Rare sunviking90 Posted July 27, 2014 #101 Share Posted July 27, 2014 (edited) Lisa - I posted the following yesterday. The prices I checked were HAL internet prices with my Mariner number and all were Caribbean cruises (14 to 24 days). My results were not the same as yours, however I am glad you found many cruises that had no pricing increase. My post yesterday: "On the day Lisa posted her first message on this thread I randomly selected 4 cruises I thought we might be interested in for 2015. According to her list they qualified for E4 so I priced them out. Today I compared those prices to the current pricing and ... surprise - today's prices were all $400-$800pp more. So ... I doubt we will see a price increase for E4 when it is announed. I think it already happened! Has anyone else been checking prices?" Yes, a transatlantic we were looking at was about $400 less pp for a veranda cabin early last week. It seems to have jumped about a week ago. We don't drink alcohol anyway and even I can't drink enough fancy coffees to make it worthwhile. We noticed the same thing on our last Celebrity cruise. They offered a similar perk and the prices had gone up accordingly. We were glad we had booked before the "sale" and got our better price. Edited July 27, 2014 by sunviking90 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Alphen Posted July 27, 2014 #102 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Guess the Explore4 offer is not the same in every country, in Holland, we do not have the beverage option included in the Explore4 offer! :confused::confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratheden Posted July 27, 2014 #103 Share Posted July 27, 2014 The beverage card is not included in the Australian Explore 4 card either. :mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted July 27, 2014 #104 Share Posted July 27, 2014 The beverage card is not included in the Australian Explore 4 card either. :mad: What are the 4 things that you get an part of the offer? It just seems wrong to deprive you of the beverage portion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Alphen Posted July 27, 2014 #105 Share Posted July 27, 2014 What are the 4 things that you get an part of the offer? It just seems wrong to deprive you of the beverage portion. The Dutch offer (translated); 1. Free Stateroom upgrades* 2. Free Pinnacle Grill dinner* 3. Reduced prices for 3/4 guest* 4. Flexible booking* Not very impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted July 27, 2014 #106 Share Posted July 27, 2014 The Dutch offer (translated);1. Free Stateroom upgrades* 2. Free Pinnacle Grill dinner* 3. Reduced prices for 3/4 guest* 4. Flexible booking* Not very impressive. No, not at all. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rojay Posted July 27, 2014 #107 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Australia's Explore 4 is the same as the Holland Explore 4, not happy!:mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rojay Posted July 27, 2014 #108 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Sorry, my mistake the Aussie explore 4 deal is Free stateroom upgrade Free dinner at pinnacle grill 50% reduced deposit And suite offer free cannalotta dinner and $150 OBC each for 2 people in suite. Still not impressed.:mad: I do 't understand why different countries have different deals, it's not as though we can book through an american site. I love HAL and they are my preferred line, but actions like this makes me consider going back to Celebrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratheden Posted July 27, 2014 #109 Share Posted July 27, 2014 (edited) Deleted Edited July 27, 2014 by Stratheden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeniEncinitas Posted July 27, 2014 #110 Share Posted July 27, 2014 We are booked with Nieuw Amsterdam for the 14 day Western/Eastern Caribbean Cruise. I just saw the Explore 4 program. We placed a deposit almost a yr. ago on this cruise, have a balcony and last week I ck daily for price reductions and since I booked it has never gone down, and it jumped $200.00 PP. Question? We are 3 Star Mariners does't make a difference, but can I call and ask for the Promo? Or is it for new bookings only? Thanks to anyone who can tell me:) Denise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djorre Posted July 27, 2014 #111 Share Posted July 27, 2014 The Dutch offer (translated);1. Free Stateroom upgrades* 2. Free Pinnacle Grill dinner* 3. Reduced prices for 3/4 guest* 4. Flexible booking* Not very impressive. Same thing here in Belgium :mad:. Would it be possible to make a booking in an US travel agency? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stakeout Posted July 27, 2014 #112 Share Posted July 27, 2014 a gimmick..doesn't interest us as we're not big drinkers...cruise prices go up.. you get nothing for nothing.. sort of like getting free wine and alcoholic beverages on premium cruise lines like Oceanic--you are paying for it upfront...no free pass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regnig Posted July 27, 2014 #113 Share Posted July 27, 2014 We are booked with Nieuw Amsterdam for the 14 day Western/Eastern Caribbean Cruise. I just saw the Explore 4 program. We placed a deposit almost a yr. ago on this cruise, have a balcony and last week I ck daily for price reductions and since I booked it has never gone down, and it jumped $200.00 PP. Question? We are 3 Star Mariners does't make a difference, but can I call and ask for the Promo? Or is it for new bookings only? Thanks to anyone who can tell me:) Denise Denise it never hurts to call and ask. We booked our 2015 while onboard this March and had it immediately assigned to our TA. Last week she informed us that we could get the Exp4 (just as this past year) but that it couldn't be "confirmed" until the launch date 7/26. Yesterday (7/26) the price of our cruise went up on HAL's site so I guess in our case the jury is