HAL's Private Fares Scam?

[cmdchiefthom]

Now that I have your attention, has anyone received the multi-page 12"X18" slick promotion offering 40-50% discounts on selected cruises, almost anywhere HAL sails? I got mine this morning, and it would seem, my SC aft wrap-around balcony cabin aboard the Zuiderdam for the 30 March 2012 sailing could be discounted as much as 45%???? I read the brochure several times, and finally sent an email to my PCC. Within ten minutes, he called me and assured me that what I had read in the brochure, did not include my cruise, which in order to take advantage of the discount, I would have to book by 31 May! However, my 20 March 2012 cruise was listed in the brochure. Can HAL marketing assume we're all that stupid, or are we????:eek:

[jhannah]

This is nothing new or dishonest. Every brochure I've ever received has fares listed for certain cruises, usually dated in bold lettering or specifying the fare shown is for a particular date.

Not all sailings of the same itinerary sell equally well or to capacity. Spring break, for instance, will rarely be discounted as those sailings fill quickly. Other sailings historically do not sell as well, so to fill the ship the cruise line will offer a discounted price.

All cruise lines market this way.

[Tricia724]

Those brochures make me crazy. More than once I got all worked up thinking I had just found the bargain of a lifetime.....until I read the teeny, tiny print and realized that it didn't apply to the cruise I wanted. If it did apply, when I looked up the cruise on the HAL board, it was close to sold out or only had inside or outside guarantees available. I don't even look at those brochures any more.

Funny thing, though....and I still haven't figured this out. Our current booking is for September on the Hawaii/South Pacific cruise on Westerdam which we booked it in January. My other half and I each have our own mariner numbers....my number gave us a significant discount, and his number gave us nothing. Needless to say, we used my mariner number to make the booking. Out of curiosity, I continued to watch the prices, and over a couple of months, the discount that was originally available with my mariner number gradually disappeared, a hundred dollars or so at a time. It was the strangest thing, and I have absolutely no idea what that was all about.

[sail7seas]

This is how those promotions work.
If you read it very carefully, there is verbage the price is predicated upon a named date. The other dates listed merely are advising that same itinerary is available on those dates.

[cmdchiefthom]

This is nothing new or dishonest. Every brochure I've ever received has fares listed for certain cruises, usually dated in bold lettering or specifying the fare shown is for a particular date.

Not all sailings of the same itinerary sell equally well or to capacity. Spring break, for instance, will rarely be discounted as those sailings fill quickly. Other sailings historically do not sell as well, so to fill the ship the cruise line will offer a discounted price.

All cruise lines market this way.

Hey Jim,

Thanks for your reply. Have you seen the brochure I'm referring to? I get all the stuff too. This one is an eye popping 18" X 12", 6 pages long, specifically sent to Lattitudes members, and no, the specified example cruise fare is NOT HIGHLIGHTED IN BOLD LETTERING!

I love sailing HAL, however, I take exception on booking a suite, and within several days receiving an offer, and then being told by my personal cruise consultant, what I am reading, isn'tn what is being offered.

So Jim, thanks for your explanation, however I still do not understand how what is written in an offer, is not what is offered. Any suggestions?

[sail7seas]

What does Latitutdes Members have to do with HAL? :confused:

[BumperII]

I thought thought Latitudes was RCLs version of the Mariner Society. Is HAL targeting RCL's customer base?

[sail7seas]

Maybe???

I get snail mail and e-mail from other cruise lines but we sail HAL exclusively. Princess, "X", Carnival etc all send advertising to me.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Latitudes is a Past passenger name for Norwegian Cruise Line like Mariner is to HAL.
Royal Caribbean is Crown and Anchor and Princess is Captain's Circle.

[sail7seas]

Yes, Lisa. But when OP started this thread, his reference to Lattitudes members made it sound (at least to me) like he thought there was some connection to HAL.

His subsequent post seems to clarify he thought HAL had targeted Lattitudes members from this 'other' cruiseline to receive their promotional material.

I did not see that clearly expressed in his first post.

[Hobbsey]

Sounds more like he's confusing Norway and Holland. Or, he has status in both and called HALs by the wrong name.

