Sail Standby for $49 a day- new program

[rodndonna]

On 11/23/2023 at 3:00 PM, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

Yes, exactly my thoughts. At this point I don't see why anyone would ever book an interior before final payment unless you were monitoring inventory and felt a good chance it would sell out. WIth or without the standby, last minute interiors sell in this price range often.

 

We just booked an interior ...for next September 🙄

 

We always book with HIA. I did the math, and even if I wait and get the cruise at $49/pp/pd and then add HIA at the add-on rate of $55/pp/pd, I am no further ahead than I am booking  the same cruise today with our Casino discount on the HIA based fare and factoring in we also get our gratuities included (Cyber deal), welcome back, shareholder and AARP OBC add ons, (not sure what OBC"s are eligible with standby rates).

 

The final one for us though is pretty important -  we have ample time to confidently secure better flight options and pricing.

 

Edit: One last benefit - since we book HIA and have shore excursion credit to use, we were able to book one of the more popular excursions - that was sold out on us when we did this itinerary in June.

 

 

Edited November 28, 2023 by rodndonna
more info

[OlsSalt]

Does this mean they now intend to make more money on $49 a day fares, than they do from "free" casino rates?

[BermudaBound2014]

6 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

 

We just booked an interior ...for next September 🙄

 

We always book with HIA. I did the math, and even if I wait and get the cruise at $49/pp/pd and then add HIA at the add-on rate of $55/pp/pd, I am no further ahead than I am booking  the same cruise today with our Casino discount on the HIA based fare and factoring in we also get our gratuities included (Cyber deal), welcome back, shareholder and AARP OBC add ons, (not sure what OBC"s are eligible with standby rates).

 

The final one for us though is pretty important -  we have ample time to confidently secure better flight options and pricing.

 

 

 

Those casino rate discounts change the game entirely :).

 

Like I said above somewhere, there are deals to be had for interiors below $49 pp/pd. I'm glad you secured one!! 

[rodndonna]

 

7 minutes ago, OlsSalt said:

Does this mean they now intend to make more money on $49 a day fares, than they do from "free" casino rates?

 

Totally guessing, but I expect that $49/pp/pd was about the same rate HAL was getting from the Casino Players club for the "free" cabin, so in then end, it would basically the same for HAL, except it opens it up to a different set of cruisers if cabins are available.

[FlaMariner]

27 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

 

 

Totally guessing, but I expect that $49/pp/pd was about the same rate HAL was getting from the Casino Players club for the "free" cabin, so in then end, it would basically the same for HAL, except it opens it up to a different set of cruisers if cabins are available.

 

And having not been privy to the special casino rates that I read on here with envy, I'm all about this new "standby" opportunity.....

Edited November 28, 2023 by FlaMariner

[Sea42]

1 hour ago, latserrof said:

Are you assuming that HAL would award these wait-listed $49/pp cabins on a first-come first-served basis? More likely HAL would choose passengers who are likely to spend the most onboard, based on factors like previous spend, gratuities, etc., and maybe even personal info like credit line, address, age, etc. They probably have algorithms for all this. 

A wait list to me implies first come first served but time will tell. Someone should ask when booking what number they are on the list and see what they are told.

[TiogaCruiser]

1 hour ago, rodndonna said:

 

 

Totally guessing, but I expect that $49/pp/pd was about the same rate HAL was getting from the Casino Players club for the "free" cabin, so in then end, it would basically the same for HAL, except it opens it up to a different set of cruisers if cabins are available.

Then there is/was the “free” inside cabins offered for the cost of port fees,taxes and gratuities that were coded as Casino fares but were not related to the casino. $49pp/pd is greater than 0.

[rodndonna]

1 minute ago, TiogaCruiser said:

Then there is/was the “free” inside cabins offered for the cost of port fees,taxes and gratuities that were coded as Casino fares but were not related to the casino. $49pp/pd is greater than 0.

 

The Casino Players Club pays HAL for those "free" cabins they offer ... we do not know how much HAL gets for them.. but I expect it is close to $49/pp/pd

[TiogaCruiser]

4 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

 

The Casino Players Club pays HAL for those "free" cabins they offer ... we do not know how much HAL gets for them.. but I expect it is close to $49/pp/pd

I understand, but there are/were fares that were classified internally as casino.

 

DH got one. I was told by an agent that I could not add on an occupation related OBC because it was coded as casino (but it came as a private sale). To our surprise the small amount we paid for the reservation was returned as OBC when we sailed. It was then I understood it was one of those free cruises. There were other CC members on that cruise who also got the offer- but I have no knowledge about their casino history.
 

I really doubt that the Players Club paid HAL for the offer my DH got. He has never been to the casino. And the last one on land he was in was over 30 years ago when we ran 2 rolls of nickels through a slot machine. 

[latserrof]

2 hours ago, Sea42 said:

A wait list to me implies first come first served but time will tell.

Or maybe not. Whoever you ask at HAL may not be able or willing to share that information, and no matter what that person said, why would you believe it?

[Sea42]

1 minute ago, latserrof said:

Or maybe not. Whoever you ask at HAL may not be able or willing to share that information, and no matter what that person said, why would you believe it?

