HAL Bait & Switch!

[crusinbanjo]

Mrs Banjo & I are looking to cruise the Norway Fjords next summer. Doing our regular searches and always looking at the small ships and HAL first. Yesterday I get a brochure in the mail showing an IT that we are considering and quoting a Suite price normally of $10699.00 per person at $5999.00 per person. Noting that the "regular" price is the price for Deluxe suites, (what we would normally book), I called HAL right away, but I was told that the $5999.00 was the price for a Superior Suite, not what I thought from the brochure details.

 

Well with all due respect to HAL, and I hope the execs are reading this, the superior suites were NEVER priced at $10699.00 p/p... ... so IMHO the brochure is pure Bait & Switch.

 

HAL lost us to Silversea on our last cruise because of the B/S, ended up SS cost less than HAL for similar IT''s. Looks like they will likely loose us again. Sad!:mad:

[RMLincoln]

Mrs Banjo & I are looking to cruise the Norway Fjords next summer. Doing our regular searches and always looking at the small ships and HAL first. Yesterday I get a brochure in the mail showing an IT that we are considering and quoting a Suite price normally of $10699.00 per person at $5999.00 per person. Noting that the "regular" price is the price for Deluxe suites, (what we would normally book), I called HAL right away, but I was told that the $5999.00 was the price for a Superior Suite, not what I thought from the brochure details.

 

Well with all due respect to HAL, and I hope the execs are reading this, the superior suites were NEVER priced at $10699.00 p/p... ... so IMHO the brochure is pure Bait & Switch.

 

HAL lost us to Silversea on our last cruise because of the B/S, ended up SS cost less than HAL for similar IT''s. Looks like they will likely loose us again. Sad!:mad:

 

Interesting observation, and I agree that HAL should be honest about their information, but I never pay any attention to the Brochure Rates, it's like Manufacturers Suggfested Retail Price, that nobody pays. :rolleyes:

[Krazy Kruizers]

Several people have mentioned this in the past.

 

HAL unfortunately will continue to advertise like that.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Well first off it is not Bait and Switch because the Balcony cabins on the S and R class ships are called Verandah SUITES. Then on the Vista and Signature Class they are called Superior Verandah Suites. When you book these you receive double days credit for Mariner Society. You also have a telephone concierge. They are advertising the price as the entry level SUITES. You are just wanting the higher level Suites which do cost more money. As far as I can see HAL did absolutely nothing wrong with their advertising. Should they rename their Verandah SUITES or Superior Verandah Suites??? Maybe but since they are offering a Telephone Concierge and double days in credit ....I doubt that is going to happen.

 

Actually you state they are never priced at this but in fact they are, it is just that HAL offers so many promotions like other cruise lines you only really see the lowest price. Basically the cruise industry is like the Auto sales, there is always a sale and hardly anyone every pays MSRP.

 

If you think HAL is wrong in their advertising you should check out Regent, Crystal and Silverseas and all of their "Two for One" pricing from their original "Brochure" rates :rolleyes:

[jkrislc]

I love the fiction of the HAL advertisements that I receive. Almost every time, they advertise a special rate that is always higher than what I paid prior to the so-called sail. I did call once prior to our Alaska cruise because they advertised a free precruise hotel stay, but then they said it wasn't available for triples. I thought this was strange since hotels don't usually charge extra for a 4 year old.

[Winters in NZ]

Well first off it is not Bait and Switch because the Balcony cabins on the S and R class ships are called Verandah SUITES. Then on the Vista and Signature Class they are called Superior Verandah Suites. When you book these you receive double days credit for Mariner Society. You also have a telephone concierge. They are advertising the price as the entry level SUITES. You are just wanting the higher level Suites which do cost more money. As far as I can see HAL did absolutely nothing wrong with their advertising. Should they rename their Verandah SUITES or Superior Verandah Suites??? Maybe but since they are offering a Telephone Concierge and double days in credit ....I doubt that is going to happen.

 

Actually you state they are never priced at this but in fact they are, it is just that HAL offers so many promotions like other cruise lines you only really see the lowest price. Basically the cruise industry is like the Auto sales, there is always a sale and hardly anyone every pays MSRP.

