Are more rooms actually available than showing on website

[xenna]

Does anyone know if there are actually more rooms available if talking with a HAL agent than booking on your own through the website?  Someone mentioned in a thread that their room they wanted did not show up as available on the website but was available when calling and speaking with an agent on the phone.  Does the website show real-time rooms available?  Should I book with an actual HAL representative or does it matter?  Are there pros of booking with an agent?  In the past, I have only booked my cruises online.  However, none of them were with Holland. 

[Dutchman48]

27 minutes ago, xenna said:

Does anyone know if there are actually more rooms available if talking with a HAL agent than booking on your own through the website?  Someone mentioned in a thread that their room they wanted did not show up as available on the website but was available when calling and speaking with an agent on the phone.  Does the website show real-time rooms available?  Should I book with an actual HAL representative or does it matter?  Are there pros of booking with an agent?  In the past, I have only booked my cruises online.  However, none of them were with Holland. 

Yes,  rooms are often blocked on cruises for various reasons unknown to me.

On a recent 21 day cruise rooms varied on how it was booked. Cruised could be booked as a 21 day cruise or a back-to-back cruise of 7 & 14 days. When I did sample bookings different rooms were available on how I booked it. The 21 day booking did not show the room I want available but it was on the 7 & 14 day back-to-back. As the 21 day booking was cheaper (even taking into account different OBC) I worked with my TA and got the room I want released for the 21 day.

[CruiserBruce]

55 minutes ago, xenna said:

Does anyone know if there are actually more rooms available if talking with a HAL agent than booking on your own through the website?  Someone mentioned in a thread that their room they wanted did not show up as available on the website but was available when calling and speaking with an agent on the phone.  Does the website show real-time rooms available?  Should I book with an actual HAL representative or does it matter?  Are there pros of booking with an agent?  In the past, I have only booked my cruises online.  However, none of them were with Holland. 

There MIGHT be. For a number of marketing reasons. Or there might not be. The website is pretty much real time, outside of the marketing issues.

[cbr663]

With dynamic pricing HAL doesn't release all cabins at the same time.  When you are sailing one of the advantages of booking online is the on ship cruise specialist has access to all cabins.

[Haljo1935]

@xenna with the fairly recent shift to not making 3/4 "head" cabins available to parties of 2 (or 1), you will very likely see less cabins available. If you change your pax count to 3, for example, you'll probably see more cabins and they'll be different than what you saw when you entered 2 pax.

I frequently direct bookings online if the cabin I want shows available. I've also booked w/a TA as well as using a HAL PCC.

[xenna]

Thank you all for the advice and comments.  This is very helpful.

[cccole]

Re booking with an agent...we started using a TA last year.  It's so nice to have someone respond as soon as they can to a question.  I do the research for the cruise, have a stateroom in mind and then let him make the reservation.  We also receive extra OBC from him.  Others on CC have HAL PCCs that they love.  I like having a PCC or TA because they can handle lots of things on the cruise if you don't have time.   If there are cabins that I want but are not available at booking I check everyday to see if things have changed.  Recently we changed our cabin for a 2026 cruise that I preferred.  All I had to do was email our TA and it was done. You'll have a great time.  Cherie

[Sea42]

For my recent booking of a fall 2026 cruise, the cabin I wanted showed as available on the 10 and 11 day segments of the cruise but not the 21 day version. I just emailed my TA with the cabin number I wanted and she took care of the rest.

[syesmar]

@xenna this Thread also has some insight on this topic. 

Happy Sailing!

[Mary229]

Prior to my current sailing I was trying to price two cruises. I was not able to choose a room for either cruise and was only offered a guarantee.  Once onboard I went to the Future Cruise Consultant and she had the same results.  She was able to contact Seattle and I was given precisely the rooms I wanted.  She had no explanation. 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Some times yes, because they are on a temporary hold.

[WriterOnDeck]

Also major TA groups may block rooms and release them later if not booked.

[Marelaine]

If you’re booking for two passengers in a cabin, the cruise lines might not show cabins that sleep four until they’ve met their sales quota on the cabins that sleep two. Try making a dummy booking for 3 or 4 in one cabin and presto! More cabins appear. If you call your cruise planner, he/she can see all the available cabins.