H-A to offer $100 deposits? true or false?

[silvercruiser]

Princess often offers the chance to book future cruises at $100 pp. In fact, onboard bookings always offer this. I've heard rumors that H-A may soon do the same. Is this true? If so, when? Will there be incentives to book onboard?

[hammybee]

HAL does this too.

[waiting2retire]

It is true that HAL is offering $100 deposit for onboard bookings. I will be sailing on the Zaandam on January 5/07 and have already identified a November 2007 HAL cruise I would like to take. :D I have the pricing from the HAL website as well as several online TA quotes for the category I want, so I will check to see what, if any, advantages or incentives there are to booking onboard during my upcoming cruise.

I will let you know what I find out!

Bonnie

[Tricia724]

It is true that HAL is offering $100 deposit for onboard bookings. I will be sailing on the Zaandam on January 5/07 and have already identified a November 2007 HAL cruise I would like to take. :D I have the pricing from the HAL website as well as several online TA quotes for the category I want, so I will check to see what, if any, advantages or incentives there are to booking onboard during my upcoming cruise.

I will let you know what I find out!

Bonnie

Bonnie....please do follow up on this and let us know what you learn. We will be sailing in February and may also want to take advantage of this reduced deposit.....if it is worthwhile to do so.

We just got off the Veendam at the end of October, and I attended a presentation by the onboard cruise consultant, and she never mentioned anything about this option, so apparently it is a very new program for HAL. It could be a nice option....but until we get further information, we won't know.

[kryos]

Princess often offers the chance to book future cruises at $100 pp. In fact, onboard bookings always offer this. I've heard rumors that H-A may soon do the same. Is this true? If so, when? Will there be incentives to book onboard?
I don't know anything about that, but I only wish.

I just booked a cruise for 2008 ... and a deposit of $1,750 was just charged on my AmEx account.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I don't know anything about that, but I only wish.

I just booked a cruise for 2008 ... and a deposit of $1,750 was just charged on my AmEx account.

Blue skies ...

--rita

Rita, look at it this way when you go to make final payment you will be paying $1,650 less money at that time:D

In answer to the OP, the answer is TRUE

[Guienevere_Arianette]

I don't know anything about that, but I only wish.

I just booked a cruise for 2008 ... and a deposit of $1,750 was just charged on my AmEx account.

Blue skies ...

--rita

In June of 06, I booked a Prisendam 07 cruise and $1200 was put on my card, which, in the end, was better than what HAL wanted down ($1650).

Which may be a good idea for me; I'd go hog wild with booking at $100 pp; I'd be booked for years on end!! :D

[silvercruiser]

Yep, there's less to pay at the end, but right now I have about $5,000 tied up in future cruise deposits and would rather be able to wait til later. On our last Princess cruise one couple signed up for 4 future cruises to be taken anytime within the next four years. The reason is that they get great onboard credit $ by doing it that way.

[cruznon]

This is great--I'm sure HAl will have more onboard bookings with the $100 deposit.

[Charliesmom]

We just booked a future cruise while on the Veendam and paid $100 pp deposits. They give you onboard credits, too, but they are not as good as the credits on Princess.

For 7-11 days you get $25.00 pp for Inside and Outside, $35.00 pp for a Verandah and $50 pp for a suite.

For 12 days or more you get $50. pp inside and outside, $75.00 pp for a Verandah and $100 pp for a suite.

It says at the bottom "This offer is not combinable with World cruises." It also says "This offer applies to the first two passengers in stateroom only, and is not applicable to upper berth passengers."

Roberta

[LAFFNVEGAS]

While I admit that the credit is not as good as I have heard that other cruise lines offer like Princess you have to admit it is still better than a big fat Zero that you get when you book with your TA. Hey I know it is not big money but I for one think it is worth getting at least a little bit extra here and there. This is actually a big step in the right direct for HAL. I cannot see complaining about getting something you would not have if you booked with your TA at home, plus you get to keep more of your own money in savings till final payment.