 

If you think HAL is wrong in their advertising you should check out Regent, Crystal and Silverseas and all of their "Two for One" pricing from their original "Brochure" rates :rolleyes:

Wow ! This is an excellent , well thought-out rebutall which presents some valid information. Good one !

[tcook052]

Well first off it is not Bait and Switch because the Balcony cabins on the S and R class ships are called Verandah SUITES. Then on the Vista and Signature Class they are called Superior Verandah Suites. When you book these you receive double days credit for Mariner Society. You also have a telephone concierge. They are advertising the price as the entry level SUITES. You are just wanting the higher level Suites which do cost more money. As far as I can see HAL did absolutely nothing wrong with their advertising. Should they rename their Verandah SUITES or Superior Verandah Suites??? Maybe but since they are offering a Telephone Concierge and double days in credit ....I doubt that is going to happen.

 

Agree. "Bait & Switch" is incorrectly used in this case as HAL isn't offering something that isn't available, the bait, while pushing you to book a more expensive product, the switch. Call it creative advertising but please don't call it a scam as many jurisdictions have legislation against the tactic and every once in a while prosecute the egregious offenders.

[Randyk47]

I guess I'm just old and a bit cynical but I take most cruise line advertisement with a grain of salt. For instance on our upcoming cruise Silversea advertised "free" air. OK sounds good particularly for a Med cruise where air fare is a prime consideration. Turned out we decided to book our own travel using our miles so we could fly first/business class. Since Silversea had already provided us with our flight schedule for their "free" flights we called to cancel those arrangements. In doing that we all of a sudden got a $1,000 per person credit....the "free" air was actually not so free, the cost was just buried in the basic fare.

[kelleherdl]

We just booked an Oceania Western Caribbean cruise for 2013 to go with a group of friends.

 

'2 for 1', 'free airfare'... whole bit....

 

'Free airfare' was countered with a refund of $400 pp when I said we would use miles. '2 for 1' is just the standard 50% of brochure... And additional $1000.00 pp special bonus discount, whatever that was...

 

I must admit we were confused by all these advertising tactics when we first started cruising, not anymore.

 

Dennis

[Viesczy]

Even the luxury lines were doing that when pimping their 2 for 1 deals, saying that they had a SPECIAL that for a limited time 2 could go for the price of one... yeah for the inflated brochure price that NO ONE every pays! Silversea, Crystal and Cunard are recent offenders. What a great ploy, you know 2 for 1 of our pulled outta our fanny "price"!

 

Derek

[Spender Nui]

Well first off it is not Bait and Switch because the Balcony cabins on the S and R class ships are called Verandah SUITES. Then on the Vista and Signature Class they are called Superior Verandah Suites. When you book these you receive double days credit for Mariner Society. You also have a telephone concierge. They are advertising the price as the entry level SUITES. You are just wanting the higher level Suites which do cost more money. As far as I can see HAL did absolutely nothing wrong with their advertising. Should they rename their Verandah SUITES or Superior Verandah Suites??? Maybe but since they are offering a Telephone Concierge and double days in credit ....I doubt that is going to happen.[quote

 

HAL has always been confusing with their VARIETY of what they call suites. Next they'll be listing inside suites. Better they just made it easier to understand.

[tcook052]

HAL has always been confusing with their VARIETY of what they call suites. Next they'll be listing inside suites. Better they just made it easier to understand.

 

Two kinds of suites, as LAFFNVEGAS has pointed out, is confusing? It's not quite 31 flavors...

[English_in_Spain]

I suppose HAL, like all the other cruise lines, can call their cabins whatever they want. BUT we must remember that none of them are actually suites.

 

To be a 'suite' there needs to be more than one 'room'. In other words there needs to be a separate sitting and sleeping area. Not even the Penthouse suite has this on HAL.

 

SUITE DEFINITION

1. a series of items intended to be used together; set

2. a number of connected rooms in a hotel forming one living unit

 

[jtl513]

I suppose HAL, like all the other cruise lines, can call their cabins whatever they want. BUT we must remember that none of them are actually suites.

 

To be a 'suite' there needs to be more than one 'room'. In other words there needs to be a separate sitting and sleeping area. Not even the Penthouse suite has this on HAL.

