Mandalay1903

13 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

We had posted that on our 6 week Westerdam cruise (March-May) we were overcharged for drinks (covered by the HIA package) ONLY 11 times!

Gee that's far, far worse than I experienced on any of my several recent cruises including the Westerdam. I saw only onesy-twosies, and I never had to confirm the overcharge.  Would be worth a solid discussion with the Hotel Director while onboard if it happened again. For something like that I would bypass the Beverage Manager...

30 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

This is the question that I asked two different beverage servers in different locations and both confirmed that it goes directly to the server named on the docket.

Thanks! That's great to know.

8 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

I have used it to give a tip to 'favorite beverage attendant' by getting him/her to give me a docket to sign for a drink and then adding the tip.  Taken from Non refundable OBC (as it is the only type I had!)

Good idea, but does this tip go solely to the individual or into a larger pool for the beverage department or the broader hotel department?

On 10/11/2023 at 5:08 AM, Hlitner said:

Erroneous overcharges are quite common on HAL.  When it happens, see or msg Guest Relations to correct the issue.

This is so true. A very common error is being charged for a cocktail or glass of wine while on the Signature Beverage Package/HIA. Guest Services will quickly correct the inadvertent error.

Glad to know it's not just me having difficulties. Both PCs and browsers. Intermittent problems.

9 hours ago, kluv2cruz said:

And… if I have excess non refundable onboard credit, other than buying un-needed gift store items, how else can I get this $? Can I use in slot machines? Any other ideas?

While onboard, I have been able to have the non-refundable OBC applied to the cost of prepaid HAL shore excursions.  The ShoreEx department was kind enough to apply the non-refundable OBC to the excursion and credit my onboard account such that I get a cc refund at the end of the voyage. Need to be careful to not touch the excursions paid with HIA+ benefits.

6 minutes ago, dobiemom said:

Your opinion: I am flying non-stop LAX-MIA the day before embarkation. Flight is on a Saturday in December. I think I’m the first flight out at 6am. (The hardest thing will be telling DH I need to be at the airport by 4am. 😳)

 

I think I’ll be OK especially since it’s non-stop, but I still have time to change plans. What do y’all think?

Another good thing about your 6 AM plan is that you'll be an early morning departure. There are usually fewer delays with early morning, since delays often build up during the day and can impact connecting flights.  Weather permitting, you should be in really good shape. The pre-cruise hotel is worth it in my book.

1 hour ago, triiip42 said:

I know someday my experienced Seattle based PCC will be gone and have no idea where my next PCC will be based.

My highly-experienced PCC retired, and my newly assigned PCC is also Seattle-based. The new one is doing fine, but needs to gain the experience that can only be learned on the job.

Thank for checking!

On 7/1/2023 at 8:03 AM, VMax1700 said:

Noordam:

24 November 2024 – 08 December 2024 : Far East/Japan : Possible Charter

Hello @VMax1700 !  Just checking in to see whether you've seen any further information on this possible charter of the Noordam? I'd be interested in a potential continuation of the prior 14-day sailing, but at present it's neither available nor "sold out" on the HAL or big box sites at this time.  Thanks, and hope you're doing well.

3 hours ago, QuattroRomeo said:

I've been hoping for more timely excursion reviews for a couple of tours on our Alaska itinerary next spring. When I logged in to our booking today, the shore excursion descriptions had a new look to them and there were many new reviews! (I wrote one last month for our cruise this past June and it is there now, so at least I know they are truly recent). Not sure about other itineraries, but if you have been looking for something in particular, it might be updated now.

Still getting some error codes and white screens, but when I finally get the excursions to come up, they display differently than before. I guess I.T. dept. has been working on something!

Yes, this seems to be a site-wide improvement for HAL. Much better and more current reviews, and my which include pictures. This must have been a major effort by HAL. Two thumbs up!

When I first registered my AARP membership on HAL's site, I had three future cruises already booked for winter/spring 2024. I did not request it, but after I registered HAL automatically added a $200 AARP credit to my next upcoming sailing--January 2024--but not the other two bookings in March/April 2024. Nice of them to credit me despite it not being a new booking.

Two weeks later I made a new booking of a cruise in September 2025, but the AARP credit did not get applied by HAL for this new booking. I discussed this with my HAL PCC, who after two attempts was able to get supervisory approval and the onboard credit was added as a "one-time" exception in his words. Again, I appreciate his going to bat for me but I'm not sure why his intervention should have been required.

