Future Cruise Credits and Back-to-Back Cruises

[SilvertoGold]

I apologize if this has been discussed before.
Just a heads-up to anyone thinking of booking back-to-back cruises that are not designated as "Collector's Voyages".

In booking an Alaska northbound and southbound cruise (7+7 days) with FCD/FCC, my TA found that HAL will not give you the credits for the 14 days, but only for 7 days, unless you have 2 FCD/FCC. My TA argued with HAL for quite a while, but this is really 2 cruises, not one.

So, if you are thinking of booking this type of cruise, then make sure to buy 2 FCD/FCC each.

[canadianbear]

I don't quite understand-so you are on the ship for 14 days but they will only credit you with 7? Someone really needs to explain that because I can't make sense of it if that is what you mean. (Although, I am a little slow) !

[CtheW0rld]

I don't quite understand-so you are on the ship for 14 days but they will only credit you with 7? Someone really needs to explain that because I can't make sense of it if that is what you mean. (Although, I am a little slow) !

the OP is taking 2 consecutive 7-day cruises. those are referred to as back-to-back (B2B).

i wouldn't expect one FCC to count for 2 cruises.

[catl331]

I think maybe the OP is talking not about the deposit, but about the OBCs, which are higher for 11+ day cruises than for <11 ?

7 - 10 days:
Inside - $25 per person
Outside - $25 per person
Verandah (VA/A - VF/BC) - $35 per person
Suite (PS - S/SY) - $50 per person

11+ days:
Inside - $50 per person
Outside - $50 per person
Verandah (VA/A - VF/BC) - $75 per person
Suite (PS - S/SY) - $100 per person

[HamburgAvonLady]

Actually, the OBC's total only $ 10 less than they would have gotten
for a longer cruise. $ 35 per person for 7 days = $ 70 x 2 cruises = $ 140. As opposed to $ 75 per person (for 11 days +) x 2 passengers = $ 150. This is based on a "balcony cabin".

Not a huge difference IMO. Just be thankful for any OBC's at all.
We are first timers with HAL and will be getting nothing !

[CtheW0rld]

Actually, the OBC's total only $ 10 less than they would have gotten
for a longer cruise. $ 35 per person for 7 days = $ 70 x 2 cruises = $ 140. As opposed to $ 75 per person (for 11 days +) x 2 passengers = $ 150. This is based on a "balcony cabin".

Not a huge difference IMO. Just be thankful for any OBC's at all.
We are first timers with HAL and will be getting nothing !

actually, since you have sailed on hal's sister lines, you will be considered a one star mariner. you don't get much, but it's something:


Welcome Back Embarkation Lunch in the dining room (from 12:00pm to 1:30pm) as well as a complimentary Mariner Champagne Brunch
A special collectible gift presented to you on board
A free subscription to the print or digital* version of Mariner magazine
Offers to special sailings hosted by a representative of the Mariner Society
Special offers on select sailings
A 50% cruise fare discount on the 3rd/4th guest staying in your stateroom on select sailings (http://media.hollandamerica.com/pdf/MarinerSociety_SelectSailingList.pdf)

[BumperII]

Thanks for the tip!! We are sailing on a scheduled 14 day Alaska out of Seattle this year, but will probably be doing the b2b out of Vancouver next year. Your post is a handy piece of information to have.:)

[IRL_Joanie]

I don't quite understand-so you are on the ship for 14 days but they will only credit you with 7? Someone really needs to explain that because I can't make sense of it if that is what you mean. (Although, I am a little slow) !

We did a collector cruise in Feb 2010. Two 7 day cruises on Westerdam back to back for a total of 14 days. We were credited with the same amount for each 7 day period. So while the OP is correct that they will only be credited with 7 days, that is per 7 days of cruising. We got and will once again in September this year be credited with a total of 14 days.

Basically, it is just the wording that may confuse some. It did us until we received our credits on line and reviewed them and saw it in print that it was easily understood.

And our $100.00 per person payment for FCC was applied to the full 14 days and we did receive the OBC's for 14 days of initially $75.00 per person BUT did have it increased to $100.00 per person when we actually booked a specific cruise date within 90 days of placing our FCC. We placed the FCC Deposit on our May 2009 cruise and in July 2009 decided to do the B2B in Feb 2010. (BTW, we were in a VA on Deck 8)

Hope that made sense.

Joanie

[LADYLAYLA]

The main difference is the difference between a back to back and a collector cruise.

You can book any two consecutive weeks aboard a HAL ship as 2 separate cruises. This causes 2 booking numbers and 2 deposits as HAL sees it as 2 separate cruises

For some ships, Hal will have collectors cruises, usually 2 different itenaries (ie Southern Caribbean and Eastern Caribbean), and give one an opportunity to book as 1 cruise rather than 2 cruises. There will be people each week that will only be on for 1/2 the time. HAL looks at this as 1 cruise with 1 booking number and 1 deposit.