 

SUITE DEFINITION

1. a series of items intended to be used together; set

2. a number of connected rooms in a hotel forming one living unit

 

Totally agree, and have said so before! They must be using definition #1 - "matching furniture" :D

[meterman2]

Just yesterday we received an a brochure in the mail of a HAL Club 21 Casino VIP cruise in Europe this May. Basically it offered "casino cash" ($800 for me), a welcome reception, free drinks while gambling and "Special Discounted VIP Cruise rates".

 

I've gotten these before and never checked them out because they never caught my interest. This one did and I was curious as to what kind of cabin rate they would offer. I checked the HAL website before calling in the cheapest verandah was $999 pp. Then I called HAL and after giving all of my info, blah, blah, blah they told me my Special VIP Discounted rate was $1099 p.p. Laugh Out Loud!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Just yesterday we received an a brochure in the mail of a HAL Club 21 Casino VIP cruise in Europe this May. Basically it offered "casino cash" ($800 for me), a welcome reception, free drinks while gambling and "Special Discounted VIP Cruise rates".

 

I've gotten these before and never checked them out because they never caught my interest. This one did and I was curious as to what kind of cabin rate they would offer. I checked the HAL website before calling in the cheapest verandah was $999 pp. Then I called HAL and after giving all of my info, blah, blah, blah they told me my Special VIP Discounted rate was $1099 p.p. Laugh Out Loud!

Actually that is not such a bad deal, you would still net $600 with the Casino cash. When Carnival offers these for their High Rollers or offers their Ship Board Credit promotion it is generally $300 PP more to receive $200 per cabin Casino or Ship Board Credit.

 

Crystal Cruises for several Years had the As You Wish Ship Board Credit which ranged from $500 PP to $1000 PP they have taken that away but you guessed it their prices went up right at $500 to $1500 per person but they do offer free drinks and pre paid gratuities now :rolleyes:

[puli]

Well first off it is not Bait and Switch because the Balcony cabins on the S and R class ships are called Verandah SUITES. Then on the Vista and Signature Class they are called Superior Verandah Suites. When you book these you receive double days credit for Mariner Society. You also have a telephone concierge.

 

I am a little confused! Are you saying that the Veranda Suites on the S & R class ships and the Superior Veranda suites on Vista ships qualify for doube days credit for Mariner Society? I was under the impression that only the Superior Suites ( a different category altogether) on the Vista class ships and of course all Deluxe Suites on all HAL ships entitled one to double days.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Well first off it is not Bait and Switch because the Balcony cabins on the S and R class ships are called Verandah SUITES. Then on the Vista and Signature Class they are called Superior Verandah Suites. When you book these you receive double days credit for Mariner Society. You also have a telephone concierge.

 

I am a little confused! Are you saying that the Veranda Suites on the S & R class ships and the Superior Veranda suites on Vista ships qualify for doube days credit for Mariner Society? I was under the impression that only the Superior Suites ( a different category altogether) on the Vista class ships and of course all Deluxe Suites on all HAL ships entitled one to double days.

Yes on S and R class ships the balcony cabins are Verandah Suites and you receive Double days on your Star Mariner status. Basically anything that states the category as a Suite get Double Days. So Penthouse Suite, Deluxe Verandah Suite, Superior Verandah Suite and Verandah Suite all qualify for Double days.

[sail7seas]

Yes, Lisa is correct about that.

[meterman2]

Actually that is not such a bad deal, you would still net $600 with the Casino cash. When Carnival offers these for their High Rollers or offers their Ship Board Credit promotion it is generally $300 PP more to receive $200 per cabin Casino or Ship Board Credit.

 

Crystal Cruises for several Years had the As You Wish Ship Board Credit which ranged from $500 PP to $1000 PP they have taken that away but you guessed it their prices went up right at $500 to $1500 per person but they do offer free drinks and pre paid gratuities now :rolleyes:

 

Lisa, It would seem to be a net plus but I still found the room rate marketing to be disingenuous. Also, I'm sure casino cash would have to played through (at least once) the casino, which on average will revert back to HAL in part. Normally I would receive OBC through my TA too, both things bringing that net way down.

[puli]

Thanks Lisa and Sail.

 

I was confusing the V category cabin with your Veranda Suite category and thought you-all were saying any VQ down to VH qualified. If that were so I was going to call the Mariner society and get quite a few days added!