HIA refundable deposit - is this new?

[The4OfUs]

Hi there!

 

We just booked a cruise on the Zuiderdam for Sept 2025, and asked for the HIA package - but this time the booking confirmation documentation has a new item - refundable deposit. That's not on our Jan 2025 Rotterdam cruise confirmation, although we reserved that one 14 months ahead and this one is 17 months, so that might be it? I can't find anything about this on the website or other sites, and I'm checking with our TA, but wondered if anyone here has any insights while I wait?  😛  

 

 

Thanks!  🙂

Monique

Edited April 15 by The4OfUs
misspelling

[crystalspin]

"Best Value" fare (including HIA) has always been refundable, while "Best Price" fare has not. There is a third level fare, called "Advantage" that you can call (or ask your PCC) and get that has a refundable deposit but no perks. I don't believe that buying HIA separately invokes refundability, just the original fare.

 

They may have just added it to the list. 

[Cruise Suzy]

6 minutes ago, The4OfUs said:

We just booked a cruise on the Zuiderdam for Sept 2025, and asked for the HIA package - but this time the booking confirmation documentation has a new item - refundable deposit. That's not on our Jan 2025 Rotterdam cruise confirmation, although we reserved that one 14 months ahead and this one is 17 months, so that might be it?

 

5 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

They may have just added it to the list. 

 

It just appeared for the first time on our confirmations in March for our December 2025 and March 2026 cruises. HAL often changes how they list included "perks" in that section.

 

Just to be doubly sure your January 2025 deposit is refundable, you can check the date on which Cancellation Fees Begin for it - on page 2, just above the Special Services and Included Items

 

[The4OfUs]

My TA just called me after talking to Holland, and said "I had NO idea, but you're right, the deposit is fully refundable!"

 

Apparently we booked under the Have It All Plus promotion for the Sept 2025 "7-Day Canada & New England Circle: New Brunswick" cruise - something he had never heard of until I asked about this. 🙂  I had been just holding the room until we decided for sure, but we just put the full deposit down as a result. 😄 

[POA1]

The HIA-included fares havehad refundable deposits going back to at least last spring, probably earlier.

[seagarsmoker]

1 hour ago, POA1 said:

The HIA-included fares havehad refundable deposits going back to at least last spring, probably earlier.

Ditto as I checked the 2 cruises we booked last April and both say refundable deposits.  

[The4OfUs]

15 hours ago, POA1 said:

The HIA-included fares havehad refundable deposits going back to at least last spring, probably earlier.

 

14 hours ago, seagarsmoker said:

Ditto as I checked the 2 cruises we booked last April and both say refundable deposits.  

 

Interesting!! Thank you, that's good to know - it's not on our documents for the Jan 2025 9 day Rotterdam cruise that we booked Oct 29, 2023, which is just silly, it's a great marketing tool they could use to get earlier bookings!  😛  

 

 

[CruiserBruce]

Have had HIA on our last 3 cruises, back to 2022. All have had refundable deposits.

[rodndonna]

We currently have 2 bookings with HAL that are both HIA ...

 

One for Sept 2024 booked more recently (a couple of months ago) ...

it does itemize "refundable" in the Special Services

 

One for Dec 2024 booked much earlier in time (more than a year ago)

it does not itemize being "refundable" in Special Services (but still clearly is refundable from the Cancellation Fees table)

 

So - from our experience - yes - HIA bookings have been refundable for quite some time, BUT, "itemizing" it in Special Services is new(ish)

 

 

[ChinaShrek]

This is great to know and I don't see why people would book cruise only non-refundable.

[kazu]

35 minutes ago, ChinaShrek said:

This is great to know and I don't see why people would book cruise only non-refundable.

 

Sometimes you have no choice - for example casino sailings are non refundable - you need to purchase HAL”s CPP the day of booking if you want protection.

[SeaMatesNYC]

38 minutes ago, ChinaShrek said:

This is great to know and I don't see why people would book cruise only non-refundable.

Or if you are being offered a “private fare” thru HAL (not a casino or free inside offer) and the add on of HIA post booking is financially advantageous. 

[ChinaShrek]

22 hours ago, SeaMatesNYC said:

Or if you are being offered a “private fare” thru HAL (not a casino or free inside offer) and the add on of HIA post booking is financially advantageous. 

How much is HIA now if you add it on after booking?

[SeaMatesNYC]

4 minutes ago, ChinaShrek said:

How much is HIA now if you add it on after booking?

The last time I did so it was offered at $55 per day per person. This was in February of this year. I am told that it is not always an available option but I have always seen it show up for us among the add ons through the booking on HAL’s website. 

[Zeno]

On 4/16/2024 at 8:11 AM, The4OfUs said:

 

 

Interesting!! Thank you, that's good to know - it's not on our documents for the Jan 2025 9 day Rotterdam cruise that we booked Oct 29, 2023, which is just silly, it's a great marketing tool they could use to get earlier bookings!  😛  

 

 

Where on you confirmation does this list of "Special Services and Included items"  appear?

[Cruise Suzy]

8 minutes ago, Zeno said:

Where on you confirmation does this list of "Special Services and Included items"  appear?

 

On page 2 - just below the Cancellation Fees Schedule

[Zeno]

Thx I will try to find it again

[crystalspin]

13 hours ago, Zeno said:

Where on you confirmation does this list of "Special Services and Included items"  appear?

Mine are on page 3, alone.