yerdua

6 minutes ago, AFNavigator said:

The core issue of this topic wasn't the food or service quality, it was the initiation of a surcharge on top of the Pinnacle Grill surcharge.  More so, it was that the surcharge wording was buried in fine print at the bottom of the menu page.  Guests might not have as big of an issue with the upcharge if it was more clearly advertised.

You are absolutely right. Since this is a course specific surcharge it should be noted in the appetizer section of the menu.

DH and I are booked on Zuiderdam for Nov 17 Panama cruise. I noticed a couple weeks ago that reservations for Rudis pop up had been eliminated. Then last week I thought to look at pinnacle availability for the original day of Rudis. Yup. Can now book pinnacle for that day. Also, pinnacle is available to book on what was originally pinnacle gala night. My guess... There are so many HIA customers that they need the extra time slots for regular pinnacle diners. I know this cruise is pretty full.

I don't have any experience with these cabins, but this is HAL. I sincerely doubt you'll hear elevator noise through the night! Everyone is asleep by 11.

Thanks for posting this. I thought that it was strictly for 2021 cruises so I didn't pursue it. Because of this thread I submitted DH's retired military status earlier this afternoon for our Nov Panama cruise and got email confirmation of it being applied within a few hours. Now the question is, what to spend it on. Already have HIA plus crew appreciation and a bunch of non refundable OBC. Laundry, Rudi's, and either spa or more excursions. I love problems like this!

Just so you are aware, the signature beverage package (part of Have it All) does not apply to room service orders. Alternative!y, you can get a drink from a bar and take it back to your cabin.

Thanks to all who provided guidance on shore excursions for my PC cruise. I'm now trying to book specialty dining and would.prefer not to overlap with any of the probably 3 gala evenings in the MDR. Here's the itinerary. I know that Rudi's pop up is scheduled for Nov 22, which I would like to book. I'm guessing that the last gala will be on the 29th. Any guesses about the other 2?

4 minutes ago, Kristal Blade said:

Why would you have to pay for a Dive In burger? I thought that was included? It’s been a while since I cruised HAL, apologies for this question.

Only if ordered through room service. Picking it up at dive in is free.

Oops, someone else answered more quickly.

Thank you all for your thoughts and port experiences. Gives me a lot of options for this cruise.

DH and I are booked on the zuiderdam in November out of San diego. I've never done this itinerary before and don't speak spanish.  I'm trying to set up shore excursions and am wondering if there are any ports that are easily doable (and safe) on your own. Also would appreciate any suggestions for tours in the stops of Puerto vallarta, Huatulco, Puerto quetzal, Corinto, Puerto caldero and cartegena. Also, how does one handle the differences in currencies in the smaller towns where dollars and credit cards are not accepted? Can you get small amounts of the local currency on board? TIA.

Have you already paid for your cruise in full? You are still far from your final payment date. If you haven't, I would think that you would receive a full refund of payments in whatever form you originally paid. Flight ease flexible fares can be cancelled without penalty up to 45 days before travel. Gr77 is giving good advice. Call your TA.

I got an email shortly after midnight today noting the changes to our June 10 Baltic cruise. Totally understand the situation and agree, but st Petersburg is the primary reason I booked this cruise, first in 2020, then 2021 and finally for 2022. The cancellation of st Petersburg, in addition to the current covid testing requirements and potential of shipboard quarantine after traveling to europe and spending so much money is resulting in our reluctantly cancelling this cruise. Truthfully, even without the current Russia situation, I was hesitant to risk quarantine so far from home. And yes, I'm fully vaxxed and boosted, and wear a mask in public indoor spaces. I don't think I'd have the same hesitancy if we were traveling domestically.

Dh and I are booked for June 10 Baltic cruise out of Copenhagen. Big box ta requiring payment this Sat. Will call for an extension (they can usually give an extra week) in hopes that HAL cancels before we do. St Petersburg was the reason I booked this cruise (not interested in a substitute) ... first in 2020, moved to 2021 and finally 2022. Damn covid. Damn Putin.

Watching the news with deep sadness and horror at Russia's unwarranted attack. Prayers to the Ukrainian people.

Just spoke to big box store re Norway cruise for this June. Had HIA plus black Friday promo. After loooong hold times got an agent who I asked to refare (saving 340pp). She checked w HAL and came back saying I would have to give up black Friday gratuities and 99$ deposit. Figured I'd call back later and hopefully get another HAL rep who would refare without rebooking. I did specifically say refare. Need to get hold of a veteran HAL rep to hopefully keep my perks plus reduced fare. And a better ta rep.

Thanks to all who educated me on the ins and outs of a HAL cancel/transfer to 2022 option. Was feeling a little anxious about taking the cruise line's 'word' on the transfer request with no written confirmation. Especially since there is no wording in HALs most recent notification saying perks/price will transfer. It eases my mind to know that others have had the same situation and had a successful outcome. Must let go of my control issues!

