Sail Standby for $49 a day- new program

[Mary229]

37 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

What type of transparency are you looking for?

Quite simple. Here is what is available, here is the minimum, please enter a bid.  I don’t need proxy bidding or notifications.  Some do like proxy and notifications but I am very calculating on what I will pay and not easily nudged.   It would be transparent that all guests would know when and where the bidding starts.  People have expressed a lot of angst with calling upsell as well as casino rates.  These features would even the playing field. 

[BermudaBound2014]

13 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Quite simple. Here is what is available, here is the minimum, please enter a bid.  I don’t need proxy bidding or notifications.  Some do like proxy and notifications but I am very calculating on what I will pay and not easily nudged.   It would be transparent that all guests would know when and where the bidding starts.  People have expressed a lot of angst with calling upsell as well as casino rates.  These features would even the playing field. 

 

With that, the process is transparent on NCL. Everyone knows exactly where the bidding starts. NCL has been using this system for nearly a decade. I bid every time I sail with NCL. The technology is available in the industry.

 

Edited November 24, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[Mary229]

9 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

With that, the process is transparent on NCL. Everyone knows exactly where the bidding starts. NCL has been using this system for nearly a decade. I bid every time I sail with NCL. The technology is available in the industry.

 

I am aware.  HAL really causes their own problems.  They are resolved that there passengers are a bunch of old, technology illiterate persons so that is who they cater to. And guess who sails them?  Not all of us but they do attract an inordinate number of refuseniks 

Edited November 24, 2023 by Mary229

[cbr663]

22 hours ago, ken4556 said:

While this is great program to allow for a inexpensive cruise, it worries me that it just another death nail into the business plan of HAL.

 

At some point, you have to sell cruises at a profit at a price people are will to pay for the experience.  Spirit Airlines lost money in the typically the most profitable quarter in the industry.  Delta and United made over a billion dollars each.  I know so many people, including myself, who refuse to fly Spirit because the have an awful product.  It seems from all the promotions that hit my mailbox and e-mail inbox, HAL's only enticement is price. 

 

I am not saying that HAL has an awful product.  But when HAL cruise are much cheaper than your competitors, who by the way and growing with additional ships, while HAL shed ships and has no newbuilds on order; that signals warning signs to me.

 

Carnival Corp made around a billion dollars last quarter and so did Royal Caribbean group.  But Royal Caribbean did it on 60% of the revenues that Carnival Corp did. 

 

The last three cruises, and the one next month, were all on Celebrity.  For each cruise, we priced HAL too.  Each time, HAL was cheaper by a good amount.  We choose to pay the extra to go on Celebrity due to better itinerary and, to us, a better experience in the ships and entrainment.

 

I know this group loves HAL and I want them to survive and thrive. But the market appeal of HAL must extend beyond the HAL lovers on this board.

I echo your sentiments.  I am currently on the Koningsdam and have met people who are more than happy to share with us how they are sailing so cheaply.  The “free” cruisers abound.  
 

The standby list is yet another promo brought in because HAL is having difficulty selling its ships.  This will start to show up in the on board experience.  You can’t lower your revenues and still provide the same product.  I experienced this during the 07-08 financial crisis.  I am expecting the same outcome now.

[oldbluff]

15 hours ago, OlsSalt said:

Just a thought: Since these booking require cash up front, it could be just a ploy to end the current quarter on the positive cash side. Even if they know there will be refunds later.  

 

A marketing gimmick perhaps.  Much like Oceania would send endless brochures at every appealing rates, until you call them and so sorry, those cabins have already been booked. Perhaps you would like Cabin ++ instead now that we captured your interest.  Bait and switch - not unheard of in the cruise industry. 

 

So it may not be a statement about HAH actual occupancy, but an end of the quarter accounting ruse. These things happen. Governments do this all  the time shifting revenues and expense to various fiscal years, in order to "balance" the end of the year books. 

These prepayments will not affect revenue until HAL is able to keep the money because you sailed or forfeited the funds. It does increase cash in hand on their balance sheet, but is offset by Unearned or Deferred Revenue, not real Revenue. This does not feed into profit and loss until later converted to revenue. Companies do try to shift revenue timing (think Enron), but today it is almost impossible for large publicly-traded firms to do so. Privately-held companies are more likely to try such shenanigans, depending on the strength of their auditors. 

[Dutchman48]

On 11/22/2023 at 7:11 PM, oakridger said:

Interesting. If people don't care about their cabin/location then this could be a good option if you live close to the ports.  I am picky about cabin locations so I would\nt do this but I'm pretty sure many would.

 

~Nancy

Agree.

Not sure of other ports but did a dummy booking on the cruises offered near me.  I could book the room I wanted for almost the same price.

If I really wanted the cruise, I would book it and have the peace of mind. If the cruise was, I got nothing planned for then this might be an option I could see going standby.

