Kansas Jayhawk Cruiser Posted July 8, 2020 #1 Share Posted July 8, 2020 Long time HAL cruiser. Recently received an email from HAL about Private Fare sale for some Mexican and Caribbean cruises. The prices were amazing, like $499 for a Veranda. Emailed our cruise agent and signed up for cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam March 31, 2021. We were assigned cabin 4001. I should have checked before hand but our consultant said it was fine. Turns out it can be noisy. https://www.cruisecritic.com/nieuw-amsterdam-deck-plans/dp/deluxe-ocean-view-verandah-stateroom-vh/cc/?page=2 Consultant said we cannot change the cabin now, which is too bad I guess. Any hope we could if we call HAL directly? The deposit is non-refundable but is it transferable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ski ww Posted July 8, 2020 #2 Share Posted July 8, 2020 No way would I take a non-refundable. It seems to me as HAL is looking for some money to tide them over until things get back to what ever passes for the new normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted July 8, 2020 #3 Share Posted July 8, 2020 Strange that you cannot change cabins at this point, so far before sailing. I have never had that happen. I would call HAL directly and see what they can do for you. Now, if you took a guarantee, I would understand not being able to pick a cabin, but then again you would not have been assigned a specific cabin at this point. In looking at the deck plan, I may see your problem - you are in a category VH( there are only 4 of them I think), the lowest of the verandahs on this ship. Perhaps you can pay a bit more to move up to a better located verandah. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oaktreerb Posted July 8, 2020 #4 Share Posted July 8, 2020 4001 is far forward on the Upper Promenade. Who took the booking, a TA or a HAL consultant? Ordinarily on a nonrefundable promo you would be booked as a guarantee with your stateroom being assigned about three weeks prior to sailing. You booked the cheapest veranda room available. Call them back and see if you were assigned a specific room or a guarantee VH category. If it is a guarantee you will probably get a better stateroom. If not, tell them you will accept an upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakridger Posted July 9, 2020 #5 Share Posted July 9, 2020 Does 4001 get any noise from the showroom which is somewhat below it? There is possible increased motion at front of ship if seas are in the least "bouncy". That doesn't bother some people but I would do anything to change cabins myself. Good luck! I'm currently booked on this cruise too. I reserved before the whole pandemic mess caused the cruising pause. ~Nancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruizer Bill Posted July 9, 2020 #6 Share Posted July 9, 2020 Seems weird we are no longer deluged with cruise mailings! Used to get something almost every day........ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kansas Jayhawk Cruiser Posted July 9, 2020 Author #7 Share Posted July 9, 2020 17 hours ago, oaktreerb said: 4001 is far forward on the Upper Promenade. Who took the booking, a TA or a HAL consultant? Ordinarily on a nonrefundable promo you would be booked as a guarantee with your stateroom being assigned about three weeks prior to sailing. You booked the cheapest veranda room available. Call them back and see if you were assigned a specific room or a guarantee VH category. If it is a guarantee you will probably get a better stateroom. If not, tell them you will accept an upgrade. I called HAL and they said there is nothing they can do. We are stuck in 4001. I am a bit miffed. Our deposit is non-transferable. So our only choice if we really don't want to go with this cabin is to cancel (eventually) and eat the $200. But the cruise is a long way off, and we could be offered an upgrade. How "bad" are these forward cabins? I would think they would be right above the shows. We usually get a Neptune Suite (at least when traveling with my father-in-law) or just a balance or signature sweet or something like that. As long as I can sleep that would be fine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted July 9, 2020 #8 Share Posted July 9, 2020 11 minutes ago, Kansas Jayhawk Cruiser said: I called HAL and they said there is nothing they can do. We are stuck in 4001. I am a bit miffed. Our deposit is non-transferable. So our only choice if we really don't want to go with this cabin is to cancel (eventually) and eat the $200. But the cruise is a long way off, and we could be offered an upgrade. How "bad" are these forward cabins? I would think they would be right above the shows. We usually get a Neptune Suite (at least when traveling with my father-in-law) or just a balance or signature sweet or something like that. As long as I can sleep that would be fine... I would expect more motion in the far forward cabins, but how bad it is depends on the weather and your itinerary of course. I would also expect noise from the shows, but that should be over by about 11 PM or so (not sure exactly). You might also get some noise during rehersals, ect. during the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Himself Posted July 9, 2020 #9 Share Posted July 9, 2020 (edited) They have not sent me anything on a private sail. It looks good. Edited July 9, 2020 by Himself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oaktreerb Posted July 9, 2020 #10 Share Posted July 9, 2020 7 hours ago, Kansas Jayhawk Cruiser said: How "bad" are these forward cabins? I would think they would be right above the shows. We usually get a Neptune Suite (at least when traveling with my father-in-law) or just a balance or signature sweet or something like that. As long as I can sleep that would be fine... I think it will be fine. You got a good price and a balcony. Forward cabins have more movement and you may hear ship noise, like the anchor, but that is temporary. Any cabin can have issues. Enjoy the cruise. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minoushka Posted July 10, 2020 #11 Share Posted July 10, 2020 On Koningsdam i too got a forwardcabin ...the ship hitting the waves, the noise from wind wtc etc made sleep near impossible .The banging against the hull was veryloud and very scary .forget opening the balcony when sailing ...impossible how the ship survived that banging is nothing short of a miracle ...those hulls must be super sturdy i would neverget a forward cabin again ...I too could not change cBins nor pay for upgrade sometimes bargains offered are not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare FlaMariner Posted July 11, 2020 #12 Share Posted July 11, 2020 I've never had a bad HAL cabin.......Enjoy the low price and the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbunger Posted July 11, 2020 #13 Share Posted July 11, 2020 On 7/9/2020 at 10:42 AM, DaveOKC said: I would also expect noise from the shows, but that should be over by about 11 PM or so (not sure exactly). You might also get some noise during rehersals, ect. during the day. Have you ever been in a forward cabin on any of these ships?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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