CABIN REASSIGNED

[TRLD]

1 hour ago, cccole said:

I agree that you do not always choose your hotel room, however, if you do not like the room you are given you usually have options. And, if prior to arrival, you can most often choose another hotel.  This is not an option on a cruise ship.  It's not apples to apples. 

 

And, does it matter how many people get moved?  Maybe not to you, but to those that get moved from their chosen cabin it is a big deal.  I really don't care how small the number is or if it's me or someone else.  If HAL does this they should make it up to the passenger with OBC.  Future Cruise Credits are worthless if HAL has treated you horribly.  JMO. Cherie 

However it is not just HAL, it is Princess, Celebrity. All of the main stream lines. They are all taking steps to make full use of their inventory.

 

As far as HAL goes they have always had the option to move people for operational reasons. Happened to me in the past. It was a low probability event but it did happen.  Do not expect this to impact very many either. Especially if people make sure they pay attention and book capacity 2 rooms. Which may just free up enough 3/4 rooms by itself.

 

Marking a reservation as no upgrade has no impact.

 

 

 

 

[cbr663]

3 hours ago, forevercruising1 said:

I don’t know — it is likely.  Since we booked with the Future Cruise Consultant onboard in December, 2023, we didn’t think our cabin selections would be in jeopardy.  We always mark “Do not upgrade” in our bookings, so we are used to actually getting to sail in the cabins we select and pay for; now that HAL is changing its policies and not honoring us as “grandfathered in,” it is very likely that we will make other vacation plans.  — Very frustrating now that we have finally earned Three Star.

 

The unfortunate thing is that early booking doesn't provide any assurance as HAL can put any cruise that may not be selling well under any promotion it wants to try and get more people onboard.  The goal is to have occupancy above 100% as the more people sailing the higher the onboard spend.

 

For us, this is yet another poor policy and another reason why we don't have any cruises booked with HAL right now.  We have turned elsewhere for our travel plans.

[CruisingHogFan]

Interesting and first I’ve heard of this as first time sailing with Holland (usually sail Royal/Celebrity but not known for best Alaska) . I have a 2025 Alaska cruise booked with my parents. We booked connecting rooms. A double for my parents and us in a quad but there are only 3 of us. There aren’t many connecting cabins so this was our only choice.

If the bump the 3 of us out of the quad I will cancel the entire trip

[cccole]

12 minutes ago, CruisingHogFan said:

Interesting and first I’ve heard of this as first time sailing with Holland (usually sail Royal/Celebrity but not known for best Alaska) . I have a 2025 Alaska cruise booked with my parents. We booked connecting rooms. A double for my parents and us in a quad but there are only 3 of us. There aren’t many connecting cabins so this was our only choice.

If the bump the 3 of us out of the quad I will cancel the entire trip

I so agree with you.  However if they change your cabin after final payment can you still cancel without penalty?  That's my issue, changing your cabin choice when you have no option, that would really p*** me off.  Cherie. p.s.  Our first cruise to Alaska was with Celebrity and it was awesome. 

Edited August 18 by cccole

[oaktreerb]

23 minutes ago, CruisingHogFan said:

Interesting and first I’ve heard of this as first time sailing with Holland (usually sail Royal/Celebrity but not known for best Alaska) . I have a 2025 Alaska cruise booked with my parents. We booked connecting rooms. A double for my parents and us in a quad but there are only 3 of us. There aren’t many connecting cabins so this was our only choice.

If the bump the 3 of us out of the quad I will cancel the entire trip

I think you will be fine.  You have 3 in the quad. Enjoy Alaska!

[forevercruising1]

10 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

I agree with other posters, given that it's a holiday sailing there are likely to be families looking for triples and quads, so I wouldn't gamble on being able to keep the quads you've booked. 

 

By "leftovers" I suppose you mean less than desirable cabins. That's the risk of letting HAL choose where to move you, especially if the move is made late in the game. Have you looked to see what's available now? If you resign yourself to having an ordinary balcony, are there any available cabins that would be acceptable? 