Why must we always find a reason to complain when HAL gives us something:confused:


Reminds me of the story of the Prince and the Peasant girl, they had a secret romance. One day he decided to ask for her hand in marriage and gives her a rings, he puts it on her hand and she looks at it and says "Oh I would like to have had a much bigger diamond" So he takes the rings back and away he goes, Never to be seen again. And the moral to the story is........

[Tricia724]

We just booked a future cruise while on the Veendam and paid $100 pp deposits. They give you onboard credits, too, but they are not as good as the credits on Princess.....Roberta

Roberta.....do you have to book a specific cruise, or will they allow you to pay the $100 and choose your cruise later.....similar to the Princess Future Cruise Credit? We have a cruise we are seriously considering but not committed to as yet.

[Shawhayden]

Princess often offers the chance to book future cruises at $100 pp. In fact, onboard bookings always offer this. I've heard rumors that H-A may soon do the same. Is this true? If so, when? Will there be incentives to book onboard?


A friend currently aboard the Prinsendam mentioned in an Email she had booked an xmas cruise on the Amsterdam with only a $100 deposit.

[Tinknock50]

Now if only they would offer that here at home. I might actually book something further out if I didn't have to tie up so much money for so long.

[polebarn]

We just booked with a $100 deposit pp on the Veendam. This is a new program, so there were still things to iron out (for example, we wanted to book two cabins on one cruise, and that took some doing, but we got the same deposit and credit for both). We had to book a specific cruise, even chose cabins and dining times. Consultant and paperwork both say you can change pricing to best price available from your TA up to 72 hours before sailing.

[scopewest]

While passing by the cruise consultant desk on the O last week, I overhead the lady tell the passenger that yes, it's $100 deposit BUT that the $100 was nonrefundable and she had four years to use it after which time she would be out the money. Just FYI.

[CruiseBumm]

I recently booked a RCI cruise for a$100 per person deposit. I booked HAL cruise last October and the deposit was $200 per person.
If HAL starts doing this trough travel companies or TA it would be great.:D

[venicecruiser]

Anyone know if the 100.00 deposit can be used on longer cruises - 26 days or more? I'll be on Veendam in April and there's 2 or 3 long sailings I'd like to book while onboard.

Claudia

[CuriousJ]

I'm thinking of booking a surprise cruise for me and DH - taking advantage of the $100 deposit while I'm on the Zuiderdam in April. However, I will be on this cruise with a friend, not my DH - will they still let me book for $100 if he is not present? Hmmmm.

[hammybee]

I'm thinking of booking a surprise cruise for me and DH - taking advantage of the $100 deposit while I'm on the Zuiderdam in April. However, I will be on this cruise with a friend, not my DH - will they still let me book for $100 if he is not present? Hmmmm.

Sure they will.

[Jade13]

quarantee the space), but what about the trip insurance? Hal requires that at the time of booking, so now they won't? Please explain?

[Sale Away]

What would the fare basis be that your reservation is based on? Is it full brochure prices? Or is it just a hold on the CAT/cabin regardless of fare?

Aren't you booking directly through HAL if you're doing it on board? But I saw Polebarn say above that they'd let you adjust the fare through your TA?

[hammybee]

I understand the $100 initial deposit routine. I would be surprized if there were not some interim deposits required between the initial booking and final payment date.

And if one transferred the booking to a T/A to take advantage of better pricing I am willing to bet that normal deposits will apply.

And Jade 13 raised a good question about insurance.

So may questions.......

[waiting2retire]

While I was recently on the Zaandam, I took advantage of the low deposit and booked a VD guarantee on the Nov 10/07 sailing of the Noordam, with an OBC of either $25 or $35 (I forget which). The booking was then transferred to the TA of my choice, which resulted in a further OBC (again, either $25 or $35; one was HAL and one was TA) and a dinner for 2 at the Pinnacle.

