cruz chic

Golly what have I missed. :confused: :confused:

 

Are they now asking 1st time HAL cruisers, those people without a Mariner Number, if they smoke? Without that piece of data I don't understand how any 'wizard computer techies' could give them that number. First time Hal cruisers - yes, verandah bookers - yes, but smokers.... I don't think so.

 

And if you are implying that all 1st time HAL cruisers who book verandah staterooms are smokers then HAL is in big trouble. Assuming (:o) that all the statistics passionately provided by folks on this thread stating that only 20% of the entire population smokes and then figuring that less than .00001% of that 20% might take a cruise just how is HAL going to fill it's ships? While I'm not real bright I'm really confused by your statement. :eek:

My guess is if cabin occupants ask for an ashtray, see butts in that ashtray even Hal can deduct the occupants are smokers.

Please see the attached thread post # 4

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2184912&highlight=retreat+cabanas

Thx for the update. Lots of good info.

The kicker is bookings in 2016 are up so I've been told by a pretty good source. So as long as bookings increase they know they are in a net positive.

 

I like the term "experimenting" Ashford used. I'm "experimenting" playing for the Red Sox, too.

Maybe it's all the smokers that have jumped ship to Hal so they can smoke.

Is this the first indication of a long awaited policy change???!!! :eek::D

One can only hope.

I think most respondents are focusing too narrowly on the dress issue when my intent was more broad. If any first time cruisers, without any knowledge of formal or gala nights, came aboard Westy last week, they would would be hard pressed to single out any night that was different than any other. There was no decorations in the dining room, no special event, no anything that would differentiate a "gala" night from a regular night. I'm not passing judgement on that; only saying why describe something that's not.

It's been that way for a while. The menu certainly isn't special, especially the first formal.

Loved your explanation of the q and a answers :D.

My bet is that HAL offers the upsells to everyone (why not as it is beneficial to them), but that some (not all of course) TAs are slow to get the offers out to their clients.

 

Thats one of the things that I like about using a PCC - the upsell offers are sent directly to me and its up to me to decide if and how fast to respond. Cutting out the middle man has to speed things up.

On one of my cruises many people got an upsell. I learned about it on the roll call. My ta phoned and Hal told her I didn't qualify for the upsell and I was not able to get it. I've also been in the situation on a roll call when others have not gotten an upsell. While they may go out to a great many people in my experience they do not go out to everyone.

Around final payment time, I'll decide on a maximum amount that we'd pay for an upgrade if one is offered. That way, if we receive an upgrade offer, we don't waste time deciding. I jump on it immediately if it is within my pre-decided amount. That way we don't lose out and we may get a choice of several cabins. If it is too much, I simply don't respond.

 

We book directly with HAL through a PCC. I don't think that gives us any advantage in receiving an offer, but it does give us a time advantage in responding.

I worked with a ta for many years and saw maybe one offer. Now that I use a PCC I see them on most cruises if they are available on my cruise.

I thought that suites got priority tendering. The windows in the suite are floor to ceiling according to the Hal website, which would a big upgrade from the smaller Oceanview window.

Only Neptune suites (and 4 and 5 star mariner) have priority tendering. Yes the signature suites have floor to ceiling windows.

I understand how you feel. It IS a pretense. They're afraid to say every night is casual, and they're afraid to use the "f-word of cruising." (formal) So they waffle.

 

The change was announced late last summer, IIRC. On our Sept cruise on Veendam, I made a point of walking through the MDR (early fixed dining) on the two gala nights, and nearly all men wore jackets and women appeared to be dressed comparably. I saw VERY FEW tuxes around the ship.

 

I was on the Oosterdam Jan 29 cruise (same as Dave), and I didn't make a detailed study, but I do think I saw fewer jackets on the men and more casual clothing on the women. I don't know if it's Caribbean vs Canada as a deestination. Or hot weather vs cooler weather. Or maybe the word is getting out.

