NEWS FLASH: HAL to favor Triples and Quads

[FlaMariner]

24 minutes ago, kazu said:

How do adding children to a cruise add to the bottom line???

 

They buy soda, they bring along parents, their parents buy pictures of them, they go on shore excursions, some pay a fare...and they only eat inexpensive chicken tenders...LOL.....If I owned a cruise ship and had vacant beds I'd try to fill them up....with kids or adults. $$$$$.

 

Our kids sailed on HAL and now they are 30 somethings and they are still sailing on HAL.  As 3 star Mariners now they began adding to the bottom line of HAL at an early age and continue to do so. $$$$$

[ChinaShrek]

1 minute ago, kazu said:

 

BUT, if someone pays long in advance, then either block the cabin as you have cited so it can’t be booked or leave them alone.  they PAID to choose a cabin and shouldn’t be bumped.  It’s the principle of the thing.   JMO.

Yes, I agree with you about this.

[YourWorldWithBill]

2 hours ago, 0106 said:

I heard this was happening a few weeks ago.

 

I just returned from two weeks on the Nieuw Statendam.  According to the servers, the first week there were 2600 onboard.  It was easy to find a deck chair and a table in the Lido.  The second week there were more than 2800 onboard and that small increase turned the ship into a mob scene: lines, no deck chairs or tables, bathrooms running out of supplies.  I really felt sorry for the staff.

 

The NS passenger capacity has been listed as 2666 with a crew of 1036.  There are 20 life boats with a capacity of 150 each, so room for 3000 people. What happens if there is an emergency and the ship needs to be evacuated?  
 

I have 4 future cruises booked with HAL.  I am very particular about my cabin.  If I am moved before final payment, I will cancel.  If I am moved after final payment (unless it is to a Neptune Suite🤣) I will never book with HAL again.

 

BTW, on my post cruise survey, I wrote at length about the overcrowding on week two giving specific examples.  I also stated that I would never sail a ship where “3rd/4th guests or kids sail free” is a promotion because of the overcrowding it causes.

After looking forward to my upcoming 13 days on the NS in May, I recently found out that it is sold out. Now I have to anticipate the overcrowding, and I'm not even going to imagine what happens in the future when they won't guarantee a stateroom.

What if you've booked a room in a hotel and when you arrive they tell you that someone else paid a bit to get your room, or they have children who need the space? They have a bed in the kitchen for you. There are reasons that we all book the rooms we do, and that we all enjoy posting on the HAL message boards.....

[FlaMariner]

37 minutes ago, kazu said:

It is a bit deal when you carefully choose a cabin a year to a year and half out and are moved.  I didn’t pay for a guarantee cabin (and I pay double as a solo) I paid at a surcharge for the cabin I chose.

 

Agree.

 

I'm sure HAL does not want to move folks around but I'm sure it will/does happen. And I'd also hope/think/wish HAL would toss good upgrades/$$$/comps at those that are moved.

 

For us, changing cabins is no big deal.....especially if we get a real upgrade...but I understand that some are very attached to their chosen cabin. 

[SUESEABE]

Not good news. I checked all future bookings for my husband and I and all are in what would be considered triple room.

[richwmn]

2 hours ago, 0106 said:

The NS passenger capacity has been listed as 2666 with a crew of 1036.  There are 20 life boats with a capacity of 150 each, so room for 3000 people. What happens if there is an emergency and the ship needs to be evacuated?

To add to my previous answer, here is a picture of how the life rafts are stowed on Volendam. There are four on each side, with an additional 2 marked for testing only.

 

In addition, you mention a capacity of 150 for the life boats. I just remembered, I believe there are two capacities listed, 150 for tender operations and a substantially larger capacity for use as a life boat.

[richwmn]

duplicate

Edited March 21 by richwmn

[richwmn]

duplicate

Edited March 21 by richwmn

[mawvkysc]

4 hours ago, crystalspin said:

Sorry I wasn't clear: this is the final outcome they are looking at per my PCC. Hence when I was looking at Verandahs for 2pax, not seeing any on Observation Deck (on Zuidy where those are all quads). They must have been trying out the program as later I could see that deck for two.