[3rdGenCunarder]

27 minutes ago, cbr663 said:

I echo your sentiments.  I am currently on the Koningsdam and have met people who are more than happy to share with us how they are sailing so cheaply.  The “free” cruisers abound.  
 

The standby list is yet another promo brought in because HAL is having difficulty selling its ships.  This will start to show up in the on board experience.  You can’t lower your revenues and still provide the same product.  I experienced this during the 07-08 financial crisis.  I am expecting the same outcome now.

 

Start to show up? It's already showing with the decrease in entertainment options and lack of daytime enrichment programs.

[oaktreerb]

The Hawaii round trip cruises might be a good deal.  The entertainment is a step up from the 7 day round trips out of SD.  There are a lot of enrichment activities prior to the circumnavigation of the islands.  The return trip is a bit more laid back.  People within driving distance of SD should take advantage of this one.

 

 

[FlaMariner]

Reading thru the fine print and did not see this answer (folks will probably show me it is right there).

 

Anyone know what is the latest time HAL could tell you "you may board"?

 

(Trying to figure out my possible last minute "go time"?)

[FlaMariner]

58 minutes ago, FlaMariner said:

Reading thru the fine print and did not see this answer (folks will probably show me it is right there).

 

Anyone know what is the latest time HAL could tell you "you may board"?

 

(Trying to figure out my possible last minute "go time"?)

 

Found it! Looks like you get "approximately 7 days" notice.  Not bad...was thinking "stand by" meant like 24 hours.  That's generous for "stand by", IMO. 

 

guest will only be cleared for standby to cruise when/if the guest receives official confirmation from HAL approximately 7 days before Cruise’s departure. 

 

 

Edited November 24, 2023 by FlaMariner

[OlsSalt]

2 hours ago, cbr663 said:

.........

The standby list is yet another promo brought in because HAL is having difficulty selling its ships.  This will start to show up in the on board experience.  You can’t lower your revenues and still provide the same product.  I experienced this during the 07-08 financial crisis.  I am expecting the same outcome now.

 

Maybe it is their larger ships they have trouble selling .......??? I suspect they generate little loyalty compared to the smaller HAL ships.

 

 Long felt it was a strategic error to compete with the mega ship floating hotel cruise ship  brands, with HAL's half effort trying while to still have some of  the former HAL smaller ship intimacy, but add more gimmicks and entertainment venues.

 

But what do I know?

[cbr663]

2 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

Start to show up? It's already showing with the decrease in entertainment options and lack of daytime enrichment programs.

It sure has.  This has been a very boring cruise.  There is very little to do on the ship.  The list of activities in The Daily don’t fill one page.  

[*Miss G*]

7 minutes ago, OlsSalt said:

 

Maybe it is their larger ships they have trouble selling .......??? I suspect they generate little loyalty compared to the smaller HAL ships.

 

 Long felt it was a strategic error to compete with the mega ship floating hotel cruise ship  brands, with HAL's half effort trying while to still have some of  the former HAL smaller ship intimacy, but add more gimmicks and entertainment venues.

 

But what do I know?

 

I would say that there are a lot more passengers “loyal” to the Pinnacle ships than you think.  That said, I wouldn’t want HAL to go all pinnacle-class (or bigger).  There is still a good following and a desire to sail on the smaller ships when the circumstances are right.

[cbr663]

10 minutes ago, OlsSalt said:

 

Maybe it is their larger ships they have trouble selling .......??? I suspect they generate little loyalty compared to the smaller HAL ships.

 

 Long felt it was a strategic error to compete with the mega ship floating hotel cruise ship  brands, with HAL's half effort trying while to still have some of  the former HAL smaller ship intimacy, but add more gimmicks and entertainment venues.

 

But what do I know?

The list of free cruises that I saw posted on another forum included smaller ships.  Last I checked HAL was still discounting Christmas cruises this close to sailing.  

[FlorenceItaly]

8 minutes ago, cbr663 said:

It sure has.  This has been a very boring cruise.  There is very little to do on the ship.  The list of activities in The Daily don’t fill one page.  

I am very sorry to hear this as I am boarding on Dec 5(11 day MX) and again on Dec 21(16 night Hawaii).  How is the LIVE music?  Anything you are willing to share is appreciated.  ***apologies for the threadjack.

Edited November 24, 2023 by FlorenceItaly

[AV8rix]

24 minutes ago, FlorenceItaly said:

I am very sorry to hear this as I am boarding on Dec 5(11 day MX) and again on Dec 21(16 night Hawaii).  How is the LIVE music?  Anything you are willing to share is appreciated.  ***apologies for the threadjack.

Marie, right now they are on a Pacific coastal cruise.  That one is famous for a dearth of activities.  I enjoy sailing on the holiday cruises and think you will too.  Particularly the outbound portion of the Hawai'i cruises when we have the Hawaiian ambassadors offering so many daily programs of interest.  See you soon.  Whee! 24 hours from now I'll be aboard!

