boze9999 Posted July 30, 2019 #1 Share Posted July 30, 2019 FYI - I found this on the HAL website over the weekend (it now seems to be hidden until the August 1st - and not before- debut). Note the changes. I couldn't get into the "terms and conditions" so I don't know the value of the internet or the OBC. Gone is the Signature Beverage Card & free 3rd/4th passenger. It also doesn't go into affect until 2020 so excludes any 2019 cruises...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leerathje Posted July 30, 2019 #2 Share Posted July 30, 2019 I wonder how many will be frantically booking their cruise they were putting off until Explore4.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taters Posted July 30, 2019 #3 Share Posted July 30, 2019 It doesn't look like a good deal at all. A 50% reduced deposit is not an extra benefit, IMHO - Just putting off until the inevitable final payment is all. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crystalspin Posted July 30, 2019 #4 Share Posted July 30, 2019 I see nothing here that would motivate me to make a booking I wasn't already planning. The "up to $800" is for "up to Pinnacle Suites" and most of us are not staying in one. Face it, the SBP was the biggee in Explore4. People will vote with their feet... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted July 30, 2019 #5 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Thanks for sharing the scoop with us 🙂 SBP doesn’t have the attraction for some of us that it does for others. SBP is fine except for the wine choices. I like this package as it would let me order the wine I Iike as opposed to be being restricted. Of course, it would depend on how it affects pricing. As always, you need to do the math 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted July 30, 2019 #6 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Thanks for the information. The Signature Beverage Package doesn't interest us. Will be curious how high HAL raises the cruise fares to cover the various offers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonialinnkeeper Posted July 30, 2019 #7 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Nothing here to encourage us to book during offering. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vineyard View Posted July 30, 2019 #8 Share Posted July 30, 2019 We booked Explore 4 in the past and felt it was a great promotion. We recently booked a trip for May 2020 that included the SBP, PG dinner, and reduced deposit. Yes, the pricing did go down some afterwards but not enough to give up the package. Based on this, I am really glad that we did, as I was wondering if we should hold until Explore4. Who knows. Maybe on 8/1 the details could be different? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted July 30, 2019 #9 Share Posted July 30, 2019 I am glad they are not offering the Beverage package as we have never found it to be a great value for us. Rather take a lowere price. I feel the same about alot of OBC - give me the lower price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vineyard View Posted July 30, 2019 #10 Share Posted July 30, 2019 (edited) After reading this, I looked at our 24 day itinerary this morning. I just happened to check the pricing yesterday. It had dropped $600 total over the weekend compared to what it was when we had booked. Today the pricing has skyrocketed! More than $1,000 higher than yesterday for the two of us. Guess HAL is prepping their pricing for Explore4. I missed the free gratuities promotion and would have like to compare that. It may have been more attractive. Question - we have a great aft cabin. I believe of we choose to transfer to a different promotion, in addition to loosing existing promotions, we would be risking loosing our cabin during that change? Is that correct? I was told this in the past and decided yesterday not to pursue the lower pricing because of that. Edited July 30, 2019 by Vineyard View Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted July 30, 2019 #11 Share Posted July 30, 2019 9 minutes ago, Vineyard View said: Question - we have a great aft cabin. I believe of we choose to transfer to a different promotion, in addition to loosing existing promotions, we would be risking loosing our cabin during that change? Is that correct? I was told this in the past and decided yesterday not to pursue the lower pricing because of that. No, you shouldn’t lose your cabin. You should just be refared (same booking #) I believe. I’ve changed before and never had to have it re-booked or risked losing my cabin. The only time it had to be done was over 10 years ago when I got a private Mariner deal and for whatever reason, it had to be rebooked. I have a feeling that TA wasn’t as knowledgeable as they should have been. I stopped using that TA after that cruise 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msmayor Posted July 30, 2019 #12 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Final payment on our Eurodam cruise is due Aug 1, and I was wondering if it would make sense to try and switch our promotion to Explore4 before our PCC processes that payment. Seeing what it is expected to be, I'll be fine staying put with the air credit we're getting under the original promo we booked under. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vineyard View Posted July 30, 2019 #13 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Thank you Kazu. I know that another line requires cancellation to make changes, and for some reason I thought that HAL did as well. I will continue to watch the promotions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare VMax1700 Posted July 30, 2019 #14 Share Posted July 30, 2019 It's not really Explore 4 is it? There isn't 4 Extras + Bonus Deal, there is 3 Extras + Bonus Deal + possible Beverage Card! It states Beverage Card for kids or extra guests, but not a Beverage Card for the booking guests! