screw up after making big announcement

[3rdGenCunarder]

No word on that. Really wish they would add Charleston. Right now we're showing taking the slow boat to Boston. ;)

 

Any idea what your foreign port will be? Bermuda? Bahamas?

[Cruising-along]

Any idea what your foreign port will be? Bermuda? Bahamas?

 

 

This is a FL - Montreal cruise.

[richwmn]

Do you know yet if your ports are changing, too?

 

No word on that. Really wish they would add Charleston. Right now we're showing taking the slow boat to Boston. ;)

 

The schedule that came with the email was the same as before except for the change to Fort Lauderdale. One sea day is listed as scenic cruising Florida Straits as in going in a big circle off Fort Lauderdale.

[igraf]

I support your position that HAL needs to do more in situations like this if they are tooting their horns about how they will be improving our cruising experience.

 

Just disregard the donut/nail comment. There are always those who oppose any negative comments towards HAL. Your concerns are valid, and HAL telling you to work this out through your TA (and then not providing information to your TA) is a cop-out and a burden on your vacation.

 

igraf

 

 

 

 

 

....They won't tell me anything but talk to your TA but my TA can't get any info from them so far today. Adding all those useless features announced yesterday doesn't make up for inconveniencing all of us who had already booked and made our arrangements.

Edited October 31, 2015 by igraf

[65 Gator]

We are really disappointed in not going to Tampa. This has always been one of our favorite ports since we love to stay at the airport and watch and listen to airplanes (we are both pilots) for a day or so prior to departure.

 

The other issue, as noted above, is that they are going to "slow boat" the trip north. I really wish they would stop in Charleston, which is one port we haven't visited by ship.

 

Our PCC had no info on what was happening with the ship between it's 27 Mar return to Tampa and our departure on 24 Apr. Would have like a little more info regarding a possible drydock...

[Jemima]

This cruise is 5 months away and not at all near final payment. While it is disappointing to have a planned cruise changed or cancelled, it should not be a major problem this far ahead. We never book hotel or air that is not fully refundable until around the final payment date. It doesn't make sense to me to do it earlier. We could always want to or need to change plans ourselves.

[3rdGenCunarder]

We are really disappointed in not going to Tampa. This has always been one of our favorite ports since we love to stay at the airport and watch and listen to airplanes (we are both pilots) for a day or so prior to departure.

 

The other issue, as noted above, is that they are going to "slow boat" the trip north. I really wish they would stop in Charleston, which is one port we haven't visited by ship.

 

Our PCC had no info on what was happening with the ship between it's 27 Mar return to Tampa and our departure on 24 Apr. Would have like a little more info regarding a possible drydock...

 

You still might get a port added. Maybe HAL hasn't worked things out with a potential port. It would be nice it they'd make the effort to add a port to "improve" the changed cruise.

[richwmn]

I posted this to SeaBands on the roll call as well

 

Hang in there and remember that the offer can change. I don't know anything about your TA, but remember that by contract your TA is your advocate here. They need to step up and make sure that you are satisfied. That is what they are getting paid for.

 

Also, just for my information, is this a small TA, one of the large Cruise Specialists, or a big box store? Several types of TA's are only in it to get the commission without doing much and when something happens they are lost.

[SeaBands]

since they changed the booking they should give us the cruise month obc of $150 pp in addition to the paltry $100 they are offering per cabin. We have 3 cruises booked with HAL for 2016 and they seem not to care if we leave them as a 4*Mariner. We will need to drive 2X the distance from a Tampa departure and will need hotels at both ends as our return flight from Montreal will get in late and don't want a long drive after taking 2 flights. HAL should have an ombudsman to allow passengers to talk directly with the cruise line rather than going back and forth with the TA and HAL talking and we are left out of the negotiations.

[richwmn]

since they changed the booking they should give us the cruise month obc of $150 pp in addition to the paltry $100 they are offering per cabin. We have 3 cruises booked with HAL for 2016 and they seem not to care if we leave them as a 4*Mariner. We will need to drive 2X the distance from a Tampa departure and will need hotels at both ends as our return flight from Montreal will get in late and don't want a long drive after taking 2 flights. HAL should have an ombudsman to allow passengers to talk directly with the cruise line rather than going back and forth with the TA and HAL talking and we are left out of the negotiations.

SeaBands - on our Roll Call in post #62 I mentioned getting the Cruise Month OBC and in post #63 Cruising-along said that she called and got it too. Your TA may still be able to get it for you if they call in today. Again, this is their responsibility. If the TA is not taking care of you then maybe you should look at another TA.

 

Also, in your title you mention that your TA is part of a large network - that changes the dynamic. The notification may have gone to the network rather than the TA and it puts another layer in the situation.