 

 

We have looked and there is nothing even remotely close to being as nice as  the two cabins we specifically chose for this sailing. 

Edited August 18 by forevercruising1

[KruisinKath]

7 hours ago, forevercruising1 said:

 

We have looked and there is nothing even remotely close to being as nice as  the two cabins we specifically chose for this sailing. 

My PCC booked me in the corner aft Neptune Suite for July 2025 a couple days before the cruise showed up on the website last July. My sister and her boyfriend are next to us on the aft and my mom is next to us on the side. Our bookings are linked. But I’m the only one with a symbol on the deck plan (triple) and it’s just me and my boyfriend in the cabin. So now I’m worried we could get moved!  I booked that early so I could get that specific cabin! 

[Wehwalt]

1 hour ago, KruisinKath said:

My PCC booked me in the corner aft Neptune Suite for July 2025 a couple days before the cruise showed up on the website last July. My sister and her boyfriend are next to us on the aft and my mom is next to us on the side. Our bookings are linked. But I’m the only one with a symbol on the deck plan (triple) and it’s just me and my boyfriend in the cabin. So now I’m worried we could get moved!  I booked that early so I could get that specific cabin! 

No one has mentioned being moved between Neptunes under the policy.

[3rdGenCunarder]

1 hour ago, KruisinKath said:

My PCC booked me in the corner aft Neptune Suite for July 2025 a couple days before the cruise showed up on the website last July. My sister and her boyfriend are next to us on the aft and my mom is next to us on the side. Our bookings are linked. But I’m the only one with a symbol on the deck plan (triple) and it’s just me and my boyfriend in the cabin. So now I’m worried we could get moved!  I booked that early so I could get that specific cabin! 

 

I don't think there are any Neptunes that are doubles. On the ships I've sailed, the corner afts have a single sofa bed and the rest of the Neptunes have a double sofa bed. So there's no double Neptune that HAL can move you to. On some ships, the Signature suites are all triples.

 

What bothers me about this is that singles and couples pay for two people in a cabin. Kids sail free promos show up often and that means only the two adults pay for the cabin. SAME PRICE. Yeah, yeah, onboard spending, we've all heard that excuse. But is chasing that onboard money (which isn't guaranteed) worth alienating someone who has already booked and will now cancel?

 

I hope anyone who does cancel over this issue makes the reason very clear when cancelling.

Edited August 18 by 3rdGenCunarder

[atexsix]

12 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

I don't think there are any Neptunes that are doubles. On the ships I've sailed, the corner afts have a single sofa bed and the rest of the Neptunes have a double sofa bed. So there's no double Neptune that HAL can move you to. On some ships, the Signature suites are all triples.

 

What bothers me about this is that singles and couples pay for two people in a cabin. Kids sail free promos show up often and that means only the two adults pay for the cabin. SAME PRICE. Yeah, yeah, onboard spending, we've all heard that excuse. But is chasing that onboard money (which isn't guaranteed) worth alienating someone who has already booked and will now cancel?

 

I hope anyone who does cancel over this issue makes the reason very clear when cancelling.

Apparently it is worth it to them.  I felt sorry for the cruise lines during the pandemic.  But not anymore.  Like most industries the bean counters upstairs that have probably never set foot on a ship are the ones making the rules now.  It's fine with me, there are plenty of 5 star land based resorts that'll gladly take my money, solo or otherwise.

[3rdGenCunarder]

14 hours ago, CNSJ said:

This is why we ask our reservations to be marked DO NOT AUTO UPGRADE.  

The VQ is NOT an upgrade in my opinion from a VA-VB-VC-VD-VE, only from an obstructed balcony.  The yoga mat, smaller balcony, and high forward location aren't my idea of an upgrade.

 

I don't get it. If I do a search for veranda cabins for my January cruise, very little is available now, only VB and VQ. The price difference on the page where you choose a category shows the VQ as $660 more for an 11-day cruise. $60 per day for a yoga mat (which I wouldn't even use???)

 

Fortunately, my VC is a double, and not a connecting cabin or an accessible cabin, so I think I will be okay where I am.