Hope this helps

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Maybe I am the only one interrupting differently but what I understand they are saying is to be careful when booking the North and South Bound Alaska cruises because these are not sold as Collectors Series only 7 day voyages so while he used the FCC for the first segment it would not work for the 2nd segment and he would have needed another set of Future Cruise deposits so he more than likely had to pay a deposit of $350.00 per person and did not receive any ship board credit for that second week. HAL frequently offers B2B voyages for almost all of the itineraries as a Collectors series where you only need one $100 Future Cruise Deposit per person but only in Alaska for these North and South Bound cruises do they not sell them this way and that is because their main intent is to sell Alaska Cruise Tours :)
He is just trying to warn everyone that if you are considering this as a 14 day cruise that you are actually booking two seperate cruises.

[CtheW0rld]

Maybe I am the only one interrupting differently but what I understand they are saying is to be careful when booking the North and South Bound Alaska cruises because these are not sold as Collectors Series only 7 day voyages so while he used the FCC for the first segment it would not work for the 2nd segment and he would have needed another set of Future Cruise deposits so he more than likely had to pay a deposit of $350.00 per person and did not receive any ship board credit for that second week. HAL frequently offers B2B voyages for almost all of the itineraries as a Collectors series where you only need one $100 Future Cruise Deposit per person but only in Alaska for these North and South Bound cruises do they not sell them this way and that is because their main intent is to sell Alaska Cruise Tours :)
He is just trying to warn everyone that if you are considering this as a 14 day cruise that you are actually booking two seperate cruises.


that is how i read it, too, so you're not the only one.

[MightyQuinn]

that is how i read it, too, so you're not the only one.Well that makes at least 3 of us!

SilverToGold, I also thought that HAL would allow consecutive cruises to be packaged together as Collector's Voyages, sold under a single booking number with a single deposit. I'm pretty sure that I read it in their brochures. But it seems that Alaska is an exception. Bummer indeed. Maybe your TA will give you additional OBC to cover what you're not getting with the FCD? :cool::cool:

[CtheW0rld]

Well that makes at least 3 of us!

SilverToGold, I also thought that HAL would allow consecutive cruises to be packaged together as Collector's Voyages, sold under a single booking number with a single deposit. I'm pretty sure that I read it in their brochures. But it seems that Alaska is an exception. Bummer indeed. Maybe your TA will give you additional OBC to cover what you're not getting with the FCD? :cool::cool:

no, not all, and not automatically. they are designated as such by hal. it's a marketing gimmick to entice people into taking longer cruises.

[SilvertoGold]

Sorry I was so confusing to most!

Cthew0rld, Lisa and Mighty Quinn were able to get past my poor explanation and get it figured out.

We have taken 14 day Alaska Collector's Voyages, one booking number and the FCC for the 14 days.
The particular cruise we are looking at isn't designated a Collector's, so there are two booking numbers and 2 FCD/FCC required.
Our TA spent quite a bit of time "fighting and losing" with HAL over this, but that is where it stands. So, we get the OBC for one 7 day cruise, not 2 7 day cruises.

Thanks!

[catl331]

Sorry I was so confusing to most!What confused me was that to me an FCC is a person - a Future Cruise Consultant - the one who takes your Future Cruise Deposit - but the way you were using it was a credit like an OBC. :)

[sail7seas]

Maybe I am the only one interrupting differently but what I understand they are saying is to be careful when booking the North and South Bound Alaska cruises because these are not sold as Collectors Series only 7 day voyages so while he used the FCC for the first segment it would not work for the 2nd segment and he would have needed another set of Future Cruise deposits so he more than likely had to pay a deposit of $350.00 per person and did not receive any ship board credit for that second week. HAL frequently offers B2B voyages for almost all of the itineraries as a Collectors series where you only need one $100 Future Cruise Deposit per person but only in Alaska for these North and South Bound cruises do they not sell them this way and that is because their main intent is to sell Alaska Cruise Tours :)
He is just trying to warn everyone that if you are considering this as a 14 day cruise that you are actually booking two seperate cruises.



Yes. When we book two seven day cruises that HAL combines and calls a Collectors Cruise, we only need to use one FCD each. If we book two b-to-b cruises that are not Collectors, we have to use two each Future Cruise Deposits and get the OBC for only one of the weeks.

[canadianbear]

Wow....didn't know all this was so confusing....so interesting to read these posts and get stuff clarified for future. Thanks to the poster for posting this question and everyone clarifying it. Lesson learned.

[sail7seas]

For all the years we booked b-to-b's before HAL instituted the Collectors Voyages, we always had to make deposit x 4....... two cruises x 2 people = 4 deposits so this 'twist' about them expecting 4 deposits for two people on b-to-b is nothing different than always was the case.

Reinforces the notion that if you are quite sure you want to sail another HAL cruise in the next four years, buy a few sets of FCD while aboard.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I apologize if this has been discussed before.
Just a heads-up to anyone thinking of booking back-to-back cruises that are not designated as "Collector's Voyages".

In booking an Alaska northbound and southbound cruise (7+7 days) with FCD/FCC, my TA found that HAL will not give you the credits for the 14 days, but only for 7 days, unless you have 2 FCD/FCC. My TA argued with HAL for quite a while, but this is really 2 cruises, not one.

