Aqua's Mom Posted December 18, 2013 #1 Share Posted December 18, 2013 We are leaving tomorrow to board the Zuiderdam on Friday. We have a SZ guarantee (which we paid too much for, another story for another time). As of now we don't have a cabin assignment. I know that can happen all the way up to the pier. What happens when I get to the pier without a cabin?? (Usually I seem to remember we just hand bags to a porter). What is the best or the worst that has happened to you? ANY cruise is a good cruise, and ANY cabin a good cabin, but is it still possible for that little fairy to wow us? Your experiences, please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aruba Posted December 18, 2013 #2 Share Posted December 18, 2013 When you get to the pier, check with a HAL representative before you leave your bags with a porter. At that point, you will have a stateroom assignment which the HAL rep can give you to place on your luggage tags. Check again Thursday, the day before sailing -- a couple of times we received cabin assignments the day before sailing. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumsysailor Posted December 18, 2013 #3 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Have you looked at your luggage tags? The cabin number usually shows up there first. Mumsy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aqua's Mom Posted December 18, 2013 Author #4 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Yep, nothing on the luggage tags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumsysailor Posted December 18, 2013 #5 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Keep positive. You might get something really special. Mumsy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherilyn70 Posted December 18, 2013 #6 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Keep positive. You might get something really special. Here's to hoping it's all for something special. :) One would think if they're waiting this long to give you an assignment it means they're busy doing shuffles and seeing who is willing to pay for what... meaning upgrades in your favor if yours is what most people are more willing to upsell to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare puppycanducruise Posted December 18, 2013 #7 Share Posted December 18, 2013 The longer it takes for a cabin assignment, the better chance for an upgrade (at least, in my opinion). If you still do not have a cabin assignment when you get to the pier, no worries, the porters have a list and will make sure your luggage gets to the right cabin. On our last cruise, we had a last minute upgrade, which we didn't know about until check-in, but our bags eventually showed up in our cabin even though we had the old cabin number printed on the tags. Hope it's a great cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted December 18, 2013 #8 Share Posted December 18, 2013 If you don't find out tomorrow, the porters at the pier will have a manifest with the cabin assignments and can tag your bags right there. My bet is that you get higher than the SZ. Good luck! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thebes Posted December 18, 2013 #9 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Good luck and please let's know what u got at the end. Thanks and Bon voyage :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted December 18, 2013 #10 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Good Luck -- hope you get something great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted December 18, 2013 #11 Share Posted December 18, 2013 The best cabin assignment and upgrade we have ever gotten was given out 1 1/2 days before sailing. I have also heard that upgrades are given to those who paid higher prices... and in our previous experience, that is true in our case too. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m134 Posted December 18, 2013 #12 Share Posted December 18, 2013 I have also heard that upgrades are given to those who paid higher prices... and in our previous experience, that is true in our case too. Good luck! I don't think this is true. We always book at rock-bottom prices after the final payment and our experience does not support the claim that "upgrades are given to those who paid higher prices". Granted, this is anecdotal evidence only, but look at our last two HAL cruises: 11 days on Amsterdam -- booked oceanview. Got an upsell to a verandah suite (A-B) for $499pp. Ignored the offer, but made a mental note to self that should they offer the same upsell for half the price, will take it. A week later another email arrived: same offer, for $199 pp. Took it. 14 days B2B on Nieuw Amsterdam. Booked verandah (VH) GTY. Received no upsells. The cabin assignment appeared on the reservation 5 days prior to sailing -- an aft VA. An outstanding upgrade, according to me. We are now booked on a HAL Nieuw Amsterdam - Celebrity Silhouette B2B (7+7 days) over the New Year's. That will be interesting: walking off one ship, crossing the pier and getting on another. For each leg, booked the cheapest balcony GTY at flash sales soon after the final payment. The Celebrity assignment arrived a week later - a nice unobstructed balcony. With HAL, still waiting for the assignment. I really enjoy the randomness and the waiting game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted December 18, 2013 #13 Share Posted December 18, 2013 I have also heard that upgrades are given to those who paid higher prices... I don't think this is true.DutchByAssociation, a former HAL HQ employee, has said that "all else being equal" between two people, the one who paid more will get the upgrade. For example, if one paid full list and one booked on a sale, the full list person gets the nod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geocruiser Posted December 18, 2013 #14 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Good luck and I hope that you get a suite!