Has anyone ever had their reserved HAL cruise chartered?

[earl_m]

Its been charter for 7 days , what going to happen to the other 7 days.

I Booked this cruise because it was 14 days , I would prefer 14 days. will I Have a choice,.

[vbmom87]

Its been charter for 7 days , what going to happen to the other 7 days.

I Booked this cruise because it was 14 days , I would prefer 14 days. will I Have a choice,.

 

If you want the 14 day cruise, I would look into transferring your reservation if at all possible to another date.

[BlackJack2]

FYI - We were looking at the 14-Day Alaskan Explorer Cruise on the Amsterdam. Asked about the July 13th sailing and we were told that it was sold out. Asked about the June 29th or the July 27th dates and was told that the July 27th had a big group booked.

[Krazy Kruizers]

FYI - We were looking at the 14-Day Alaskan Explorer Cruise on the Amsterdam. Asked about the July 13th sailing and we were told that it was sold out. Asked about the June 29th or the July 27th dates and was told that the July 27th had a big group booked.

 

Interesting -- wonder what group will be on that cruise?

[Watson's aunt]

Hi

 

I went to this site. No Bar, No gambling, no entertainment but there's. its a 7 day cruise diffent than 14 day. Have you gone to this site> wow look at what they are charging people. I tried to link it but can't do it. Also 285. for tip/service charge. Also they are charging a lot for children. I don't have any but I did not notice it. I this this week July13-20 is completly sold out. I think they might have booked the second week but not fillled it. I will see if I can link it

 

 

Mary

[Watson's aunt]

wow they have booked more tours so hopping link works

[Watson's aunt]

http://www.templetontours.com/index.shtml

[Krazy Kruizers]

http://www.templetontours.com/index.shtml

 

I posted the link way back on the 10th for everyone to see.

 

[karatemom2]

And thanks again Krazy Kruizers for posting the link. I sent it to my TA this morning so she can refer to it if the representatives at HAL attempt to deny that the ship has been chartered. I am not going to sit around for weeks or months and wait on HAL to decide they are ready to send out the notice. Guess they got caught on this one and I am glad that someone at HAL let the cat out of the bag early so all of us who are affected can start to make alternative plans. I can't believe they would just sit back and let people purchase airfare and book excursions while they know the cruise is being cancelled. Not very customer friendly.

 

But, I am sold on this itinerary and am willing to try to move to another date if HAL will show a little cooperation at this point, however, my patience is wearing thin. As much as I would love to visit these great ports, I will take my cruise dollars back to Princess if HAL won't start being honest and helping those of us who need to make new plans now.

[Boytjie]

Won't HAL lose a lot of money from bar revenue?:)

 

Casino losses too. Minibar sales may be higher though ;)

 

I am sure that is factored into the charter price. From what I remember, our charter of the Amsterdam in Alaska a few year ago was a lot less expensive that this one.

[Boytjie]

You have hit the nail on the head! After having sailed HAL five times, in the early winter of 2008, we booked a cruise for February in 2009 on what was then HAL's brand new Eurodam. We posted early on the roll call boards here on Cruise Critic and someone mentioned that the ship was about to be sold out to a group of cruisers with an "alternative life style." We called HAL several times and they denied that it was happening. Our travel agent called several times and again HAL was in denial. HAL finally admitted in April of 2008 that indeed the rest of the ship had been bought out by a group of gay and lesbian cruisers. I believe firmly in civil rights and have no problem with that. BUT we had no desire to be among the few straight folks on the ship. I am still to this day very angry with HAL for not coming forward. We were offered nothing in the way of compensation for our cancellation and have sailed five times on other lines since then.

 

My wife has pleaded with me to get over it and we have booked a cruise on the Noordam for January of next year. We do enjoy the HAL product and ambience of its ships. However, I still have a very sour taste in my mouth due to the way we were treated over three years ago.

 

I wonder which group that could have been? RSVP chartered the Eurodam in February 2009 but we were already able to book it while on the Zuiderdam in February 2008. RSVP charters are usually contracted about a year in advance and RSVP takes over the whole ship, there are no bookings made through the cruise line and any existing bookings prior to the contact signing are canceled and offers made to rebook.

