What is the procedure for cancelling?

[Sunflower & The Scientist]

If we cancel...exactly how do we do that.  I've not had success in getting HAL on the phone recently, or on a chat.  How do we notify them? Any hints about things we should not forget to do besides cancel air?  This is new territory for us...

[Cruising-along]

2 minutes ago, Sunflower & The Scientist said:

If we cancel...exactly how do we do that.  I've not had success in getting HAL on the phone recently, or on a chat.  How do we notify them? Any hints about things we should not forget to do besides cancel air?  This is new territory for us...

Who did you book with, a TA, PCC or just HAL?  If it was directly through HAL and you can't reach them by phone, I would send an email so there is written proof of when you're canceling. If through a TA or PCC, you have to cancel through them. Any shore excursions and dining reservations will be automatically cancelled and refunded. 

[12cruise2]

I ALWAYS cancel my shore excursions purchased through HAL BEFORE I cancel my cruise; then the refund to my credit card has always been quick.  Perhaps same would be true for specialty dinners, internet, whatever was purchased online before the trip.  Then, cancel the cruise.  It's easy to cancel things online.

[Cruising-along]

7 minutes ago, 12cruise2 said:

I ALWAYS cancel my shore excursions purchased through HAL BEFORE I cancel my cruise; then the refund to my credit card has always been quick.  Perhaps same would be true for specialty dinners, internet, whatever was purchased online before the trip.  Then, cancel the cruise.  It's easy to cancel things online.

Yes, definitely easy to do.  Very recently, though, when we rebooked a cruise (canceled to get new promotions and rebooked) our shore excursions were refunded within a couple days. Of course you can always do it yourself for the added security that it will be done quickly.

[VermeulT]

I have been on hold with the PCC number for going on 3 hours.  I know they have limited hours this week due to the holidays... this is a little redic.

[Fredric22]

Are they allowing no penalty cancelations for cruises coming up in the next few weeks?  

[Heartgrove]

1 hour ago, VermeulT said:

I have been on hold with the PCC number for going on 3 hours.  I know they have limited hours this week due to the holidays... this is a little redic.

 

Many have taken time off for the holidays, including our PCC, and will return after the New Year.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

After going through the telephone tree today, I waited 10 minutes for a regular HAL agent to make my final payment. 

[coffee59]

If cancelling a cruise on line, do you get the option of a FCC or does it automatically go back to the credit card? I purchased the HAL platinum insurance that reimburses 90% but under the current pandemic conditions, is HAL reimbursing 100% or giving 100% FCC?

My cruise is Jan 23 and I'm a Canadian. 

If I do a FCC can I transfer the HAL insurance to the new cruise?  Or is that 100% lost?  It covers medical and trip interruption.   

 

[ToBe]

On 12/27/2021 at 1:50 PM, Sunflower & The Scientist said:

If we cancel...exactly how do we do that.  I've not had success in getting HAL on the phone recently, or on a chat.  How do we notify them? Any hints about things we should not forget to do besides cancel air?  This is new territory for us...

ask to transfer for a later cruise.

[zgscl]

If you booked directly with HAL try the online chat also. I have had good luck with them being a shorter wait than calling, and I always copy/paste or take  screenshot of the conversation so I have a record of it.

 

I 100% agree with canceling shorex and other items purchased before canceling the cruise. This way the refund for those will process automatically and quickly. 

[zgscl]

If you cancel under the cruise with confidence more than 30 days out do you lose what was paid on CPP or does that get refunded or issued in an FCC? 

[Florida_gal_50]

53 minutes ago, zgscl said:

If you cancel under the cruise with confidence more than 30 days out do you lose what was paid on CPP or does that get refunded or issued in an FCC? 

Personally I wouldn't do it because you would get a FCC. I'd personally rather have the cash even if it's less.  I would think you'd lose it.  It is an interesting question though.

[kacurl]

Just cancelled our Jan 9th cruise, called when they first opened and was on hold for 10 minutes, very easy they sent me confirmation right away, so sad

[zgscl]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Personally I wouldn't do it because you would get a FCC. I'd personally rather have the cash even if it's less.  I would think you'd lose it.  It is an interesting question though.

That is a good point. 90% refund might be a lot better than 100% FCC which could expire or have other issues. Might have my travel agent check. My sailing isn’t until March so I am hoping (not optimistically)  things stabilize by then. I switched to platinum CPP right at final payment given all the unknowns. 

[Florida_gal_50]

5 minutes ago, zgscl said:

That is a good point. 90% refund might be a lot better than 100% FCC which could expire or have other issues. Might have my travel agent check. My sailing isn’t until March so I am hoping (not optimistically)  things stabilize by then. I switched to platinum CPP right at final payment given all the unknowns. 

I hear you.  I’m not too optimistic either.  That said, if my cruise was in January or February I would have thrown in the towel.  I’d originally booked a Panama cruise for February.  The price was extremely good when I booked it.  It pained me to cancel it but it was a good decision I think.

[zgscl]

39 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I hear you.  I’m not too optimistic either.  That said, if my cruise was in January or February I would have thrown in the towel.  I’d originally booked a Panama cruise for February.  The price was extremely good when I booked it.  It pained me to cancel it but it was a good decision I think.

Totally agree. I would cancel a Jan sailing but it would be really painful to cancel a late feb or March sailing yet. Just have to wait and see how it all develops. I still feel safer on a ship with the precautions than I do on land, but if governments & ports really restrict things…we will just have to wait and see. At least I have another one booked for July if this falls through. 

[DCDew]

• This is the first time I'm cancelling a cruise.  We were to leave on Rotterdam on Sunday.  We have the Platinum CCP, but I'm nervous about the cancellation instructions.  We are to either mail (yes, snail mail), email, or fax our cancellation.  The 800 number is closed today, so I emailed.  Just seems so odd to me.  Just looking for confirmation that the email is really all I need to do 🙂  Thanks!

