Help!!!

[robntawn]

Hello fellow HAL enthuiasts,

I just got off the phone with Neal at CruCon regarding our upcoming CC Member cruise aboard the Volendam on 8/23/06. Apparently HAL has overbooked and is looking for "volunteers" to give up their berth on this sailing, in exchange for an upgrade to the "best available outside cabin" on a future 2006 Alaska sailing. They are also offering 25% refund of the original cruise fare.

Due to various scheduling conflicts, a later Alaska cruise this year is out of the question, but I would CONSIDER a future cruise credit and upgrade for 2007. I told Neal to investigate further, but NOT to cancel my cruise on 8/23/06 until I have a chance to review what they offer.

My question to you folks is what would be a good offer under these circumstances? Keep in mind that we are just 2 weeks out from the sailing, and it becomes a major problem recovering airfare, hotel costs, etc. Luckily, we used airline miles for the air tickets, so it would only be $50pp to put them back into my bank. I would lose my hotel fare, since it was booked and charged already through Priceline (Westin Bayshore for $85).

Please hurry, as I must make a decision soon!!!

Thanks a lot!

[OceanLiner]

This issue of overbooking seems to be a growing problem for HAL. I have never heard of such a problem until recently and now the boards are full of these stories.

I would take the 25% refund and apply it to all of your costs and efforts for canceling this cruise, and I would demand a Dlx Veranda Suite on a future cruise.

[Tinknock50]

Hard to say what to advise....but one thing to consider is how badly do you need this upcoming cruise? Do you want to wait until next year to see Alaska.

It doesn't look like you have too much to lose financially...couldn't be 25% of what you paid.

[Scrumpy]

IF they could come up with an OBC to take care of your plane ticket change fees and the hotel cost, that would be very nice incentive combined with the other things they are already offering. If others are not interested in changing their sail dates, HAL will up the ante.

[lougee1043]

i would tell him no deal --keep your res and go ahead with the sail --25% is off their retail price for another cruise --considering how many tas out there discount the retail hal price you would actually be settling for less then 25% --how are you to know if and what "best available outside" is--i personally doubt that you would end up in a full suite --as i said i would stick with this sail

[fllcruiser]

Keep in mind if they do not get enought takers at 25% they will up the ante. Also, upgrade to an outside room could be an obstructed view. Over booking does seem to be on the increase, I was contacted by the cruise line for my January and July cruise regarding over sold situations.

[robntawn]

It sure DOES seem that overbooking is on the rise, doesn't it?

In our case, we would consider changing our plans if the compensation was adequate. We don't NEED to cruise, and we just did the Volendam Alaska cruise last year. Unfortunately, the kids start school soon and we absolutely CANNOT cruise any later this year. We are booked in an Inside, but it is cabin 7086 which has a window and has access to a semi-private Aft balcony, so it's a VERY desired cabin.

What would a good compensation be?

I am hoping for an upgrade to a Verandah cabin on a 7-day sailing of my choice in 2007, 50% of my cruisefare back, and OBC for the airfare change fee ($200). What do you think?

[Tinknock50]

Would be interesting if they upped the ante.:)

I have often wondered as lougee said wether that 25% is off brochure.....if that is the case, they are giving you ZERO!:eek:

[wander]

RobnTawn,

Perhaps overbooking is on the rise, but I suspect part of the seeming increase is the communications via CC and such. We have had a number of overbooking offers from HAL over the past 15 years, but until relatively recently there was no way to "spread the word" as folks do on CC.

Certainly go ahead and make a counter-offer. I suspect that yours might be a bit much unless they are really in a bind. However, it is worth a try. Good luck.

One time we did get a slight improvement via counter-offer, but usually it was a take (quickly) or lose the opportunity because enough others will take it. Then sometimes you will really luck-out. Most of our offers were almost "too good to turn down", so we said yes.

It is just like the airlines - some hold-out for something better and get nothing, others "win" big time.

[obriendan]

robntawn,

If HAL is in a bind, I think your counteroffer is reasonable. They can only say no. And if they accept, you'll only wonder if you should have asked for more:rolleyes: .

[robntawn]

Certainly go ahead and make a counter-offer. I suspect that yours might be a bit much unless they are really in a bind. However, it is worth a try. Good luck.



This is the first time this has ever happened to us. What would a reasonable counter-offer be? Thank you!

[AlohaPride]

i would tell him no deal --keep your res and go ahead with the sail --25% is off their retail price for another cruise --considering how many tas out there discount the retail hal price you would actually be settling for less then 25% --how are you to know if and what "best available outside" is--i personally doubt that you would end up in a full suite --as i said i would stick with this sail

I agree, especially if you have kids and wont be able to cruise for the rest of the year. I can only imagine how EXCITED your kids are, and to cancel everything would be heart breaking. I think you should not cancel unless the cruise line offers you say.....half of their stock?:o

[obriendan]

I am hoping for an upgrade to a Verandah cabin on a 7-day sailing of my choice in 2007, 50% of my cruisefare back, and OBC for the airfare change fee ($200). What do you think?

