Cancel Original Cruise or Depart New Cruise Early?

[cwd79]

Hi, I am hoping for some advice on our situation. We have a cruise, fully paid for and was told by a HAL rep it was non-refundable even though we have the CPP thru HAL. Cruise is the Panama Canal on Eurodam leaving Jan 4 2023 for 11 days round trip out of FLL. We wanted to book the 16 day Zaandam Southern Caribbean Holiday cruise round trip out of FLL, leaving Dec 20 but it doesn't end until Jan 5th 2023. 

We would either need to cancel the Panama Canal Eurodam cruise starting Jan 4th 2023 or disembark the Zaandam cruise on Jan 3rd when we make a stop in Nassau and fly to FLL in preparation for the Jan 4th Eurodam cruise... We really don't want to disembark early on the Zaandam cruise but if we can't cancel the Eurodam cruise then I guess that's our only option. 

 

We have never had to cancel a cruise before so if HAL is telling us when we booked the cruise (which was after the final payment date - we tend to book cruises last minute) that it's non-refundable, but we paid for the CPP thru HAL, I guess we are getting confused if we'd get 90% back and how that process works. Do you file a claim thru the CPP from HAL, and how quickly do you get the 90% back? We upgraded to the HIA package, would we get that refunded as well? We paid for the cruise with credit cards and gift cards (I still have the original gift cards), so unsure how that all works. 

Any suggestions or prior experience would be helpful. Thanks

[1025cruise]

You will most likely not be allowed to disembark early.

[Andi Land]

I had the CPP on a Panama cruise for 2023 that I canceled just a few weeks ago. I had no issues getting the 90% refund with the platinum plan. I’d call back and talk to someone else since you have the coverage. 

[Sir PMP]

Call, Hal, If you explain what you want to do, it might be possible to fly from Nassau to FLL.

[FOPMan]

Please check your itinerary.

 

Half Moon Cay is not Nassau. It’s HAL’s private island, though it is in The Bahamas.

 

There is no airfield on the island- the only way off is by boat, and there is no commercial service other than the cruise ships (some island-based staff come over via ferry when needed).

 

Safe travels!

[zelker]

16 minutes ago, FOPMan said:

Please check your itinerary.

 

Half Moon Cay is not Nassau. It’s HAL’s private island, though it is in The Bahamas.

 

There is no airfield on the island- the only way off is by boat, and there is no commercial service other than the cruise ships (some island-based staff come over via ferry when needed).

 

Safe travels!

No need to check their itinerary.  We're booked on that cruise too and Half Moon Cay is Day 2, Nassau is Day 15 and Bimini is Day 16.

[zelker]

@cwd79  Just a thought and of course I don't know if it would work for you but another option is for you to do the Zaandam December 20th cruise and then stay on for her next segment which is the 16 day sailing with a full Canal transit that ends in San Diego on January 21st.  Maybe HAL would be more willing to let you switch by doing that?  Hope you find something that works out for you!  

[FOPMan]

My bad! The first cruise that came up on the HAL site for Zaandam was December 2023 to January 2024, where the last stop IS HMC. I totally missed the year!

[Sir PMP]

4 hours ago, zelker said:

@cwd79  Just a thought and of course I don't know if it would work for you but another option is for you to do the Zaandam December 20th cruise and then stay on for her next segment which is the 16 day sailing with a full Canal transit that ends in San Diego on January 21st.  Maybe HAL would be more willing to let you switch by doing that?  Hope you find something that works out for you!  

Great Suggestion.

[leerathje]

7 hours ago, zelker said:

No need to check their itinerary.  We're booked on that cruise too and Half Moon Cay is Day 2, Nassau is Day 15 and Bimini is Day 16.

 

 

Edited October 14, 2022 by leerathje
Sorry, made a mistake in this post. I have deleted my comment.fused by what hte OP said instead.

[leerathje]

13 hours ago, cwd79 said:

Hi, I am hoping for some advice on our situation. We have a cruise, fully paid for and was told by a HAL rep it was non-refundable even though we have the CPP thru HAL. Cruise is the Panama Canal on Eurodam leaving Jan 4 2023 for 11 days round trip out of FLL. We wanted to book the 16 day Zaandam Southern Caribbean Holiday cruise round trip out of FLL, leaving Dec 20 but it doesn't end until Jan 5th 2023. 

We would either need to cancel the Panama Canal Eurodam cruise starting Jan 4th 2023 or disembark the Zaandam cruise on Jan 3rd when we make a stop in Nassau and fly to FLL in preparation for the Jan 4th Eurodam cruise... We really don't want to disembark early on the Zaandam cruise but if we can't cancel the Eurodam cruise then I guess that's our only option. 

 

We have never had to cancel a cruise before so if HAL is telling us when we booked the cruise (which was after the final payment date - we tend to book cruises last minute) that it's non-refundable, but we paid for the CPP thru HAL, I guess we are getting confused if we'd get 90% back and how that process works. Do you file a claim thru the CPP from HAL, and how quickly do you get the 90% back? We upgraded to the HIA package, would we get that refunded as well? We paid for the cruise with credit cards and gift cards (I still have the original gift cards), so unsure how that all works. 

Any suggestions or prior experience would be helpful. Thanks

 

I'm curious why you booked the 11 day partial Panama instead of the 16 day Zaandam, if it is the Zaandam that you wanted to be on?

 

L.

 

[Essiesmom]

It’s possible they didn’t want to end up on the west coast.  EM

[cwd79]

We didn't have the Zaandam Dec 20th 16 day cruise on our radar until two days ago. Got a casino offer on that cruise that we couldn't pass up. I did call HAL again and was told I could cancel the Jan 4th Eurodam cruise which we ended up doing and should  be seeing refund in a couple weeks. We are debating on adding the 16 day Panama Canal on Zaandam as that begins on Jan 5th... But flights to the west coast from the east coast are a pretty penny for when the cruise is over. But then we could add the return Panama Canal cruise on the Zaandam back to FLL. So tempting... Thank you all for your advice. 

[liketraveling]

I booked a non refundable cruise and purchased the Platinm insurance when I booked a cruise two months a head of time.  A month before I needed to schedule a medical procedure.

 

I had no problem getting the 90% deposit.  I had booked it on line.

 

I sent an email to Hal reservations including our booking number, names and Mariner number.  Payment was credited back to my credit card in about a week and two days later the refunded a shore excursion and distilled water.