Can't get book Shore Ex with HAL on phone or thru website?!?!?

[debjo]

I was wondering if anyone else is having difficulty getting through to HOLLAND AMERICA on the phone today...all I keep getting is their recording that "things are very busy" and to "try back later". I then went to my computer to try to book some SHORE EXCURSIONS for my cruise and the website states "Shore Excursion space requests are no longer being accepted for this sailing". I'm still 5 months from my cruise...I can't believe that everything is already "sold out". :eek:

I'm wondering if there is problem with HOLLAND AMERICA???:(

Debjo

[shipcafe]

Have you tried either of these?

Shore Excursions : 888-425-9376
E-Mail : HAL_Shore_Excursions@HollandAmerica.com (HAL_Shore_Excursions@HollandAmerica.com)

[mushroom]

I had the very same problem several weeks ago while trying to get my shore excursions for the September 8th Noordam. I tried several days later and the problem was fixed. I think it's just an internal problem with HA. Keep trying.

[mildavis]

I had the same problem about 2 weeks ago. I had a couple of questions about some excursions and could not get throught to HAL so I finally just called my TA and she handled it with HAL for me. It took her no time at all. Then the website was having problems one day and I had to wait until the next day and it went through. They seem to have all kinds of problems on their website. keep on trying!

[debjo]

For shipcafe...
Yes, that is the phone number that I kept trying today...in addition to another one which left me listening to the HAL advertising & music for over twenty minutes.

For mushroom...
Well, persistence pays off...I just was able to get through on the website and book my TORTOLA excursion. Thanks for "holding my hand" for awhile and letting me know that it wasn't "just me" or my computer!

Debjo

[mushroom]

You are very welcome, Debjo. I hope you enjoy Tortola as much as we did.

[debjo]

For mildavis...
Once I "got through" I was surprised that I could only "book" for TORTOLA and ST. MAARTEN (and even then there were only 4 excursions listed). I wonder why they even "opened" things up seeing as how there were so few choices?

Debjo

[CCCM]

Hi debjo,

I also booked our Tortola tour. We are going to Virgin Gorda again. We looked at the St. Maarten ones and not sure if I want to introduce DD to clothing optional at the age of 8. So I think we will probably make that our shopping and enjoying Phillipsburg day.

Just waiting for HMC to open up so we can do clamshell.

Pouring here today, soccer and softball cancelled. Just waiting to see when they cancel PawSox game for tonight. Going to head to book store to read up a little on Phillipsburg and St. Maarten.

5 months is too far away!

[Krazy Kruizers]

A lot of times tours for the Caribbean won't open 5 months in advance. But of course there are always exceptions with HAL changing everything around. Keep checking once a week and as time goes by, you will see even more tours open up. Sometimes there is a delay in offering tours as HAL and the companies have to make their final agreements on what to offer. That is why on a lot of cruises, new tours not listed in either the brochure or on the website will be offered once you get on the ship.

[CruisinGrams]

They are also having problems with the immigration form. I have been trying for over 3 weeks from 4 different computers and have not been able to get through. I think they have some serious technical problems and should hire new IT people who can fix whatever has been plaguing them. There have been posts for people who booked shore excursions and got billed twice. I know I am frustrated as half of our group has express check in for next weekend and the other half (staying in the same cabin) do not because of this technical issue. :mad:

[Grumpy1]

They are also having problems with the immigration form. I have been trying for over 3 weeks from 4 different computers and have not been able to get through. I think they have some serious technical problems and should hire new IT people who can fix whatever has been plaguing them. There have been posts for people who booked shore excursions and got billed twice. I know I am frustrated as half of our group has express check in for next weekend and the other half (staying in the same cabin) do not because of this technical issue. :mad:I did immigration forms for two different cruises two days ago with no problem at all.

[kryos]

For mildavis...
Once I "got through" I was surprised that I could only "book" for TORTOLA and ST. MAARTEN (and even then there were only 4 excursions listed). I wonder why they even "opened" things up seeing as how there were so few choices?

Unless there is a specific excursion that you want to book, I would hold off for a while. There will be more choices that will come up as you get closer to your sail date. HAL seems to put the excursions up there as they become available for each sailing. More become available the closer you get to sail date.

I am also trying to book excursions for my October cruise ... specifically a Half Moon Cay excursion. Half Moon Cay is not even available yet on the website for my sailing ...

Just be patient. They'll appear there eventually.

Blue skies ...

--rita