for additional $350 per person plus HAL will change our flights as well. It seems like a great deal but until I close the loop I am skeptical. I chose to take the 12-day Mediterranean Explorer cruise leaving Rome and arriving in Barcelona because I have already put a deposit on an apartment in Barcelona. As soon as I have final confirmation of the switch over I will let you know.

 

Anyone on a 7-day be able to rebook with any offers? I have a few offers from my travel agent, just curious what others are being offered from the 7 day.:confused::confused:

 

Hi tgeoneta, I finally received my cruise invoice and I'm glad to say that my TA and HAL did not let me down. As mentioned earlier, we only had to pay the additional $350 together with the extra mandatory port fees/taxes to switch from a 7 day to a 12 day cruise. HAL also paid for rebooking our flights and offered us $100 OBC.

[tgeonetta]

Hi tgeoneta, I finally received my cruise invoice and I'm glad to say that my TA and HAL did not let me down. As mentioned earlier, we only had to pay the additional $350 together with the extra mandatory port fees/taxes to switch from a 7 day to a 12 day cruise. HAL also paid for rebooking our flights and offered us $100 OBC.

Thanks, that's exactly what are TA offered.

 

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[haleygirl]

Thanks, that's exactly what are TA offered.

 

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That's great. I knew that you couldn't get your TA or HAL to retain your free flights and other perks earlier so I'm so glad you got all that resolved. Enjoy your cruise. I can't wait to go on mine.

[tgeonetta]

That's great. I knew that you couldn't get your TA or HAL to retain your free flights and other perks earlier so I'm so glad you got all that resolved. Enjoy your cruise. I can't wait to go on mine.

Yes, they ended up honoring the flight promo and also explore 4. It would be interesting to know who your TA is. Our TA stated that they were only honoring those offers for our specific TA agency.

 

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[haleygirl]

Yes, they ended up honoring the flight promo and also explore 4. It would be interesting to know who your TA is. Our TA stated that they were only honoring those offers for our specific TA agency.

 

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My TA (PC) told us the same thing about honoring the free flight and Explore 4 perks. Since we can't mention names of TA here (but hint provided), feel free to em me at helenng8@yahoo.com.

[tgeonetta]

Yes we have the same TA , they are based out of Las Vegas.

 

 

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[haleygirl]

Yes we have the same TA , they are based out of Las Vegas.

 

 

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They have been helpful and I would probably use them again. Thanks.

[SeaBands]

Veendam from Tampa to FLL. We are booked on OO in feb for Caribbean and April from Tampa to Seattle. I guess we are ok.