Tampa Girl

Never having booked anything through HAL, I was unaware that one can book hotel separately. Is this done through Flight Ease, through a TA, or through HAL directly?

That has been my experience, as well. Usually our OBC's come from HAL, and they have always been used for crew appreciation.

For a HAL cruise??? Or were you just being cute?c

we found the selection of non-fiction to be quite adequate on the Eurodam, as well DH, who is an avid reader, spent most of our 10-day cruise reading the history of the Vikings. As for travel books, that is the last thing I want to read while on a cruise. By the time that I have boarded, I have studied all the travel info that I want, at least for the time being. Instead of criticising HAL's new libraries, I am so grateful that they are being rejuvenated and also that there is a section for used books. Can't we give HAL a little bit of credit for responding to years of criticism for removing the former libraries

I don't know what a "private fare" is, but If your cruise was one of the "inside cabin free" fares that HAL sends out periodically, they are correct when they say that any of the "special" OBC's, such as Veterans and Carnival, will not be given. In fact, if you read the fine print, you will see this disclosure. However, HAL or casino fares may specifically include their own OBC's, which can be used on board. As for your DH dumping Carnival shares, those can be used on all cruises that don't come under the "special fare" promotion. And if you cruise even once a year, the OBC's can be well worth the investment.

Exactly. And OBC from non-HAL sources can be used on board for most expenses, including in the casino. In fact, the OBC'S given on casino cruise are "supposedly" for use in the casino.

I really question why HAL would have any legal responsibility. It was disembarkation day. The cruise had ended. Are you trying to blame HAL for your Covid? The fact that you tested at a time when you were supposed to be getting off the ship raises a question of your purpose, which appears to have been made solely for getting HAL to pay for a post-cruise excursion. Not sympathetic.

Would you please copy and paste where the website "rather vaguely" says this " If this is the case, it is a new rule. We have always been allowed to use OBC's on board for crew appreciation, laundry, internet, and drink packages. If by "packages", the intent was HIA package, which would have been purchased prior to boarding, I can see understand the website's wording. Otherwise, I think you got some bad advice.

It was changed on many of the ships (not on the R class, pre-pandemic. I hope that they go back to the full bar and music of the original Crows Nest.

I agree. I have always used that site. Before the pandemic, we always got around 10% reduced fare. Since the pandemic I have used that site for at least six cruises, and the basic fare was unchanged from the HAL site. Nor have I found that being given OBC's make up the difference between 10% of a reduced fare and 5% or less in OBC's. To be clear, I am talking about HAL, and only HAL. Some of the posts appear to be comparing other lines with HAL. A final observation, the statement made by some that 10% fare reduction is the same as 10% OBC's is questionable. To begin with, HAL's CPP, as well as many other insurance carriers, quote the insurance cost on the fare paid. If one gets a 10% fare reduction, their insurance costs will be less. I must admit, however, that I have never had the experience of getting OBC's worth 10% of the published fare.

Thank you very much for the info.

If you don't mind, what was your private transport to Rotterdam, and what was the fare? We will be staying in Amsterdam for 3 days before sailing from Rotterdam in July. Thanks for any info that you can give.

Unfortunately, it does not. The post-cruise check was for less than 5% of the fare, as opposed to about 10% fare reduction pre-pandemic. Also, insurance is based on the fare. If that is reduced, so is the CPP insurance and many other insurance plans. a

I am happy for you if you are still getting 10% fare reduction post pandemic. Prior to Covid, we always got a 10%, or thereabouts, but now it is in the form of OBC and/or post-cruise "checks." I keep hearing from one TA after another that HAL has forbidden the TA's from reducing HAL's fares. Don't know if that is accurate, but I do know that I am not getting the pre-pandemic fare reductions from our TA's.

If you don't trust the staff, then you should cancel. However, as others have said, you can trust the HAL staff.

I received neither OBC or a further discount from a TA on a recent casino cruise. And when I booked a deeply discounted cruise recently for another itinerary, through HAL, I believe that the fine print specifically provided for no OBC's or further discounts.

Thanks, Helen. The only insurance we need, beside CFAR thru HAL, is evacuation. I will check their rates. Virginia

I thought that the 18% gratuity is included in the cost of the drink, even in the excess cost.

Didn't the promo specify "non-refundable"? Could you not have gotten insurance to cover you for non-refundable deposits? Was your booking after the final payment date? I am curious since I realize that the rules are different as they apply to non-U.S. citizens. so please excuse my ignorance.

It seems that the HIA announcements for some cruises take longer to appear. It just appeared for our HAL special on a VOV cruise for this summer about two weeks after we booked it, which, BTW, was after final payment. Call your PCC or TA. You may need to go through your agent, as is necessary when adding CPP after initial booking. At least, that was what was told to me when I called HAL to find out the cost of the CPP for another cruise.

Who is the insurance carrier, pls?

I don't think that naming insurance companies is against CC policy and, if not, it would be most helpful for posters who like their annual insurance to name the company so that the rest of us can benefit I also have a recommendation for a company, which includes both med evac and medical, GeoBlue, but it covers only non-U.S. travel. The prices are very reasonable, and they have, I believe, an A+ rating.

Thank you for clarifying this. When we took the 2018 Grand Asia, HAL paid for the shipping but it was picked up, stored, delivered to and retrieved from the ship by FedEx. HAL has apparently switched to LF. Good info for use when sailing long cruises R/T from the U.S.

I am confused about the various luggage services. Is LF the service that HAL provides for early, bookings; or is the expense solely that of the cruiser? If the latter, I thought that it was available only with service to certain cities and was only for disembarkation purposes. No?

I purchased HIA on a casino cruise, on line, having already purchased excursions. HAL credited my account with the costs of the excursions.