still out. The "Terms" do say for New Bookings so if HAL makes her "rebook" us at the higher cost it's a NO as we just don't drink enough booze for the cost difference. Oh and I don't believe the Mariner status has any bearing. If you call them please come back and let us know the outcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeriatricNurse Posted July 27, 2014 #114 Share Posted July 27, 2014 I appears to be a $50 pp daily beverage limit if I read it correctly Not really. This is from the Terms and Conditions: "Free Signature Beverage Package is available only to ocean-view and above category staterooms. The Signature Beverage Package has a daily limit of 15 beverages priced $7.00USD or lower. Signature Beverage Package excludes beverages priced over $7.00USD and purchases made in Signature Shops, Mini Bar and In Room Dining, or beverages on Half Moon Cay. ... Signature Beverage Package has a retail value of US$50 per person per day, including service charges." So it's a max of 15 beverages priced $7.00 or less per day. It was nice of HAL to EXCLUDE those who book INTERIOR staterooms from the 'new' Explore 4! :(:mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelleherdl Posted July 27, 2014 #115 Share Posted July 27, 2014 This time around the deal does work for. Our party includes 3 balconies for our kids along with our Neptune. The kids will definitely take advantage. My pcc emailed me a couple of days before it was active. The deal is for new bookings so we rebooked the 3 balconies with a lower deposit so we come out way ahead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted July 27, 2014 #116 Share Posted July 27, 2014 This time around the deal does work for. Our party includes 3 balconies for our kids along with our Neptune. The kids will definitely take advantage. My pcc emailed me a couple of days before it was active. The deal is for new bookings so we rebooked the 3 balconies with a lower deposit so we come out way ahead. Glad to hear it. Good for you! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelleherdl Posted July 27, 2014 #117 Share Posted July 27, 2014 A big difference from the previous deal is that it includes the Caribbean cruises. Ours is a southern Caribbean over Easter next spring. Btw we kept our Neptune booking intact as we had several retreat cabanas and excursions on the books and did not want to hassle with rebooting those. Before anyone asks.... we did need to Redbook at the new fare in spite of what others have stated about how their pcc handled the inclusion of explore. Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelleherdl Posted July 27, 2014 #118 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Note to self... turn off autocorrect. Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Alphen Posted July 27, 2014 #119 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Same thing here in Belgium :mad:.Would it be possible to make a booking in an US travel agency? Nope, unfortunately. Even if you do find an agency that will take your business, Holland America may (or will) deny you boarding if you do not present proof of a US resident address! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted July 27, 2014 #120 Share Posted July 27, 2014 It seems unfair that residents of Holland, Belgium, and Australia don't get the beverage package. It's the part of the promo with the greatest value - unless the room upgrades are spectacular. I guess it's time to mobilize the "Beer for Belgium," "Drinks for the Dutch," and "Alcohol for Aussies" protest brigades. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LAFFNVEGAS Posted July 27, 2014 Author #121 Share Posted July 27, 2014 It was nice of HAL to EXCLUDE those who book INTERIOR staterooms from the 'new' Explore 4! :(:mad: It is absolutely No Different than Celebrities 123 Go, they also do not include it for Interior cabins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LAFFNVEGAS Posted July 27, 2014 Author #122 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Nope, unfortunately. Even if you do find an agency that will take your business, Holland America may (or will) deny you boarding if you do not present proof of a US resident address! HAL will NOT deny them boarding, they just will not pay the agency commission or they will recall their commission that may have been paid if they find out from the online registration that they do not reside in the US or Canada. If an agency is found they are doing this frequently they could lose selling privileges and or the percentage they are paid commission. HAL has been known to request proof of residing in the US or Canada for those that do not have passports for those countries such as Utility bill, bank statement or a US or Canada ID card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LAFFNVEGAS Posted July 27, 2014 Author #123 Share Posted July 27, 2014 If you are already booked you DO NOT have to rebook to get the Explore4 added. I know of a case just yesterday the price dropped $50.00 per person but they lost a $100 PP SBC but they were netting the Explore4 for $50 more PP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy2x Posted July 27, 2014 #124 Share Posted July 27, 2014 We booked a "B" cabin last month thru a TA for the 14 day Ryndam Carib cruise departing 2/15. Checked out the HAL site today - with the Explore 4, booking direct thru HAL the same cabin would cost us about $2200 more. No amount of booze or "freebies" can make that up. I will call the the TA tomorrow on the off-chance that she can get it for us, but won't hold my breath.;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldercruser Posted July 27, 2014 #125 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Told today that Explore 4 was not available for the 35 day Voyage of the Vikings - even for a Vista Suite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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