canadianbear Posted August 28, 2019 #76 Share Posted August 28, 2019 59 minutes ago, Woofbite said: I found it this morning. Offers say they apply to stateroom based on double occupancy. Do they apply to a single? Seems they should so I'll call later to find out. I am contemplating a cruise solo and when I asked yesterday was told gratuities included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberta Quilter Posted August 28, 2019 #77 Share Posted August 28, 2019 21 minutes ago, BaltimoreCruise said: Alberta Quilter, I am currently booked in a Spa OV on Deck 10. I was looking forward to trying this cabin category (view perspective) and didn't want to give it up. The big box TA said that I could upgrade my cabin category to the next level and get the promotion for $300 more. I am not interested in an obstructed view balcony or paying $300 more. Before our two trips on the Veendam in 2018 and 2019 we always sailed in a balcony cabin. We liked the OV cabin (we had the same cabin each sailing) on the Veendam so we thought we would try an OV on a larger ship. As I said earlier, I will be sure to look at the Black Friday sale this year. I hope your DS is successful with adding the promotion. BC I just checked my TA website and see that the only OVs available for that one week sailing are on Deck 1. So, while I think you were fed a line at first (that the promo was available only for non refundable fares), this one about the cabin category seems to be valid. I don't blame you one bit for not wanting to change categories and pay $300 more. Hopefully, the Black Friday/Cyber Sale will come through for you. (It did for me last year!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WScruiser Posted August 28, 2019 #78 Share Posted August 28, 2019 I called this morning, and our fares were reduced by $235 per person, with free gratuities. We lost $300 in OBC, but we're still ahead $576. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchip Posted August 28, 2019 #79 Share Posted August 28, 2019 (edited) We added the promo yesterday on a cruise we booked two weeks ago during the $25 deposit sale. We did have to increase our deposit to $1750 but it is fully refundable. Ours is a 43 day cruise. Free gratuities are a big bonus. All other Explore 4 perks stayed in place. Our fare didn't change either. Cheers, Denise Edited August 28, 2019 by dchip Added content 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare StartrainDD Posted August 28, 2019 #80 Share Posted August 28, 2019 Our T/A successfully obtained the free gratuities for our Rotterdam cruise next April with no other changes to our booking. That is a big deal on a 16 night trans-Atlantic and we are very happy with this one! Friends are going on the same cruise with the Explore 4 and they also had the free gratuities added with no other changes. We both just booked last week. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofbite Posted August 28, 2019 #81 Share Posted August 28, 2019 My big box TA checked three promotions and all were higher in price than value of extras but he called HAL to double check and came back with free gratuities for a single balcony VE 22 days in December 2020. All other OBCs and fare remain unchanged. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grest Posted August 28, 2019 #82 Share Posted August 28, 2019 44 minutes ago, Woofbite said: My big box TA checked three promotions and all were higher in price than value of extras but he called HAL to double check and came back with free gratuities for a single balcony VE 22 days in December 2020. All other OBCs and fare remain unchanged. Well, I am giving it a shot....have called and have sent an email to my TA...we'll see what happens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowmilker Posted August 28, 2019 #83 Share Posted August 28, 2019 19 hours ago, Clay Clayton said: Oh and for what it’s worth, it’s $82 a day once you add taxes and port charges! LOL Of course, but we don't mention that. It sounds better without it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grest Posted August 28, 2019 #84 Share Posted August 28, 2019 Oh my gosh, HAL gave it to us!!!! Woohoo! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisinNana Posted August 29, 2019 #85 Share Posted August 29, 2019 Unfortunately, we were past the final payment due date so no paid gratuities. I am happy for all of you who got it. It was a nice chunk of change! Safe voyages..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted August 29, 2019 #86 Share Posted August 29, 2019 Well, I had no luck on booked cruise as the price had gone up, but I scored on a new one with the no price increase 😄 Very happy with that as SBP doesn’t work totally for us. We’ll still bring wine and pay corkage and do wine packages at dinner. Happy hour, here we come 😉 Now, to hope that the Pan Pacific has a deal next year before we head to Japan. edited to say - I detest auto correct. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermeulT Posted August 29, 2019 #87 Share Posted August 29, 2019 I went ahead and booked Alaska for next year. 14 day Maasdam. Outside cabin. $675 in OBC plus pinnacle, plus beverage card, plus free gratuities... and apparently both my sister and I had a FCD left so deposit is paid for and add another $100 in OBC... When I add my stockholder credit - I'll have over $1000 in OBC plus free gratuities!!! And the rate is decent enough so I wouldn't expect much of a price drop unless I could keep all the promotions. I LOVE THIS SALE!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loreto Posted August 29, 2019 #88 Share Posted August 29, 2019 I called my big box TA to see about upcoming cruises and the possibility of free gratuities. Since I already made my final payment on my 30 night November Amazon cruise, a HAL pricing specialist took a look at what we paid, got back to TA who called me and gave us a huge amount of future cruise credit. We get to keep all the other perks and are thrilled with the FCC and will definitely use it. Just an example of what calling can get! It never hurts to just ask. Karen 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcat04 Posted August 29, 2019 #89 Share Posted August 29, 2019 Woo hoo! TA got back to us. No price change (and our Save on Sunshine fare was great), we keep all our obc, and now gratuities on top. Our fcd became non-refundable but final payment is a month out so I'll take this and be happy!! 