Nice prices on the Alaska cruises this year.

[happy cruzer]

Wow, just noticed some of the good prices on the alaska cruises again this year.

A couple even have the 3rd and 4th passenger sails free. Some others it's $99 each.

http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/OnlineAdOffers.action?specialOfferType=onadACT&WT.mc_id=Partner_CC_US

This link is from right here on CC.

Hope some folks can enjoy and safe some bucks.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I saw those prices. Don't know if it is just a special sale right now or not. Many of those cruises were a lot higher about 2 months ago.

The west coast people are going to grab those up quickly.

[fann1sh]

Looks like this season is shaping up a lot like last season.

I had decided Alaska solo cruises were out of reach of my budget.....until May 2009, when I got an irresistible price for end of July/first of August.

It will be interesting to see if this price trend continues past the shoulder season, into high season, like last year.

[arlodog]

I wanted to go last summer due to the low prices, but we decided to wait and go this year to celebrate our 25th. Booked, and now the prices have started to drop. Called and moved up from an inside to an obstructed oceanview for less than the inside was originally along with a price reduction. ;)

Hope the prices continue to drop and I can eventually move to a balcony! (without paying big bucks of course) Got spoiled on our last cruise in a Jr. Suite on RCCL. But will just be glad to finally see Alaska!

[happy cruzer]

So has anyone sailed on the cruises in the past that offered the discounts on 3rd and 4th passengers? I've always wondered if you could tell that had been offered by the crowd/mix onboard.

[iamaqt2]

So has anyone sailed on the cruises in the past that offered the discounts on 3rd and 4th passengers? I've always wondered if you could tell that had been offered by the crowd/mix onboard.


Not really an answer to your question, but a generalization...

DH and I were originally booked on the Rotterdam to Alaska for our 10th anniversary. Then HAL offered 3rd and 4th pax free, so we decided that made it affordable enough to bring DD and DS along. We switched over to the Oosterdam because there weren't any quad balconies on the Rotterdam.

Also we are sailing in mid May when most kids are still in school, including ours. It was a tough decision to take them out for a week, but we decided it would be easier now, than when DD enters high school. Initially there were only 43 kids total sailing. Now there are almost 100.

So IMO, I would guess that offering 3/4 free is a great incentive for bringing the family along.

[CtheW0rld]

i saw a good deal, too. $499 pp for a 7-day cruise. airfare was $800, though, so i had to pass.

[Himself]

Get them while the "gettin is good."

[PennyAgain]

Thanks HAL! This really helps me.

[iLurker]

Wow, just noticed some of the good prices on the alaska cruises again this year.

A couple even have the 3rd and 4th passenger sails free. Some others it's $99 each.

http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/OnlineAdOffers.action?specialOfferType=onadACT&WT.mc_id=Partner_CC_US

This link is from right here on CC.

Hope some folks can enjoy and safe some bucks.

I just checked out one of these fares, and the discount did not come through. I chose the 7-day Alaska Explorer on ms Rotterdam, July 17 departure, which says you can "Add a 3rd & 4th guest from $99". I said there were 4 in my party, and chose Inside Stateroom L. The resulting Fare Details shows the price for the 3rd and 4th guest as $399 per person, not $99. Moreover, the overall price of the cruise is $500 more than I paid for the same stateroom category on the 7-day Alaskan cruise on ms Zaandam that departs the day before on July 16th (I booked in late February).

It looks to me like prices have gone up, not down. :confused:

[KAYEF]

So has anyone sailed on the cruises in the past that offered the discounts on 3rd and 4th passengers? I've always wondered if you could tell that had been offered by the crowd/mix onboard.
I took my D-I-L and Grandson on a 7 day over his Spring Break (on the "O"). When I booked, my grandson was just $99. but a few weeks later, they changed it to 3rd and 4th were FREE.
Since I've never before taken a 7 day cruise (I like LONG), I don't know the cause of having almost 2,200 people on that ship..........Spring Break/trouble in Mexico/Free passengers.
We decided many parents had told their college kids "no going to Mexico" for Spring Break cuz there were a lot of college kids (4 in a cabin for the price of 2? good deal............let's go) but there were also a lot of young families with small kids (FUN to watch them having a good time).
The demographic was definitely different on this cruise. The pool was ALWAYS packed with young kids, jumping, splashing, having fun. I imagine this made some people unhappy but we just enjoyed watching their delight.
:D

[epixx]

We're a family of 4 and are sailing on the 14 day Amsterdam August 9th because it's an incredible bargain for 4 in a cabin. The 3rd and 4th passengers are free, except for port charges and taxes, so the cost is almost the same as the 7 day Oosterdam we were considering for a similar time frame. I realize that not as many families will be aboard a 14 day cruise, but at least the ship stops in lots of ports, and that's the reason we're going (other than price).