We are on one of the August cruises that HAL just cancelled and have opted to accept their 2022 replacement cruise. I spoke to our TA (BB store) today and they sent HAL the transfer form to confirm the request. I asked them to confirm that our 2021 price would transfer over to the 2022 cruise and that all our perks (HAL obc, dining, gratuities, Wi-Fi and beverage pkg) would transfer with the booking. The HAL rep could not/would not confirm any of this. Maybe because it's the weekend??? Also told our TA that we would not have confirmation of the transfer for up to 30 days. Has anyone received confirmation from HAL that the now canceled 2021 price and all perks would be transferred to the replacement cruise? Thanks.

Feel like I've been playing chicken a HAL... who will cancel first???? No way were DH and I going to cruise with port uncertainty especially st petersberg, the primary stop on this itinerary. Final payment to BB was due this past Monday (even tho HAL final payment is the 24th) and they very graciously allowed me to extend it one week when I explained the circumstances. Can breath a little easier now.

53 minutes ago, ScottishMaid said:

Did only Canadians get the survey?

 

I'm in NC and also received it today. DH and I are currently booked for the 12 Day baltic explorer this August and are hoping HAL will cancel it and flip our booking and associated perks to next year. Final payment for my BB TA is may 10. This cruise covers 6 different countries. I can't imagine it will be anything close to the experience i had originally booked it it does sail. I mean, st Petersburg is the major draw for this cruise. Is Russia really going to be open? As of right now, all 6 counties are listed at  level 4 do not travel by the state department.

4 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

Our promo includes pre paid grats, but thanks for the info.  I love that option!  We just add a little cash gift at the end for our steward and waitstaff and anyone else who goes beyond the norm.

OB C also could be used for excursions and airport transfers. 

On 12/22/2020 at 12:25 PM, Lady Arwen said:

Thank you!  We have $450 in OBC  and I’m not a spa person.  We have a speciality dining perk, so internet and laundry came to mind.  Think I’ll wait til we board.

You can also use your OBC for the hotel service charges aka daily gratuities. Currently $14.50 pp per day for non suite passengers. It adds up quickly.

3 minutes ago, Adoptionmsw said:

Why are people continuing to book future cruises that will only be cancelled until there is an effective vaccine? I am mystified. HAL is running a Ponzi scheme and there seem to be hundreds of willing victims out there. We’re four star and we miss cruising but we’re not willing to spend our hard earned money on a fantasy.


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I have one and only one future cruise on the books scheduled for August 2021. Used FCDs that we had purchased in 2019. Will not put up another dime until I am confident that it will actually sail AND that we will be ok with restrictions that will inevitably be in place. It's a Baltic cruise so it's not like we can just drive home if we don't like the rules. 

14 hours ago, Charleston Lady said:

We were on that cruise too and got the same email. However when I looked on My Account it only displays the first 12 days of the 24 which was what they changed it to in their original email. Yes it sounded like a great deal for a few minutes!

Interesting. We were booked on NS for 8/29/21 and received the re scheduling email a few weeks ago that moved us to an 8/22/21 departure out of Amsterdam vs copenhagen. My acct on HALs site still listed our original booking departure date and port. Have you seen the rescheduled departure on your HAL acct or was the info from strictly the email?

Our 10 day Baltic cruise leaving 8/29/2021 r/t Copenhagen was changed to 12 day Baltic 8/22 out of Amsterdam with all the same stops plus Copenhagen. Supposedly same cabin category or better, all promotions and fare protected, plus $100/pp OBC. As long as Europe is accepting US citizens and we are healthy (knock wood), we will be on the ship. Looks like they're consolidating a few different cruises into this one, which probably means a full ship. Itinerary will be finalized in 4-6 weeks according to the email. 

10 hours ago, ger_77 said:

"The hotdog store" - I love it!!  Seriously I'd be upset if I had paid a refundable deposit and suddenly it shows up as non-refundable.  Please let us know the outcome of your discussion with the agent.

 

Smooth Sailing!  🙂🙂🙂

Ok. So, if I can relay this properly, my booking was supposedly never changed to a non refundable deposit. It was just the verbiage (in red ink) that somehow had slipped in there. They difference in the cruise fare/ taxes & fees was because the TA's system screwed up the placement of the miscellaneous credit ,ie FCC, that HAL had sent over. The agency sent me a pdf of HAL's booking confirmation and are referring the problem to the proper techies. They said they'd never seen this happen before. Should be cleared up in a couple days. I'll keep checking on it. The odd thing is the original booking confirmation from the TA in April was exactly right. Don't know why it would change at this point because I didn't make any modifications to the booking since it was created.

And yes, I love their hotdogs!

I just checked my 2021 cruise that I booked thru the big box warehouse store and discovered that my refundable deposit had been changed to non refundable! Also, my FCC from a prior price adjusted cruise (not Covid related) had been applied to the port fees, not the cruise fare. Net is the same, but don't know if there would be a problem in the future. Even though the deposit was changed to non refundable, the fare remained at the refundable price, when the HAL website shows a non refundable fare a couple hundred dollars lower. I have the original emails from when I booked showing all the original details. Bottom line, I'm calling them when their lines are open to figure this out while the same promotion is in place. I suggest that everyone who has a cruise booked or transferred to the hotdog store check to make sure nothing has changed on their booking. 

Congrats! Isn't it a relief to not have to think about it anymore?!?!