HAL New Reservation Transfer Policy 8 Apr 2019

[senorjim]

I’m hoping I’m still able to book a future cruise deposit ($100) on-board and then have 60 days after I convert it to a cruise booking to transfer to a TA.
Jim


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[doone]

12 hours ago, Mary229 said:

I didn’t read all responses so sorry for repetition. After reading this thread I did my transfer today.  Yes, it is 60 days and before final payment  They sent a fillable email form, I signed it, scanned it and emailed it back.  30 minutes from start to finish.   Form attached 

Reservation Transfer Request Form 082718.pdf 145.37 kB · 55 downloads

thank you for posting the form, very helpful.

[Alberta Quilter]

1 hour ago, senorjim said:

I’m hoping I’m still able to book a future cruise deposit ($100) on-board and then have 60 days after I convert it to a cruise booking to transfer to a TA.
Jim


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I would think so!  I usually do the same.  As far as I'm concerned the clock starts ticking when one actually books the cruise, not when one purchases the FCD (since those are to be used within 4 years).

[aa7yy]

22 hours ago, Tampa Girl said:

 

If you book directly with a TA, you have one involved - the agent.

Not true, they still have to work with HAL. They can promises you anything, but they have to get it from HAL.  So I take from HAL and then I take from the TA. An excess of OBC and a credit card credit make the cruise go better.

 

As of yesterday I had seven HAL cruises booked. Three had been moved to a TA. I received the form to transfer the most recent and received exemptions for the three for 2020.

 

I think it is important to do what works best for you. This thread is just a bump in my routine. I will survive.

[Fouremco]

13 hours ago, boards said:

I am happy that you are so able to find a TA that you say gives you so much more than a PCC can, but I have dwelt with a number of TA's here , small and large but none of them have offered perks like some of you are saying you got.  I am happy for you.  Thank you for your kind comments.  

 

 

 

Canadian TA's generally offer very little, if anything, in the way of perks. If you get a bottle of wine from them, you're doing well. But when a certain Big Box store extended its TA wing to Canada a couple of years or so ago, things changed for the better. In addition to the 8-12% OBC that others have mentioned, we also get 2% cash back on all store purchases, including travel. 

[Randyk47]

I have to wonder as this new policy is fully implemented how is it going to impact PCC-customer relationships?   The easy answer is no change.  Since technically the only thing that has changed is the shelf life of the interaction between a PCC and passenger might be no difference.  A harder answer is a potential reluctance to engage on the part of the PCC after the booking but before the 60-day deadline.   Obviously, within HAL policy and guidelines, PCCs will deal with this in their individual way.     

[cwd79]

I don't know why HAL seems to lack severely in the communication department when changes are implemented. I've never used a TA and the PCC we've been assigned with is not helpful. I have sent numerous emails and never gotten responses or responses a week later. So, I just book everything thru the HAL website on my own, but feel like I am missing some perks based on this thread and other threads about how one books their cruise. We get the casino rate on most cruises with HAL and wasn't sure if that would be something a TA would be able to get as well... Biggest thing we like if available is OBC. And sadly we never get any when I book thru the HAL website... 

[boards]

58 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

Canadian TA's generally offer very little, if anything, in the way of perks. If you get a bottle of wine from them, you're doing well. But when a certain Big Box store extended its TA wing to Canada a couple of years or so ago, things changed for the better. In addition to the 8-12% OBC that others have mentioned, we also get 2% cash back on all store purchases, including travel. 

I am glad for you.  It is too bad you cannot pass on the name of the TA's or Big box stores (although with the 2% cash back, I believe we know who you mean) along to the rest of us who don't get those wonderful OBC and perks you all do.  I am not a member of the store and since our days of cruising are at a near end, I have no plan to join.  Thank you for your comments.

[Alberta Quilter]

Update - I sent in the form for all four of my cruises, this morning, including the Sep/19 cruise that was booked late last year.  In my email, I asked that the Sep/19 cruise also be transferred since the change in policy was a very recent change.  I did not receive a response (that may have gone to my home email) but all four bookings have been changed and I now have to "contact my booking agency for payment schedule".  I will be contacting the BBA at lunchtime to complete the transfer.

