Mary229

1 hour ago, L454S said:

The OP IS correct in stating that other lines WILL "MOVE" a booking to another sailing.....booking number and all.

 

RCI has done this a couple times over the years at NO Charge.

 

Just this past week, we moved a booking on Celebrity from one ship to another, there was a charge of $100 PP. Booking number remained the same.

I have done the same on HAL but often to get a different date, sale or sailing I may have to forfeit some perks from the original deal.  No one who wants to stay in business let’s a customer keep doubling down on perks while maintaining an original low price offer.  
 

for while on ship:

For costume jewelry like rhinestones a soft toothbrush a a dab of toothpaste works very well.  
 

for silver and things with semiprecious stones like lapis and turquoise use a silver polishing cloth. I just cut a small strip for my travels. 

gold and gemstones do well with just sudsy water such as hand washing.  
 

I have status with Carnival, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess, Holland and RCL and many I haven’t sailed in a long time.  I likely have status on a few others I would just rather forget 

 It can go both ways.  I have met new cruisers who used a travel agent who simply put them on whatever was being promoted with no consideration as to best fit.  But a good agent will take enough time to listen to your preferences, suggest a suitable sailing and help you avoid pitfalls.

 I booked my own business travel for 30 years but for leisure I  always used an agent and continue to use that agent as it is my leisure time and I find the ultimate luxury is not having to think about all of the incidentals and gotchas that exist in cruise contracts 

That is not a new policy.  They have for many years offered three fare levels.  Many of the small deposit sales are non-refundable but recently they actually would give you your dollar back if you changed your mind.  I don’t think it was about being nice but more to keep the bookings clear of holds that people changed their minds about.   A good travel agent can help you avoid the pitfalls. 
 

My policy is book refundable deposits only and use third party insurance.   

26 minutes ago, RuthC said:

I know that the days of an Alaska cruise/tour do count toward Mariner Days. I have them from my Alaska cruise/tour back in '93. 
I also know that absolutely none of my pre-cruise hotel days have ever been counted, no matter where they were spent. 

That has been my experience so far.  I took an overland mid cruise and it counted.  I don’t think the pre cruise overland counted.  .  I buy the cheap room and spend like a drunken sailor so it is hard for me to determine line items. 

27 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

We're currently facing similar situation. After months (literally more than 6 months) of not getting HIA added to a specific booking, we finally got it added last week - sail date is Nov 26.

There are limited ports because it's a TA. Excursion choice is now extremely limited w/some having only 1 space (we are party of 2). $200pp is too much $$ to leave on the table and actually tips the value of HIA in the wrong direction, but unless cancelations happen or more excursions are added (possible but unlikely) we won't be able to use them. Very frustrating since this could have been avoided if they had just added it to begin with.

Thanks for letting me vent.

In situations like this, the value should be converted to OBC.

I usually end up using them for city tour/airport transfers.  Perhaps no ideal but I have found those tours to be a great way to unwind before the airport.  Of course you should waitlist anything of possible interest.  You are on the move!  

They have already been announced as noted here

I have used them in the past.  It is a matter of adding it all up and seeing if it works for you.  I like that HAL lets me re-fare with any sale up to final payment  

5 hours ago, oakridger said:

Once again, as a solo I am paying the same fare as two people, but only get one $500 air credit per person while a couple in the same room would get $1000 air credit total for the same total fare. 😠  It's good I don't want to use Flight Ease anyway.

 

 

~Nancy

Nancy, it is $250 per flight per person. There is no difference in the discount for solos.  I am using it as I am flying to Amsterdam next year and HAL famously has low business rates to AMS.  Domestically I find them usually exactly the same.  
 

it is not part of the fare per se, it is attached to the HIA.  No HIA, no deal

2 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

Confused as to what you're asking, probably cuz it's early and I haven't had any coffee, but can you rephrase your question?

No coffee here yet😴. I am asking in regards to overland journeys offered by HAL.  If taken during the cruise they do count but are they like the precruise hotels which don’t count toward Mariner points?

8 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

Everything you purchase in advance (casino excepted) will be counted when calculating mariner points earned.

