Why can't I book a Veranda

[corporate_zombie]

Hello, I've searched high and low for this information, but can't seem to find a thread that deals with this. We are meeting up with family on an Alaska cruise (Zaandam, 7/31, Inside Passage). They are doing a land tour with HAL first, we are meeting up with them on the ship. They were able to book veranda rooms ... I can't. I really, really want a veranda for the Alaska cruise (normally, I don't care). Normally, I am an NCL-girl, this is my first HAL cruise, and I am not happy about the room situation. How come I can't book a veranda room now? They put me on a wait list. What are my chances of actually getting one? Also, I booked an inside room, because if I can't have a balcony then I think the cost of a window isn't worth it. Will I be in a better spot to get a balcony if I have an outside room booked? TIA!!!

[cruisinjudy]

It seems that HAL prefers to only book verandas for Cruise Tour buyers. Then if they don't book all the verandas HAL will go to the waitlist.

[elycelynne]

What I heard is that passengers who book a cruisetour have priority when it comes to reserving a balcony cabin for Alaska. So it may be that HAL holds onto their veranda inventory until a certain date until they think they've given passengers ample opportunity to book a cruisetour and then might make any unsold verandas available at that time. So that might be the reason for the wait list. I would also think (although this is pure speculation) that you might have a better chance of getting the veranda with your name already being on the wait list as opposed to booking an outside cabin in the hope of getting an upgrade.

I could be totally wrong about this, so it would be great if someone more knowledgeable than I could confirm the foregoing.

[cp556]

Both previous respondents are correct. Holland America holds back its verandah (and suite) inventory for CruiseTour passengers. Closer to the cruise, they release the unsold space for cruise-only passengers.

Are you working with the same TA as your CruiseTour family members? If so, be sure they know you're traveling with your relatives ...

If you're on the waitlist, I think you have an excellent chance of getting the verandah. I don't think it matters if you've booked an inside or oceanview.

I'd do two things:

a) Make SURE your TA knows you're eager for the verandah, and follow up with them weekly.

b) Check the HAL website every couple of days to see when verandahs open up for your sailing....then contact the TA if they have not already gotten back to you.

[startwin]

Can't answer your specific question, but I do know that this year's Alaska cruises are just about sold out. And anything that is available (X has some balconies) are really high priced.

[armidale1]

It could also be due to that specific ship as we are on the zuiderdam in august and have had a balcony booked since April last year but it is a bigger ship than the zaandam and more balconies. I also know that there are plenty of balconies still available on our cruise

[mains_dream]

We went to Alaska on a b2b and had an outside window. It was worth it! Being on promenade deck was great. We were close to an outside exit and could be on either side of the ship within moments of whale sightings. It was great!

[iamaqt2]

Can't answer your specific question, but I do know that this year's Alaska cruises are just about sold out. And anything that is available (X has some balconies) are really high priced.

I don't where you're getting this info from, but the ships are not all full. In fact I have one discount website I follow where they offer cruises after final payment and there are always spots available. Even on the cruise tours.

Now the balcony cabins might be booked ahead, but there are still plenty of suites and insides/Ovs to be had.

If you have flexiblility, and can catch a great airfare, there will be space onboard.

[startwin]

I don't where you're getting this info from, but the ships are not all full. In fact I have one discount website I follow where they offer cruises after final payment and there are always spots available. Even on the cruise tours.

Now the balcony cabins might be booked ahead, but there are still plenty of suites and insides/Ovs to be had.

If you have flexiblility, and can catch a great airfare, there will be space onboard.

Hmm interesting. Got the info from 3 different TA's since Saturday. With pricing on the little that is available. Will go check myself. I don't even need the airfare, being in Vancouver. Always watching for the sales to Alaska.

[dirtgirl]

There are still spots on cruises to Alaska. It's the group space at reduced rates on round-trip Vancouver cruises that is almost gone.;) Vancouver has fewer ships doing round-trips, and no one in the Vancouver area wants to fly one way, or go through Seattle (which is an inferior cruise as compared to sailing out of Vancouver). The going rates on some cruises right now are making people gasp. They have been waiting for deals, and $1800+ per person for an ov for a week isn't seen as much of a deal. :rolleyes: And yes, I quoted someone that price just this week.

The Zaandam has limited balconies as compared to the Vista class, but at this point, there will be movement. People will be cancelling the cruise, and, if HAL is holding back space for cruisetour people, definitely space will become available.

So, book yourself in an oceanview, go on a waitlist, and check daily for space opening up. I am on the Sapphire Princess, and balconies and suites sold out long ago. About a month before final, things started to move as people decided to cancel. Get in now so you can get on the waitlist. I would book an ov just in case you can't get a balcony later.

[Krazy Kruizers]

welcome to cruise critic

this has been going on for years and years -- hal is under the impression that everyone who books a land tour automatically wants a verandah

there is no consideration for other people

we got into this mess years ago when we tried to get an S deluxe suite for cruises from vancouver to seward and then back to vancouver -- our ta talked to supervisors and pointed out that we were spending more money on our 14 deluxe suite than others were on a land tour and a cruise -- hal finally gave in -- we did this 3 times and just plain gave up after that as it was not worth the hassle

on one of the cruises i made it a point to ask many of the passengers who got on the ship in seward from a land tour what type of cabin - most were in inside cabins and a few were in oceanview cabins

[corporate_zombie]

Thank you to everyone! The wealth of knowledge on CC is amazing!!

[sansterre]

We went to Alaska on a b2b and had an outside window. It was worth it! Being on promenade deck was great. We were close to an outside exit and could be on either side of the ship within moments of whale sightings. It was great!
I agree! We had a window on the promenade deck in Alaska a few years ago and the best view of a whale was through it. He was right beside our window putting on a show. If the weather is nice, you have just a short walk to the deck to take photos etc. I would go with a window while you wait for a veranda to open up on this particular cruise.

[serendipity1499]

Hello, I've searched high and low for this information, but can't seem to find a thread that deals with this. We are meeting up with family on an Alaska cruise (Zaandam, 7/31, Inside Passage). They are doing a land tour with HAL first, we are meeting up with them on the ship. They were able to book veranda rooms ... I can't. I really, really want a veranda for the Alaska cruise (normally, I don't care). Normally, I am an NCL-girl, this is my first HAL cruise, and I am not happy about the room situation. How come I can't book a veranda room now? They put me on a wait list. What are my chances of actually getting one? Also, I booked an inside room, because if I can't have a balcony then I think the cost of a window isn't worth it. Will I be in a better spot to get a balcony if I have an outside room booked? TIA!!!

As others have said they hold back the Verandah's for cruise tours...And agree with the posters who said that an outside window is definitely worth it..After being out on deck & getting cold I would go back to our cabin & warm up while looking out the window..I would have missed some awesome sites had we not had a window..

Don't fret if you can't get a balcony, as being outside on deck to me is better..You are able to go from one side of the ship to the other much faster & not miss anything..

We went to Alaska on a b2b and had an outside window. It was worth it! Being on promenade deck was great. We were close to an outside exit and could be on either side of the ship within moments of whale sightings. It was great!

I agree although we had a cabin on main deck but I used the stairs a lot..LOL

cheers....:)Betty