 

DH and the other two men at our table wore jackets. I was definitely the most dressed up of the three women. The only one in a long gown. It has beads and sequins, and one of the women said "Oh my, you make me feel dowdy." She meant it as a compliment, but I felt bad that I had made someone feel that way, even if it was just a little bit. She had a nice dress on (church nice, as some people say), but not "gala." The other woman was in a LBD and said "thank God we only have to do this two nights."

 

Outside the MDR, dress was definitely more casual than I'd seen last fall.

 

So now it's a mish-mash. I love taking the "posh frocks," but I was in a definite minority. My next cruise is on Cunard, where I'll blend in better.

I don't think the itinerary. People were very nicely dressed on my Caribbean cruise in October. People were even dressed gala-ly :D in the Canaletto. I think the word is getting out.

We are in our hotel waiting for transport to the port to board the Eurodam. Restaurants were nuts last night as was traffic. And we also had the pleasure of paying about $250 for an $89 room:)

I'm having the same trouble for April.

Do signature suites get priority tendering and boarding? I'm also confused by the window comment.

No priority tendering. The Oceanview would have much smaller windows then the suite. That's what the poster is referring to I think.

Why are you even interested in HAL? You sound quite comfortable with Princess. Is it a HAL itinerary or what that makes you want to try it. That might help form the answers for you.

I go between both. Just because you like one cruise line it shouldn't stop you going on another, should it?

Thx for the update.

You are most welcome:).

On Hal

Better breakfast menu

Bigger rooms and showers

More comfortable beds

Less crowding

Princess

Better entertainment

Better service in the MDR

What is the current fare difference on HAL's website between your existing category and the lowest level Signature suite? That will tell you alot about whether or not the $599 offer is a good one. I like to pay only 1/3rd of the difference, but will go as high as 1/2 depending on the cruise itinerary and cabin's location.

 

Just FYI, taking this upsell will not earn you double Mariner "days", as you have to had booked a "suite" category originally.

I like your idea Dave. For the op's cruise I think the difference was $2604 btw the cheapest oceanview and the cheapest signature suite. One third would be about $867 so this seems like a decent deal.

We got the same upsell offer. After talking with HAL and a lot of discussion and calculating we decided to go for it. Called today (Saturday) but the office is closed. Sent a fax as they suggested, so now I have to wait till they respond or Monday morning to see if it is still available. Not good at waiting once I have made a decision.

I would call them instead of waiting for them to respond to your fax on Monday. I'm not good at waiting either :).

I have seen a couple of discussions here about buying OBC before a cruise, and I just don't understand why people would do it. I am sure you must have a reason, it is just beyond my understanding. I would much rather my credit card be charged than to have to deal with getting a refund.

Please don't feel that you need to stop expressing your opinion. You have as much right as anyone else to post how you feel.

Thanks for the replies so far! So, can we call back and ask for the upsell, or did our opportunity pass when we turned it down?

Yes call your ta back.

I recommend that you follow thru a fake online booking for your cruise, and see how many cabins are left in the class they are offering you.

If there are many more, then you could wait, but if there are few, you may want to accept the offer.

There is no way to know how many of those cabins will be filled with guarantees and those would not be assigned yet.

Wow, that the earliest upsell I've ever heard of. Usually they start at about a month out. You can try to negotiate. There no way to know if there will be other offers. That sounds like a decent offer to go from an oceanview to a signature suite on a longer cruise. Good luck!

I have played slots in the casinos in Curacao and Aruba and played both with U.S. $. When I actually won, I walked out with U.S. $. :D

 

Same for St. Maarten...... played and won U.S. $. Lest one think I have a real gambling problem :eek:, DH and I used to duck into the casinos if it started to rain. We'd play a few minutes and sure enough the rain would let up and off we would go. All but for when we had a land resort vacation at The Hyatt in Aruba..... that was a wonderful vacation. :)

 

I usually go in to powder my nose. My friend is talking about going to a casino here on Monday and I'm thinking what the heck am I going to do there. A big gambling day for me is $10.