That would tell me something right there if they can't or won't share where on the wait list I would be. This isn't something I would consider doing but I would want that information if I were considering it.

 

[Laurie59]

Has anyone tried to do the new stand by program on Holland America that is offered for Dec and 2024 cruises

[Laurie59]

We’re tempted to try it. We can drive to Ft. Lauderdale

[Sea Hag]

31 minutes ago, Laurie59 said:

We’re tempted to try it. We can drive to Ft. Lauderdale

I would give it a shot if I lived within reasonable driving distance to a HAL port. Princess is also doing this, and I do live within driving distance of San Francisco, so I might do that.

[Xcelsior]

Have just booked Standby for Dec 27th sailing.  Has anyone used this new program yet, and could you please share your experience?  eg. when were you notified; what type of cabin did you end up getting, etc.  Thanks much.

[Mary229]

It just started. It is too early to gather experiences yet

[Xcelsior]

Trying this program out for the Dec 27th sailing on Nieuw Statendam. I was considering booking it today as there were cabins avaialble last night - but as of this morning ship is sold out so it's my only option. I have flights booked on points that are refundable, so it makes sense for me.  Will see how this goes...have not sailed on HAL since December 2000!

[Mary229]

23 minutes ago, Xcelsior said:

Trying this program out for the Dec 27th sailing on Nieuw Statendam. I was considering booking it today as there were cabins avaialble last night - but as of this morning ship is sold out so it's my only option. I have flights booked on points that are refundable, so it makes sense for me.  Will see how this goes...have not sailed on HAL since December 2000!

I think HAL now has been listing cruises as sold out a few weeks prior to sailing.  I know with certainty my upcoming cruise is not sold out yet it shows as sold out.  Perhaps this new system is a new method to handle late bookings. 

 

[rj59]

On 11/23/2023 at 8:49 AM, kochleffel said:

I would do this if I lived closer to a port. Or, I suppose I could book flights, cancel them if necessary, and carry the flight credit over to try again.

 

I do this with Southwest, but book with miles, and get them back if I cancel the flight and can rebook for free with a price drop. I live between Seattle and Vancouver, so any Alaska cruise would be an option, especially since their single supplement makes going solo too expensive for me now. I presume a solo is going to have to pay double. 

[Xcelsior]

5 minutes ago, rj59 said:

I do this with Southwest, but book with miles, and get them back if I cancel the flight and can rebook for free with a price drop. I live between Seattle and Vancouver, so any Alaska cruise would be an option, especially since their single supplement makes going solo too expensive for me now. I presume a solo is going to have to pay double. 

Not from what they told me today.  I am also going solo and they only made me pay the same $49pppd plus the port taxes.  It came to $754 for the 11 night cruise and they emailed me confirmation also stating solo occupancy.

[Xcelsior]

7 minutes ago, rj59 said:

I do this with Southwest, but book with miles, and get them back if I cancel the flight and can rebook for free with a price drop. I live between Seattle and Vancouver, so any Alaska cruise would be an option, especially since their single supplement makes going solo too expensive for me now. I presume a solo is going to have to pay double. 

 

Edited December 10, 2023 by Xcelsior
error

[Xcelsior]

8 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I think HAL now has been listing cruises as sold out a few weeks prior to sailing.  I know with certainty my upcoming cruise is not sold out yet it shows as sold out.  Perhaps this new system is a new method to handle late bookings. 

 

Interesting.  I thought it was odd that two categories of staterooms sold out in a matter of a few hours.  But I thought maybe so with it being the NYE cruise and they had really dropped prices on it yesterday.

[boze9999]

2 hours ago, Xcelsior said:

Trying this program out for the Dec 27th sailing on Nieuw Statendam. I was considering booking it today as there were cabins avaialble last night - but as of this morning ship is sold out so it's my only option. I have flights booked on points that are refundable, so it makes sense for me.  Will see how this goes...have not sailed on HAL since December 2000!

Looking forward to hearing how this work @Xcelsior in "real time"!

[rj59]

I bid on a Koningsdam Mexico cruise, since every other one hasn’t dropped below $1200 or so for a solo inside. Around $700 was a good price for me pre-shutdown. I wouldn’t bid on Pacific Coastal ones, because they had steep last-minute drops on those. For Alaska, demand out of Seattle was insane last year, and N-S routes low, so I’m aiming for Zaandam r/t from Vancouver. I’m sure by then people wil post about success or failure, so people can see if if there is reasonable hope, enough to justify the hassles and prepayment. 
 

It’s also a shot across the bow of Princess, who said they will no longer discount cruises close to sailing, which of course undermines the entire profit motive of bodies-in-beds, to make up for discounted fares through onboard spending and packages.

[Host Kat]

7 hours ago, Xcelsior said:

Have just booked Standby for Dec 27th sailing.  Has anyone used this new program yet, and could you please share your experience?  eg. when were you notified; what type of cabin did you end up getting, etc.  Thanks much.

 

Hello @Xcelsior

 

Your new thread has been merged into the existing thread regarding your topic.

 

Happy sails,

 

Host Kat