HAL Zaandam / Sept 29th Cancelled!

[bubbajones]

I was booked on HAL / Zaandam for a Sept 29th Seattle to Vancouver, BC and my cruise agent just emailed me that the cruise is cancelled. No explanations, no apologies, (HAL won't tell my agent anything), just that the cruise is cancelled and there was a promise that I would get a full refund.

 

I have taken more than 25 cruises (mostly on RCCL/Celebrity) and each of these vacations has been a pleasurable experience. Last year I took my first cruise on HAL with Ryndam from San Diego to Mexico and it was very nice, so I decided to try them again with Zaandam. Guess that was a mistake!

 

I am stunned, as seems to be my cruise agent, on how insensitive and actually indifferent HAL is to this situation. Cancel a cruise a month before it leaves, without even the courtesy of explaining why the cancellation --- and it almost is made to seem that I should be thankful that they are giving me my money back. Bizarro!

 

What bad customer service....needless to say, I won't be sailing HAL again!:( :( :(

[MercedMike]

Certainly very strange!

 

We will be interested to hear how it works out for you? Is there air involved? Is it cruise/air?

[fcorey]

I'm sorry to hear that you're stuck in this position. I just went on the HAL website and they show a september 22 cruise that gets back on the 29th, then a 3 day that starts on the 30th. Then you cant find anything for the Zaandam for October,November, or December, at least not using the "find a cruise" page at HAL. I wonder what happened?

[Ferry Watcher]

Maybe there were so few passengers for the 1 night cruise that they cancelled it and are giving the crew a night's rest.

 

There is a 1 night cruise on the Westerdam Sept 24th Seattle to Vancouver.

 

Hope it works out for you.

[RevNeal]

I have a strange sense of déjà vu.

Does anyone else????

[fcorey]

Ferry Watcher, I hadnt even noticed in the first post that it was a Seattle to Vancouver, does HAL do one night cruises? I wonder if a group booked it for something?

[fcorey]

I have a strange sense of déjà vu.

Does anyone else????

 

possibly...maybe thats why my nose is itching ;)

 

Greg, you should update your profile with a new picture of yourself like the ones you posted a few days ago

[RuthC]

I have a strange sense of déjà vu.

Does anyone else????

I will confess that my first thought was unkind. :o

[jjb415]

I have a strange sense of déjà vu.

Does anyone else????

 

I'm new here, but, have been here long enough be suspicious.:rolleyes:

[Preacher's Kid]

I'm booked on the Zaandam out of San Diego on October 22. I hope it's not something serious... or long-lasting. As much as I feel sorry for the OP, I can't help but wonder why anyone would only book a one-night stand. So to speak. :o

 

Karenlynne

[hammybee]

I have a strange sense of déjà vu.

Does anyone else????

 

DOO-DO-DOO-DO

 

Is this the Twilight Zone of HAL?

[Ferry Watcher]

fcorey,

The Zaandam is based in Seattle this summer. Due to the Jones Act, Zaandam must visit a foreign port (Vancouver) before going to the next US port (in CA). It's the end of the Alaska season and the ships have to move south.

 

I live in Seattle and have been watching these mid / late September 1-3 night cruises being advertised. My neighbor is going on the Mercury for a 3 day cruise to British Columbia ports later in Sept. Check under Pacific Coast cruises for further info.

 

It's possible that a company or group, like a Realtors group booked most, if not all the cabins and folks like 'bubbajones' were displaced. Maybe he/she can get a cabin on the Westerdam. The Zaandam schedule was nice though, it was suppose to leave Seattle on a Friday. The Westerdam is scheduled to leave on a Sunday. Oh, well.

 

Hope this helps!

[fcorey]

I'm booked on the Zaandam out of San Diego on October 22. I hope it's not something serious... or long-lasting. As much as I feel sorry for the OP' date=' I can't help but wonder why anyone would only book a one-night stand. So to speak. :o

 

Karenlynne[/quote']

 

i doubt it, more likely it was a case of "pebkac" on my part ;) its been a long day

 

pebkac = problem exists between keyboard and chair

[the2ofus]

I'm sorry to hear that you're stuck in this position. I just went on the HAL website and they show a september 22 cruise that gets back on the 29th, then a 3 day that starts on the 30th. Then you cant find anything for the Zaandam for October,November, or December, at least not using the "find a cruise" page at HAL. I wonder what happened?