My paperwork clearly states that a $100 deposit was made and the balance is due on August 27/07. I have seen my TA and there was no request there for any further deposit.

To be honest, I'm not sure what the price was based on. It was actually slightly less than the current price listed on HALs website, and competitive with current online TA rates.

As has been mentioned here already, the deposit is non-refundable, but can be transferred to any other HAL cruise within the next four years should I decide to cancel the sailing I chose. I figure worst case scenario is that I an unable to cruise on HAL at all over the next four years, and lose $100. If I can't cruise for the next four years, that $100 is likely to be the least of my worries!

Now here is what I consider to be the interesting part. Since I have no significant other, I am not sure who may be available to travel with me at that time. The cruise consultant suggested that I book single, and anytime up until final payment I can add another person to the booking and will the charged no more than the applicable double amount as of the original date of booking (Jan/07). I was given the computer printout of the double rate so that I know what it was.

As for insurance, I always book my own, so I declined HAL's offer. I don't know how the insurance would work should the booking be changed.

Hope this answers some questions. If you have any more, I'll be happy to help if I can.

Bonnie

[PathfinderEss]

Roberta.....do you have to book a specific cruise, or will they allow you to pay the $100 and choose your cruise later.....similar to the Princess Future Cruise Credit? We have a cruise we are seriously considering but not committed to as yet.

I'm not Roberta, but we just did what I call a phantom booking on the Veendam for $100 per person. We locked in the shipboard credit and the $100 deposit for a cruise, that we can select at a later date. I believe the paper work say's we have up to 4 years to chose a cruise. We plan to do another one when were on the Ryndam in April.
I'm with some of the other posters, I don't like having 1,500 deposits out for over a year. Cruise lines make lots of money off of these deposits, when it should be sitting in my bank earning income, especially when every shipboard cabins will sell 3 times before it is finally sold.

Yes, you are booking directly through Hal but they will let you adjust the fare through your TA.

[galipemi]

Someone wondered about the HAL insurance. Yes, this does have to be paid at the time of booking. But it is a separate commodity you are selecting. The $100 deposit applies to the cruise itself. If you choose to add insurance you will be required to pay this at the time you book onboard. My mother booked onboard with her OCC and I seem to have been the only one who asked questions;) :D

The $100 deposit can work in two ways.

1. You pay HAL $100 and promise that you will either travel with them on any cruise 39 days or less in the next 4 years or forefit the deposit you paid.

When you choose to book your next HAL cruise, you advise your TA that you put a reduced deposit and that it is linked to your Mariner number. They will have access to this info and be able to reduce your deposit and apply the onboard credit which is based on the length of sailing and category booked.

(FYI, you are actually booking through your TA when you do this. The full credit and responsibility for the booking will transfer to your agent within a day or two. My mother's agent had the booking before she even got home from her cruise)

2. You choose the cruise you would like to take, choose your cabin or guarantee and book. The OCC will reduce the deposit to $100 and until final payment, the terms are as though you booked with a normal depoist. You can cancel if needed and apply the deposit elsewhere (to another cruise or have it held to your Mariner number)


I asked how the Future Cruise Deposit works (option #1 above)

Basically, they link the deposit to your Mariner number. It is extremely difficult and sometimes impossible to book for someone not onboard the ship if they have never cruised HAL before and therefore does not have a Mariner number.

[CuriousJ]

Basically, they link the deposit to your Mariner number. It is extremely difficult and sometimes impossible to book for someone not onboard the ship if they have never cruised HAL before and therefore does not have a Mariner number.

Thanks for the great info! So...if my hubby is not aboard the Zuiderdam with me, but he does have a Mariner number, I should be able to book us a future cruise with the $100/pp deposit?! Crossing my fingers! His 50th birthday is coming up next year and I think this would make a fabulous surprise birthday gift. (How I am going to keep it a surprise is, of course, a subject for an entirely different discussion!)

[Jade13]

deal if you plan to use some other insurance and not HALs insurance, as for 3 persons you could end up putting down $800 and ot 100 and the insurance can not be transfered to another cruise, correct?

