blizzardboy

Another reason I use a HAL PCC to work out all things HAL, then transfer the booking to the TA before final payment. It's hard enough to be an expert on one cruise line, let alone several.

Is Category B on Koningsdam a full suite? Does it get any extra perks?

Do you mean SB? If so, yes it's a full suite. Some locations, i.e., the aft corners (known as aft-wraps) are slightly smaller, rated for three passengers as sofa bed is a single, but you gain a veranda that wraps around the corner of the ship giving you a 270 degree field of view. All Neptune Suites have the same amenities. You have access to the Neptune Lounge, which has concierge service when it's open, continental breakfast, and snacks throughout the day. You also may enjoy breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill. Same menu as dining room, but outstanding service with a nice view. Priority boarding and disembarkation, and tendering if not docked in a port.

I normally reserve a rental car (through Hertz most times) for either before or after our cruise and I do so well in advance as I know I can rebook later if prices decline (they often do).

Best rental car deals I've found are through Big box that rhymes with roscoe. 2nd driver free and great rates

My bride wears "cocktail" dresses and I wear a tux on Gala nights. That being said, you'll see all manner of dress. Wear what makes you feel good. I enjoy dressing up for my bride. I wear a sport coat or suit with open collar to dinner most other nights, but "sharp casual" is what ever one makes of it, from what I've seen.

We were on a Christmas cruise several years ago, and people dressed up for Gala Night, then Formal Night. Even the kids, and there will be a bunch, were dressed up for dinner.

And then there were those like us who got Prepaid Suite Gratuities ($27/day now $30/day), a $200 internet allowance, and the Bev Pkg for about 65-70% of the price of the Bev Pkg alone. Some got it free, or close to it.

Previous poster is correct - do your homework on prices. I wouldn't hesitate to book now to get your cabin of choice, as long as you're not on a non-refundable-deposit deal. You can always re-fare a "normal" booking with Explore 4 or other promo before final payment is made, if it's a better deal. Rumor has it we will see Explore 4 in the US market next week.

I'm going to get a lot of hate for the following I'm sure. Although I enjoy real books in my hands, if I were going on an extended cruise, I'd rather control my destiny and load my kindle or equivalent with as many as I thought I'd need. I don't know how long it would take to download an ebook with shipboard internet, but I reserve almost everything I read in hardback from our Public Library, and about every title is available in ebook as well.

BTW, I can barely use a smart phone!

We have only sailed on the Westerdam and Zuiderdam..many times each. I'm looking at a cruise on the Eurodam and wonder if we will feel comfortable on her. Is the layout similiar and the venue's about the same?

We were on her in January after several cruises, like you, on Vista Class ships. They're the same length. The added tonnage is up on Deck 10 where they added more cabins and the Tamarind restaurant, which is a super addition. We felt at home immediately and had a great trip.

I think you should put your concerns in a letter to Mr. Ashford. Leaving with an "exit interview" will do more than just leaving.

We ate in the MDR 3 nights out of 7 on the E'dam in January and had great meals and service. I also highly recommend the Tamarind (Asian Fusion) which we enjoyed twice. I'm also a big fan of the Pinnacle Grill. We ate there twice, one of which was their Le Cirque night which I think has been replaced by Rudi's Sel de Mer, a one-night "pop-up". The "permanent" Sel de Mer on the Koningsdam has been very popular so they are offering it in the PG on other ships.

I was a big fan (though not a cheerleader) of HAL until a few years ago. I wrote to HAL about my not so pleasant dining room experience and received a credit to Pinnacle Grill which will go unused because there are many other choices for cruising.

 

I agree with blizzardboy that you should inform HAL and definitely include the photos, but don't ask for any "adjustments." Vote with your feet and take your business elsewhere. I learned a long time ago that it isn't a problem until it's a problem for management. When sales and profits fall it becomes a problem and only then will the problems be addressed.

Your "one warrior" concept is great in principle, but as a drop in the HAL bucket, likely to be ineffective. I have had issues from time to time, but I've taken a very reasonable adjustment, an apology, and the next cruise turned out great. You have higher expectations as a suite customer, which HAL understands, and they have been responsive in their efforts to keep our business.