 

As for the change in relationship with the PCC question, I've been thinking about that myself.  It certainly would be easier to just book with a TA initially and avoid the need to transfer the booking.  However, I do have a bit of a relationship with the PCC and he has made suggestions for future cruises.  He's also more responsive than the BBA and I'm not in voice mail he** or on hold for long periods of time with him.  So, I think I will still continue to deal with the PCC and transfer the booking within 60 days of booking.  Time will tell...

[iancal]

We started dealing with a US on line TA years ago.  We did not find the Canadian agencies very generous to say the least.  Their idea of an OBC seemed to be a bottle of wine or a basket of some sort.    We usually get prices from our US online TA and a Canadian TA. 

 

In over 20 cruises I can only recall booking in Canada twice, and then again fairly recently with that big box warehouse store agency.   We booked there because the cruise line had a Canadian dollar at par sale that was actually a real sale (surprise, surprise).  We had no time to shop, we wanted to snag the deal.  As luck would have the sale ended that day.  We had good service inasmuch as they booked the cruise and we quickly rec'd written confirmation.  We do not require any hand holding.   

 

Currency is not an issue for us because we usually book inside the final payment window paying the full fare at time of booking. 

Edited April 10, 2019 by iancal

[Cruising-along]

23 minutes ago, Alberta Quilter said:

Update - I sent in the form for all four of my cruises, this morning, including the Sep/19 cruise that was booked late last year.  In my email, I asked that the Sep/19 cruise also be transferred since the change in policy was a very recent change.  I did not receive a response (that may have gone to my home email) but all four bookings have been changed and I now have to "contact my booking agency for payment schedule".  I will be contacting the BBA at lunchtime to complete the transfer.

 

As for the change in relationship with the PCC question, I've been thinking about that myself.  It certainly would be easier to just book with a TA initially and avoid the need to transfer the booking.  However, I do have a bit of a relationship with the PCC and he has made suggestions for future cruises.  He's also more responsive than the BBA and I'm not in voice mail he** or on hold for long periods of time with him.  So, I think I will still continue to deal with the PCC and transfer the booking within 60 days of booking.  Time will tell...

Thank you AQ. Our forms are ready to send in, it's encouraging to hear how it went for you.  DH has a call in to our mutual PCC.  He's going to ask him point blank  how this affects him.  I think his answer will be the deciding factor whether or not we continue as we have (book with him first) but then transfer sooner than in the past.  We don't want to take up his time if it isn't beneficial for him (although from what our previous mutual PCC told us, it's always beneficial to them).  

[oceanmom]

15 minutes ago, Cruising-along said:

Thank you AQ. Our forms are ready to send in, it's encouraging to hear how it went for you.  DH has a call in to our mutual PCC.  He's going to ask him point blank  how this affects him.  I think his answer will be the deciding factor whether or not we continue as we have (book with him first) but then transfer sooner than in the past.  We don't want to take up his time if it isn't beneficial for him (although from what our previous mutual PCC told us, it's always beneficial to them).  

 

Please let us know what he says. I like my PCC although response time is  2 or 3 days, and I always have to leave a msg on the answering machine. But I get a direct response rather than calling the Big Box Store, waiting on hold, and then getting patched into a 3-way call.

 

Responding to other posts, to clarify as I've seen a couple of different interpretations, the form clearly says "Bookings may only be transferred within 60 days of booking creation so long as (a) the request is made outside the Final Payment period and (b) the booking is not paid in full." (I suspect there is a transition period as my May 2018 booking for July 2019 was transferred.)

 

PS. Just tried to call BBS and the wait time for HAL is 67 minutes...... I suspect they are slammed.

Edited April 10, 2019 by oceanmom

[Cruising-along]

15 minutes ago, oceanmom said:

Please let us know what he says.

He said all the PCCs were completely taken by surprise too. I'm sure they are slammed!  Ours is great, he answered within a half hour even though they're super busy.   

 

He said the PCC is NOT hurt by transfers.  There is no difference in what they get whether you book directly with them or transfer.  Just as our previous PCC said, as long as we don't cancel the cruise, the PCC will get credit.  So we will continue to book with him so he gets credit, and then we'll transfer within 60 days.

