Mary229

6 minutes ago, tpwolfe said:

The cruise isn’t till November 2024

Did you use a TA? If so call them.  Is your deposit refundable?  If it is the simplest method may be to cancel and rebook if not then call and have it refared.  I sometimes re-fare a cruise 2 or 3 times before final payment to capture all the perks I can, (well - if those perks are significant. )

2 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

Yes, exactly my thoughts. At this point I don't see why anyone would ever book an interior before final payment unless you were monitoring inventory and felt a good chance it would sell out. WIth or without the standby, last minute interiors sell in this price range often.

It seems to me you can wait and watch and put yourself on the list at day 8 if you don’t see a price drop. Another tool in the bargain hunting toolbox .

No, they don’t but if you are not past final payment you can re-fare the cruise.  In your case I would definitely call even if past final payment to see if they will somehow accommodate you

Interesting.   I notice the cruise following our South Pacific is on the list so I may sign up as I need a Mexican art shopping trip. Thank you

I think there is an even split now between those who like self service everything 🙋‍♀️ and those who like full service and/or need full service. If a website is fully functioning I am inclined to buy more services as a one stop shop. HAL makes that difficult and so loses some of my business.  

(Yes, I am happy to have my TA but as I have said in the past that is a family obligation and after much trial and error I found an agent in the family business who I enjoy working with, if there was no obligation I would be a self serve customer)

5 minutes ago, Don Kehote said:

In the last few months, I have noticed a sharp decline in the ability of almost every HAL rep I have spoken to.  Whether that ability is to assist with a booking question, or to help fix a problem, it's not a pleasure to call there now.

I have never been so glad to have a competent travel agent as now.  It seems that the agency reps (wholesale) are still competent the retail side is a matter of luck.  I have had good and I have had bad.  It shouldn’t be that way. The website is far more disturbing as no matter what browser, which device I use  I can never complete my tasks in a single day. 

I do like the MDR and the recent reports of the new menus are exciting.  I also like Tamarind, I agree Canaletto is much improved.  DH likes the Pinnacle dinner but I prefer the lunch - same great beef, smaller portions and without the pretentious service style.  As to the various pop ups I am yet to read a review that makes me want to try them. 

Sorry it was rough.  I spent the day sending nasty notes through the website feedback button. 
 

Fixed dining is to an assigned table at an assigned time usually quite early around 5:30 for the early seating.  Many like this option as you can be finished dining for the first theater show.  The first day the maitre de will be available for you to state what size dining group you prefer from 2 to 8. Remember if things work out oddly you can request another table.  
 

If you want to meet new people every night you would be better served by anytime dining rather than fixed dining. With this option you go to the dining room at anytime and request seating alone or seating with others. of course timing is everything with this option. 
 

I like fixed dining as your waiters get to know you and what you prefer.  You will also get to know your table mates very well.  If you choose to not dine there for a night for whatever reason it is polite to mention it to the maitre de or senior waiter. I will often stop by at lunch to let them know I have other plans.  You can also call by phone as well. 
 

someone with more experience can help you with Club Orange. 

As @crystalspin said but there are many fee parking areas in Fort Lauderdale where you can make a reservation and quite a few hotels too offer a package 

1 hour ago, Dancing Shoes said:

Seem like your mileage varies with HAL.  My TA did a reprice and got me the reduced fare as an OBC.  Great.  They said no when she called back to see about the prepaid gratuities, as they said they already gave me a discount.  And, for some reason, a credit was showing as a future cruise credit of $100  all along. 

It is weird what HAL does.  I just happened to pay down a bit on a cruise today with gift cards and when I got my updated invoice they had added OBC. Earlier this month we re-fared to capture the air credit and they went way beyond that even though there was absolutely no room rate change.  I am certainly not complaining but it is hard to determine when to spend your efforts on which sales 

It has reached a new low.  They should fire their IT team 

3 hours ago, ottahand7 said:

@Calypso54 is on a Grand cruise there will probabl

It was announced recently that HIA would soon be available on all cruises.  I never understood why it wasn’t. 

The website is changing again - surprise, surprise.  There are a whole new set of links to use while the old ones (now dead) still are there. 

Lie, just lie.  
 

G@gmail.com

555- 555-1212

Jane Doe

123 Main Street

Anytown, Ohio, USA

when you are ready go back and give them the correct information

I always use a third party, specifically my Chase credit card insurance coupled with Geoblue annual medical policy. As an aside I understand now Bank Of America has a travel credit card with insurance. 

11 minutes ago, Jo-D said:

This is definitely comforting since I booked PE flights.  I'm traveling with my 84 year old father and he would be highly annoyed if we weren't sitting together, which is my main concern.

Don’t bet on it if flying on American from Dallas.  We use premium economy and business and have been moved numerous times. 

2 minutes ago, Duane S. said:

this may be slightly off topic but it does relate to airfare

We are booked for a future cruise on Hal in September to Boston and return from Montreal, I checked the airfare and they seem to be quite expensive, so much so that it almost equals the cost of the cruise, 

I despise flying but it is the only way in this case

We are actually considering canceling the cruise due to the high cost of flying to the port.

Do the costs of flights come down the closer we get to the sail date? We have until June to make a decision but it sure isn't looking good.

also, for the New Englanders, Are we better off simply driving to New England as our main goal is to see the coast and fall colors if so what time of the fall is the best weeks to go for foliage views ?

If this inquiry does not belong here please simply remove it.

thanks

Flight ease prices for North America are generally about the same or slightly less than the airlines.  The only advantage to using them for North America is to lock in a cancellable reservation now that you can pay for later. Here is the advice given by the points guy, a valuable source of all things travel

For domestic trips, TPG recommends monitoring prices three to four months before your departure date and expecting to book one to two months in advance. For international trips, we recommend starting to monitor prices six to seven months in advance and expect to book three to five months in advance.

8 hours ago, 0106 said:

My flight isn’t until January 27 and my tickets and seats are confirmed in the AA app.  

That is correct but they likely aren’t ticketed yet. If you look on the website you can see the actual status. Once ticketed the seats may change.  Until about a year ago seats generally stayed the same but recently mine have all changed once ticketed.  Since it is a consolidator fare I have found the only way to preserve seat selection is to pay the seat fee once ticketed.  I have had them change the morning of the flight

It is usually at the 30 day mark.  You should definitely check your seats once ticketed 

Ask over here, you may get more responses 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/120-costa-rica/

1 hour ago, BruceMuzz said:

Not quite correct.

You tasted the wash that was required by Shipsan, the European Health Agency that governs everything that cruise ships sailing in Europe do with food.

If you had been sailing on a cruise ship in North America, you would have tasted the wash that the US Public Health Service requires on all ships that call at US Ports. 

I know what I tasted, it was awful. To be clear I stepped off another line two days prior and onto AMA.  I had been in Europe for three weeks on cruises prior.

I am sorry, Neal but your agent dropped the ball.  Here is the press release from November 7.  Even if they didn’t know about the specific terms they should have been well aware that all of the lines offer specials for Black Friday. 
 

https://www.carnivalcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/holland-america-lines-black-friday-sale-features-prepaid-crew

adding, your agent might reach out to get some small perk for you if the total package is truly cheaper - I doubt it but they could try 

I was reviewing the press releases and noticed that HAL is offering a little extra OBC for New England residents for 2024 Canada/New England sailings. 
 

https://www.carnivalcorp.com/media-center/news-releases