Your situation is both totally unacceptable, and unusual. We've sailed in Neptunes repeatedly, including on the Oo'dam a couple years ago, without your problems. That being said, you should write a letter to Orlando Ashford's office at HAL. I suggest you offer the same compliments with crew names if you have them, then drop the hammer. Don't exaggerate, but list your issues explaining the negative effect they had on your vacation, emphasizing you were in a Neptune and expected HAL's best. Obviously include the photos. You should demand a "substantial" adjustment, which they handle through future cruise credit.

We stay in luxury accommodations on land or sea, and expect service and upkeep accordingly. I don't wear HAL blinders, but get your adjustment and give HAL another try.

I inquired earlier but did not see an answer. Does the HAL PCC lose anything money when you transfer a booking away from HAL when booked by PCC? Please advise if you know the answer to this. Thanks

A booking through a PCC counts towards their bonus once the cruise sails regardless of whether the booking is transferred. They do make more if it stays in house. I'm going to paraphrase what my PCC told me years ago: We are salaried employees paid to book cruises, but also to answer questions. We get credit for originating a booking, more if it stays in house. He likened it to a real estate agent who lists a property for sale. They get paid something regardless of who sells the property, more if they sell it as well as listing it. He went on to say that he'd be transferring a booking too, if it meant picking up several hundred dollars in OBC or discount.

One thing to remember, once your booking is transferred to a TA, they become your administrative contact for that cruise. That's why I have my HAL ducks in a row prior to final payment date, which is also the latest one can transfer their booking.

A picture of a non-alcoholic drink, peach no less - a rare bird indeed.

Yet doesn't the booking transfer have to happen within a few weeks of booking the cruise? I won't book air usually for several months, as well as pre and post hotel stays. I like to do all this directly with cruise line myself. What degree of service do you get from big box? What about price questions and excursion questions? What if you want to change a dining time? I hate calling the cruise line and being told they won't help me, please call travel agent, and then having to wait three days for an answer. Does that happen to you?

Also, I noticed online for one cruise I booked that a significantly better located cabin was suddenly available. I called directly and changed it within ten minutes. Can you do that with Big Box? If their service is good, I will use them!

 

 

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Unlike Celebrity, which allows transfers for a very limited time after booking (30 days?), HAL allows transfers until final payment is made, which on shorter cruises is due 75 days out, sooner on longer cruises, but I don't remember the number of days. I already have specialty dining and excursions reserved by then and my questions answered by my HAL PCC. I book my own airfare for most travel. I call HAL for air or hotels only if it involved overseas business/first class tickets as they sometimes have seats under contract that are sometimes cheaper, and if rooms are included as they for suite customers on some sailings. Google flights is my friend, and I book any rooms shortly after the cruise. Unless the trip is pretty exotic, I have little need for TA services, so I'm more interested in the payout. That being said, Roscoe is famous for customer service, though I've only called a couple of times and whatever was answered. I use Insure My Trip for travel insurance.

Maybe my TA was just cheap. May I ask your average OBC, and the length of the cruise to which it would apply?

 

 

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TA commissions are fare driven, not by number of days. Since all the work is done before the booking transfer, I just use the travel dept of the big box that rhymes with roscoe. They always give around 9-10% of the fare before taxes and fees in OBC, no matter the length of cruise. Starting Sept 1, their Executive members will get 2% back at year end on all travel just like on all other purchases. Throw in their no-fee visa card that pays another 3% on all travel and it starts to add up.

What was on the gravestone? I think it was, "Hey y'all! Watch this!" As far as the parents go, obviously they've already jumped from a great height into the shallow end of the gene pool! Their son is just a young moron in training.

I only book directly through my PCC at Holland America. Its much easier for me to contact them directly and get all my questions answered, rather than wait 2-3 days for a TA. Also, once I discover a reduction in cabin fare (and I check), it's easier to just call myself and get on obc or refund. I hate dealing through a middleman, and the obc my TA offers hasn't been enough to justify the inconvenience. And no one knows the ships better than the holland America PCCs.

