mcrcruiser Posted February 14, 2023 #1 Share Posted February 14, 2023 Personally, we don't feel it is worth the money that HAL charges for the Have It All promo with out the PPD Gratuities included . In Fact they could take out the Excursion Part & replace it with PPD Gratuities 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamthesea Posted February 14, 2023 #2 Share Posted February 14, 2023 We thought it was when we purchased it for 50% off. We have plenty of OBC from both HAL and our TA that we will use for gratuities and for the spa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crystalspin Posted February 14, 2023 #3 Share Posted February 14, 2023 Fortunately, no one who doesn't find value in the HIA promo has to buy it. Just be careful about buying the Best Price booking, as it will have a non-refundable deposit. Call your PCC and ask for the Advantage fare for the bare-bones deal, but refundable deposit. 10 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrcruiser Posted February 14, 2023 Author #4 Share Posted February 14, 2023 1 hour ago, crystalspin said: Fortunately, no one who doesn't find value in the HIA promo has to buy it. Just be careful about buying the Best Price booking, as it will have a non-refundable deposit. Call your PCC and ask for the Advantage fare for the bare-bones deal, but refundable deposit. Yes new people booking need to know this . Many tears ago this was never a issue with the cruise lines .Like every thing else things change . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrcruiser Posted February 14, 2023 Author #5 Share Posted February 14, 2023 If HAL offered the HIA with ppd gratuities which they do some times, then we would buy it 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billbunger Posted February 14, 2023 #6 Share Posted February 14, 2023 Here we go again! 4 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare VMax1700 Posted February 14, 2023 #7 Share Posted February 14, 2023 7 hours ago, mcrcruiser said: Yes new people booking need to know this The banner on the website lists the features and there is a link to the terms and conditions. Why is that difficult? Everyone, specially 'new people' should always read the t&c as they may (and do) change from time to time. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted February 14, 2023 #8 Share Posted February 14, 2023 3 minutes ago, VMax1700 said: The banner on the website lists the features and there is a link to the terms and conditions. Why is that difficult? Everyone, specially 'new people' should always read the t&c as they may (and do) change from time to time. I so agree. What’s not worth it to some is worth it to others. No one has to buy it or get it. I simply do the math and determine if it is worth it or not. 😉 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crazy For Cats Posted February 14, 2023 #9 Share Posted February 14, 2023 On a seven day cruise it’s not worth it to us to buy it without gratuity included. On our upcoming 10 day cruise we thought it worthwhile so we bought it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 3rdGenCunarder Posted February 14, 2023 #10 Share Posted February 14, 2023 13 hours ago, crystalspin said: Fortunately, no one who doesn't find value in the HIA promo has to buy it. Just be careful about buying the Best Price booking, as it will have a non-refundable deposit. Call your PCC and ask for the Advantage fare for the bare-bones deal, but refundable deposit. That's why I always book cruises through my TA. HAL doesn't show the advantage fare. Just best price and HIA. My TA always finds the advantage fare for me so I can compare that to the HIA fare. She said she resists booking nonrefundable deposits, especially if it's far out. People assume they won't need to cancel, but if they do they're unhappy about not getting the deposit back. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrcruiser Posted February 14, 2023 Author #11 Share Posted February 14, 2023 I am going to check the HAL web site about the promotion HIA ,I think that the excursion allowance is low per trip . Besides if we do excursions ,we plan our own not ship tours because we like small group tours .I would just find tour money involved in the HIA for us wasted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrcruiser Posted February 14, 2023 Author #12 Share Posted February 14, 2023 As we thought the portion of the HIA promotion for tours would not suit us . Additionally ,we are not drinkers .a occasional glass of wine is sufficient .A person needs to consume a lot of liquor to make the high cost worth it .If HAL opens this promo with the ppd gratuities ,we then could be interested after doing the math ,if we save money FWIW the TA we work with always knows to book refundable deposits for us . We are older than most cruisers on these threads & need that protection in case of illness .We but only yearly insurance policy from Allianz ;which is a lot cheaper than a per cruise basis .It also insures our land trips . any trip under 90 days we have this insurance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josie201 Posted February 14, 2023 #13 Share Posted February 14, 2023 Last year for our Hawaii cruise on Koningsdam we booked with HIA but gratuities were not included. A couple months later they offered a promo with the gratuities included and the HIA. I called, was able to have it included, and received some additional OBC to boot. Winning! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted February 14, 2023 #14 Share Posted February 14, 2023 For my upcoming cruise, HIA minus gratuities was added free of charge after one of several price changes, shifts, OBC, etc. At no additional cost, it is definitely worth it to me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overhead Fred Posted February 14, 2023 #15 Share Posted February 14, 2023 13 hours ago, billbunger said: Here we go again! 