 

I'm not sure why you can't find sailings for the Zaandam for October. There are a lot of us sailing October 7, (documents already in hand) and a big contingent sailing October 22. Maybe you should try your search again.

 

I always wonder about first posts that state emphatically that they will never sail HAL again, or that some weird disaster has occurred. A posting history lends credibility.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I just checked a couple of my reliable cruise TA web sites and the one day is still showing but on the HAL web site it does not. My guess it is possible a group bought it out for the night.

[Capskys]

Rev. Neal, I agree with your divine sense of perception!!! This person is a first-time poster, just as the previous one was...

Seem like someone is trying to undermine HAL...well it would take more than cancellaion of a one night cruise to change my opinion...

Capskys

[bubbajones]

Yes, I am a first time poster! I was chatting with someone online at another site and they prompted me to go cruisecritic to maybe get some more information. I'll admit, while there has been a bit of helpful information, the jabs haven't made me feel terribly welcome. I am quite sincere in my situation, my concern, and my disappointment with HAL. It doesn't sound like any of you have had a cruise cancelled one month before you sail - for me, even a 1 night cruise is a treat and something to look forward to.

 

I live in Vancouver, and I also work in Seattle for a few days each week (170 miles apart). While I usually take two or three 7 day cruises a year, I try to take advantage of the several short cruises that are offered here in the area, usually in May and Sept as the Alaska ships reposition in and out. I have often taken advantage of the Celebrity/Mercury short cruises that have been offered for the past several years, but this time around I wanted to try HAL again since I had a genuinely good time with Ryndam last year as my first HAL cruise from San Diego to Mexico.

 

For this HAL booking, I was taking Veendam from Vancouver to Seattle, a 1 night cruise, on Sun, Sept 24th. (This cruise is still scheduled.) I was going to work the week in Seattle and then take Zaandam back home to Vancouver on Fri/Sept 29th as another 1 day cruise.

 

Yes, 1 day cruises. Odd, I know - the Celebrity/Mercury cruises between Seattle and Vancouver are 3 or 4 days long with a couple of enroute stops. Someone told me that these are all 'sampler' cruises so that some local hesitant cruisers can give cruising a try.

 

It is that simple and that real. I guess that with some time, and perhaps some unspecified quantity of additional postings, readers might believe that my concerns and disappointments are genuine. I simply thought this was a safe place to voice some frustrations and gather some information --- maybe not.....:confused:

[LAFFNVEGAS]

bubba, I am sorry you feel that way. I actually do believe you since it is not currently showing on HAL's web site. It is possible that very few people even purchased the 1 night cruise and they offered it for a charter for one night. Unfortunately for that date there are no other one nighters, at least for what HAL is offering.

 

We are also boarding with you in Vancouver for the Veendam and will be taking it to Los Angeles. Over on the Roll Call Board for Holland America for the Veendam for September 24th there are several that are also taking the 1 night cruise and getting off in Seattle.

[fcorey]

For this HAL booking, I was taking Veendam from Vancouver to Seattle, a 1 night cruise, on Sun, Sept 24th. (This cruise is still scheduled.) I was going to work the week in Seattle and then take Zaandam back home to Vancouver on Fri/Sept 29th as another 1 day cruise.

 

Now that is my idea of a commute :) sorry to hear your plans are getting disrupted. Let us know when you find out more

[SDHALFAN]

I guess that with some time, and perhaps some unspecified quantity of additional postings, readers might believe that my concerns and disappointments are genuine. I simply thought this was a safe place to voice some frustrations and gather some information --- maybe not.....:confused:

 

 

This HAL board is most certainly a safe place to voice some frustrations and gather some (actually lots of) information. That said, however, most of us cruise for more than just one day at a time and find it difficult to understand how you would state that you "won't be sailing HAL again" because they cancelled a one day cruise. How disappointed can one be missing out on a one day cruise? It's not as though you are going to be missing out on a lot of wonderful ports in exotic places. Why not take your refund money and treat yourself to a luxury hotel and a wonderful dinner for just one night? Both Seattle and Vanvouver have sensational hotels and restaurants.