🥂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grest Posted August 29, 2019 #90 Share Posted August 29, 2019 On the other hand, I called my TA at a different agency regarding our November Nieuw Amsterdam cruise, which we got at an incredible price, a non refundable fare. It was a no go... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lido deck main Posted August 30, 2019 #91 Share Posted August 30, 2019 16 hours ago, grest said: On the other hand, I called my TA at a different agency regarding our November Nieuw Amsterdam cruise, which we got at an incredible price, a non refundable fare. It was a no go... Hi GREST, It’s weird I just made a new courtesy hold booking yesterday directly with HAL, for the free gratuities, quote is $6,500 and deposit $1,500 fully refundable until Jan. 2020. So I decided to call big box ( if I could get same deal, just book with them, wouldn’t have to fill out the form) quote for same room was $100 higher and deposit of $750.00 was non refundable. I ask big box isn’t there a $1,500.00 refundable deposit and was advised no. Maybe call HAL directly to see if they have a quote for you on the cruise you want with a refundable deposit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grest Posted August 30, 2019 #92 Share Posted August 30, 2019 19 minutes ago, Lido deck main said: Hi GREST, It’s weird I just made a new courtesy hold booking yesterday directly with HAL, for the free gratuities, quote is $6,500 and deposit $1,500 fully refundable until Jan. 2020. So I decided to call big box ( if I could get same deal, just book with them, wouldn’t have to fill out the form) quote for same room was $100 higher and deposit of $750.00 was non refundable. I ask big box isn’t there a $1,500.00 refundable deposit and was advised no. Maybe call HAL directly to see if they have a quote for you on the cruise you want with a refundable deposit. We always need to stay vigilant! I am happy that we got free grats for our 16 day transatlantic, never expected it as we got a great price, nonrefundable, but HAL said yes. Then no to the one week Caribbean that was rock bottom nonrefundable, but we paid so little that I'm ok with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted August 30, 2019 #93 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Checked my Dec cruise and even though prices dropped and I got free grats I would lose enough OBC that it was a "wash". Oh well, you win some..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindaler Posted August 30, 2019 #94 Share Posted August 30, 2019 I had checked with my PCC on Monday and he said I would have to pay so much more that it would not be worth rebooking. However, I am a pest and called today since it's ending in a few hours and he just called back to say, he had good news and bad. The bad was I would pay $12 more for all of us but the good news was that I got the hotel prepaid svc charge promo which will save me over a thousand. I am so happy I am doing a happy dance. My advise is to double check before 5 tonight to see if you might get it. It doesn't hurt to ask. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlorenceItaly Posted August 30, 2019 #95 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Just now, lindaler said: I had checked with my PCC on Monday and he said I would have to pay so much more that it would not be worth rebooking. However, I am a pest and called today since it's ending in a few hours and he just called back to say, he had good news and bad. The bad was I would pay $12 more for all of us but the good news was that I got the hotel prepaid svc charge promo which will save me over a thousand. I am so happy I am doing a happy dance. My advise is to double check before 5 tonight to see if you might get it. It doesn't hurt to ask. Great news. I am curious how your PCC explained that he said was not able to on the first call, but, can now? I am not being snarky as I also use a PCC and he was able to accomplish it for me upon first contact. However, if I would have called the first time and told no, and then called again and he said yes, it may cause me to not have much confidence in him in the future. What if you had not called back???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caymus88 Posted August 30, 2019 #96 Share Posted August 30, 2019 20 hours ago, grest said: On the other hand, I called my TA at a different agency regarding our November Nieuw Amsterdam cruise, which we got at an incredible price, a non refundable fare. It was a no go... We are a group of 4 couples on this cruise. No go for us, too. wish I had known about I shouldn’t book with non refundable dep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadarocks Posted August 30, 2019 #97 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Check and re-check daily everyone! On Tuesday I got an email from HAL offering the free gratuities. My T.A. got them on Wednesday and managed to keep my original private fare booking (so still refundable). Checked yesterday and for the exact same category of cabin the private sale rate was MUCH cheaper than it was originally. My T.A. called and got the new discounted price and managed to keep our original cabin. On Wednesday I saved almost $500. Today I saved an additional $900+. And this is on a cruise I had already booked!! 🤸♀️🎉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted August 30, 2019 #98 Share Posted August 30, 2019 I noticed a fare drop as well mid-week, after the 5 day promotion was already in effect, so perhaps that is why the various results reported here. In my case, on Tues it was a "no go" but on Thurs it was a "wash" due to the fare drop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindaler Posted August 30, 2019 #99 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Just checked the price on the cabin next door and it is still the same price, due to private fares, he wasn't able to do it at the first of the week but the discount allowed it today. I am not looking a gift horse in the mouth and as long as it works, I am just glad that I checked again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare GeezerCouple Posted August 30, 2019 #100 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Very glad I just read this here. We are probably going to book our first HAL cruise, and we may have waited a couple of days! Our TA was indeed able to got the free gratuities! Nice, for 14 nights in a Neptune suite. (What are the regular pries for gratuities for suites on HAL? I'm just getting started absorbing the website!) Many thanks! CC is just wonderful! GC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now