Edited October 31, 2015 by richwmn

[SeaBands]

could you email me with your phone number as I would like to discuss this with you. Steve msjn@cfl.rr.com

[richwmn]

could you email me with your phone number as I would like to discuss this with you. Steve msjn@cfl.rr.com

done - subject line is "as requested" from rich at wa70 dot com

[Cruising-along]

You still might get a port added. Maybe HAL hasn't worked things out with a potential port. It would be nice it they'd make the effort to add a port to "improve" the changed cruise.

 

That would make a lot of us happy. When we took this cruise in 2012 it left from Ft. Lauderdale and stopped in Charleston and Newport. I would be thrilled to see either of those ports again.

 

When this itinerary came out, many of us were disappointed in the change (Tampa, then 3 sea days and nothing until Boston) but we decided to book anyway because it's still a great cruise. So many times on other cruises when "ship happened" and changes were made, we got several price drops and great upgrades. It would be nice to get that or the extra port. :)

 

This cruise is still 6 months out, hoping HAL will do something.

[65 Gator]

done - subject line is "as requested" from rich at wa70 dot com

 

Rich

 

Thanks to HAL and this posting, I now have two email addresses for you:):):) I am still steamed at the blast email and I noticed your "other" email address...

 

Still no word about what is happening to the Veendam from 27 Mar when it returns to TPA and our cruise. Not sure where there input about drydock came from. Ashford's comments did not include the S-class ships for the upgrade. Please let us know if you find out the plan...

[richwmn]

Rich

 

Thanks to HAL and this posting, I now have two email addresses for you:):):) I am still steamed at the blast email and I noticed your "other" email address...

 

Still no word about what is happening to the Veendam from 27 Mar when it returns to TPA and our cruise. Not sure where there input about drydock came from. Ashford's comments did not include the S-class ships for the upgrade. Please let us know if you find out the plan...

 

you have about 7 or 8 more to find, including one that I can't put on CC, but not to worry - they all go to the same email client!

Edited October 31, 2015 by richwmn

[SeaBands]

from a HAL reservation agent and she couldn't find any cruises listed for April.

[Skipper snoopy]

I have been in contact with HAL and they will only refund or compensate if things have already been booked. I was planning on driving from Canada...now I can't (not enough holidays) so I have to purchase a plane ticket and also take three days off of work (at my own expense). They don't care about these extra expenses. First time cruising and probably my last. :( Did not realize that the cruise lines could do this....Advanced the date and changed the port...

[3rdGenCunarder]

I have been in contact with HAL and they will only refund or compensate if things have already been booked. I was planning on driving from Canada...now I can't (not enough holidays) so I have to purchase a plane ticket and also take three days off of work (at my own expense). They don't care about these extra expenses. First time cruising and probably my last. :( Did not realize that the cruise lines could do this....Advanced the date and changed the port...

 

I know they changed the embarkation port. I didn't realize they changed the date, too. The extra time could be a problem for other passengers with limited vacation time. If it's going to be that much more expense and inconvenience, have you considered cancelling and booking something else as a "replacement?" You're outside the final payment, so you'd get your deposit back.

[SeaBands]

just the departure point

[3rdGenCunarder]

just the departure point

 

OK, that's what I thought. Not sure why Skipper Snoopy said there was a date change.

 

BTW, have they come up with a port to replace circling off the FL coast?

[Skipper snoopy]

Actually the date has changed also...we were originally supposed to sail on the 12th of April...now it is the 9th of April.

[richwmn]

Actually the date has changed also...we were originally supposed to sail on the 12th of April...now it is the 9th of April.

Skipper - I think you are talking about a different cruise. The cruise that SeaBands is talking about, and I am on, sails from Fort Lauderdale on the 24th of April, same date as it was supposed to sail from Tampa.

[Skipper snoopy]

Yep....sorry about that..it is a different cruise...this is all so confusing for me..Mine was supposed to sail from Tampa on the 12th of april for 12 days...now it is leaving from fort Lauderdale on the 9th for 15 days..OMG...I am confused.:confused:

[Cruising-along]

OK, that's what I thought. Not sure why Skipper Snoopy said there was a date change.

 

BTW, have they come up with a port to replace circling off the FL coast?[/QUOTE]

 

Unfortunately not. :(

[tweety33]

I was interested in booking the Veendam for 3/20/16. So is it true this is the last cruise before drydock?

 

I thought I read once that a last cruise before a drydock they sometimes start shutting down services like pool etc. before the cruise is over. If that is the case I would never book it. Anyone have info on this happening?

 

It says leaving from Tampa. It hasn't been changed to Ft. Lauderdale has it?

 

We would be new to Holland America, New to leaving from Tampa and a few new ports that why I'm choosing this one.

 

Thanks for any info on helping decide if its safe to book this, that there aren't any unexpected changes I don't know about:)