[Tinknock50]

Princess sometimes has "floating" $100 deposits which it offers to agencies. I think it is up to the agencies to apply this benefit to a particular cruise. This allows you to get a $100 deposit from home instead of onboard ship.

I hope HAL will also do this.....I really love not having to tie up a big deposit as much as a year ahead.

[KAKcruiser]

I booked a cruise for 2007 with the $100 each deposit. However, I was told that the deposit was refundable. It is only the deposit placed on cruises that are not yet available that are nonrefundable. I hope this is accurate.

[Jade13]

on-board credit or dinner at the Pinnacle Grille?

[Tinknock50]

on-board credit or dinner at the Pinnacle Grille?

Jade,
Enjoy reading your posts. I wonder if you would do me a favor.
Could you post your message entirely in the lower box instead of starting it in the title box?

I have instant e-mail notification and I only get part of your message when it comes bcecause it won't pick up anything in the title box.
Also if we quote your message, nothing in the title box will make it to our response.

I generally leave the title box empty anyway.....not required to make a post.

Keep up the good posting!:) ,

[KAKcruiser]

We go a $50 each shipboard credit for booking a suite.

[Steamboatin]

Our TA only requires a $25 per person deposit on any cruise with any cruise company. Should you cancel the cruise prior to final payment you get your $25 per person deposit back.

How will HAL rebate me the $150 deposit overpayment should I take them up and sign up for a cruise on board after I switch it to my TA?

HAL's $100 deposit fee is excessive. To us anyway and we would never do business with anyone that requires a cruise deposit greater than $25 per person.

[Tinknock50]

Our TA only requires a $25 per person deposit on any cruise with any cruise company. Should you cancel the cruise prior to final payment you get your $25 per person deposit back.

How will HAL rebate me the $150 deposit overpayment should I take them up and sign up for a cruise on board after I switch it to my TA?

HAL's $100 deposit fee is excessive. To us anyway and we would never do business with anyone that requires a cruise deposit greater than $25 per person.

Steamboatin,
It sounds like your agency is subsidising your down payment by paying part of it when you book. Makes me wonder about their pricing.....are their prices higher to cover this?

Can't believe that HAL would waive a big chunk of a deposit for that one agency. The agency is covering it somehow.

[Happy Tapper]

;) the deal was great for us.Deposit was $ 100 per person for any future cruise
with up to 4 yrs to use the deposit. Of course you can book a selected cruise on board. Came home and selected the cruise a short while later. This setup is fairly
new with HAL .do not have to tie up large amounts for cruise deposit.
Booked : Amsterdam, DEc.11-21,2007 :D looking forward! CRL

[Steamboatin]

Steamboatin,
It sounds like your agency is subsidising your down payment by paying part of it when you book. Makes me wonder about their pricing.....are their prices higher to cover this?

Can't believe that HAL would waive a big chunk of a deposit for that one agency. The agency is covering it somehow.

That "one" agency is an association that is over 100 years old and has over 50 million members.

Now that is no ordinary "one" agency.

The TA's pricing is competitive.

[Jade13]

Tinknock50, thanks for the tip! (as well as the note that you enjoy my posts).

Steamboatin, are you in the US? Are you saying that you give your TA $25pp and you get a reserved cabin and do not have to pay the entire amount until 60 days (or whenever the final mpayment is due)?

Do you take out insurance and if so, with whom?

Sorry, I ask a lot of questions about insurance. Somehow we went to the Galapagos in 2005, had the Master Suite, only one of two with a balcony and did not get insurance. We booked directly through Metropolitan Touring who owns the Santa Cruz. We are still working and knew that our health insurance, a PPO, was good overseas. We took a risk, but interestingly the deposit was refundable until something like 30 days before the cruise date.

Last year we used Hals Platinum, which was cheap in Alaska at 169pp covering our airfare as well.

