Kate45

We just did this. Orig8nally booked advantage fare without HAL pkg cause the other couple that are going with us thought it was way too expensive. Last month they decided they wanted the signature beverage pkg. As a Cdn the price was over $700 ea. So....we ended up booking the HIA pkg which was $625 Cdn$ ea. Even with this, it worked out cheaper than booking the cruise originally including the HIA. Long story short, yes you can book the HIA later, but not right up to final payment date. We were told we could do it until April 21. Our cruise goes early September

You are right. I did do the math. Didn't type the right number. Ooopps

I'd also be interested in this but at the beginning of our cruise- pick up at airport, tour and drop-off at cruise terminal.

Thanks everyone. I ended up phoning the shore excursion number and a very nice person booked the shore excursion we wanted using our HIA credit for both cabins. I had the other couples booking number and birthdays to confirm who they were and all went well. A confirmation email for both bookings was immediately sent to me. Now if I could only book the 2 dinners we get with the HIA, I could put everything away and eagerly await our first cruise since covid! Thanks again

I just had a similar but different experience with credit cards and HAL. Asked TA to book signature beverage pkg for our Canada new England cruise in September BUT OnLY if the price was in CDN$. TA said rep at HAL when she called said yes...CDN$. But it was billed in US$. We were billed over $700 ea. Told TA we could book the HIA pkg for $625 and cancel it. Our credit card, a MC actually refunded more than we paid. My sister VS refunded almost $75 less than they paid. Both were purchased and refunded on the same days, one day apart. Figure that one out!

Thanks for the replies. I'm looking at an excursion for $65. Assuming that is in US$ it will cost us a little over $100 Cdn$. Since the HIA pkg is for $100 per excursion, is that in US$ or will they charge me the few extra dollars for the exchange difference? Will this go on my account or will I have to pay the extra couple of bucks on a cc? Does HAL have a shore excursion line I can call? I'm booking for 4 people in two separate cabins. Might be easier that way. Thanks

I'm trying to book 2 shore excursions using my HIA credit. I can see the excursion I want but when I look at it to book, it says that the time is sold out. Why is it even there then? There are no other times listed. Will I be able to book this on-board? Will there be other options either beforehand or on-board? We are 5 months out of out 9f our Canada New England cruise and there is not much left to use our credit for. Are these prices I see on the HaL shore excursion in US $ or Cdn$. I'm also interested in booking the 2 specialty dining nites we get with the HIA pkg. It wont let me do that either. Yet it says we can. What the heck is Holland America doing? What are the chances of us getting our preferred time and dates if we wait until on-board. I'm getting so frustrated with all the hiccups we've had with booking this cruise. Is HAL having problems? Seems like their customer service is not what I remember from our past experiences. And their website definitely isn't.. please someone, help me thru this!,,l

Oh. So the bags go with us on the bus for the city tour? It probably doesn't matter now as I checked the shore excursions availability for this tour that drops at airport after I posted the question, and it isn't available anymore

We are booking the HIA pkg today for our zaandam cruise in September. Question is....how long does it take to be activated on our account? In other words, how long do we wait before we can book the 2 shore excursions (value $100 ea/per excursion)? Also, we end in Boston. Can we book the city tour with airport drop-off thru this perk? And, how does that work when you get dropped at the airport? Is your luggage sent ahead, do you take it with you on the city tour bus? We did this once on a Princess cruise 20 years ago and we didn't see our luggage until we arrived to Toronto. Thanks

My TA has been trying for 2 days to book the signature beverage pkg for us. Gets the same message...."due to heavy volume of calls "etc. Really? Something is going on there. Is a little worrisome. Not good as customer service should be most important service any business provides.

This is for my fellow Canadians. So from what I've been told by my TA, if you prepay gratuities it is in Cdn $$. Is the HIA also in Cdn $$? And does it include the 18% gratuities? My TA didn't know the answer to that. We are on a port intensive cruise from montrea to Boston with most of the days in canadian ports. Wondering if the HIA pkg is even worth it as we can just go ashore, get a drink or two and pay in cdn $$. Thoughts?

So if I go into travel planning and prepay gratuities, it will tell me exactly how much it is in Canadian $$ and the exchange rate? Is that added onto my final payment or do I have to pay it now? If it's added on, is it locked in like flights or can it go up if God forbid, the Cdn $$ loses even more value!