So, if you are thinking of booking this type of cruise, then make sure to buy 2 FCD/FCC each.

Something is wrong somewhere.

We booked the Ryndam last October as a Collector's Cruise (14 days) and the Nieuw Amsterdam last November/December as a Collector's Cruise (14 days) and we did get the shipboard as if it was a 14 day cruise -- not a 7 day cruise.

Only needed 1 FCC per person.

Your TA should have gotten hold of a supervisor.

[tooalto]

While on the Noordam last fall we booked a 14 day Caribbean cruise on the Westerdam. It was not listed, at the time, as a Collector's Voyage so we booked two FCC's per person. Once HAL combined the B2B into a Collector's Voyage, one FCC per person was applied to it and the second is still pending for another cruise. We did receive the full amount for the now combined cruise, booked under a single confirmation number.

[pms4104]

Something is wrong somewhere.

We booked the Ryndam last October as a Collector's Cruise (14 days) and the Nieuw Amsterdam last November/December as a Collector's Cruise (14 days) and we did get the shipboard as if it was a 14 day cruise -- not a 7 day cruise.

Only needed 1 FCC per person.

Your TA should have gotten hold of a supervisor.
No, nothing is wrong here ... and there was no cause for a supervisor to be involved. As the OP explained in post #14, these two 7-night sailings were not offered/booked as a Collectors Cruise ... two separate 7-night sailings with 2 different booking numbers.

[CtheW0rld]

Something is wrong somewhere.

We booked the Ryndam last October as a Collector's Cruise (14 days) and the Nieuw Amsterdam last November/December as a Collector's Cruise (14 days) and we did get the shipboard as if it was a 14 day cruise -- not a 7 day cruise.

Only needed 1 FCC per person.

Your TA should have gotten hold of a supervisor.

the OP's cruise was not designated as a collector's cruise. if you read the thread, we discected the problem and got to the bottom of it.

[sail7seas]

While on the Noordam last fall we booked a 14 day Caribbean cruise on the Westerdam. It was not listed, at the time, as a Collector's Voyage so we booked two FCC's per person. Once HAL combined the B2B into a Collector's Voyage, one FCC per person was applied to it and the second is still pending for another cruise. We did receive the full amount for the now combined cruise, booked under a single confirmation number.


We also have booked b-to-b's, used two Future Cruise Deposits for each segment and later, when HAL converted that cruise to a Collectors, they freed up two of the FCD's for us to use on another booking at a later date.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Something is wrong somewhere.

We booked the Ryndam last October as a Collector's Cruise (14 days) and the Nieuw Amsterdam last November/December as a Collector's Cruise (14 days) and we did get the shipboard as if it was a 14 day cruise -- not a 7 day cruise.

Only needed 1 FCC per person.

Your TA should have gotten hold of a supervisor.
KK, the OP was booking a North and South Bound Alaska. The never sell these cruises as a Collectors Cruise. Basically these cruises were meant to be part of Cruise Tours. In order for them to even consider being sold as a 14 day Holland America would have to have assigned a voyage number and there are no voyage numbers that combine a North and South Bound Alaska which is why is just plain cannot be done by anyone. Maybe some day in up coming years but that would take away from HAL's main reason these cruises even exist and that is for Alaska Cruise Tour packages.

[sail7seas]

Aren't the cruise tour packages the reason they won't sell a suite to a guest not taking a tour? At least my understanding is they hold them for the tour guests until it is rather close to sail date?

[BumperII]

...The never sell these cruises as a Collectors Cruise.

Actually, they rarely sell these cruises as a Collectors Cruise. There is one for 2011, the Statendam sailing September 11 out of Vancouver, BC is a 14 day combined north and south bound Inside Passage being marketed as one cruise. I don't know if they tagged it as a 'Collector's Cruise" or not.

Rest assured that HAL only uses the "Collectors Cruise" marketing tool when it is in their own best interest to do so. :o

[we're sailing away....]

If you like Holland you should always have spairs

[sail7seas]

Actually, they rarely sell these cruises as a Collectors Cruise. There is one for 2011, the Statendam sailing September 11 out of Vancouver, BC is a 14 day combined north and south bound Inside Passage being marketed as one cruise. I don't know if they tagged it as a 'Collector's Cruise" or not.

Rest assured that HAL only uses the "Collectors Cruise" marketing tool when it is in their own best interest to do so. :o


What is the advantage to HAL to make a cruise a "Collectors" vs just having people book it b-to-b?

Thanks.

[Aruba]

I imagine there are some back-office and marketing cost savings to HAL from booking one 14-day cruise rather than two 7-day cruises.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Sail, HAL has really pushed they Collectors series in the last two years because it offers a bit of a lower price when booking two cruises. While not all sailings it is offered for are considered soft it has become a good selling tool to get those berths filled for double the time. They are finding that people that considered booking one week may infact be able to cruise for two weeks and why not fill the ship early rather than give them away 4 or 5 weeks before the cruise in the Flash Rate promotions. Plus it allows more options for those that prefer a longer voyage ;)