HAL needs to STEP UP.....Unacceptable

[thyme2go]

HAL does not seem to understand the ill will they are generating.    We canceled our Apr. 3 Maasdam cruise yesterday as it was the last day we could salvage some cash from the deal--only 25%.   And given HAL's "cancellation notice" at such a late date, it was the only amount anyone on that cruise was eligible for in lieu of travel.   The FCC is there, but it feels more like HAL pick pocketed us since we'd had this reservation for a year.   I"m not one to praise HAL's  inability to define what they will do next.   Given a global pandemic where do they think things are going to be 'different' at this point?      I really wonder if our FCC will be worth anything down the road......wouldn't be the first time I've seen a business  'go down with the ship!'    

And when I pay cash for something that is not usable in the manner it was when it was sold to me..........then yes, I should be able to get my cash back.      Buyer beware!   

Edited March 13, 2020 by thyme2go
wording

[ozzie0075]

The question is he referring to Carnival Cruise Line or Carnival Corp. 

[NCTribeFan]

Not what I'm reading.  Last I read a couple of hours ago, Carnival wasn't giving full cash back.

 

I'm booked on the 4/21 Zaandam FLL to Montreal.  Had to pay-in-full when I booked (a discounted casino fare).  Still waiting to hear from HAL.  And, no, they haven't had plenty of time to evaluate this.  The Canadian government only today said no ships with >500 passengers could dock.  How quickly do people think they can respond?  I've received no emails from them since the first offer for OBC to sail or FCC to cancel and rebook.

 

But I'm still annoyed that the offer for me to continue to sail was only $100 OBC because I booked solo.  So what?  I paid for two people.  How is that fair?

 

I really like HAL and was looking forward to me 4th sailing.  After 30 on Carnival, I'm tired of them.  But I'll tell you what.  I really enjoyed the 3 cruises I took on MSC last year.  They may end up being my new go-to line.  Just haven't been impressed with how HAL has handled all this. 

 

Still, some of y'all just need to settle down and be patient. 

 

[Aquahound]

1 hour ago, Qcruise said:

In light of the Canadian government closing all cruise ports today including Seattle and Vancouver until July.....our TA called them to get our cruise cancelled April 28th repo for Alaska season and was told only a 50% credit for future cruise.  They need to give full credit now......this is unacceptable and they need to step up like Princess and take care of it's customers if they expect us to book again.  Willing to take a future credit but only at 100%.........do the right thing HAL.  Just what are they waiting for.....???  

 

Maybe I'm not seeing the whole picture here but if the Canadian ports are being closed, preventing the Alaska cruise, wouldn't your cruise be canceled, in which case they owe you 100%.  Why would you need to cancel through your TA?  Again, sorry if there's something I'm missing. 

[AlanF65]

https://www.hollandamerica.com/blog/destinations/canadanew-england/canada-suspends-cruise-season-until-july-1-2020/

 

 

We are aware that this morning it was announced that effective today, Transport Canada has suspended the cruise season across Canada until July 1, 2020.

We will be evaluating our Alaska and Canada & New England cruises scheduled within this time frame and when more information is available we will share it.

Guests booked on these cruises in May and June are kindly asked to not call our reservations center for more information as we do not have it at this time.

Due to significant call volume we are doing our best to manage long hold times for those with bookings in the next few weeks. We greatly appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

 

 

Give them a day or two to develop a policy, worse case the cancellation policy that went into effect yesterday is in

effect and that gets a 50/50 split. (cash FCC) depending on when you cancel.

 

[AlanF65]

52 minutes ago, thyme2go said:

really wonder if our FCC will be worth anything down the road......wouldn't be the first time I've seen a business  'go down with the ship!'    

And when I pay cash for something that is not usable in the manner it was when it was sold to me..........then yes, I should be able to get my cash back.      Buyer beware!   

Well worse case they go bankrupt and then they claw back the cash anyone received early to distribute among every passenger that is owed, so there is no need for a run on the bank so to speak. That completely devalues the asset value of the business if no one will sail with them or pay in advance in the future.

 

Its in the interest of passengers who have paid and their interest that they stay afloat financially.

 

When the world is shuttered there are lots of businesses that are on tight margins that will need help. Cruising is a profitable business, customers will be back, there is value if they can't keep themselves going for someone else to step in Should they layoff all their employees and send them home and cancel their contracts keeping min engineering and staff on board to take care of the ship? I am sure there are millions in supply orders that need to be cancelled in many ports.

 

They need to have time to solve the problem so those of us that want to cruise again can. I will take my May Alaska HAL cruise later this year or next year and will accept a FCC once they define the policy.

A-

 

 

 

Edited March 13, 2020 by AlanF65

[debc]

I have a different take on this.  You see because I am Canadian, and I paid for the cruise in US dollars, I actually LOSE money if I accept part of a refund in cash for my May 4th Masdaam cruise as the Canadian dollar is MUCH lower valued against the US dollar at this point due to the market fallout.  So I actually want ALL of my refund to be in FCC.  I have an already booked and deposited South America cruise for the end of October which I hope may still happen.  So I would just roll over what I paid for this cruise into that cruise and then only owe the remainder.

 

I am hoping in my case to get my TA to request Holland America to refund my entire cruise as a FCC.

 

DebC

[JoiesCruzin]

In light of the Canadian government closing all cruise ports today including Seattle and Vancouver until July.....

 

What about travel insurance? It will also cover your airline tickets. This is a cancellation that is beyond your control.