[Florida_gal_50]

1 minute ago, DCDew said:

• This is the first time I'm cancelling a cruise.  We were to leave on Rotterdam on Sunday.  We have the Platinum CCP, but I'm nervous about the cancellation instructions.  We are to either mail (yes, snail mail), email, or fax our cancellation.  The 800 number is closed today, so I emailed.  Just seems so odd to me.  Just looking for confirmation that the email is really all I need to do 🙂  Thanks!

When I canceled my cruise in March 2020 I emailed my pcc.  Mind you I did it about a month before the cruise.  I don't see what else you can do since the 1 800 number is closed. Its totally stupid that it would be.  It's not new years day.

[DCDew]

23 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

When I canceled my cruise in March 2020 I emailed my pcc.  Mind you I did it about a month before the cruise.  I don't see what else you can do since the 1 800 number is closed. Its totally stupid that it would be.  It's not new years day.

Thank you!  I sent another copy to my PCC now as well.

[OHCruiser]

We were to sail to Hawaii mid-Jan.  Yesterday I contacted our TA to move the cruise to October.  She got through to HAL quickly. 

Transfer "cost" us $50 in OBC from the TA & $232 upcharge from HAL.  Even got the same room on the Konigsdam, an aft balcony.  I think the upcharge was petty by HAL, but wasn't going to argue with that.  Had we canceled [we have the Platinum Protection], we'd have lost the cost of that + 10%, a total of over $1000.  We very much want to do this cruise, so didn't argue.  Now, hoping that by Oct. we can cruise more safely....

 

We have a free casino cruise on the West coast in March...........crossing my fingers for that one, but if it doesn't go, so be it.

[Florida_gal_50]

25 minutes ago, OHCruiser said:

We were to sail to Hawaii mid-Jan.  Yesterday I contacted our TA to move the cruise to October.  She got through to HAL quickly. 

Transfer "cost" us $50 in OBC from the TA & $232 upcharge from HAL.  Even got the same room on the Konigsdam, an aft balcony.  I think the upcharge was petty by HAL, but wasn't going to argue with that.  Had we canceled [we have the Platinum Protection], we'd have lost the cost of that + 10%, a total of over $1000.  We very much want to do this cruise, so didn't argue.  Now, hoping that by Oct. we can cruise more safely....

 

We have a free casino cruise on the West coast in March...........crossing my fingers for that one, but if it doesn't go, so be it.

Well hal isn’t really required to do anything.  You are past the 30 days before the cruise.  Like you say you could cancel and lose $1000.  I have a cruise this spring and if hal offers to move it to the fall for $232 I’ll be over the moon.  I know that many believe that hal should bend over backwards for them, like offering fcc a couple days before a cruise when they haven’t purchased cancellation (not you clearly).  They are a for profit business.  

[OHCruiser]

On 12/31/2021 at 7:23 PM, Florida_gal_50 said:

Well hal isn’t really required to do anything.  You are past the 30 days before the cruise.  Like you say you could cancel and lose $1000.  I have a cruise this spring and if hal offers to move it to the fall for $232 I’ll be over the moon.  I know that many believe that hal should bend over backwards for them, like offering fcc a couple days before a cruise when they haven’t purchased cancellation (not you clearly).  They are a for profit business.  

I never even implied that HAL ""had to do anything. I actually expected them to refuse my request--and then I'd have waited until the night before the cruise to cancel had Hawaii or HAL not done so first.

I know where I am on the timeline.  I took a chance in asking to move the cruise and I'm obviously VERY GRATEFUL that I was able to do it. 

I'll be "over the moon" when I'm actually able to get back on a ship. 

I didn't ask for anyone to bend over backwards and I know that they're a for profit business---hell, I'M A STOCKHOLDER OF MORE THAN THE PALTRY 100 SHARES TO GET OBC.  What I did was good for both of us.  They get to sit on my $ FOR 10 MONTHS, so I do think the upcharge was a bit petty, but, in the end, it should be well worth it FOR BOTH OF US.

[Florida_gal_50]

6 minutes ago, OHCruiser said:

I never even implied that HAL ""had to do anything. I actually expected them to refuse my request--and then I'd have waited until the night before the cruise to cancel had Hawaii or HAL not done so first.

I know where I am on the timeline.  I took a chance in asking to move the cruise and I'm obviously VERY GRATEFUL that I was able to do it. 

I'll be "over the moon" when I'm actually able to get back on a ship. 

I didn't ask for anyone to bend over backwards and I know that they're a for profit business---hell, I'M A STOCKHOLDER OF MORE THAN THE PALTRY 100 SHARES TO GET OBC.  What I did was good for both of us.  They get to sit on my $ FOR 10 MONTHS, so I do think the upcharge was a bit petty, but, in the end, it should be well worth it FOR BOTH OF US.

You said you didn’t expect anything yet you’ve called them petty twice.  I don’t see them being petty.  I don’t see how that equates to being grateful. They look pretty accommodating.  Like another poster pointed out we can all read.  You don’t need to capitalize.

Edited January 2, 2022 by Florida_gal_50

[albingirl]

1 hour ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

You said you didn’t expect anything yet you’ve called them petty twice.  I don’t see them being petty.  I insdon’t see how that equates to being grateful. They look pretty accommodating.  Like another poster pointed out we can all read.  You don’t need to capitalize.

There is enormous angst, of course. People need to calm down.  This is a CDC reg and not the end of the story.  My feelings are that this will run its course, other strains will follow, and we will go from there.  Have faith; be careful and carry on.