Whatever happened to privacy laws

[cruisemom42]

That's true they will not confirm Psgr. lists & no where did the OP state that HAL confirmed they were on the cruise.. The in-law called & told the Agent what cruise they were on & asked to be put in a nearby cabin..The HAL agent did as asked without confirming they were on board!..

 

You are correct, there is no way you can protect your privacy when you join a roll call! You are the one who is confirming that you are on board & HAL can't stop anyone from booking a cabin next door to you..

 

And as a solo Psgr I would never join a roll call, because I would be blabbing to everyone (not just CC members) who even looks at this WEB site that I am on board a particular ship & date!

 

I think you are grossly misinterpreting what I said.

 

I may be confirming I am onboard (on a roll call) but certainly not giving out my cabin number or giving an okay for others to book next to me!

 

I also do not share my last name or where I am from.

 

As to whether or not HAL confirmed they were on board, that is a simple enough question for the original poster to answer....??

 

(But I can't for the life of me figure how the in-laws would have known they reserved a cabin nearby if it were not confirmed.)

Edited June 25, 2014 by cruisemom42

[mamaofami]

I'm inclined to think the in laws are as much at fault as HAL is.

Unless I am planning to cruise with friends or someone I have met on these boards, I do not tell my friends where or when I'm cruising until it's too late for them to join us. I once had friends ask us if they could join us, and we weren't happy about it. It was at a time when we both worked and we wanted a private time with no strings attached for breakfast, lunch or touring. They decided to go at a different time and we were relieved.

 

In this case, the OP doesn't seem to mind that they are being joined by their relatives.

[Wakepatrol]

Okay now that you've had 97 posters tell you HAL shouldn't have done this.

 

What to do now? You obviously don't want them on the cruise or you would be jumping for joy they were next to you.

 

Simply tell your in-laws HAL needed that cabin and gave you a super deal and ship board credit to sail on a different cruise. Then book a different cruise

 

Just don't tell them till 4 days before the cruise sails

 

They surprised you, now it's your chance to surprise them

Edited June 25, 2014 by Wakepatrol

[Hflors]

And on the other side of the coin.... I myself have known what ship a family member was sailing on and because of that info Just the ship and date HAL reps have been able to help me send bon -voyage gifts. If HAL reps weren't allowed to give out or look up passengers I would not have been able to do this.

 

Sometimes tech has those good points and bad points.

 

No matter what I hope you have a great cruise!

[jaguarstyper]

Some of you really seem to hate your inlaws. LOL :D

[IRL_Joanie]

I agree that HAL should have told the relatives that without a booking number or cabin number, they could not help them out.

 

OP does not seem to mind the relatives coming on the same cruise or being near their cabin. The issue was/is HAL's handling of the situation and I totally agree that this was not professional on their part. I have no idea if it violated any law, but it was still not the right thing for HAL to do. PERIOD!!!

 

1st is my thoughts about what might have happened

 

2nd is for vbmom87 and off topic.

 

1st thing is : From reading the OP's posts it seems to me that she/he may have almost told them where their stateroom was located... Something to the effect of, "WOW, we lucked out and were able to get a stateroom on the back of the ship. Checked with Halfacts.com and the stateroom on Deck (fill in the Deck# here). So we will be able to sit out on our verandah and not have to worry much about our smoking bothering many others." So as I said, I think the In Laws may have gleaned enough info from the OP and they, the In Laws, were able to tell the HAL Rep the area of the ship they wanted, and I believe, no proof, just my belief, is that the In Laws lucked out with getting an inside right across from the OP.

 

2nd thing and it is off topic fopr only one second. vbmom87, if you did not know yet, the Lower River at Katmai is LIVE:) It has been live since 21 June. OK, back to topic:)

 

Joanie

[TiogaCruiser]

And on the other side of the coin.... I myself have known what ship a family member was sailing on and because of that info Just the ship and date HAL reps have been able to help me send bon -voyage gifts. If HAL reps weren't allowed to give out or look up passengers I would not have been able to do this.

 

Sometimes tech has those good points and bad points.

 

No matter what I hope you have a great cruise!

 

I can accept that HAL might allow purchase of surprises/ Bon voyage gifts but they could do so without giving cabin, location, or truly even confirming to the person ordering which ship or which cruise. If the name is common, maybe not.