[ebtrip]

17 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

I don't think there are any Neptunes that are doubles. On the ships I've sailed, the corner afts have a single sofa bed and the rest of the Neptunes have a double sofa bed. So there's no double Neptune that HAL can move you to. On some ships, the Signature suites are all triples.

 

What bothers me about this is that singles and couples pay for two people in a cabin. Kids sail free promos show up often and that means only the two adults pay for the cabin. SAME PRICE. Yeah, yeah, onboard spending, we've all heard that excuse. But is chasing that onboard money (which isn't guaranteed) worth alienating someone who has already booked and will now cancel?

 

I hope anyone who does cancel over this issue makes the reason very clear when cancelling.

I not only paid for 3 cabins for myself and my grown children,I added HIA and club Orange. I’m sure that the family’s don’t add an additional $700.00 to their cabin cost.

[coolbluegreenseas]

15 hours ago, TRLD said:

Of course in most hotels you cannot select your specific room at all.

Hilton and Marriott allow you to select a room at checkin. 

[srsurman]

Just to play devil's advocate, and no, I'm not going to do a dummy booking.

 

Since I'm one of those that have stayed in one cabin with 4 (gasp!) people, if I do a search for 4 on a cruise, will it show me quads are available if only a party of two booked it?  My guess it would say no availability...and if that's the case, how would one even go about getting a cabin (and therefore getting somebody moved)?  Are we saying only 4 and 5 star mariners have that kind of pull?  If this policy is geared for newbies, how does a newbie receive that kind of clout with HAL?

[3rdGenCunarder]

2 minutes ago, srsurman said:

Just to play devil's advocate, and no, I'm not going to do a dummy booking.

 

Since I'm one of those that have stayed in one cabin with 4 (gasp!) people, if I do a search for 4 on a cruise, will it show me quads are available if only a party of two booked it?  My guess it would say no availability...and if that's the case, how would one even go about getting a cabin (and therefore getting somebody moved)?  Are we saying only 4 and 5 star mariners have that kind of pull?  If this policy is geared for newbies, how does a newbie receive that kind of clout with HAL?

 

Mariner status seems to have no clout with HAL. 

 

I don't know how many people use the website vs TA or PCC. I don't think the website will show you a quad that is booked by two people. Not sure about the systems TAs use, but perhaps if people call HAL to make a booking a HAL agent can see that?

 

More likely, it's about placing quad and triple guarantees, which is why people who were bumped tend to find out fairly late. 

[waiting2retire]

6 minutes ago, srsurman said:

Just to play devil's advocate, and no, I'm not going to do a dummy booking.

 

Since I'm one of those that have stayed in one cabin with 4 (gasp!) people, if I do a search for 4 on a cruise, will it show me quads are available if only a party of two booked it?  My guess it would say no availability...and if that's the case, how would one even go about getting a cabin (and therefore getting somebody moved)?  Are we saying only 4 and 5 star mariners have that kind of pull?  If this policy is geared for newbies, how does a newbie receive that kind of clout with HAL?

Maybe the issue arises if a party of 3 or 4 booked a guarantee and it comes to light when the guarantee cabins are being assigned?

 

[coolbluegreenseas]

I am wondering if HAL should advertise this way: “ Family of 3 or 4, welcome to the ship.  A single or duet? Take your chances and good luck”

 

The best thing singles and couples can do is patronize businesses that actually want you. HAL’s new policy is making it clear they’ll take your money, but treat you with less respect than a family. There are cruises and land based organizations that restrict children and after this December HAL cruise, all my vacation funds are going to those companies.

[Roz]

It's clear HAL is shifting its focus to a different demographic.  When I took a cruise with my sister and her 2 friends, we booked 2 cabins. No way were we going to cram into one cabin like 4 20 somethings doing a girls getaway cruise. 😄

[ebtrip]

31 minutes ago, coolbluegreenseas said:

I am wondering if HAL should advertise this way: “ Family of 3 or 4, welcome to the ship.  A single or duet? Take your chances and good luck”

 

The best thing singles and couples can do is patronize businesses that actually want you. HAL’s new policy is making it clear they’ll take your money, but treat you with less respect than a family. There are cruises and land based organizations that restrict children and after this December HAL cruise, all my vacation funds are going to those companies.