As with others on this thread, I am not sure why receiving the AARP credit would need to be a "one-time" exception when HAL's stated policy does not differentiate the time period when the booking is made.  That is, for bookings made after AARP membership had been successfully registered.

Has anyone verified with HAL that their intent was for the credit to be applied only to new bookings made within one year of their most recent AARP registration, or for ANY future cruise so long as the guest is currently registered?  Or something else?

I appreciate the new marketing relationship between HAL and AARP--it got me to join AARP--but the customer-facing policy and the coding in HAL's booking engine leave a lot to be desired despite their complexities.

2 hours ago, OneMoreTime said:

We are doing a back-to-back cruise, 14 +7, and I am curious to know if it's worth the hassle to change cabins.   First leg of the cruise there's a great vista suite available on deck 5 but we'd have to move to to the same category cabin on deck 4 for the last leg of the cruise.

For me it might depend on how much time I'd want to spend in the turnaround port. Also, if you don't mind spending a little extra time packing up and managing your safety deposit box contents, it would be worth it for the better stateroom on the 14 day leg.

In my case this happened to me twice -- two different sailings. Since there was limited availability I booked two different staterooms in the same category for the 14+14 day legs. Over the following months I kept checking, and sure enough a stateroom opened up so I'd have 28 days in the same cabin in my preferred location.

My advice is to book that great vista suite, check back often, and I would not be surprised if something opened up so you wouldn't have to move.

My practice is to never book a HAL transfer until I'm on board and I'm positive I will use it, UNLESS it is booked as a cancelable shore excursion.

We'll be sailing on the Oosterdam in January. Glad to hear she'll be in for a little mani-pedi before facing the Southern Ocean...

Thank you @VMax1700 for compiling this great information.

Have a wonderful cruise!

19 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

 

However, I have had the opposite result.  "Sorry Sir, that is not possible". 

Thank you again, HAL, for your consistent level of service.

3 hours ago, 57redbird said:

Do you think that will work to change the Tamarind to Pinnacle?

Probably not, because Pinnacle typically costs more than Tamarind. Unless you happen to be really good at sweet talk, that is...

3 hours ago, Laminator said:

That's why I don't even bother walking in!

Only when it's included in Have It All plan and there's no Tamarind on the ship.

OBTW, on board the Noordam currently and their offering a limited Tamarind "pop-up" menu at the Pinnacle two times on this long cruise. I appreciate that, but the bad thing is that they accept neither the included Have It All Signature Dining deal or the 50% Mariner Discount on those evenings. The fee is the full Pinnacle charge plus gratuity, which is more than the standard Tamarind fee on the ships that have a dedicated Tamarind restaurant. Doesn't quite seem fair to us, so we passed on the event.  But, the laws of microeconomics prevail and the dinner event has sold out...

2 hours ago, Pickalily, Wilts said:

Slightly off topic - has anyone been successful in swapping a HIA Pinnacle Grill  for a Canaletto reservation?  We're happy to take the included Tamarind option, but hoping HAL will allow us to have the cheaper (for them) Canaletto instead of Pinnacle.  

Easily done while on board. Just speak with a Dining Dept Supervisor or Manager.

On the Noordam currently in Australia, the 16 oz twist off metal bottles are managed by the Housekeeping Dept and NOT part of the Signature Beverage Package. They are sold as part of the in-room mini bar. 

The 12 oz Open Water Still Water in pop-top cans are managed by the Beverage Dept, sold at the bars, and included in the Signature Beverage Package. ShoreEx will offer these as you depart the ship for HAL shore excursions. Makes no sense to me to take a pop-top non-resealable can on a shore excursion...

Enjoy your trip!!!

1 hour ago, Laminator said:

I agree...Better than any steak the Pinnacle has!

I agree about the Tamarind steak. And saying it's "better than any steak the Pinnacle has" isn't saying too much. We've walked out of the Pinnacle more than once...

1 hour ago, retdon said:

Can someone give me the fax # they are using to send  in their info. I emailed

world_cruise_reservation@hollandamerica.com and it bounced. HELP please, thanks, Linda.

The fax is on the form. Fax 206 270 6080

The email that has always worked for me is: world_cruise_reservations@hollandamerica.com

Looks like the email address you used had a typo just before the "at" sign.

Hello Jacqui:

I have cancelled our Oosterdam - 11-Jan-23 - 22 day South America & Antarctica booking. We're booked for this itinerary in January 2024.

Instead, we have booked Westerdam - 03-Feb-23 - 24 day Thailand, Andaman Islands, Malaysia & Indonesia.

Thank you!