Annoyed by HAL ads Internet & mail

[mszula]

I just received an email ad from HAL. They have a 10 day Caribbean cruise listed for $499. Great. I realize that I won't get that price on each of the dates listed; but curious as to which dates appy. Guess what? Check each date on their site and NONE of days have a price that low.

This isn't the first time that has happened. It is also hard to decipher the dates of great prices in their mailings... which I seem to receive at least 3 times per week.

I got a mailing ad from Princess the other day, which is new line for us. In each cruise ad they had the date of the price listed in bold to separate it from the other dates. I was impressed. Event though we have $300+ on board credit with HAL for compensation from our awful Statendam cruise they are impressing me less and less.

[pms4104]

Normally, for special sale rates, there is a promo code required to get that lower price, and the promo code is shown in the email or snail mail, perhaps in small print at the bottom. Those lower prices do not come up magically on the website ... you likely need to call either HAL or your T/A and, using the promo code, request prices for your desired ships and sailing dates.

[luvs2travl]

Normally, for special sale rates, there is a promo code required to get that lower price, and the promo code is shown in the email or snail mail, perhaps in small print at the bottom. Those lower prices do not come up magically on the website ... you likely need to call either HAL or your T/A and, using the promo code, request prices for your desired ships and sailing dates.

100% agree. We got our wonderful 19-day Panama Canal re-positioning cruise through one of their mail promo offers. Called our TA and gave them the promo code listed at the bottom, they called HAL and that price was confirmed and we booked immediately. Though HAL works their promotions a bit different than Princess, both are great cruise lines that honor their price quotes as long as there are cabins available on the particular cruise being advertised.

You just need to remember to CALL Holland America or your travel agent and give them the promo code, rather than try to go through their website. Not a big deal, really :) !

[Loyal2RCCL]

On the HAL promotions they also list the sailing that those prices are based on... check in the fine print and it should say "Above prices based on 1/22/11 sailing" or something like that.

[mszula]

Thanks to you both regarding the regular mailed ads. This one in particular was an email. Stated this 10 day Caribbean cruise from $499. Several dates (approx 5) for this particular cruise were listed beginning in Nov ending in January. I checked each date as it appeared in the email itself. None were listed as $499. No where was there any mention of special promotion other than what I have mentioned. I would list a link to the email if I were that computer savvy; but alas.....

[Jade13]

I just received an email ad from HAL. They have a 10 day Caribbean cruise listed for $499. Great. I realize that I won't get that price on each of the dates listed; but curious as to which dates appy. Guess what? Check each date on their site and NONE of days have a price that low.

This isn't the first time that has happened. It is also hard to decipher the dates of great prices in their mailings... which I seem to receive at least 3 times per week.

I got a mailing ad from Princess the other day, which is new line for us. In each cruise ad they had the date of the price listed in bold to separate it from the other dates. I was impressed. Event though we have $300+ on board credit with HAL for compensation from our awful Statendam cruise they are impressing me less and less.

What was awful that they gave you $300.00 OBC? Sorry if I missed your review.

[Linda&Vern]

I just received an email ad from HAL. They have a 10 day Caribbean cruise listed for $499. Great. I realize that I won't get that price on each of the dates listed; but curious as to which dates appy. Guess what? Check each date on their site and NONE of days have a price that low.

This isn't the first time that has happened. It is also hard to decipher the dates of great prices in their mailings... which I seem to receive at least 3 times per week.

I got a mailing ad from Princess the other day, which is new line for us. In each cruise ad they had the date of the price listed in bold to separate it from the other dates. I was impressed. Event though we have $300+ on board credit with HAL for compensation from our awful Statendam cruise they are impressing me less and less.

Did you try to book the cruise using your Mariner # ? Sometimes that changes the rate!

Good luck!

[Krazy Kruizers]

e-mails -- regular mail -- we don't get any mailings of any type for cruises from HAL.

[Mary Ellen]

e-mails -- regular mail -- we don't get any mailings of any type for cruises from HAL.We get both. :D

[airlink diva]

e-mails -- regular mail -- we don't get any mailings of any type for cruises from HAL.

I'm surprise because you cruise alot more than I do. My last HAL sailing was in 2008 and I get e-mail and regular mail from them often.
They even updated the birthday e-mail with my name on the cake.