 

We are also in the same position of @Let It Go -- we are booked in a Vista Suite ("our" Vista Suite) for 35-day South Pacific, and it is rated a triple...

 

4 hours ago, AncientWanderer said:

I went back and looked at our bookings.  Most are in triples.  We are booked on the 35-day South Pacific in 2026.  That one is a triple.  I can't imagine booking this early, paying the current high cruise prices, and then being moved to HAL's choice.  

 

Lots to think about.

But what is the chance someone would want three people in a cabin for 35 days? It’s pretty low so you’re probably safe. It is much more probable to happen on a shorter Caribbean or Alaska cruise.  

[retird]

1 hour ago, SUESEABE said:

Not good news. I checked all future bookings for my husband and I and all are in what would be considered triple room.

When selecting a room where does it show me whether it accommodates 2, 3, or 4

[SUESEABE]

@retird 

 

 

Check deck plan map and staterooms will have a symbol to indicate type of cabin.

[POA1]

I'm guessing spring break in the Caribbean on 7 day sailings, some 7 day holiday sailings, and some Alaska cruises during summer vacations. I'm not sure what the demographics are for Europe in summer, or if there are enough short sailings to matter.

 

As 4* Mariners, our 3rd and 4th guests (of which we've had zero in 30 years) sail free. All we pay is taxes, fees and port expenses.

 

We can use our 3rd guest, Poohby Joe, to force ourselves into an aft Neptune Suite. When Poohby Joe "no shows" for the cruise, the TFPE get refunded. By then, it'll be too late to move us out of the Neptune Suite.

 

Cue evil laughter.... "Muwahaha!"

 

Give me 10 minutes, and I will give you a diabolical plan. 😈

 

 

Edited March 21 by POA1

[Blackduck59]

2 hours ago, FlaMariner said:

 

Agree.

 

I'm sure HAL does not want to move folks around but I'm sure it will/does happen. And I'd also hope/think/wish HAL would toss good upgrades/$$$/comps at those that are moved.

 

For us, changing cabins is no big deal.....especially if we get a real upgrade...but I understand that some are very attached to their chosen cabin. 

What you consider an "upgrade" may not be for someone else. Some choose cabins because of location, others for a bigger balcony. Perhaps the location is chosen to put distance between them and the stinky smoking casino (a whole different debate). The point is we put some thought into choosing and paid extra for the privilege. So basically the thought process at head office is everyone is in a guarantee category, and we'll just keep the premium paid by these guests and put them wherever we want, so we can give their cabin to a family where the kids are travelling for free. Not so much. If you're trying to build brand loyalty don't screw over the guests who pay full fare for the cabin they chose.

[julia]

I find this to be disturbing... you book and PAY FOR a certain cabin, entering into a contractual agreement.  The fact that the cruiseline could potentially "bump you" to a lesser (or any other) cabin is utter nonsense! This is why we never sail during summer or holidays.  Ever. Never.

[scooter6139]

1 hour ago, SUESEABE said:

@retird 

 

 

Check deck plan map and staterooms will have a symbol to indicate type of cabin.

Amazingly, this Legend is only partially helpful.  There are no symbols on any of the Suite cabins (Pinnacle-4, Neptune-4, or Signature-3), at least on the Westerdam Deck Plans and Staterooms PDF I downloaded.  I was also trying to figure out the difference in couches/chairs between rooms that are 3 people and those that are only 2 (Verandas), as pictures show they have the same setup.  I guess one just has a pull-out, and the other does not?  

[Haljo1935]

7 minutes ago, scooter6139 said:

I was also trying to figure out the difference in couches/chairs between rooms that are 3 people and those that are only 2 (Verandas), as pictures show they have the same setup.  I guess one just has a pull-out, and the other does not?  

Correct - some cabins have a sofa, others it's a pullout. Thus a 2 person vs 3 person capacity. 