[bennybear]

26 minutes ago, debc said:

I have a different take on this.  You see because I am Canadian, and I paid for the cruise in US dollars, I actually LOSE money if I accept part of a refund in cash for my May 4th Masdaam cruise as the Canadian dollar is MUCH lower valued against the US dollar at this point due to the market fallout.  So I actually want ALL of my refund to be in FCC.  I have an already booked and deposited South America cruise for the end of October which I hope may still happen.  So I would just roll over what I paid for this cruise into that cruise and then only owe the remainder.

 

I am hoping in my case to get my TA to request Holland America to refund my entire cruise as a FCC.

 

DebC

 

If you paid in US your refund should also be in US and you will be ahead.  

Edited March 13, 2020 by bennybear

[daisy-mae]

3 minutes ago, bennybear said:

 

If you paid in US your refund should also be in US and you will be ahead.  

 

Not necessarily.

If the refund goes to a CDN credit card, then there will be a currency conversion fee as well as the spread to consider.

[daisy-mae]

5 minutes ago, JoiesCruzin said:

In light of the Canadian government closing all cruise ports today including Seattle and Vancouver until July.....

 

What about travel insurance? It will also cover your airline tickets. This is a cancellation that is beyond your control.

 

I was wondering about that as well. We would have to prove that the flights that we booked were in order to take a cruise, and not just to visit Vancouver for a week.

[JoiesCruzin]

Use your invoice/billing statement for your cruise dates.

[bennybear]

2 hours ago, daisy-mae said:

 

Not necessarily.

If the refund goes to a CDN credit card, then there will be a currency conversion fee as well as the spread to consider.

True, but if the rate of exchange is that much worse now, the refund even converted should be higher.  Many use credit cards that don’t charge the extra 2.5% for ex fee. 

[Copper10-8]

5 hours ago, Qcruise said:

In light of the Canadian government closing all cruise ports today including Seattle and Vancouver until July.....

 

Wait, when did the Canucks secretly invade Seattle and made it part of British Columbia? 😉

[billbunger]

3 hours ago, debc said:

I have a different take on this.  You see because I am Canadian, and I paid for the cruise in US dollars, I actually LOSE money if I accept part of a refund in cash for my May 4th Masdaam cruise as the Canadian dollar is MUCH lower valued against the US dollar at this point due to the market fallout.  So I actually want ALL of my refund to be in FCC.  I have an already booked and deposited South America cruise for the end of October which I hope may still happen.  So I would just roll over what I paid for this cruise into that cruise and then only owe the remainder.

 

I am hoping in my case to get my TA to request Holland America to refund my entire cruise as a FCC.

 

DebC

Why would you pay in US dollars?    Every HAL cruise I have taken I have paid in Canadian funds.                      

[ShipWalker]

3 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Wait, when did the Canucks secretly invade Seattle and made it part of British Columbia? 😉

 

Well... Washington State was originally supposed to be called Columbia.

[Copper10-8]

Just now, ShipWalker said:

 

Well... Washington State was originally supposed to be called Columbia.

 

OK, but did they use a Vancouver Horse to take over the city?

 

 

 

[ShipWalker]

20 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

OK, but did they use a Vancouver Horse to take over the city?

 

 

Well, of course not. Don't be ridiculous. Everyone knows it was a Trojan Moose.

Edited March 14, 2020 by ShipWalker

[Rudydog]

6 hours ago, Qcruise said:

No we only want all of our money held as future CC.......they at this time will only give us 50%

You'll get more than 50% back.  No one knows for sure right now, your TA was not given correct information or misinterpreted it.  Maybe you're getting 150% back?  They will let us all know soon.

[atexsix]

1 hour ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

OK, but did they use a Vancouver Horse to take over the city?

 

 

 

ROFL

 

Thanks Copper, we needed some levity tonight.

Edited March 14, 2020 by atexsix

[bennybear]

1 hour ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Wait, when did the Canucks secretly invade Seattle and made it part of British Columbia? 😉

 

We were so quiet and polite you didn’t notice🇨🇦😂

[crystalspin]

Seattle-ites threw open the gates and welcomed the invaders!

[Wehwalt]

9 hours ago, AlanF65 said:

Well worse case they go bankrupt and then they claw back the cash anyone received early to distribute among every passenger that is owed, so there is no need for a run on the bank so to speak. That completely devalues the asset value of the business if no one will sail with them or pay in advance in the future.

 

Its in the interest of passengers who have paid and their interest that they stay afloat financially.

 

 

I am not aware of any case of clawbacks of consumer refunds. I am considering whether to get my money out. I have not decided. Posts like the above move me in the direction of refund. 

 

Sorry if that doesn’t float your boat. It is not my job to. 

Edited March 14, 2020 by Wehwalt

[HUNGRYGREEK]

HAL waited for the President to order them to shut down for one, and only one, reason.....That extra couple of days after Princess ceased operations and HAL stayed open forced thousands of us to cancel our reservations and be forced to take the future cruise credit instead of the very likely refund possibility everyone else will get not that their cruises are cancelled.  By doing this they kept millions of dollars under their total control and we had no choice. Talk about corporate greed..... 

[dmcfad2]

47 minutes ago, HUNGRYGREEK said:

HAL waited for the President to order them to shut down for one, and only one, reason.....That extra couple of days after Princess ceased operations and HAL stayed open forced thousands of us to cancel our reservations and be forced to take the future cruise credit instead of the very likely refund possibility everyone else will get not that their cruises are cancelled.  By doing this they kept millions of dollars under their total control and we had no choice. Talk about corporate greed..... 

Wow. I think you’re right. Now I get it. I canceled my cruise yesterday morning after they closed all of the French Polynesian ports a few days ago and I heard nothing but crickets about my cruise that was going there. I got a 100% FCC, but no option for a cash refund. I just couldn’t figure out why they weren’t canceling the cruise, so I canceled myself. Hopefully they will do the right thing and offer us a cash refund when the dust clears.