[dewong2008]

Thanks to you both regarding the regular mailed ads. This one in particular was an email. Stated this 10 day Caribbean cruise from $499. Several dates (approx 5) for this particular cruise were listed beginning in Nov ending in January. I checked each date as it appeared in the email itself. None were listed as $499. No where was there any mention of special promotion other than what I have mentioned. I would list a link to the email if I were that computer savvy; but alas.....

You may be able to copy and paste the e-mail into a response...although, I don't know if that is allowed.:)

[iceman93]

Regarding who gets the HAL sale offers, we have an interesting dynamic in my house. We have au pairs who help us with child care at home. They come for a year and live with us, then it's time for a new one. Several have gone on a cruise or two with us, so they become Mariners. We still get snail mail ALL THE TIME for these au pairs who have cruised once or twice (and who no longer live with us, but HAL doesn't know that). My wife and I, who are about to pass the 100-day threshold, get nothing.

My theory is that their marketing department has (correctly) calculated that they don't need to spend money sending my wife and I sale offers--we'll book more HAL cruises anyway. But they are working hard to court the new HAL customers and to turn them into truly loyal repeat guests...

[peaches from georgia]

.......
My theory is that their marketing department has (correctly) calculated that they don't need to spend money sending my wife and I sale offers--we'll book more HAL cruises anyway. But they are working hard to court the new HAL customers and to turn them into truly loyal repeat guests...
You're exactly right. When we were cruising with HAL 2 or more times a year we never got mailings or emails. Now that we haven't cruised at all in several years and have a cruise booked on Seabourn (would HAL know that?) we get several snail mail brochures and offers every week plus emails.

[RedmondCruiser]

Sometimes HAL has "flash sales". Its a mystery as to how long these flash sales last. Possibly minutes. We booked a B to B and found that that promo of $100 Cruise credit and a free dinner in the Pinnacle were not on the statement. Called the TA and he said that HAL would not honor it because it was a flash sale. Finally got the dinner but we never saw the cruise credit.

HAL should have the business sense to realize that hollow promises leave bad feelings. Either come through with the offers or don't make them

[Krazy Kruizers]

I get lots of brochures by mail and lots of offers by mail and e-mail for Princess.

I also get lots of e-mails from Carnival and the Yachts of Seabourn - and have never sailed on them.

[luvs2travl]

My theory is that their marketing department has (correctly) calculated that they don't need to spend money sending my wife and I sale offers--we'll book more HAL cruises anyway. But they are working hard to court the new HAL customers and to turn them into truly loyal repeat guests...


We have over 100 days with HAL and do at least 2 cruises a year with them, and still get their mailings. Maybe they are trying to get us to do 3 cruises a year......:D

We do only have one booked for next year tho' ----(so far!) :)

[surfergirle]

Sometimes HAL has "flash sales". Its a mystery as to how long these flash sales last. Possibly minutes. We booked a B to B and found that that promo of $100 Cruise credit and a free dinner in the Pinnacle were not on the statement. Called the TA and he said that HAL would not honor it because it was a flash sale. Finally got the dinner but we never saw the cruise credit.

HAL should have the business sense to realize that hollow promises leave bad feelings. Either come through with the offers or don't make them

Yes, just happened to us, upgraded because of a flash sale and lost everthing that was in our original booking. Way to go HAL.
This happened today!

[sevenseasnomad]

e-mails -- regular mail -- we don't get any mailings of any type for cruises from HAL.

Neither do we. We currently have two cruises booked. Could this have something to do with not getting emails?

[RuthC]

Neither do we. We currently have two cruises booked. Could this have something to do with not getting emails?
That's been surmised before, and I think there's something to it.

For years now I have always had at least one cruise booked, and I don't get any e-mails or snail mails from HAL. I get a lot of brochures from sister lines, though. Even the ones I've never sailed on! I know HAL must have shared my info, but they don't use it themselves. :rolleyes:

[jjb415]

I've signed up for email several times with Holland America and haven't received any, ever. No cruises booked with HAL at this time.

[Jemima]

I get HAL mailings when we aren't booked and don't receive them when we are.

[grammie2maddie]

Sometimes HAL has "flash sales". Its a mystery as to how long these flash sales last. Possibly minutes. We booked a B to B and found that that promo of $100 Cruise credit and a free dinner in the Pinnacle were not on the statement. Called the TA and he said that HAL would not honor it because it was a flash sale. Finally got the dinner but we never saw the cruise credit.

HAL should have the business sense to realize that hollow promises leave bad feelings. Either come through with the offers or don't make them

Where do folks see these flash sales?