[TiogaCruiser]

Wasn't it about a year or so ago someone started a thread about a friend or relative having called and booked the same cruise and having HAL link the bookings ( without the permission of the original booking pax)?

[Beejay4016]

Not true...If the OP wanted to keep their booking a secret, they should not have told anyone what ship & date they were cruising on!

 

Obviously they told their family & now are trying to blame HAL for infringing on their privacy!

 

 

• Privacy Rights - Civil Liberty

 

The FEDERAL PRIVACY ACT

 

http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa121299a.htm

 

Quote

 

Introduction

It is a rare individual who has managed to keep at least some of their personal information from being stored in a US Federal government database. Doing just about anything, will get your name and numbers recorded. Here are just few examples:

•Gotten a Social Security Card

•Gotten a paycheck

•Filed a tax return

•Registered for the draft

•Served in the Military

•Applied for or gotten a government loan

•Received Social Security or VA benefits

• Worked or contracted for the Federal Government

 

The Privacy Act of 1974 regulates what personal information the Federal Government can collect about private individuals and how that information can be used.

 

Under the Privacy Act you have the right to:

•See the information the Government has about you, subject to the Act's exemptions.

•Change or delete any information that is incorrect, irrelevant, untimely, or incomplete.

•Sue the Government for violations of the Act, including allowing others unauthorized access to your personal information.

 

Much like the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act provides a legal process for accessing personal information. Unquote

 

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/rightsandfreedoms/a/About-The-Freedom-Of-Information-Act.htm

 

Quote The FOIA does NOT apply to:•Any elected official of the US Government

•Officers of the federal Judicial Branch

•Private citizens

•Private companies or associations

•Government contractors

•Government grant holders

•State or local governments (most state and local governments have laws similar to the FOIA) Unquote

 

 

 

Please, take a chill pill. Serendipity is one of my favourite words; please don't spoil the loveliness of it with your bombastic comments and exclamation marks!!!

Edited June 26, 2014 by Beejay4016

[sapete]

Teapot, this is Tempest. Tempest, this is Teapot.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[POA1]

Wasn't it about a year or so ago someone started a thread about a friend or relative having called and booked the same cruise and having HAL link the bookings ( without the permission of the original booking pax)?

I think there was a similar thread just a few months ago.

[Laminator]

And then we had the thread about a month or so where someone was looking for a relative to notify them of a death in the family and no one had a clue as to what ship he was on.

[lolane1]

When our Son enrolled in a local university, 30 years ago, we had a Parents orientation..Since we were paying his tuition, we asked if the University would send us reports of his academic progress & they said they could not even though we were paying for it!

 

No where did the OP state that HAL confirmed they were on board!

 

 

I had one child in a state university and one in a private university. Both school's policy was that parents were not entitled to any information. Worked for me!!! I had enough involvement in the lower parts of their academic education.

 

And I agree, HAL did not give out any cabin number. But after reading posts about ex-husbands and stalkers, I have softened my original views. I would definitely voice my concerns to HAL.

[navybankerteacher]

I had one child in a state university and one in a private university. Both school's policy was that parents were not entitled to any information. Worked for me!!! I had enough involvement in the lower parts of their academic education.

 

And I agree, HAL did not give out any cabin number. But after reading posts about ex-husbands and stalkers, I have softened my original views. I would definitely voice my concerns to HAL.

 

Off topic, but I am curious about your lack of interest in the "product" you were purchasing. One of the things still-dependent children should learn is accountability - and for a consumer to happily pay tens of thousands of dollars for a "product" without wanting to be aware of the quality of that product is hard to understand.

[lolane1]

Off topic, but I am curious about your lack of interest in the "product" you were purchasing. One of the things still-dependent children should learn is accountability - and for a consumer to happily pay tens of thousands of dollars for a "product" without wanting to be aware of the quality of that product is hard to understand.

 

I understand your concern but I tried to raise my children to be accountable to themselves. By college, I was ready to cut the strings and have them steer their own ships. One was already grounded and mature and the other learned quick, and big time. By the time he was a sophomore, a major light bulb moment hit and he figured it all out all on his own. Now both are hugely successful and very gainfully employed. I was always available for advice though. It can be a big hold your breath decision to let go.

Edited June 26, 2014 by lolane1
addition

[runnergirl71]

I understand your concern but I tried to raise my children to be accountable to themselves. By college, I was ready to cut the strings and have them steer their own ships. One was already grounded and mature and the other learned quick, and big time. By the time he was a sophomore, a major light bulb moment hit and he figured it all out all on his own. Now both are hugely successful and very gainfully employed. I was always available for advice though. It can be a big hold your breath decision to let go.

