On-Board Promotions for Booking Your Next Cruise

[From Virginia Beach]

We're second time cruisers (first on NCL, later this week on HAL) and wondering does HAL offer a promotion for booking your next cruise while at sea?

 

Thanks all and Happy Holidays!

[LADYLAYLA]

Welcome to HAL!

 

While on board, you can book future cruises or you can put a deposit to be held on a future cruise to be named. Deposits are $100 per person and need to be used within 4 years

 

You also are awarded OBC based on length of voyage and type of cabin

 

Hope you enjoy your cruise!

[Krazy Kruizers]

It is definitely worth the $100 deposit per person -- and you don't have to book a specific cruise. The deposits are good for 4 years -- if you don't use it by then -- you lose it.

The amount of ship board credit you get depends on the length of the cruise and the cabin category you book.

[From Virginia Beach]

Do you know what the OBC's are like? Is there a schedule of what credits you get for what cabins, lengths of cruise, etc.?

[Krazy Kruizers]

For cruises 7 to 11 days, Credit for Inside and Ocean View cabins is $25 pp; Veranda VA/A-VF/BC is $35pp and "PS - S/SY" is $50pp.

 

 

For cruises of 12 days or longer, Onboard credit for Inside and Ocean View Cabins is $50 pp; VA/A - VF/BC is $75 pp and PS - S/SY is $100 pp.

[TMJplus1]

Just a little note...if you are going on a charter they will likely not offer this deal as there will not be a future cruise consultant on board. Or, I should say, at least this was the case with my Zuiderdam cruise. The future cruise credit deal was advertised 3 times in the daily programs, but there was not a consultant aboard therefore HAL would not honor the offer. I was really bummed. :(

 

I'm not sure if you are going on a charter or not, but wanted you to be aware of this possibility.

[sail7seas]

I think in that case, you could have done it by phone (through the front office) with Seattle office.

 

[northernphoenix]

We are on the Volendam, Alaksa in Sept.09. Also first-time cruisers; and are interested in this offer. We booked thro Expedia...is this considered a charter?

[Krazy Kruizers]

We are on the Volendam, Alaksa in Sept.09. Also first-time cruisers; and are interested in this offer. We booked thro Expedia...is this considered a charter?

 

Not unless Expedia is selling it as a special charter -- are you with a specific group?

[jimmy2x]

I think it should also be noted that you can book on board and have the reservation transferred to your TA who can generally get you significantly better rates.

[northernphoenix]

The TA is a friend of my DBIL. The rooms were booked individually.

[HALFans]

It's really nice to have to deposit only $100/pp for a future unspecified cruise.

 

The only drawback is that once you choose a cruise and 'lock' it in, if Holland America later offers 'special rates' they often only apply 'to new bookings only'.

 

But is it really a drawback? We normally let our Holland America TA handle our bookings. Yes, we have to monitor the cruise prices ourselves, but when we call we've never had a problem with them 're-booking' the cruise at the new rate. We just get a new booking number. We are told they normally have to get 'supervisor's permission' - but so far it hasn't been denied.

 

I'm not sure how (or if) this affects our status with the Upgrade Fairy or Dinner Seating though. We've had times when we had booked the cruise over 1 year in advance, and had it rebooked as late as 60 days prior to sailing.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The TA is a friend of my DBIL. The rooms were booked individually.

 

That is not considered a chartered.

[TMJplus1]

I think in that case, you could have done it by phone (through the front office) with Seattle office.

 

 

I actually tried - twice (once from the ship, once at home) - and all I was told was it was an error and they apologized and sorry there would be no deal.

 

Not a biggie in hindsight, but I was very disappointed at the time.