I’ve sailed on Viking Ocean for the past 3 years. NO CHILDREN, NO CASINOS, NO PHOTOGRAPHERS.  Wine and beer served with lunch and dinner.  Definitely a more mature quiet cruise, but ports filled interested cruisers. Food is wonderful, no charge for specialty restaurants. 930 passengers, all balcony cabins. 

[coolbluegreenseas]

15 minutes ago, ebtrip said:

I’ve sailed on Viking Ocean for the past 3 years. NO CHILDREN, NO CASINOS, NO PHOTOGRAPHERS.  Wine and beer served with lunch and dinner.  Definitely a more mature quiet cruise, but ports filled interested cruisers. Food is wonderful, no charge for specialty restaurants. 930 passengers, all balcony cabins. 

I have Viking in my sights as I like their itineraries. Also, Windstar is an option. The reason I booked with HAL this time is the ship is smaller than most mass market and the ease for us to get to FLL. I wanted Windstar but the dates did not line up well. I am very displeased with the “take yer changes” policy and the lousy drink package that counts non-alcoholic drinks towards the daily total unless you bump it up. My TA was very surprised they did that. I am not going to cancel as I expect we will have a very good time, but until they change, never again.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

15 hours ago, CruisingHogFan said:

Interesting and first I’ve heard of this as first time sailing with Holland (usually sail Royal/Celebrity but not known for best Alaska) . I have a 2025 Alaska cruise booked with my parents. We booked connecting rooms. A double for my parents and us in a quad but there are only 3 of us. There aren’t many connecting cabins so this was our only choice.

If the bump the 3 of us out of the quad I will cancel the entire trip

As stated you will be fine with the triple in the quad stateroom but make sure your parents reservation is linked to yours. With being a connecting stateroom and they are linked together it is not likely they would make any changes. 

[ebtrip]

5 minutes ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

As stated you will be fine with the triple in the quad stateroom but make sure your parents reservation is linked to yours. With being a connecting stateroom and they are linked together it is not likely they would make any changes. 

Our 3 cabins were linked, they were booked together and cabins were next to each other. HAL CHANGED all the cabins and did next put us next to each other in the change. My PCC relocated us together again after I notified him of the change.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

1 minute ago, ebtrip said:

Our 3 cabins were linked, they were booked together and cabins were next to each other. HAL CHANGED all the cabins and did next put us next to each other in the change. My PCC relocated us together again after I notified him of the change.

I am glad your PCC assisted in the change, unfortunately what happened to you was rare. This honestly is not happening in large percentages like this thread is perceiving. Were any of your cabins you had adjoining staterooms(connecting interior door)?

[ebtrip]

2 minutes ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

I am glad your PCC assisted in the change, unfortunately what happened to you was rare. This honestly is not happening in large percentages like this thread is perceiving. Were any of your cabins you had adjoining staterooms(connecting interior door)?

No they were not adjoining. When I booked these cabins in January there was no rule regarding quad cabins. I booked HAL because we have decided to stay closer to home port instead of flying all over the world, as we have done for the past 40 years. 

[KruisinKath]

3 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

I don't think there are any Neptunes that are doubles. On the ships I've sailed, the corner afts have a single sofa bed and the rest of the Neptunes have a double sofa bed. So there's no double Neptune that HAL can move you to. On some ships, the Signature suites are all triples.

 

What bothers me about this is that singles and couples pay for two people in a cabin. Kids sail free promos show up often and that means only the two adults pay for the cabin. SAME PRICE. Yeah, yeah, onboard spending, we've all heard that excuse. But is chasing that onboard money (which isn't guaranteed) worth alienating someone who has already booked and will now cancel?

 

I hope anyone who does cancel over this issue makes the reason very clear when cancelling.

Unless I was reading the deck plans wrong, there WERE Neptune suites that didn’t have any symbols, which is why I was worried.  I’ll go back and check again though…