Any Price Difference?

[hensghan]

I have not noticed any price difference when pricing a cruise and entering or not entering mariner numbers. Is there ever any difference in cruise pricing based upon mariner status? Does OBC or any other perk attach when completing the booking having inserted mariner numbers? I ask because I have never booked directly with HAL. Have always used a local TA.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I have done that several times -- no price difference.

We long time HAL cruisers to not get any price difference than a first time cruiser on HAL.

The only perks we get is when we book a future cruise while on a cruise -- cheaper deposit -- $100 per person and Shipboard Credit - the amount depends on the length of the cruise and the cabin category.

[Cruzman]

Depends on the cruise in question. Sometime there is a valid Mariner discount; just not on all sailings. As an example, there is a $100 per person Mariner discount available on the 11/2/11 sailing on the Noordam (OV cabins only).

[Randyk47]

Generally speaking, except for an occasional sale, the Mariner discount is nothing to get too excited about. Seems to me the few times I've been able to see a difference it's been like $50-$100 per person, though more often $50. I do better shopping around for a group sale or discount.

[Hlitner]

We agree with Randy's post. The major price differences we notice are when we simply shop around among several major on line TAs. On one of our currently booked Prinsendam cruises we were able to save several thousand dollars by simply checking the pricing of a few different TAs. But using our Mariner number seems to be pretty worthless except for getting some nice discounts onboard.

Hank

[Mary Ellen]

We've seen a difference - even varying because of the Mariner number entered. For my next cruise I'm going with a friend, not DH. She is a 1-star Mariner. For whatever reason, the pricing came out $100-150/pp (I'm not remembering the exact amount) lower using her number than my 4-star one. Our TA did work it out so we both got her price.

[Big Dawg CC]

On select cruises, certain level Mariners will get either 50% or 100% off on fares for 3rd and 4th guests. Unless your Mariner number is logged in, you will not see that discount.

[Krazy Kruizers]

On select cruises, certain level Mariners will get either 50% or 100% off on fares for 3rd and 4th guests. Unless your Mariner number is logged in, you will not see that discount.

Please tell me what select cruises??

[BumperII]

Please tell me what select cruises??

I wish I could. But you don't get to know that until HAL sends you an email or flyer advertising the fact that they are giving a discount to Mariner Society Members for a particular cruise they are promoting. We have never been able to take advantage of one of those offers, because for one reason or another, they just didn't fit in to our plans.

The Mariner Society and the number assigned to you are for the benefit of the Hal Marketing department, not the consumer. It really doesn't matter how many stars you have, you still pretty much get what you pay for.:D

[Hawaiidan]

That in essence, Hollands recognition program is pretty much in name only.
And that you will get far greater discounts and advantages using a good travel agent.
With Holland you have to pay for every thing you get..and then some. :o

[jtl513]

We've seen a difference - even varying because of the Mariner number entered. For my next cruise I'm going with a friend, not DH. She is a 1-star Mariner. For whatever reason, the pricing came out $100-150/pp (I'm not remembering the exact amount) lower using her number than my 4-star one. Our TA did work it out so we both got her price. Does your friend live in another state?

For our upcoming October cruise, when I first priced it using back about January I got a $300 pp lower price using my DB/DSiL Mariner numbers than when using our own, or using no Mariner number at all. I thought it might be because they have only been on one HAL cruise and were being given a promotional price.

A few weeks later when I did the same test, the price using our own numbers had dropped by that same $300 pp, so I called my TA and requested that we be moved up five cabin steps for the same price we had booked at.

Today their price is $450 pp lower than what we would pay for a new booking, with or without our Mariner number entered. Our TA explained that it's a regional promotion deal. They live in CT and we are in FL, and for a while the promotion included both states, but no longer does.

[Mary Ellen]

Does your friend live in another state?.Same state, across the street. DH, who lives in the same house as I ;) , also had the lower price. He also has fewer stars.