[SetAnOpenCourse]

If I get bumped into the same or better category, no obstruction, tub/no tub to match cabin I chose (fwiw I’m a tub guy), same fwd/mid/aft to match, same size or larger, no noise issue, and within say two decks of the one I chose, then I wouldn’t mind much.  A major cruise line’s system is likely sophisticated enough to handle this.

Edited March 21 by SetAnOpenCourse

[0106]

5 hours ago, richwmn said:

here is a picture of how the life rafts are stowed on Volendam. There are four on each side, with an additional 2 marked for testing only.

I’ve seen those containers for additional life rafts.  Are they open to the sea?  How many people do they hold?  Are they for the crew?

 

5 hours ago, richwmn said:

I just remembered, I believe there are two capacities listed, 150 for tender operations and a substantially larger capacity for use as a life boat.

Could you please check to see how many the tenders hold for use as a life boat.  

 

Last week on the NS, there was a running joke about elevator capacity.  The one I frequently used had a capacity of 18.  We were never able to fit more than 14. Once, with 13 inside, an alarm sounded and the elevator would not move. The crew said someone had to get off because we were over the weight capacity.

 

I hope life rafts never have to be used but if there is an emergency, I hope there is room for everyone.  

[boeckli]

6 hours ago, richwmn said:

In addition, you mention a capacity of 150 for the life boats. I just remembered, I believe there are two capacities listed, 150 for tender operations and a substantially larger capacity for use as a life boat.

 

 

Just looked at my Noordam photos. It states 120 tender/150 lifeboat for the mixed duty ones and 150 for the dedicated lifeboat ones. The capacities may be different on the newer/larger vessels.

[Ipeeinthepools]

4 hours ago, julia said:

I find this to be disturbing... you book and PAY FOR a certain cabin, entering into a contractual agreement.  The fact that the cruiseline could potentially "bump you" to a lesser (or any other) cabin is utter nonsense! This is why we never sail during summer or holidays.  Ever. Never.

Part of that contractual agreement is that you agreed that they can move you.

[MISTER 67]

14 hours ago, Riversedge said:

It seems like they’re shooting themselves in the foot on this one.  Are they forgetting that they cater to an older clientele?  I doubt that many of those are going to fill a cabin for 4 on a long cruise.  This seems totally unrealistic on their part.  Maybe their first priority should be fixing entertainment, not thinking up silly rules.  

HAL has lost their way, they lost us and we are 4 Star Mariners, I doubt that we will ever cruise with them again.

Edited March 21 by MISTER 67

[Ipeeinthepools]

39 minutes ago, MISTER 67 said:

HAL has lost their way, they lost us and we are 4 Star Mariners, I doubt that we will ever cruise with them again.

Bye, sorry we’ll never meet.  Will you be cruising with another cruise line?

[MISTER 67]

2 minutes ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

Bye, sorry we’ll never meet.  Will you be cruising with another cruise line?

We’ve been also cruising with Princess and Celebrity for many years, we also sail with MSC but aren’t wild about the drive to Miami, Port Everglades is our favorite port.

Edited March 21 by MISTER 67

[AncientWanderer]

8 hours ago, mawvkysc said:

 

But what is the chance someone would want three people in a cabin for 35 days? It’s pretty low so you’re probably safe. It is much more probable to happen on a shorter Caribbean or Alaska cruise.

 

From observation, more than you would expect.  Many adults — not just added children.  And it does create crowded public areas, because people doing triple or quad obviously don’t want to spend a lot of time in the cabin.

 

There is a big promotion going on — probably why the PCCs have their orders.  378 cruises — 133 of them 17 days or longer.
 

Edited March 21 by AncientWanderer

[Cruise Suzy]

7 hours ago, scooter6139 said:

Amazingly, this Legend is only partially helpful.  There are no symbols on any of the Suite cabins (Pinnacle-4, Neptune-4, or Signature-3), at least on the Westerdam Deck Plans and Staterooms PDF I downloaded.

 

If there are no symbols, then the stateroom capacity is 2 persons.