[Boytjie]

Just because a charter is advertised doesn't mean the group will meet its quota. In the meantime the cruise line will continue to take reservations. It's just business, not a personal attack on you.

 

Roz

 

The charter's quota is the whole ship; once the contract with HAL is signed, it is up to the charter company to sell as many cabins as they can. They can always run a loss on a charter but HAL still gets its money.

[karatemom2]

FYI - We were looking at the 14-Day Alaskan Explorer Cruise on the Amsterdam. Asked about the July 13th sailing and we were told that it was sold out. Asked about the June 29th or the July 27th dates and was told that the July 27th had a big group booked.

 

Can you share any more information about the big group that is booked on the July 27th date? Where did you find out about this? If we end up moving to a new date I would love to have more info about this before I make a final decision. Thanks!

[vbmom87]

Casino losses too. Minibar sales may be higher though ;)

 

I am sure that is factored into the charter price. From what I remember, our charter of the Amsterdam in Alaska a few year ago was a lot less expensive that this one.

 

The prices were higher for the charter last year than what I paid. Enough to compensate for lost revenue on drinks. Not so sure about casino, as I don't s spend money there and have no idea how much the cruise line makes in the casino.

[tip]

I wonder which group that could have been? RSVP chartered the Eurodam in February 2009 but we were already able to book it while on the Zuiderdam in February 2008. RSVP charters are usually contracted about a year in advance and RSVP takes over the whole ship, there are no bookings made through the cruise line and any existing bookings prior to the contact signing are canceled and offers made to rebook.

 

We booked in January of 2008 for this cruise and as I recall it was an "RSVP" group that did eventually get the charter. I have no problem at all with the fact that it was chartered by RSVP. My problem at the time was that HAL would not confirm the charter until late April of 2008. That is when we cancelled and went with RCCL's Independence of the Seas for the February, 2009 cruise in question.

[djwho]

Just got back and read my TA's email... HAL is still denying they chartered the cruise..... Obviously they aren't interested in the business of the existing people who booked to see if alternative sailing would work....

[vbmom87]

Just got back and read my TA's email... HAL is still denying they chartered the cruise..... Obviously they aren't interested in the business of the existing people who booked to see if alternative sailing would work....

 

Your TA needs to speak with someone higher up. Someone has to know what is going on.

[karatemom2]

My TA had the same response - "we are not aware of any charter for that date... blah, blah, blah..." But knowing she might get the runaround I emailed her a link to the website. When the HAL rep denied there was a charter, my TA told she had the website for the charter and offered to email her the link. Well that seemed to resonate, because then my TA was placed on hold and when the HAL rep returned she acknowledged that the cruise was chartered and they were working on the move over notifications and they would be going out "soon" (whatever that means!)

 

The thing that burns me up at this point is not even that HAL chartered our sailing. I'm over that. Hey, I get that business is business and it must be good for their bottom line.

 

But what I will never understand is why they can't treat their booked passengers for that sailing with more courtesy. We and our Travel Agents should have been notified and given options BEFORE the sailing was closed and BEFORE the website for the charter was up and taking reservations. I seriously do not think that is too much to expect.

[vbmom87]

My TA had the same response - "we are not aware of any charter for that date... blah, blah, blah..." But knowing she might get the runaround I emailed her a link to the website. When the HAL rep denied there was a charter, my TA told she had the website for the charter and offered to email her the link. Well that seemed to resonate, because then my TA was placed on hold and when the HAL rep returned she acknowledged that the cruise was chartered and they were working on the move over notifications and they would be going out "soon" (whatever that means!)

 

The thing that burns me up at this point is not even that HAL chartered our sailing. I'm over that. Hey, I get that business is business and it must be good for their bottom line.

 

But what I will never understand is why they can't treat their booked passengers for that sailing with more courtesy. We and our Travel Agents should have been notified and given options BEFORE the sailing was closed and BEFORE the website for the charter was up and taking reservations. I seriously do not think that is too much to expect.