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friendswithdave Posted July 30, 2019 #15 Share Posted July 30, 2019 There is something wrong with this screenshot. Why would a $25 beverage card be for kids or guests UNLESS the SBP was included in the deal? Don't read too much into this. I predict this is a draft page not meant for public view and the actual Explore4 package revealed on August 1 will not look like this and WILL include the SBP. I think Celebrity is winning over their customers (included me on the last cruise) by including a bev package in deals. We will see. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selion Posted July 30, 2019 #16 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Not that much different from the Early Booking Bonus promo they ran in May this year. It had: SBP 50% deposit Pinnacle Grill Dinner $200 OBC for suites Need to see fare difference to get a feel. Internet isn't important for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vict0riann Posted July 30, 2019 #17 Share Posted July 30, 2019 I mentioned this to our PCC today and she said we would lose our pre-paid gratuities on our upcoming cruise, so definitely not worth it for a 26-day cruise. Our cruise next year has the old Explore4 (SBP), just hope this change does not affect that. Silly notice - they can't even get the grammar right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boze9999 Posted July 31, 2019 Author #18 Share Posted July 31, 2019 11 hours ago, msmayor said: Final payment on our Eurodam cruise is due Aug 1, and I was wondering if it would make sense to try and switch our promotion to Explore4 before our PCC processes that payment. Seeing what it is expected to be, I'll be fine staying put with the air credit we're getting under the original promo we booked under. I was told that an E4 promo which becomes available on 8/1 only applies to cruises with final payments due AFTER 8/1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kangforpres Posted July 31, 2019 #19 Share Posted July 31, 2019 22 hours ago, crystalspin said: I see nothing here that would motivate me to make a booking I wasn't already planning. The "up to $800" is for "up to Pinnacle Suites" and most of us are not staying in one. Face it, the SBP was the biggee in Explore4. People will vote with their feet... Yea since there are only 1 or 2 Pinnacle suites on each ship....that $800 OBC "bonus" is really hard to get. To bad they are getting rid of the drink package offer, $25 non-alcoholic drink cards for kids...what if you have no kids. And we all know HAL does not have the great internet service. We've made it to 4 stars, I wonder if the laundry benefit is long for the New HAL? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted July 31, 2019 #20 Share Posted July 31, 2019 Thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lstrong Posted July 31, 2019 #21 Share Posted July 31, 2019 We were waiting for the Explore 4, but If no SBP included we will look at celebrity.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Cruise Raider Posted July 31, 2019 #22 Share Posted July 31, 2019 1 hour ago, lstrong said: We were waiting for the Explore 4, but If no SBP included we will look at celebrity.... I am looking at finalizing the second leg of a B2B on a sailing that was just released and was so excited when I saw this promo ... I will be disappointed if the SBP isn't included, though. I can get a very similar sailing on a newer Princess ship in a balcony with the beverage package, gratuities and $200 onboard credit for $300 less overall ... but it would mean having to transfer ships. Might be worth it, though ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirvegetables Posted July 31, 2019 #23 Share Posted July 31, 2019 5 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said: I am looking at finalizing the second leg of a B2B on a sailing that was just released and was so excited when I saw this promo ... I will be disappointed if the SBP isn't included, though. I can get a very similar sailing on a newer Princess ship in a balcony with the beverage package, gratuities and $200 onboard credit for $300 less overall ... but it would mean having to transfer ships. Might be worth it, though ... What is the princess sailing that was just released that you are referring to, if you don't mind sharing? thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Cruise Raider Posted July 31, 2019 #24 Share Posted July 31, 2019 Just now, sirvegetables said: What is the princess sailing that was just released that you are referring to, if you don't mind sharing? thanks! No, not at all ... The Princess sailing is not the one that was just released ... it was a Pacific Coastal on HAL late next Sept that was just released. BTW, it didn't look as though HAL was going to have any Pacific Coastals available at the time when I booked the first leg of that B2B so, I booked a balcony cabin with a refundable deposit on the Royal Princess back in May under that promo with all those perks. I would rather stay on the same ship for a B2B but, ... well, you know!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirvegetables Posted July 31, 2019 #25 Share Posted July 31, 2019 Ah got it! Thanks for sharing. You made me realize I need to keep up better with the latest promotions. It really can make a difference in savings as long as you are open to changing plans/ships if needed. thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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