 

Bravo!!!!!!!

[WpgCruise]

I understand your concern but I tried to raise my children to be accountable to themselves. By college, I was ready to cut the strings and have them steer their own ships. One was already grounded and mature and the other learned quick, and big time. By the time he was a sophomore, a major light bulb moment hit and he figured it all out all on his own. Now both are hugely successful and very gainfully employed. I was always available for advice though. It can be a big hold your breath decision to let go.

 

I'd just like to congratulate you on your polite and dignified response.

 

And as was already said BRAVO !!

[NMLady]

Since HAL did not give out your cabin number, technically they did not break any privacy law.

[donaldsc]

Since HAL did not give out your cabin number, technically they did not break any privacy law.

 

Everyone on this thread has been throwing around the phrase "privacy law". All of the cruise lines are foreign flag companies so I wonder if the term "privacy law" even applies. Privacy law for which country? The country they are registered in? The company they are in at this moment? The ptivacy law for the home country of the passenger? Which one?

 

The companies should have a written "privacy policy" and employees who violate this policy should be disciplined or fired but this is different a a privacy law.

 

DON

[lolane1]

Everyone on this thread has been throwing around the phrase "privacy law". All of the cruise lines are foreign flag companies so I wonder if the term "privacy law" even applies. Privacy law for which country? The country they are registered in? The company they are in at this moment? The ptivacy law for the home country of the passenger? Which one?

 

The companies should have a written "privacy policy" and employees who violate this policy should be disciplined or fired but this is different a a privacy law.

 

DON

 

Holland America has a privacy policy on their website. I just read though it and this situation doesn't appear to be covered. I also read though the cruise contract where it does state that they can use information they gather for marketing purposes.

Personal information we collect from you may be used by us or our affiliates for marketing purposes

 

Huh, does selling a cabin to someone looking to book near you constitute "marketing purposes?" Any lawyers here?

 

THe good news is that at the end of the Privacy Policy, it states "Your comments are appreciated." I wish OP would take this up with Holland and post what their response is.

 

Sorry, there isn't a way to post a direct link as far as I can see. Go to Holland America and search privacy policy.

[cbr663]

Everyone on this thread has been throwing around the phrase "privacy law". All of the cruise lines are foreign flag companies so I wonder if the term "privacy law" even applies. Privacy law for which country? The country they are registered in? The company they are in at this moment? The ptivacy law for the home country of the passenger? Which one?

 

The companies should have a written "privacy policy" and employees who violate this policy should be disciplined or fired but this is different a a privacy law.

 

DON

 

The cruise ships may be registered in the Netherlands, but the booking department is located in Washington State and is indeed subject to the Washington State privacy laws.

[sapete]

The cruise ships may be registered in the Netherlands, but the booking department is located in Washington State and is indeed subject to the Washington State privacy laws.

 

This post and others have talked about "privacy laws". Can anyone cite the law that has been violated?

[SeagoingMom]

I suppose I should have titled this "How about a little privacy" and left out the word "law". I am not going to sue, cancel, or anything else. I just wanted to vent how everything came to be.

 

I guess they were jealous of how excited we were about the cruise, and wanted to partake. I wished they had spoke to us first, and we would have given them our cabin#. I can still smile, because we did not tell them how much we paid. We got one of those casino offers. When I asked how much they paid, I snickered. Their inside way way more than our balcony.

I for one, as stated in my previous post , am glad you posted this to inform us all of what could happen. Hope critics don't make you feel defensive. BTW -- what's your name -- I'd like to book a cabin near you! :rolleyes:

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

IMO privacy laws are not the issue. I think any company should respect the consumer by not giving out any information about them. On a post sometime ago, I mentioned that another cruise line gave our cabin number to folks we were traveling with, and I did not like that. They found out our cabin number before we did (guaranty). It seems to me we should have been notified first, and we would have told our friends the good news.

Edited June 27, 2014 by SJSULIBRARIAN

[doublebzz]

Sorry folks, but in my humble opinion, this whole privacy issue has been blown out of proportion in this long and never-ending thread. Probably the same folks who guard their privacy with their lives are the same folks I hear loudly relating intimate details of their last affair in their cell phones as they chomp down on a burger in McDonald's.