 

I am totally taking a guess here, but is it possible that HAL (and the other cruiselines for that matter) give the charter groups "X" number of days to book a certain number of passengers. Then, if they don't book that number, the charter can be cancelled?

[karatemom2]

I am totally taking a guess here, but is it possible that HAL (and the other cruiselines for that matter) give the charter groups "X" number of days to book a certain number of passengers. Then, if they don't book that number, the charter can be cancelled?

 

Believe me I have thought of that and it makes me even madder if that is true! Because basically they are holding on to the booked passengers (and our deposits) as "insurance" in case the charter doesn't work out. All the while people are booking air, making plans to get off work certain dates, booking excursions...only to have the rug pulled out at an even less opportune date when they have put more money and planning into a cruise that isn't even going to happen. If that is the case, then shame on HAL!

[vbmom87]

Believe me I have thought of that and it makes me even madder if that is true! Because basically they are holding on to the booked passengers (and our deposits) as "insurance" in case the charter doesn't work out. All the while people are booking air, making plans to get off work certain dates, booking excursions...only to have the rug pulled out at an even less opportune date when they have put more money and planning into a cruise that isn't even going to happen. If that is the case, then shame on HAL!

 

I, agree, but I think that if HAL does it, so do the other cruise lines. I don't consider it right, and I would be so disappointed if something like this happened to me.

 

When I first started learning about charters, I realized it was a good idea to book later than earlier. So far I have been lucky, but it would be a big disappointment to have a cruise you so carefully booked, be taken away.

 

I hope you can find a cruise that works out for you and enjoy it!!! I was on the 14 day Amsterdam in August and it was a very special itinerary. However, next year it is no longer sailing to the east of Vancouver Island which I think is a big loss to this itinerary. (unless HAL changes their mind)

[dazee8]

My TA had the same response - "we are not aware of any charter for that date... blah, blah, blah..." But knowing she might get the runaround I emailed her a link to the website. When the HAL rep denied there was a charter, my TA told she had the website for the charter and offered to email her the link. Well that seemed to resonate, because then my TA was placed on hold and when the HAL rep returned she acknowledged that the cruise was chartered and they were working on the move over notifications and they would be going out "soon" (whatever that means!)

 

The thing that burns me up at this point is not even that HAL chartered our sailing. I'm over that. Hey, I get that business is business and it must be good for their bottom line.

 

But what I will never understand is why they can't treat their booked passengers for that sailing with more courtesy. We and our Travel Agents should have been notified and given options BEFORE the sailing was closed and BEFORE the website for the charter was up and taking reservations. I seriously do not think that is too much to expect.

 

Yes, I agree. 100%. Help me to help you.

[Boytjie]

I am totally taking a guess here, but is it possible that HAL (and the other cruiselines for that matter) give the charter groups "X" number of days to book a certain number of passengers. Then, if they don't book that number, the charter can be cancelled?

 

That's not the way it works, as far as I know. The charter company signs a contract to charter the cruise and from that point on it is their responsibility to sell it and the cruise line cancels existing bookings and no longer are involved in booking that cruise. If cabins don't sell well, the charter company takes the hit - the cruise line gets the money for the full charter no matter what.

 

Therefor charters are usually contracted a long time in advance (RSVP usually does it a year out) as they need to promote and sell it.

[lovetocruise2020]

My question is... what are you expecting for compensation?

 

Will all others who were booked receive the same?

 

I am expecting to be notified formally from HAL instead of the repeated denial

I am expecting an apology for wasting 3 of my months working out details for such a large group and all of the group events.

I am expecting something for my trouble, and why would they not do the same for everyone? That is not for me to decide. What I do know, is that it was alot of effort, back and forth, details, pricing, etc etc. We had an event planned for every day. A group of 60 is alot of work, much different than if I just booked a cruise for myself.

[Copper10-8]

I wonder which group that could have been? RSVP chartered the Eurodam in February 2009 but we were already able to book it while on the Zuiderdam in February 2008. RSVP charters are usually contracted about a year in advance and RSVP takes over the whole ship, there are no bookings made through the cruise line and any existing bookings prior to the contact signing are canceled and offers made to rebook.

 

Word has it those particular charters are a blast!;)