 

He also said  that previously booked cruises before now are grandfathered in.  In the "Reason for transfer" box we're to write our reason (I wrote "because of HAL's recent change in policy for transfers and we had no notice, we believe this cruise should be grandfathered in". ) 

 

 

[drowelf]

On 4/8/2019 at 5:30 PM, DeltaBreeze said:

This is the reply from my PCC: "As a company we would like guests if they know they are going to transfer their booking to a particular agency to book with them from the beginning so you have continuity of service."

 

They said the new policy was the industry standard. I guess I won't be booking early anymore.

 

Hum, that does not mesh with the way we book cruises at all. I can't remember the last time we booked our cruise through our TA, for the last 10 years or so, they have been booked on board via the FCC and assigned to our TA of record. 

 

Then I spend the time between then and final payment bugging my TA anytime even a whiff of a sale comes about. 

Edited April 10, 2019 by drowelf

[Alberta Quilter]

45 minutes ago, Cruising-along said:

He said all the PCCs were completely taken by surprise too. I'm sure they are slammed!  Ours is great, he answered within a half hour even though they're super busy.   

 

He said the PCC is NOT hurt by transfers.  There is no difference in what they get whether you book directly with them or transfer.  Just as our previous PCC said, as long as we don't cancel the cruise, the PCC will get credit.  So we will continue to book with him so he gets credit, and then we'll transfer within 60 days.

 

He also said  that previously booked cruises before now are grandfathered in.  In the "Reason for transfer" box we're to write our reason (I wrote "because of HAL's recent change in policy for transfers and we had no notice, we believe this cruise should be grandfathered in". ) 

 

 

I agree.  At a minimum, they should allow transfers for 60 days, from the date of the policy change, for the cruises that were booked prior to this week.  BTW, for the Reason for Transfer box, I wrote in "Additional OBC" - just telling it like it is.  For us Canadians, to get OBC in USD is HUGE!

 

Another update - all of my transfers did in fact go through.  I just spent about half an hour on the phone with the BBA going over all four of the cruises and making minor changes .  Only one small issue is that not all of my OBC transferred over for the Sep/19 cruise (the other three were fine).  I've just emailed HAL's confirmation, showing $475 in HAL OBC, to the BBA so that they can fight with HAL over the missing $75.

[Cruising-along]

1 hour ago, Alberta Quilter said:

BTW, for the Reason for Transfer box, I wrote in "Additional OBC" - just telling it like it is. 

LOL -- trust me, I'll be saying that too for the cruises booked within the 60 days.  I just wanted to be sure they knew that these 3 should transfer too, even though they were booked last year.  😄

 

Our 3 went through too, still have to do the last one that was just booked last month.  I wanted to be sure these would go through first.

[Tampa Girl]

2 hours ago, drowelf said:

Hum, that does not mesh with the way we book cruises at all. I can't remember the last time we booked our cruise through our TA, for the last 10 years or so, they have been booked on board via the FCC and assigned to our TA of record. 

 

Then I spend the time between then and final payment bugging my TA anytime even a whiff of a sale comes about. 

 

But that isn't the same as booking with a PCC.  The future cruise desk is doing the initial booking and assigning it directly to your TA of choice.  You are, in effect, booking first with your TA, although the booking is made through the FCC desk.  Now, if you had let the FCD book you with HAL and later changed it to your TA, it would fall into this new transfer policy. 

 

BTW, how successful have you been in reaping the benefit of sales?  Every time I call to inquire about a post-booking sale, I find that what is taken away doesn't make up for the reduced price.  I keep hoping, however.

[drowelf]

49 minutes ago, Tampa Girl said:

 

But that isn't the same as booking with a PCC.  The future cruise desk is doing the initial booking and assigning it directly to your TA of choice.  You are, in effect, booking first with your TA, although the booking is made through the FCC desk.  Now, if you had let the FCD book you with HAL and later changed it to your TA, it would fall into this new transfer policy. 

 

BTW, how successful have you been in reaping the benefit of sales?  Every time I call to inquire about a post-booking sale, I find that what is taken away doesn't make up for the reduced price.  I keep hoping, however.

 

Having never dealt with a PCC I really did not know, but wanted to state how I book cruises. 

 

As for the sales. Done ok over the years. For our last 3 cruises here is the tally. 