Clarification.  Pre and post cruise flights and hotels do not count.  I am curious do precruise/post cruise over lands count?  Anyone know?  During the cruise they do count 

3 hours ago, RuthC said:

If you don't see what you are looking for when you go into the shop, ask! The shops never put everything out that they have to select from; they change out the stock periodically. If you ask, and describe what you are looking for, they may have it, and bring it out for you. Or, at least they may tell you when they will be putting out for sale, and you will know when to come back. 

Exactly.  Also if you show them the item online from a certified retailer they will price match.  

If you don’t mind me hijacking your thread.  I wrote last year about a situation caused by HAL that created a minor disaster during my Iguazu Falls overland excursion. It took about 6 months but they provided a solution that was beyond what we had asked.  We are very pleased 

1 hour ago, canadianbear said:

It’s probably because I didn’t know what they were so never ordered them.  If it’s a meringue looking dessert that could be why?

It is a meringue cookie with topping.  HAL used to make those wonderful meringue cookies now they have replaced those with this dessert.  The old fashion meringue cookies were crispy and light.  These sometimes have a gooey center and the fruit topping exacerbates the issue. 

13 minutes ago, canadianbear said:

I don’t even know what it looks like-have never had one!

 

 

Really.  They have been available for a long time.  Many afternoons you can even pick them up on the Lido.  

The calculation is easy.  1 point per day, 2 if in a suite and an extra day per $300 spent up to equal the number of days sailing. Which expenditures are included is the only confusing aspect. 

Where the money came from is not factored only how it is spent.
Pre and post cruise arrangements such as pre cruise flights and hotels are not included.  Most other arrangements are included and as usual Casino expenditures are officially off the table but sometimes sneak in.  As @Cruise Suzy indicated the maximum allowance is to double your days and no more. So for our 35 day cruise you can only earn an additional 35 days credit. 

I saw pieces from the line on the Noordam in October.  They are displayed in the general merchandise shop not a separate boutique.

Here are the details

connection and expires at the end of such Eligible Cruise. US$500 Air Credit Offer is based on Promo JX. Air Credit offer available on select flights booked through Holland America Line’s Flight Ease^® program. Air Credit offer is available only to 1st/2nd guests in a stateroom on select 2024 Europe sailings. Credits are awarded as US$250 per leg of flight, per person. Europe Air Credits are in USD. Limit: One (1) $500 air credit per guest for 1st/2nd guests and up to US$1,000 air credit per stateroom. For transatlantic sailings, guests residing in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, will receive only a US$250 (total) credit per person for their flight home given that such sailings depart from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Pricing and availability are subject to capacity. Air Credit offer is subject to change and availability at time of booking, for new bookings only, and neither transferable nor refundable. Prices may vary. Air Credit offers have limited space and may be modified or withdrawn. Departure dates may be substituted without prior notice. Other restrictions may apply. It is the responsibility of guests to ensure they have a full passport valid at least 6 months beyond the date on which travel is to commenc

It is $250 each way and will be applied at air booking 

😁.  Let me warn you of one thing. If his credit card is on to his account you may not be able to manage his accounts if you were to go to guest services without him depending on how much a stickler for rules the person behind the counter is.  

15 minutes ago, canadianbear said:

This us  both menus for tonight, one with club orange and one without (our friends have the one without) 

Thanks for sharing.   This trend might be a crowd pleaser.  I can’t wait to see what else they re-introduce 

6 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

We have found Princess also offers some unique 3-5 week itineraries that have caught our attention and $$$. But it's nice again to have two cruise lines to choose from with the longer itineraries and intriguing perks, especially since we're 4-star with HAL and just made Elite on PCL. 

This is true and they also have a well developed land and sea program.  For us, unfortunately, they continue to increase the size of their ships. 

55 minutes ago, S4POPO said:

I know that both brands are part of the same corporate holding company, but I wouldn't compare NCL and Oceania.  They are two distinct companies with different management teams and different philosophies.

I was exclusively Norwegian long before they bought Oceania.  My thought was I had started only going on longer more exotic voyages and smaller ships  and was hoping to transition in the same family of cruise lines.  Unfortunately it didn’t work out for us. 

14 minutes ago, Heartfelttraveler said:

If you have not considered Oceania since 2018, why are you even on this board five years later? 

This topic began on another forum and was moved to Oceania after a few days.