[FlorenceItaly]

2 minutes ago, AV8rix said:

Marie, right now they are on a Pacific coastal cruise.  That one is famous for a dearth of activities.  I enjoy sailing on the holiday cruises and think you will too.  Particularly the outbound portion of the Hawai'i cruises when we have the Hawaiian ambassadors offering so many daily programs of interest.  See you soon.  Whee! 24 hours from now I'll be aboard!

Susan, how exciting you leave TOMORROW!!!(woohoo)!   Thank you for the encouragement.  See you soon.

[OlsSalt]

55 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

 

I would say that there are a lot more passengers “loyal” to the Pinnacle ships than you think.  That said, I wouldn’t want HAL to go all pinnacle-class (or bigger).  There is still a good following and a desire to sail on the smaller ships when the circumstances are right.

 

Loyalty to repeat 7 day cruises, going to pretty much the same ports due to their size is a very different HAL brand loyalty, than those quite addicted to the longer, and more far ranging unique HAL offerings.  Only time will tell,  so both of us are just speculating at this point.

 

Agree, perhaps HAL spread itself too thin and everyone is now getting short-changed. But CCL still has a long way to go paying off their "covid" $10 billion dollar loan. 

[*Miss G*]

12 minutes ago, OlsSalt said:

Loyalty to repeat 7 day cruises, going to pretty much the same ports due to their size is a very different HAL brand loyalty, than those quite addicted to the longer, and more far ranging unique HAL offerings.

 

FWIW, all my pinnacle-class sailings have been far longer than a repeat 7-day cruise.  It’s been a long time since I’ve been on one but there’s definitely a market for those who can’t/won’t/aren’t-able-to sail for a longer period of time.  I don’t look down upon them because they aren’t on a longer sailing.  Circumstances and choice are different for everyone.

[Micetro]

Hi Folks,

I just called the number listed (1-888-425-9477) which turned out to be group sales. The agent had no idea what I was talking about and asked where I'd seen the promotion. He could not put me on a standby list and could only offer the going rate (in fact the rate he quoted me was much higher than what I'd seen on the website a few minutes before calling-and it did not include HIA). Not sure if the word hasn't gotten out to all the agents or if this program doesn't actually exist (or perhaps is only available to certain people)?

[cbr663]

1 hour ago, FlorenceItaly said:

I am very sorry to hear this as I am boarding on Dec 5(11 day MX) and again on Dec 21(16 night Hawaii).  How is the LIVE music?  Anything you are willing to share is appreciated.  ***apologies for the threadjack.

The live music has been very disappointing.  We really enjoyed the live music when we sailed on the ship in May, but this cruise the live music has not been the same.  The Billboard Onboard duelling pianos were belting out Doris Day and Frank Sinatra last night.  The Rolling Stones rock ban slowed down each song so much that you wanted to remind them that it was rock music and to speed it up a notch.  BB Kings were so loud that it was distorted and each time we walked by we didn’t recognize any of the songs they were singing so we kept walking.

 

We enjoyed the dance group in the World Stage.  The Humanity and Move show were great, my fav being Move.  The comedian and magician were typical cruise entertainment.

 

Hopefully there will be some turnover for your cruise as on this ship they aren’t that great.  Certainly not like the BB Kings that we had in Norway where the lead singer did a rendition of Proud Mary that would astound the great Tina herself.

[OlsSalt]

35 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

 

FWIW, all my pinnacle-class sailings have been far longer than a repeat 7-day cruise.  It’s been a long time since I’ve been on one but there’s definitely a market for those who can’t/won’t/aren’t-able-to sail for a longer period of time.  I don’t look down upon them because they aren’t on a longer sailing.  Circumstances and choice are different for everyone.

 

There is a very ready market for shorter cruises, and agree there are times when taking longer cruises is simply not an option. Just not sure HAL should have also tried to crash that market with these new and larger ships to fill. 

[dockman]

15 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Brand new offer. I just tested and the link opens just fine for me. It opens for others in this thread too. There are lots of cruises listed until April 2024. Maybe try to reboot. Good luck! 

tried reboot...tried with google chrome and firefox....still won't open...is there some other link or way to find details?

[BermudaBound2014]

5 minutes ago, dockman said:

tried reboot...tried with google chrome and firefox....still won't open...is there some other link or way to find details?

 

Are you using incognito? That's the only way I can get the website to work. ctrl+shift+n will get you into incognito mode. Or you can select from the three dots on the upper left. 

 

If the link doesn't work when you are in incognito, I'll just copy/paste it for you. Let me know.

Edited November 25, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[TiogaCruiser]

22 minutes ago, dockman said:

tried reboot...tried with google chrome and firefox....still won't open...is there some other link or way to find details?

Perhaps your IP location isn’t considered close enough to a port HAL sails from?

 

I’m in SoCal and can only see San Diego and Vancouver.

 

Woops- scratch that. Scrolling down also shows FLL. 

Edited November 25, 2023 by TiogaCruiser