 

April 2019 - Took advantage of 2 sales. Saved about $200pp. 

August 2018 - Took advantage of 2 sales. Saved about 500pp. 

August 2016 - Took advantage of 2 sales. Saved over $1750pp.

 

Several times the sale price + perk differential was more than our current fare. I'll pass then. 

 

As always its a give and take type of deal, you have to weigh the perks added and taken away. Unless you ask you never know. My TA just loves to get those emails from me with the word Sale in the subject. She knows what to do next and now if there is no decrease, she just emails me the results as she knows I don't want it. 

[richwmn]

I submitted the form this afternoon for the only cruise I have booked that falls under the change. It is now marked to contact the agency for payment info.

 

[DeltaBreeze]

The new policy affects the purchase of travel insurance. The insurance the BBA offers costs approximately the same, or less, than the HAL premium policy but offers 50K vs HAL 10K medical, 1 million vs 50K evacuation, and 100% of the cost of the cruise and flights - not the HAL 90% , and has trip interruption, luggage and all the small stuff. But, to get the pre-existing waiver, you have to get and pay for the insurance within 20 days of moving to the BBA. 

 

Sure you can cancel the reservation without a cost, but if you buy the insurance within the 20 day transfer time period, the cost of the insurance will not be refunded. On one cruise last fall, a passenger became critically ill and was in the ship hospital for several days before we reached a port, the HAL insurance barely paid for cost of the ship hospital and almost none of the foreign country three week hospital stay and only a portion of the evacuation home.  HAL needs to revaluate the price of critical medical care and what medical insurance they offer.

 

This is my reason for booking late from now on. If HAL offered a better policy, this would not be a problem.

 

I liked working with my PCC because it was done almost totally by email, so no waiting for calls or on the phone waiting for the telephone menu loop and horrible waiting music they subject us to. And she, somehow, could figure out what cabins were saved for another portion of the cruise and if they could be opened up, so we could stay in the same cabin for BTB cruises.

 

BTW Does anyone know if the insurance pays for the paid taxes and port fees or does HAL refund that portion of the payment? 

[RuthC]

37 minutes ago, DeltaBreeze said:

BTW Does anyone know if the insurance pays for the paid taxes and port fees or does HAL refund that portion of the payment? 

If you don't take the cruise the port fees and taxes are refunded. You don't need insurance to cover that expense.

[KAKcruiser]

aa7yy, What did you mean about receiving exemptions for your cruises in 2020?  Does this mean you can still transfer them any time before final payment because you booked them before the policy change?  What would I have to do to get an exemption?

[TiogaCruiser]

10 hours ago, DeltaBreeze said:

The new policy affects the purchase of travel insurance. The insurance the BBA offers costs approximately the same, or less, than the HAL premium policy but offers 50K vs HAL 10K medical, 1 million vs 50K evacuation, and 100% of the cost of the cruise and flights - not the HAL 90% , and has trip interruption, luggage and all the small stuff. But, to get the pre-existing waiver, you have to get and pay for the insurance within 20 days of moving to the BBA. 

 

 

 

Bolding mine. 2 questions:

1) Are you certain the buy-by date is based on the transfer date to the Agency? My understanding is insurance has to be purchased within x number of days of initial payment (ie: first deposit or payment of any kind, including the deposit to HAL)

 

2) Does it include Cancel for Any Reason (is: I no longer want to go, my cat is sick, etc.) and what is the return? When I read the policy offered by BigBoxCo it did not include CAR.

Edited April 11, 2019 by TiogaCruiser

[Wayfairers]

So glad I found this post...booked 3 cruises for 2020 while on board our cruise earlier this year. I think I am still within 60 days....I’ll check today.  HAL really should have made a formal announcement.  

[Cruising-along]

1 hour ago, Wayfairers said:

So glad I found this post...booked 3 cruises for 2020 while on board our cruise earlier this year. I think I am still within 60 days....I’ll check today.  HAL really should have made a formal announcement.  

I agree there should have been a formal announcement, people who aren't on Cruise Critic are left out of the loop.

But as for being within the 60 days, several of us have said on this thread that our cruises booked long before the 60 days have been able to transfer our cruises (no matter what the terminology on the transfer form is).