TiogaCruiser

I’ve used them also and been pleased. Once when I booked the guy taking the booking told me that they weren’t TAs but a booking portal for members. (No, I didn’t ask for any special service- just called the order in.)

I’ve yet to see one that is less than a very large (man’s).🫤

So these cruises are similar to casino comps, or do the “buyers” pay for the cruise? I had no idea these types of cruises existed- only that there were “events” onboard for anyone to attend and get fleeced.

Maybe, maybe not. HAL has its own private forum that several CC posters haunt (some even using the same screen name) also. Topics and discussions are identical to similar CC, but HAL knows who is who. On the other hand, some 10 years ago a poster came on CC HAL board and asked a question concerning a family member set to cruise with them who had limited capacities, and within a few hours they had received an email from HAL addressing their concerns and what would/could happen if that person had an issue on a ship.

Thanks for this. guessing it’s a coincidence but I turned it off for our LAN, and so far i haven’t gotten the “wrong PW” and other assorted errors that iOS Mail has been throwing when it tries to retrieve Outlook mail. This has been going on for a couple of months. It throws the error typically 4 times then delivers my mail (with me simply closing the Alert). And the crazier thing is I’m now running around the community on 5g and so far, it’s stopped that nonsense. Probably a coincidence?? Thoughts?

Exactly. And that’s why there have been threads keeping up ( or trying to) with the large group bookings.

Barong: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barong_tagalog The barong tagalog, more commonly known simply as barong (and occasionally baro), is an embroideredlong-sleeved formal shirt for men and a national dress of the Philippines. Barong tagalog combines elements from both the precolonial native Filipinoand colonial Spanish clothing styles. It is traditionally made with sheer textiles (nipis) woven from piña or abacá; although in modern times, cheaper materials like organza silk, ramie or polyester are also used.

Barong?

Most of the upgrade offers I have received have been rack rate or more than I paid- for the first round. When subsequent offers have come, they have decreased until either I accepted or they stopped ( probably someone else accepted.)

Same here. It’s good you realized your experience wouldn’t meet your expectations and you can instead stick with what you like and enjoy your vacation.

Welcome to Cruise Critic. It’s good you researched and didn’t just assume things are the same on HAL as they are on other lines. Each line is different. Hopefully you have chosen a different cabin to your liking, and you will enjoy some of the other things that make HAL special.

I too would recommend asking your TA or HAL for the best way to do this. Perhaps move one of the guys first ( trade) then cancel you ladies. Whose name are the reservations under? HAL platinum doesn’t cover the increase in fare for a single. So it will be interesting to see what the best way is/ what they are willing to offer

They have AEDs

While I can’t say for sure, there was one very prominent member here with many, many cruises under his/her belt that made several comments (some 10+ years ago) that made it sound like they had “earned” it yet were not invited. This was before the PC was as widely known and before the star system.

June 15th? Is it with Inspiration Cruises on Kingkongdam? The website says the group is sold out. https://www.inspirationtravel.com/event/pathway-to-victory-alaska-2024 You might want to be proactive and get assigned dining if that will matter to you.

I think the reason for few recent threads is Pause shut down so much, and summer is coming now, so group cruises are picking up. The last time I remember regular threads about big groups was before Covid. The cruise I referenced that my friends went on was (I believe) July 2018. It was the previous season that someone posted about a very large group booking over half the ship and getting dining together, so they could have a speaker, and the showroom reserved for their productions. Non-attendees got to dine elsewhere and one show. Way back in 2013 I was on Veendam to Antarctica and a large (~300) LDS travel group had booked with their own speakers. They did have the Showroom booked privately a couple times a day, but I saw no impact with that. We still had the full complement of Antarctica programs. (The only impact on me was their speaker was given leadership of the “interdenominational service” on Sunday, so I attended mass with my catholic Christian brothers and sisters.)

Turning Point has a radio ministry (Dr. David Jeremiah) also. I mentioned this to my husband last night and he said he heard the ads that said they were close to their 900 reservations being booked. Inspiration Cruises is the travel agency that books for many of the large Christian groups. Several years ago my friends booked an Alaska cruise tour (4 days on ship) on NA at the same time IC was doing Insight for Living onboard. I warned my friends (because there was a thread at the time about the disruptions caused by large groups.) On returning they said they had never been impacted or were aware that the group was there…..🤔 (which I found hard to believe- I suspect they stayed in their balcony most of the time- because they reported the ship only went to 1 glacier at GB (?!?) and one of them who likes to explore and draw couldn’t find her way back to the promenade deck 🫤.) snip “They will talk only to each other and stare straight ahead if they pass anyone who is not part of their group. ” I would hope not.

Snip “? Or maybe the group is so large and they all want to eat at 8PM, that it totally fills the upper dining room so they are going to use part of the lower dining room for the group as fixed time seating?” Thats the way I read it

Isn’t this Volendam leaving the locks?

It looks like your current cruise DID get sold as 3rd and 4th sail free.

It looks like your Volendam cruise is not on that special. Is this it?

Just recently HAL began offering many cruises with this “special”. Kingkongdam had many- also lots of Alaskas. So it’s likely/possible yours was one of them. Having purchased so long ago there wouldn’t be a reason to see the recent ads.

Is your cruise on of the many that were sold as “free 3rd and 4th guests sail free”?

👍

Personally I’m a dog person to the core, but I would fully support a Federals law requiring Service Dogs to be officially certified. That should make it harder for cheaters. Unlike many on this thread, and for the person several pages back who voiced concerns that HAL is known for lots of dogs, I’ve never seen any dogs on the sailings I’ve been on. So I really wonder just how common they are. I do occasionally take my pooch to public places that allow pets, for socialization. We have several businesses, such as Home Depot and some restaurants where pets are welcome. I would never try to pass him off as a service dog. (However, HE does demand service, and acts like we’re his butler and/or valet.)