I meant the counteroffer that you stated in your prevous post.

[Ziggy7]

Their first offer doesnt seem like they are too desperate, I have seen others with much better offers, maybe its cause they want inside cabins.

I say make it worth you while, or dont deal :)

[RuthC]

What do you want to do? Do you want to cruise to Alaska this year? Or are you willing to put it off? If you want to cruise, then there really isn't anything that should get you to give that up. If you are willing to put it off then what do you think is a good deal?
What I think is good doesn't matter.

If I were you I would decide exactly what I want to give up this sailing. Then up the ante. Make a counter-offer for something that exceeds what I want, then hope HAL counter-offers with something closer to what I'd accept.

Negotiation!

[robntawn]

What do you want to do? Do you want to cruise to Alaska this year? Or are you willing to put it off? If you want to cruise, then there really isn't anything that should get you to give that up. If you are willing to put it off then what do you think is a good deal?
What I think is good doesn't matter.

If I were you I would decide exactly what I want to give up this sailing. Then up the ante. Make a counter-offer for something that exceeds what I want, then hope HAL counter-offers with something closer to what I'd accept.

Negotiation!

Ruth,

With all due respect, it DOES matter to me what you think. I have never been in this situation before, so I don't know what a fair and equitable offer would be. While I love HAL and the Volendam, it will not kill me to put off my Alaska cruise, since I did this exact itinerary on the Volendam last August. I am just asking people what they feel is a fair trade.

[robntawn]

An update:

I made a counterproposal to Neal that I would give up my berth on 8/23/06 in exchange for a Verandah room on the Oosterdam Mexico cruise on 4/7/07. We were already planning a Mexican cruise that date, although it was tentatively booked with Princess. HAL said that the best they could do was book me in an Outside cabin and refund 25% of my Alaska cruise fare (about $600).

Now, on the surface, this looks okay. I would be going from an Inside to an Outside, and get some money back. However, an Alaska cruise is much more expensive and in-demand than a Mexico cruise, and in fact my Alaska Inside is more expensive than a Mexico outside! So, in effect, I would be losing money in the long run!

Aaaarghh, this is frustrating! I think I will just stay put unless they up the offer. Am I way off base here?

[Atomica]

I'd stay put. It doesn't sound like they are that desperate yet - just shopping around for volunteers. If they were in a REAL bind, they'd give you that balcony on the Oosterdam.

Like Ruth said though, it really is about what you want :)

[papadave]

I'd ask to see if they can arrange for another cruise vacation on the same date, necessary transportation and any hotel stays required to get you on a ship, meals during that time, plus cash or a future credit. If you can still have a nice vacation and come out with some money to spend in the future it will be worthwhile. Otherwise, don't think about what they might give you and proceed with your plans. In that case, let someone else decide whether HAL is offering a fair deal.

[AlohaPride]

An update:

I made a counterproposal to Neal that I would give up my berth on 8/23/06 in exchange for a Verandah room on the Oosterdam Mexico cruise on 4/7/07. We were already planning a Mexican cruise that date, although it was tentatively booked with Princess. HAL said that the best they could do was book me in an Outside cabin and refund 25% of my Alaska cruise fare (about $600).

Now, on the surface, this looks okay. I would be going from an Inside to an Outside, and get some money back. However, an Alaska cruise is much more expensive and in-demand than a Mexico cruise, and in fact my Alaska Inside is more expensive than a Mexico outside! So, in effect, I would be losing money in the long run!

Aaaarghh, this is frustrating! I think I will just stay put unless they up the offer. Am I way off base here?

Welp, if they don't want to work with you, I say you stay put. I don't think you are way off base...

I think HAL is way off base for overselling and then causing YOU so much stress and torment. What they are offering isn't even worth the time you are having to take to deal with THEIR situation. :o

[RuthC]

I had one more thought that might muddy the waters even more.

Isn't this a Cruise Critic group cruise? To my knowledge there weren't a lot of CC people who booked; at least initially there were group rates, however.
Were there enough people to keep those rates? If you were to cancell would that make a difference in whether or not this remained an official group? And kept that group pricing?

I'm not suggesting you make your decision based on how it might impact others financially, but it could be a consideration.

[robntawn]

I had one more thought that might muddy the waters even more.

Isn't this a Cruise Critic group cruise? To my knowledge there weren't a lot of CC people who booked; at least initially there were group rates, however.
Were there enough people to keep those rates? If you were to cancell would that make a difference in whether or not this remained an official group? And kept that group pricing?

I'm not suggesting you make your decision based on how it might impact others financially, but it could be a consideration.

Thanks for the reply. Actually, we only ended up with 3 cabins booked for this group cruise. We kept the pricing, but lost the amenities, so no impact either way.