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typhoon1 Posted December 18, 2013 #15 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Fear not, there will be a room somewhere on the ship for you, you may even be pleasantly surprised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted December 19, 2013 #16 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I don't think this is true. We always book at rock-bottom prices after the final payment and our experience does not support the claim that "upgrades are given to those who paid higher prices". Granted, this is anecdotal evidence only, but look at our last two HAL cruises: 11 days on Amsterdam -- booked oceanview. Got an upsell to a verandah suite (A-B) for $499pp. Ignored the offer, but made a mental note to self that should they offer the same upsell for half the price, will take it. A week later another email arrived: same offer, for $199 pp. Took it. 14 days B2B on Nieuw Amsterdam. Booked verandah (VH) GTY. Received no upsells. The cabin assignment appeared on the reservation 5 days prior to sailing -- an aft VA. An outstanding upgrade, according to me. We are now booked on a HAL Nieuw Amsterdam - Celebrity Silhouette B2B (7+7 days) over the New Year's. That will be interesting: walking off one ship, crossing the pier and getting on another. For each leg, booked the cheapest balcony GTY at flash sales soon after the final payment. The Celebrity assignment arrived a week later - a nice unobstructed balcony. With HAL, still waiting for the assignment. I really enjoy the randomness and the waiting game. You're talking about upsells. I was talking about free upgrades. DutchByAssociation, a former HAL HQ employee, has said that "all else being equal" between two people, the one who paid more will get the upgrade. For example, if one paid full list and one booked on a sale, the full list person gets the nod. Thank you John, I knew I heard it from a reliable source, I just couldn't remember who. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TracieABD Posted December 19, 2013 #17 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Fingers crossed that you get an amazing cabin (and soon!). Please, keep us posted, if you have a second... Bon Voyage! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m134 Posted December 19, 2013 #18 Share Posted December 19, 2013 You're talking about upsells. I was talking about free upgrades. Not quite. The first example was an upsell. A very lucrative (read: very cheap, as in almost free), but indeed an upsell. The second was a free upgrade, from VH to VA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruising-along Posted December 19, 2013 #19 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Not quite. The first example was an upsell. A very lucrative (read: very cheap, as in almost free), but indeed an upsell. The second was a free upgrade, from VH to VA. Sorry, I did miss that. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m134 Posted December 19, 2013 #20 Share Posted December 19, 2013 DutchByAssociation, a former HAL HQ employee, has said that "all else being equal" between two people, the one who paid more will get the upgrade. For example, if one paid full list and one booked on a sale, the full list person gets the nod. In other words, the former HAL HQ employee essentially told you that the price paid for the original reservation is the last factor in upgrade decisions. You are making my point for me. Since "all else" is rarely equal, I do believe that the original price is practically irrelevant to upgrades and there is plenty of anecdotal evidence on this and other boards to support this conclusion. Is it unfair? Probably. But HAL is not in the business of fairness. It is all about maximizing HAL's total bottom line, not about rewarding any individual's loyalty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted December 19, 2013 #21 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I don't think this is true. We always book at rock-bottom prices after the final payment and our experience does not support the claim that "upgrades are given to those who paid higher prices". Granted, this is anecdotal evidence only, but look at our last two HAL cruises: 11 days on Amsterdam -- booked oceanview. Got an upsell to a verandah suite (A-B) for $499pp. Ignored the offer, but made a mental note to self that should they offer the same upsell for half the price, will take it. A week later another email arrived: same offer, for $199 pp. Took it. 14 days B2B on Nieuw Amsterdam. Booked verandah (VH) GTY. Received no upsells. The cabin assignment appeared on the reservation 5 days prior to sailing -- an aft VA. An outstanding upgrade, according to me. We are now booked on a HAL Nieuw Amsterdam - Celebrity Silhouette B2B (7+7 days) over the New Year's. That will be interesting: walking off one ship, crossing the pier and getting on another. For each leg, booked the cheapest balcony GTY at flash sales soon after the final payment. The Celebrity assignment arrived a week later - a nice unobstructed balcony. With HAL, still waiting for the assignment. I really enjoy the randomness and the waiting game. I agree with you. I was on the Veendam and there were people that paid next to nothing. I booked early so my price was high. I'm a four star, others had their first cruise with Hal. Everyone moved up the food chain equally. I think that's something the cruiseline would like you to believe to get you to book early at a high price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aqua's Mom Posted December 19, 2013 Author #22 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Still no cabin assignment. I do believe, Upgrade Fairy, I do believe!! I'll keep you posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TracieABD Posted December 19, 2013 #23 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Still no cabin assignment. I do believe' date=' Upgrade Fairy, I do believe!! I'll keep you posted.[/quote'] I believe, too! Thanks for checking in!!! Happy sails tomorrow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thebes Posted December 19, 2013 #24 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Still no cabin assignment. I do believe' date=' Upgrade Fairy, I do believe!! I'll keep you posted.[/quote'] Wow. Good luck Tomo :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skorpora Posted December 19, 2013 #25 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Fingers crossed :) Have a lovely cruise!! Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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