[schoolinmy3]

I just checked out one of these fares, and the discount did not come through. I chose the 7-day Alaska Explorer on ms Rotterdam, July 17 departure, which says you can "Add a 3rd & 4th guest from $99". I said there were 4 in my party, and chose Inside Stateroom L. The resulting Fare Details shows the price for the 3rd and 4th guest as $399 per person, not $99. Moreover, the overall price of the cruise is $500 more than I paid for the same stateroom category on the 7-day Alaskan cruise on ms Zaandam that departs the day before on July 16th (I booked in late February).

It looks to me like prices have gone up, not down. :confused:

I tried to duplicate what you did and came up with $199 for 3rd and 4th guests. Booking early though often gives you the best price. For our Mediterranean cruise prices went up after we booked and haven't come down yet and now most of the categories are closed. We were able to get 3rd passenger in an inside for that cruise at a reduced fare during a sale and also during the verandah sale got our second stateroom at a great price in a VD category.
diane

[Aruba]

Those prices are good. The problem is the airfare -- those prices would be out of sight, at least for those of us on the east coast.

[katmai]

Those prices are good. The problem is the airfare -- those prices would be out of sight, at least for those of us on the east coast.

We grabbed a flash sale (5/23 Statendam).
It was $450+tax for oceanview. It was actually $120 more expensive than a similar last minute HAL Alaska cruise we took a year ago in May.
However, this time I was able to book the open-jaw flights using 25k miles.
Both AA & UA has one-way award this year, so I used 12500 miles for SJC-ANC & another 12500 for YVR-SFO. The award flight ticket will otherwise cost around $450. Quite a good deal.

[Opinions]

Those prices are good. The problem is the airfare -- those prices would be out of sight, at least for those of us on the east coast.

Agree!...I was interested but when I checked some airfares they were much higher than I thought they woud be.

[Aruba]

We grabbed a flash sale (5/23 Statendam).
It was $450+tax for oceanview. It was actually $120 more expensive than a similar last minute HAL Alaska cruise we took a year ago in May.
However, this time I was able to book the open-jaw flights using 25k miles.
Both AA & UA has one-way award this year, so I used 12500 miles for SJC-ANC & another 12500 for YVR-SFO. The award flight ticket will otherwise cost around $450. Quite a good deal.
That's an incredible deal on airfare! Congratulations.

[fud2468]

I hope I'm not getting off topic here, but--we've been to Alaska before on another line and would like to try HAL the next time. We do not fear flying but it's very taxing for us to do it, and we prefer not to have to.
Does HAL ever have cruises to/from San Francisco to Alaska?
Ray Mac.

[Aruba]

I don't know but a quick check on HAL's website would answer that question.

[cruie4ever]

Here is a possible answer to those who want to go to Alaska & have those air fare woes.

contact Bank of America credit cards . Ask them if they still have the BofA Alaska airlines credit card & if you want it (cost $75 per year ) does it still have the companion fare on Alaska airlines ? It should still be available . We booked a Alaska airlines flight from Anchorage to San Diego (long flight) & got 2 first class tickets .My DWs ticket was $50 for the companion fare & $29 taxes . My ticket was full cost . However ,we don't pay for luggage ,the seating is far better ,free food & drinks & we don't need to insure the sirfare as first class is completely 100% refundable (cuts down ins premium costs) .My DW loves it . We also got a heck of a price on our 2 cruises .

Hope this helps some folks with their airfare costs





The credit card companion fare is also good for coach ticketing

[LindaM]

I hope I'm not getting off topic here, but--we've been to Alaska before on another line and would like to try HAL the next time. We do not fear flying but it's very taxing for us to do it, and we prefer not to have to.
Does HAL ever have cruises to/from San Francisco to Alaska?
Ray Mac.

I would be interested in SF too, but so far, HAL doesn't have anything. Princess has a 10 day from SF.

[fann1sh]

I hope I'm not getting off topic here, but--we've been to Alaska before on another line and would like to try HAL the next time. We do not fear flying but it's very taxing for us to do it, and we prefer not to have to.
Does HAL ever have cruises to/from San Francisco to Alaska?
Ray Mac.


September 18 Zuiderdam starts in Vancouver and disembarks in San Francisco - 10 days - includes Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm.

[tamsocal]

Not really an answer to your question, but a generalization...

DH and I were originally booked on the Rotterdam to Alaska for our 10th anniversary. Then HAL offered 3rd and 4th pax free, so we decided that made it affordable enough to bring DD and DS along. We switched over to the Oosterdam because there weren't any quad balconies on the Rotterdam.

Also we are sailing in mid May when most kids are still in school, including ours. It was a tough decision to take them out for a week, but we decided it would be easier now, than when DD enters high school. Initially there were only 43 kids total sailing. Now there are almost 100.

So IMO, I would guess that offering 3/4 free is a great incentive for bringing the family along.

we were cruising with our children regardless of 3rd/4th passenger cost but now might bring along a nanny to assist with the kids-- just haven't decided who the lucky one will be that gets to come along :) (babysitter, grandma, niece, friend, etc- we already have volunteers:))