Club Orange Questions

[Florida_gal_50]

35 minutes ago, NMScotts said:

We have been Club Orange twice and probably will continue to do so. I can't recall the cost - we just tell our travel agent to keep her eyes open for when it comes available.

 

Why we love it:

- Priority seating in dining room as well as some special menu items. Longest we had to wait on a 28-day cruise was about 8 minutes. It was usually less than 3. On the last morning before disembarkation, about 20 people were waiting for tables, and we were seated immediately. Plus, others were told that only shared tables were available, and we were able to dine just the two of us.

- Dedicated lines at Guest Service and the Excursion desk. Again - less waiting.

- Dedicated customer service phone line

- Priority for tenders

 

We debated not purchasing it on future cruises...but I think we will stick with it 🙂

 

I've only been asked if I wanted to share a table once.  That might have been in March.  It's very,  very busy on the koningsdam at night this cruise.

[Crew News]

1 minute ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I've only been asked if I wanted to share a table once.  That might have been in March.  It's very,  very busy on the koningsdam at night this cruise.

I once accepted a community table by the Club Orange entrance for dinner and was soon joined by several members of a large political group onboard, The Nation.  Fortunately, the conversation only involved the cruises upcoming ports.

[Florida_gal_50]

4 minutes ago, Crew News said:

I once accepted a community table by the Club Orange entrance for dinner and was soon joined by several members of a large political group onboard, The Nation.  Fortunately, the conversation only involved the cruises upcoming ports.

That's good.  I'm not interested in sharing tables unless it's with people that I've met organically.  I've done that in the past and those days are over for me.

[northernphoenix]

2 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

Sounds like you need a new TA.  You should have been charged at the time for CO and at the same time selected a new cabin.

I must say that this seems to be a rather harsh comment…i have ALL kinds of confidence with this TA.  The HAL rep added the CO without adding any fees for payment of the CO.  I will encourage my TA to investigate the choice of stateroom.  The invoice does refer to the CO charge. I used two $100 FCC; and did accept this as the invoice was offered.  The comments on this thread does confirm that the processing of the CO program is in need of some firming up by the cruise line

[Crew News]

4 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

That's good.  I'm not interested in sharing tables unless it's with people that I've met organically.  I've done that in the past and those days are over for me.

I enjoy meeting new people if I am not in a rush to be somewhere.  As a solo cruiser, I encounter lots of interesting people at the large tables in the Lido Market.  Dinner is another story as I don't want to spend more than one hour eating.

Edited November 24, 2022 by Crew News

[Florida_gal_50]

39 minutes ago, northernphoenix said:

I must say that this seems to be a rather harsh comment…i have ALL kinds of confidence with this TA.  The HAL rep added the CO without adding any fees for payment of the CO.  I will encourage my TA to investigate the choice of stateroom.  The invoice does refer to the CO charge. I used two $100 FCC; and did accept this as the invoice was offered.  The comments on this thread does confirm that the processing of the CO program is in need of some firming up by the cruise line

Maybe.  I haven't had huge problems with it except having to pay for it immediately to get the upgrade.  If you are fine waiting that's totally up to you.  I think the poster was just trying to help.

[VMax1700]

20 hours ago, northernphoenix said:

Completed our Sept16/24 Norwegian fjord 7-day cruise reservation today

Is this September 16th 2024? or September 16 thro' 24th 2023?

Or a typo (Sept 16 thro' 23?).

Just that we (and many others are waiting for Europe 2024 to be released by HAL.

[northernphoenix]

1 hour ago, VMax1700 said:

Is this September 16th 2024? or September 16 thro' 24th 2023?

Or a typo (Sept 16 thro' 23?).

Just that we (and many others are waiting for Europe 2024 to be released by HAL.

Apologies Sept/2023.  I, too am waiting with anticipation for 2024!!

[pkpon]

I am currently on Rotterdam in Club Orange.

The restaurant has been superb so far in both service and food.

The big problem for me is that it does tend to sway me now for future HAL cruises towards the Pinnacle Class ships with the separate restaurant.

[NCTribeFan]

I had CO on Eurodam (Nov 2021) and Zuidy (June 2022).  Both added after initial booking.  But those were both Casino "free" offers, so the initial bookings had to be paid-in-full when booked.

 

For the upcoming Rotterdam TA next April, I had booked the sailing, including HIA with my TA.  While on Zuidy in June, the Anniversary sale came out.  I convinced friends with me to book that while on board.  They got a great rate.  I bought a FCC while on board.  When I got home, I cancelled my original booking with my TA and rebooked using my PCC, just the base Anniversary fare.  It was less than half my original booking.  Then I added HIA.  Friends did as well and got the last large, angled balcony.

 

Then I added CO and selected a different cabin.  I did NOT pay for CO at that time.  So, the only payment on this upcoming sailing is the $100 deposit from the FCC.  Total including CO is still a couple hundred dollars less than my original booking.

 

I added the 2 5-night sailings after the TA, both casino freebies and added CO.  Paid both in full when booked.  Really looking forward to the separate dining on Rotterdam.

 

Not sure I'll add it for upcoming Vista-class sailings.

[Florida_gal_50]

It would be nice if they had the same rules for everyone.  When I used a pcc I told her about this.  She told me the next time I booked she would talk to them about not charging me right away.  Next time rolled around the conversation was forgotten and I had to pay again.  I get tired of arguing about it.  It’s just less to pay at final.  I always use an fcc.

[NCTribeFan]

I haven't come across a cruise line yet that is consistent in how the do anything.  It is frustrating.

[albingirl]

On 11/23/2022 at 7:36 PM, Florida_gal_50 said:

That's good.  I'm not interested in sharing tables unless it's with people that I've met organically.  I've done that in the past and those days are over for me.

Interesting. I can go either way. Met some great people but met some not so great. My husband doesn't want to be bothered and doesn't like to answer questions at  dinner, so I respect that we stay to ourselves. He's different on shore excursions and loves people but dinner is a different story.