 

 

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I agree with everything you've said. That's why I wait until a couple of days before final payment to transfer the booking. I don't normally feel philanthropic enough regarding HAL to ignore that 9-10% of the fare in refundable OBC from the TA.

The aft-wraps are a little smaller, but for two people, they work just fine. The space lost in the cabin is not storage and is added in veranda space. Remember, all the Neptunes have the same amenities, features and decor, and all offer the same privileges. We'd never booked an SC until a couple of months ago. We are throwing in an extra vacation this year in November, didn't really care about which Caribbean itinerary, and didn't care (within reason) about cabin location, as long we were in a Neptune. We booked SC 6109 on the NA, which is convenient to the elevators in either direction. It's been several aft-wraps in a row, so the view will be different. It will take me about 1 minute including an elevator ride to get to the lounge - two if I was over-served the night before.

Hi all,

We are relatively new to cruisin. We went on 2 about 10 years ago and are returning:) We are looking at a Caribbean Cruise on the NA March 2018 and are planning to splurge on a Neptune Suite. It is my 50th b-day. When looking at the different rooms it looks like the SA cabins are all on the 7th deck (Rotterdam Deck). The SB and SC are on the 6th Deck (Upper Verandah). We are thinking of the 6th deck to be a little bit away from the Neptune Lounge. We don't mind stairs or walking. My question is what is the difference between an SC cabin and an SB cabin?

Thanks in advance for your help!

The Neptune SBs at the aft corners of Decks 4-8 are obviously the farthest away from the NL and are our favorites. Their verandas wrap around the corner of the ship (you'll see them called aft-wraps) giving you a 270 degree field of view. They are convenient to the aft pool and the MDR, but you get some walking in as everything else is forward of your location. The SCs are in "less desirable" locations when compared to the SAs, but you're talking at most about being deck or two away from the NL and a little aft, and they can be a bargain. An SC "guarantee" (you let them pick your cabin) often ends up getting upgraded to an SB or SC and is the lowest fare to reserve a Neptune.

As a prior post stated, the NL isn't rowdy. It's a great place for a Continental breakfast with the morning news, snacks throughout the day, and the concierge can handle anything from reservations to front desk functions. I start there with coffee and Danish then migrate to the Pinnacle Grill for a great breakfast. You can get the same food in the MDR, but the PG's service is great and so is the view. This Neptune Suite perk is one of my favorites.

Warning: Suites are addictive! We booked an aft-wrap for the Panama Canal partial transit several years ago and are hooked for life.

How does changing from a PCC to TA affect the pay of the PCC?

Do they get credit for the booking and make the same or lose credit if you swap?

They get credit towards their bonus once a booking has sailed. They make some for the original booking, more if it stays in house. My PCC has said he would be transferring the booking for an additional 9 or 10% back in OBC or discount. I do leave about every other short cruise with him as an extra thank you. Dumb, I know, but it makes me feel better about the hours he spends answering questions.

It's thru Chase, check their site and listing of cards.

 

 

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You gave me the church, I can find the pew. Thanks.

Yes it covers Trip Interruption plus Med Evac., plus high points for travel, don't need another CC.

 

 

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Nor I, but you have me curious about which card....If i'm not being too forward.

Ditto, nice to know about the 2% as we are! We cover our Insurance's with our CC. Thx

 

 

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Does your card cover medical/evac? FYI, the no-fee Roscoe visa pays anther 3% on all travel.

bb

TAs have 15% of your fare before taxes and fees to work with. I have a great PCC that is a superb comparative analyst of the different HAL promos and offers that helps me pin down the cruise and pricing/promos. With his understanding of the money involved, I usually transfer the booking to a TA before final payment. I most often use the big-box that rhymes with Roscoe, as they give you about 9% in OBC of your fare, which is refundable if not used since it's not from HAL. If you're an Executive member at Roscoe, travel bookings made after Sept 01 will pay a 2% bonus. They do have a $100 cancellation fee on cruises. I did read on this forum that the non-refundable deposit deals may not be transferable.

I use "Insure My Trip" for travel coverage. Nationwide has a cruise-specific policy that's very competitive.

Thanks for the explanation. Safe travels.

bb