[VioletHorse]

I think I might have the same brochure, however mine measures slightly smaller at 10.75 x 16.75 inches, and references promo code PC with a book by date of 5/15/2011.

The Zuiderdam 3/30/12 sailing is listed, however the brochure clearly says that the fares quoted for the 10 or 11 day Panama Canal Sunfarer are based on the 12/5/2011 sailing. The date is not bolded, but the verbiage is there. Those 2-3 weeks prior to Christmas traditionally have the lowest fares available for any sailing on any cruise line. It's all about supply and demand.

[Krazy Kruizers]

the only brochures that we get in the mail are from princess, cunardand seabourn

haven't gotten anything from hal in years -- no longer get anything from ncl

[sail7seas]

I think I might have the same brochure, however mine measures slightly smaller at 10.75 x 16.75 inches, and references promo code PC with a book by date of 5/15/2011.

The Zuiderdam 3/30/12 sailing is listed, however the brochure clearly says that the fares quoted for the 10 or 11 day Panama Canal Sunfarer are based on the 12/5/2011 sailing. The date is not bolded, but the verbiage is there. Those 2-3 weeks prior to Christmas traditionally have the lowest fares available for any sailing on any cruise line. It's all about supply and demand.


Exactly.
That is the common format HAL uses for all their ads of that sort.

You have to read the ad carefully but it clearly states the price is predicted upon a specific date.

[sevenseasnomad]

I think I might have the same brochure, however mine measures slightly smaller at 10.75 x 16.75 inches, and references promo code PC with a book by date of 5/15/2011.

The Zuiderdam 3/30/12 sailing is listed, however the brochure clearly says that the fares quoted for the 10 or 11 day Panama Canal Sunfarer are based on the 12/5/2011 sailing. The date is not bolded, but the verbiage is there. Those 2-3 weeks prior to Christmas traditionally have the lowest fares available for any sailing on any cruise line. It's all about supply and demand.

Agree. We sailed on Zuiderdam 12/13/10. We paid a deposit on 1 price, but by the time we reached final payment, HAL had lowered the price on 4 separate occasions. Our TA got the reductions for us, and we ended up saving a LOT. This year we're on the 12/23/11 Noordam cruise, so we anticipate no savings whatsoever.

[awp529]

Those brochures make me crazy. More than once I got all worked up thinking I had just found the bargain of a lifetime.....until I read the teeny, tiny print and realized that it didn't apply to the cruise I wanted. If it did apply, when I looked up the cruise on the HAL board, it was close to sold out or only had inside or outside guarantees available. I don't even look at those brochures any more.

Funny thing, though....and I still haven't figured this out. Our current booking is for September on the Hawaii/South Pacific cruise on Westerdam which we booked it in January. My other half and I each have our own mariner numbers....my number gave us a significant discount, and his number gave us nothing. Needless to say, we used my mariner number to make the booking. Out of curiosity, I continued to watch the prices, and over a couple of months, the discount that was originally available with my mariner number gradually disappeared, a hundred dollars or so at a time. It was the strangest thing, and I have absolutely no idea what that was all about.

Tricia, we booked this cruise about 6 weeks ago and after coming back from an April 16th cruise I checked and saw that the price for the SY cabins had dropped $200/per person. I have used ******.com for the last couple of years as a TA and have had excellent service plus great pricing with large OBCs. I contacted ****** customer service and was given the new rate without question.
My partner and I are looking forward to this 35 day cruise as we will be celebrating our 30th while at sea. Great way to enjoy the beauty of the islands. Like you my Mariner number gave us a discount but my partner's didn't. Finally, they told me that there was a mix-up with their system. I'm just glad we are booked and am hoping that there will be a good group of us aboard as I enjoy meeting other people.
Have you started a sign up for this cruise? Also, I have not been on the Westerdam and wasn't sure about the Thalassotherapy pool. We have enjoyed the Celebrity Infinity pool and was hoping the Westerdam would offer such a facility. It seems that there is an extra charge to use this facility, have you ever used it? Will appreciate any information and again, am very pleased that you and your better half will be sailing. awp529