 

I honestly don't mean to be insensitive, I really don't, but I just have a problem understanding how you can get that upset over missing a one day cruise, and I hate to point this out but if you are taking one day cruises then I sincerely doubt that HAL is going to miss your business should you really decide never to sail with them again.

[Tinknock50]

Date Days Itinerary Ship Sat Sep 30, 20063FALL PACIFIC COAST CRUISEms Zaandam Vancouver, B.C. to San Diego, California

 

The above is what shows on HAL's website....perhaps enough people wanted to stretch their cruise another day and bumped the one night cruise off the schedule?

 

The TA could honestly say the one day is cancelled because for all intents and purposes it is now a 4 day and the one day cruise is gone.

[bubbajones]

I agree - one day cruises are a bit odd, but they are what they are. I don't see them often. I pay for probably what amounts to 1/7th of a 7 day cruise, so I get what I pay for, which is what they are selling.

 

You are accurate in that my angst might seem to be a bit extreme for losing out on a one night cruise. But for me, and my hard earned money, it is disappointing to be cancelled, whatever the length of the cruise.

 

Actually, as I told my travel agent, my disappointment is perhaps less that I am losing a 1 night cruise, and it is more in the way that HAL is handling it. A phone call to my agent, saying the cruise is cancelled and that refunds will be issued. No explanations, no apologies - very matter of fact.

 

Had I been told that the cruise was cancelled and it was because the ship needed repairs, or because there was a scheduling error for pier space, or something - anything - and that they were sorry to disappointment me with this news, I would have rolled with it. Things happen! It is the insensitive and indifferent (my opinion) manner in which this cancellation has been presented that has me seriously questionning HAL's customer service. Admittedly, I had a great cruise first time with HAL on Ryndam and it is clear than many of you are loyal by reason of your favorable experiences with HAL --- but as is often the case, it is the most recent impression that tends to carry the heaviest weight....

 

And will there be any compensation to me (other than a refund) for cancelling a cruise one month before sailing? Nope. But we all know what happens to us, if we try to cancel a cruise one month before sailing --- it will costs us.

 

Thanks for suggesting a luxury hotel for the night --- but I actually decided that I am going to just take a seaplane ride from Seattle to Vancouver now in place of the cruise. No meals, no casino, no shows, no bars, and not much socialization --- but great views and excitement for the 45 minute ride....

[Alexborngal]

I'm sorry to hear that you're stuck in this position. I just went on the HAL website and they show a september 22 cruise that gets back on the 29th, then a 3 day that starts on the 30th. Then you cant find anything for the Zaandam for October,November, or December, at least not using the "find a cruise" page at HAL. I wonder what happened?

 

That's so weird that there's nothing for October - we're sailing the Zaandam on October 22nd to the Mexican Riviera.

[Starbright]

That's so weird that there's nothing for October - we're sailing the Zaandam on October 22nd to the Mexican Riviera.

 

I think you'll find that the Zaandam (like the other HAL ships that have been in Alaska for the summer) is repositioning between 30 September and 22 October. These cruises are probably sold out, which is why they're not showing on the HAL site.

 

We're on the Zuiderdam repositioning cruise which leaves Vancouver on 30 September, and I know that's fully booked.

[kryos]

And will there be any compensation to me (other than a refund) for cancelling a cruise one month before sailing? Nope. But we all know what happens to us, if we try to cancel a cruise one month before sailing --- it will costs us.

Yoiu make an excellent point there.

 

Wonder why HAL didn't make you an offer to sail on the entire four-day voyage?

 

Maybe your travel agent can "negotiate" with HAL for you ... perhaps get you some sort of a future cruise discount ... at least something that would ease your disappointment.

 

The seaplane ride sounds like fun, though ... but yeah, it's nothing compared to a cruise.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita