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AlexCherie

By AlexCherie,
in Holland America Line

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AlexCherie

AlexCherie

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The current promotion really "hides" how deep the deals are, especially if you are Mariner. We aren't anything special, just two stars. 

Filter on Nieuw Statendam.

As an example, the 7 day Eastern (Jan 7 - Jan 14) initially shows the price lowered from $679 to $629. Click View Itinerary. There is $629 in the upper right hand corner. Click to Continue. The price changes to $129 (!). 

The last sailing seems to be returning to FLL on March 11th after a 14 day cruise - originally over $1000, marked down to $999. Again, View Itinerary and click Continue. Price falls to $499. 

The next listed cruise is April 1. As it turns out, I was looking at these several days ago - and they've been showing odd configurations. But at one point there was a March 18 to April 1 trip, combined with a price tag of $999 and price of $499 reduced on it. 

But they rarely showed that combination broken up. Asking a HAL rep, I came up with this:

We booked a 7 day, Western Caribbean cruise leaving March 18 to March 25 ... at $64 per person for the entire cruise.
We booked a 7 day, Southern Caribbean cruise leaving March 25 to April 1 ... also at $64 per person for the entire cruise (so, obviously B2B).

So essentially I took a $999 14 day cruise that was knocked down to $499, and split it into two cruises for $128 p/person for 14 days. Still to this moment, you cannot find any cruise that occurs between 3/11 and 4/1, and I know that ship is leaving FLL on March 11th and returning for our cruise that departs on March 18. 

FWIW much earlier on I did find examples of $19 p/p cruises for an interior cabin on the Nieuw Statendam, 7 day cruise. Nineteen dollars for the entire 7 days.

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AlexCherie

AlexCherie

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Posted (edited)
26 minutes ago, richwmn said:

Quite often these promotions are targeted at specific people. Looks like @AlexCherieis in the group HAL is targeting right now. The price reduction does not show up for me either.


Very interesting! I guess that's possible!!!

Although ... I have to say, it that's true it's really, really bad marketing. There has been almost zero collateral material aimed at me, either on social media or in print or via email.

By comparison, I'm bombarded by other luxe lines like Oceania and Regent (whom I've never sailed). I would think if you are going to target me, then you are going to make an effort instead of literally hiding the promotion.

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AlexCherie

AlexCherie

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40 minutes ago, Mosaic said:

I am logged in, price does not change on Edge and Win 11.

Can you find a cruise for Nieuw Statendam that departs Fort Lauderdale on March 11, 18, 25, or the 1st of April?

Because I'm almost certain the ship is in port, every one of those days, and I don't see it.

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Crazy For Cats "Live from...." Rare

Crazy For Cats

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3 hours ago, AlexCherie said:

The current promotion really "hides" how deep the deals are, especially if you are Mariner. We aren't anything special, just two stars. 

Filter on Nieuw Statendam.

As an example, the 7 day Eastern (Jan 7 - Jan 14) initially shows the price lowered from $679 to $629. Click View Itinerary. There is $629 in the upper right hand corner. Click to Continue. The price changes to $129 (!). 

The last sailing seems to be returning to FLL on March 11th after a 14 day cruise - originally over $1000, marked down to $999. Again, View Itinerary and click Continue. Price falls to $499. 

The next listed cruise is April 1. As it turns out, I was looking at these several days ago - and they've been showing odd configurations. But at one point there was a March 18 to April 1 trip, combined with a price tag of $999 and price of $499 reduced on it. 

But they rarely showed that combination broken up. Asking a HAL rep, I came up with this:

We booked a 7 day, Western Caribbean cruise leaving March 18 to March 25 ... at $64 per person for the entire cruise.
We booked a 7 day, Southern Caribbean cruise leaving March 25 to April 1 ... also at $64 per person for the entire cruise (so, obviously B2B).

So essentially I took a $999 14 day cruise that was knocked down to $499, and split it into two cruises for $128 p/person for 14 days. Still to this moment, you cannot find any cruise that occurs between 3/11 and 4/1, and I know that ship is leaving FLL on March 11th and returning for our cruise that departs on March 18. 

FWIW much earlier on I did find examples of $19 p/p cruises for an interior cabin on the Nieuw Statendam, 7 day cruise. Nineteen dollars for the entire 7 days.

I just logged in and followed your steps.  I see the 129 for the January itinerary.  I then looked at the March 11 and see $64 pp.  Both are for inside information.  
 

On the March I started a mock booking.  It truly says 64 pp. you get $200 obc per stateroom.  If I add HIA the price jumps to 949.

 

This must be a private sale but I don’t remember seeing an email on it.

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AlexCherie

AlexCherie

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No - this has nothing at all to do with my status as a Mariner.

You can either book a 14 day trip on the Nieuw Statendam to leave Barcelona and r/t back from April 22 to May 6 for $1566 ... OR

 

You can book two individual cruises, in 7 day increments, and pay $200 for each of the two legs.

$400 for 14 days on the N/S in Europe.

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AlexCherie

AlexCherie

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1 minute ago, Crazy For Cats said:

I just logged in and followed your steps.  I see the 129 for the January itinerary.  I then looked at the March 11 and see $64 pp.  Both are for inside information.  
 

On the March I started a mock booking.  It truly says 64 pp. you get $200 obc per stateroom.  If I add HIA the price jumps to 949.

 

This must be a private sale but I don’t remember seeing an email on it.

Now look at the N/S sailings in Europe in April and May. 

Take two, 7 day cruises and spend $200 on each leg. That's screwed up. Oh by hte way, no Mariner discount on that one.

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Mary229 "Live from...." Rare

Mary229

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5 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

Sounds like a casino offer, especially when you see the $200 in OBC pp.

 

It may be but there is also a poorly advertised private sale going on. I booked the new 28 day Alaska and with login I am saving a few bills over the brochure rate, not as spectacular but certainly enough to pay for the bonus HIA.  Plus the Mariner early booking OBC.  just be sure you do login and go to the cart as @AlexCheriementioned.  There was a final price drop given there.  As I said - nothing as grand as hers but …

 

I think this ends soon too

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Native Floridian 26

Native Floridian 26

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18 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

It may be but there is also a poorly advertised private sale going on. I booked the new 28 day Alaska and with login I am saving a few bills over the brochure rate, not as spectacular but certainly enough to pay for the bonus HIA.  Plus the Mariner early booking OBC.  just be sure you do login and go to the cart as @AlexCheriementioned.  There was a final price drop given there.  As I said - nothing as grand as hers but …

 

I think this ends soon too

What cart?  I go through the selection process and there is no cart.  It just asks for traveler info towards the end.

 

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Mary229 "Live from...." Rare

Mary229

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13 minutes ago, Native Floridian 26 said:

What cart?  I go through the selection process and there is no cart.  It just asks for traveler info towards the end.

 

Right, progress to the end.  Truthfully most of my discount was right away but there was a tiny adjustment in cart.  I used my DH Mariner number as he seems to qualify for these private fares and I do not. Let me see if I can recreate the numbers 

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Mary229 "Live from...." Rare

Mary229

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17 minutes ago, Native Floridian 26 said:

What cart?  I go through the selection process and there is no cart.  It just asks for traveler info towards the end.

 

Ok, in the photo is what I get with no login, with login and with HIA, we are sailing for $4659 each with 200 + 450 OBC each, full bonus HIA

33763118-EB9A-456D-A00B-2474D40940AA.png

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Florida_gal_50

Florida_gal_50

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All private fares I may have are hidden.  The way I find out I may have a private fare is by going onto a large online cruise retailer and seeing that there is a private fare there.  Why hide that fact?  Hal shows the non refundable and hia fares.  I know there is at least one other person on cruise critic that has this problem, probably a lot more.  It just might motivate someone to book if they saw a good Mariner rate.  Seems an odd way to do business.  I always sign in.

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