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrcruiser Posted February 14, 2023 Author #16 Share Posted February 14, 2023 20 minutes ago, Josie201 said: Last year for our Hawaii cruise on Koningsdam we booked with HIA but gratuities were not included. A couple months later they offered a promo with the gratuities included and the HIA. I called, was able to have it included, and received some additional OBC to boot. Winning! That one sounds decent . imo Holland America management is not in the business of giving money / profits away .This type of promotion guarantees HAL that there is on board spending which they need .In our case we spend our OBCs first to cover the tips ,then we use any balances for the special restaurant dinners . Thus ,I sincerely doubt that even with the tips included that we would come out ahead Obviously ,the HIA promo works for many others & that is great for them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrcruiser Posted February 14, 2023 Author #17 Share Posted February 14, 2023 13 minutes ago, Overhead Fred said: looks delicious Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFNavigator Posted February 14, 2023 #18 Share Posted February 14, 2023 1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said: For my upcoming cruise, HIA minus gratuities was added free of charge after one of several price changes, shifts, OBC, etc. At no additional cost, it is definitely worth it to me. It definitely pays to periodically check prices or specials after you book. You might be able to reprice at a lower rate, get free gratuities, additional OBC, etc., just for the sake of asking when you see a promotion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LAFFNVEGAS Posted February 14, 2023 #19 Share Posted February 14, 2023 I just came back from an amazing cruise with NCL in The Haven, don't get me wrong but Haven is not cheap never has been but in several cases over the last several months the pricing with for Haven has been about the same as HAL Neptune but offering so much more. So after a wonderful cruise I cam home an booked NCL to Alaska over Labor Day figured I could fit it in. This morning I work up and told Tom I guess I should look at at least compare HAL for that same date and Discovery Princess. I told him it would need to be drastically less to change. Well first checked Discovery Princess since we were ust on her in December and it was about $2100.00 total less with compreable perks. Then looks at HAL sailing on the Westerdam I was shocked could get my favorite corner aft Neptune for Net difference (more HAL SBC) for $3641.00 less. So I grabbed it placing on hold but started relooking at it. The Have It ALL was a Non-refundable deposit, I went back in relooking and oddly could not find it being refundable. And of course the perks keep getting less and less, no longer the premium Wifi for suites, Only one Speciality Dining, of course Beverage package and $100 pp shore excursions credit and $450 in SBC. I then took a look at pricing coming up for Mariner with No Perks. It was $600 pp less granted the SBC was less mine was coming up with $150 per cabin. In reality we do not drink much usually just 2 glasses of wine per day maybe one bottle between Tom and I. I would prefer doing the Wine Package. The Wifi is only $109. Been to Alaska 16 times so shore excursions are not important and being 4 start have discount on Specialty Dining and coffees at Exploration Cafe. I figured we were saving quite a bit. With what we will spend we are saing quite a bit not getting Have It All and saving about $4400.00 from booking NCL. This time HAL comes out way ahead pricing wise. Sorry for the long explanation 😁 One really needs to do the math, Right now HAL has taken away so many perks of the Have It All, it does not make it a smart decision for many. I totally agree if it included the Pre paid Crew Incentive then I would have second thought but as it stands it did not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lady Arwen Posted February 14, 2023 #20 Share Posted February 14, 2023 Thank goodness we booked our Rotterdam 2024 TA last week. We received the Early Booking Bonus which does include prepaid crew incentive and upgraded drink package, two Specialty Dining, premium wifi, etc. We also got the 20% cruise fare discount with our Casino Rate benefit. It makes a big difference when gratuity is included and offers a refundable deposit. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wakepatrol Posted February 14, 2023 #21 Share Posted February 14, 2023 The cruise lines should get smart. They should just charge twice the amount for a cabin and give paid gratuities with it. The cruiser will be so relieved he doesn’t have to pay tips, that he won’t even notice he paid double for the cabin. Easy peasy 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare terrydtx Posted February 15, 2023 #22 Share Posted February 15, 2023 On 2/13/2023 at 8:39 PM, mcrcruiser said: If HAL offered the HIA with ppd gratuities which they do some times, then we would buy it We booked this week an 11 day NE/Canada cruise for Aug 2024 and got the early booking HIA promo which included the Premium Wi-Fi, Elite Bev package, and gratuities, plus 2 excursions and 2 Specialty dinning. We also got the Mariner loyalty $200 OBC and the deposit is 100% refundable. If you can book early within 90days of a cruise being released this is a very good deal and it makes the HIA a bargain. I believe the promo is worth over $135pp a per day for a $50pp per day cost. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare terrydtx Posted February 15, 2023 #23 Share Posted February 15, 2023 15 hours ago, Wakepatrol said: The cruise lines should get smart. They should just charge twice the amount for a cabin and give paid gratuities with it. The cruiser will be so relieved he doesn’t have to pay tips, that he won’t even notice he paid double for the cabin. Easy peasy I bet the last day of the cruise you will still see many at guest services demanding a refund for the gratuities that were included. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLCruiser97 Posted February 15, 2023 #24 Share Posted February 15, 2023 3 hours ago, terrydtx said: We booked this week an 11 day NE/Canada cruise for Aug 2024 and got the early booking HIA promo which included the Premium Wi-Fi, Elite Bev package, and gratuities, plus 2 excursions and 2 Specialty dinning. We also got the Mariner loyalty $200 OBC and the deposit is 100% refundable. If you can book early within 90days of a cruise being released this is a very good deal and it makes the HIA a bargain. I believe the promo is worth over $135pp a per day for a $50pp per day cost. I agree. We booked a TA next year with early booking HIA and I added up the amenities separately and the $50/pp/per day came out so much cheaper. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ski ww Posted February 15, 2023 #25 Share Posted February 15, 2023 Just booked a cruise for 2024 with the HIA which includes crew gratuities. Looks great for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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