If you purchase any drink pkg or bucket of beer in advance, does this include the 18% gratuities. Also as a Canadian, when I look at "alreadybooked" for my upcoming cruise, will the packages the gifts etc be priced in Cdn $$? I looked everywhere for his info ... am interested in preparing gratuities because I was told by travel agent that if you pre-purchase its in Cdn $, otherwise Us$.

Sorry, I'm having issues posting another question... me or cruise critic, I don't know. Anyway, why can't I go and check flights for my cruise on HAL now that I have booked them? I thought I could cancel and rebook them until final payment, yet it will not let me even look at pricing today (it's not just today, it's been everyday since I booked them). I thought one of the benefits of flight ease was that you could rebook if you found a cheaper price.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday to all..... a few questions please. I booked our flight ease on Friday for our upcoming Sept 3 cruise on Zaandam. After a 45 minute conversation, they were done and I received a confirmation email. However, the Travel agent Information in the top right corner is wrong. They have the wrong consultant name and the wrong location of agency. The info is from our last cruise in 2019. We dealt with the same agency th3n but a different location and consultant (specifically because the consultant screwed up so many things, we had to cancel and fight with the cruiseline together our deposit refunded - I worked hard but I got it refunded.....will never,ever bookthere agin). Anyway, do I have to phone HAL back to get this corrected? Remember, it's the same company, just a different location. 2. What are the big differences I will notice between the Zaandam and the Zuiderdam and Westerdam our other cruiseswith HAL? I'm a little worried about the small size. Should I be? Thanks

Happy Super Bowl Sunday to all..... a few questions please. I booked our flight ease on Friday for our upcoming Sept 3 cruise on Zaandam. After a 45 minute conversation, they were done and I received a confirmation email. However, the Travel agent Information in the top right corner is wrong. They have the wrong consultant name and the wrong location of agency. The info is from our last cruise in 2019. We dealt with the same agency th3n but a different location and consultant (specifically because the consultant screwed up so many things, we had to cancel and fight with the cruiseline together our deposit refunded - I worked hard but I got it refunded.....will never,ever bookthere agin). Anyway, do I have to phone HAL back to get this corrected? Remember, it's the same company, just a different location. 2. What are the big differences I will notice between the Zaandam and the Zuiderdam and Westerdam our other cruiseswith HAL? I'm a little worried about the small size. Should I be? Thanks

Won't use Uber only a taxis. Surely they have larger vehicles that can hold 4 and their luggage. Willing to pay more and wait longer for say, an SUV. It's cheaper for us to split up and take 2 cabs than pay what HAL wants for a taxi. As far a the prepaid beverage card, if I purchase now, I'm assuming it will be refunded if we cancel. Can you purchase these right up to departure? Is it actually a card? How do you get it- in your cabin when you get there or given at check-in maybe Bear with me people. Not ne to cruising, but relatively new to HAL.

Thank you everyone! Look for me to ask more questions as we get closer to our sailing. I'm so excited....can't wait until September

Going on the Zaandam in September. Haven't cruise on HAL since before covid (haven't been anywhere since before covid). A few questions: how much is a cab from Boston cruiseport to Logan Airport? HAL transfers seem pricey and since there are 4 of us, I can't help but think it's gotta be cheaper. Also, how much is a coors lite on board? We are contemplating the signature beverage pkg but it is a port intensive itinerary so thinking we won't get our $$ worth. We are also Canadian so add at least 35% exchange onto everything we do on board. Is the Cafe free. If I remember correctly, the pastries are but the coffees are not. Can we bring an empty plastic waterbottle onboard? I have read what seems to be conflicting answers about this. i find this site so helpful so i hope you dont get sick of me asking questions cause i know I'll be back with more. Thanks.

Why doesn't Celebrity have a customer service number for changes or discrepancies? I think it's ridiculous that I call a general number as if I am making a reservation or pricing a cruise, when I don't need that. And why am I getting disconnected after 2 hours of holding?

Have a bit of a problem with Celebrity right now. Have been trying to get it settled since May 11. I've been calling almost daily since then. Today called at 8 am. Got thru after 2 hrs and she hung up on me. Tried again. After 2hrs, call was disconnected. Does anyone have a direct line or email to customer service? I'm thinking my phone number has been red flagged or something. No cruising with Celebrity anymore unless this get resolved soon!