DaveOKC

It depends on your airline. Also, if you are traveling first class sometimes they let you check in early

NO - you can switch to any machine as often as you like. The only restriction is that once you take $X out of a machine (it can be small amount like $5) from the promotional funds, you have to play that amount at least once through the machine. Whatever you do, DO NOT TAKE THE ENTIRE $750 out of the promotional funds all at once as then you have to play it all through the machine at least once. If you are not sure how this works, talk to a casino host before you start playing.

kazu - when you sit down on the machine you have the option to use Promotional Funds. Select this as its the freeplay. Now, if you want to use up your freeplay, you use part of your promotional funds (lets say $20), run it through the machine one time and then cash out the "winnings" (it goes to your main account). Now, move onto another machine and start over the process, or stay on the first machine and take more money from your promotional account and do the same process. Otherwise after the freeplay is run through once, the machine will start using your "winnings". Make sense??

Whenever I select my cabin, I mark the reservation DO NOT UPGRADE. I still get upsell offers (last cruise had two, one the night prior to sailing and took both).

NOTE that no regular coffee pods. We found the same on Eurodam a month ago. Also have had this problem on other ships.

Been in Neptunes since they started the Thermal Spa and never had a free pass. Once you get to 5 Star you do get one free day there though. We usually go on a port day as often we are the only ones in there.

Answer - it depends! The fuller the ship is booked, the less likely for free upgrades (IMO). Also, you are more likely to get an upgrade if you book a lower level cabin than if you booked a higher level one (such as a suite). HAL tries to "upsell" people to the higher level cabins first, before giving them away. Of course, this can result in lower level cabins not being full, so it helps free upgrades in those.

Not a solo traveler, but we dine at Open seating and enjoy tables for 6 the best. Very often we are joined by one or two solos and have always enjoyed their company, so go for it!

I am an ex-grocer and do not think that HAL uses Prime beef. My guess is Choice.

Yes you can - I do this when I have excess OBC.

I never have had a problem using my HIA dining credit as it registers it when you book prior to sailing. However, when using a 5 Star free meal, they often mess up and try to charge me 50% off only.

I just had a situation in Fort Lauderdale. The people at the pier checkin were not able to help, so I had to wait until I boarded and go RIGHT TO the service/front desk were they fixed things up. There will be a line, so go ASAP.

And when you book a Signature very often you will get an upsell offer to a Neptune for a reasonable price. This happens sometimes even on sold out Neptune cruises. Ours was sold out for Neptunes three months prior to sailing, but we still received a great upsell offer (and took it) the night prior to sailing. Cost was only $25 per person per day.

They use either the phone app or your cabin key to verify when you board the excursion - quick and easy. Just be sure you know where and when you are meeting up with the tour.

Just call hotel when you have your bags and they will send a shuttle. The sign on the van was a bit small to see. Be sure you get the correct one, as there is another one that goes to the Hyatt Place in Dania Beach.

That Hyatt Place now uses a service for shuttling to and from airport. We paid $9 each last month. Had to wait about 15 minutes.

i disagree. Assuming that your TA has made lots of money on you in the past and likely will again on future bookings, I think it is very shortsighted of them to not handle this booking, even if they are not making money on this transaction. If they are this greedy, I wonder what else they are shorting you on???

Yes. It was on the Eurodam last month.

Time for a new TA in my opinion. Never had an issue with booking through a HAL PCC.

OK - now I am getting a reduced price on my FREE cabin. Yesterday it was $1014, today $601 (pp) plus tax and fees. Even stranger is if I want to add HIA it comes out to only $45 per day?? Makes no sense to me.

We had Club Orange on the Volendam (sister ship) recently (it was included as part of being in Neptune). The only benefit I could see with it is priority boarding and tenders (which Neptunes get anyway). At the Excursions desk they had hidden the Priority Service sign for Club Orange until I asked about it! In the main dining room they did not have out the special menus for CLub Orange. And the bag we got was the old cloth one! Unless you are using it for a cabin upgrade - not worth the money IMO.

Neptunes get CO included, so no worry there. Plus Neptunes get VIP (early) boarding and tenders, plus free laundry and a few other perks. Plus of course access to the Neptune Lounge and the concierges there who can do about everything for you (even get your airline boarding passes, specialty dining reservations and problem solving. HIA packages can vary a bit, but generally you get $$$ for shore excursions, 1-3 specialty dinners (depends on the length of cruise), free wifi, and of course drinks. One nice thing about this and being in a Neptune is that you can get free drinks from the Neptune lounge (just sign a slip as its an honor bar) - very quick, convenient. Neptunes with HIA makes for a nice cruise!

If you read some of the other posts on here about gambling on HAL, you will note that it is a point based system. One point for every $2 you bet on slots, one for every $5 on video poker, and an unknown formula for table games. People have reported that you have to earn around 500 points per day to get considered for a free cabin, but I think that this really depends on how full the ship is (why give away cabins if someone is willing to pay? Personally, I think you should play for the entertainment value of it and if you get offered something in return, all the better, Never chase "comps" such as free cabins as in the end it is usually a losing deal.

Has anyone who just received this same offer today tried to book it online? I used to be able to see the offer online when logged into my account, but not this time. I liked that as it told me what I would have to pay to upgrade to a higher level cabin.

It all depends on your play. The casino tracks that closely and rates you for different levels of deals.