I'm still trying to understand what those who do the $100pp guarantee, a good deal for any future cruise in 4 years do about insurance? The $100 isn't such a good deal if you have to pay $300-$500pp upfront with HAL for insurance because they have made it 100% clear on e-mail to me that if you make any change after initial booking, even the same itinerary two weeks later that insurance can not be moved and is forfit. Since we are young and our medical risk is low, have great PPO insurance anyway that can be used overseas, I'm more interested in the cancellation aspect of cruise insurance...(although now I see that it is foolish not to have medical evacuation).

[Jade13]

double post sorry

[Steamboatin]

Hi Jade13

Yes we live in the good ole US of A.

The association is an American association.

Yes, we pay only a $25 per person deposit on any cruise. The balance due in full on that cruise line's normal last day for final payment.

[Jade13]

TinkNock50/others, I e-mailed the HAL TA this morning (from my home computer) and asked them directly what the deal is with the $100 deposit. I will let you know what I find out.

HAL told me directly that their pricing should be identical to an outside TA, the only difference some small incentive the outside TA adds such as $500pp onboard credit or dinner at the Pinnacle Grill. Note we used an Outsifde TA last year and received $100 onboard credit. It was not worth it and booked directky with HAL this year. I had to go through the TA for everything and it took them forever to get my answers. I finally found the Ship Coordinator (not on commission) and went through them directly with Ship questions, booking a refrigerator (since no Verandah was available), Pinnacle grill and Soda Card booking.

This year my teenage stepdaughter is coming along, and apparently under 18 is considered a child directly through HAL for third person pricing, just FYI. I like traveling with just the two of us, but I'm a nice stepmom so asked her where she wanted to go (Alaska did not interest her last year). :)
:)

[Tinknock50]

Steamboatin,

Could you e-mail me? I have a private question to ask you,

Thanks,

[Tinknock50]

My post seems to be stuck in the ozone....bumping it up.

[Tinknock50]

TinkNock50/others, I e-mailed the HAL TA this morning (from my home computer) and asked them directly what the deal is with the $100 deposit. I will let you know what I find out.

HAL told me directly that their pricing should be identical to an outside TA, the only difference some small incentive the outside TA adds such as $500pp onboard credit or dinner at the Pinnacle Grill. Note we used an Outsifde TA last year and received $100 onboard credit. It was not worth it and booked directky with HAL this year. I had to go through the TA for everything and it took them forever to get my answers. I finally found the Ship Coordinator (not on commission) and went through them directly with Ship questions, booking a refrigerator (since no Verandah was available), Pinnacle grill and Soda Card booking.

This year my teenage stepdaughter is coming along, and apparently under 18 is considered a child directly through HAL for third person pricing, just FYI. I like traveling with just the two of us, but I'm a nice stepmom so asked her where she wanted to go (Alaska did not interest her last year). :)
:)

Jade,
I think you just need to find a good TA. Anytime I price HAL they are usually a couple hundred dollars more than the TAs I use. Not sure why HAL would tell you their pricing is the same. A good TA will keep after any questions or requests you have.

Going through the Ships Coordinater for some requests works no matter who you book with. I have had to do that for special diet requests for my Mom and what we needed was there waiting for us in the cabin.:)

[Jade13]

Steamboatin, do you mean like a Dental Association (type of Association)?:D

[Steamboatin]

Hi Jade13,

No more like an auto association.:D

[hammybee]

Hi Jade13

Yes we live in the good ole US of A.

The association is an American association.

Yes, we pay only a $25 per person deposit on any cruise. The balance due in full on that cruise line's normal last day for final payment.

cute

[pms4104]

Indeed the $100 deposit is totally nonrefundable ... but if you cancel the original cruise, you can apply that $100 to another booking within 4 years. After that, it's HAL's money/profit. The onboard consultant offers you the option to either go with the $100 or the traditional deposit.

[Jade13]

Steamboatin, OK, I used AAA last year and found no value (OK, we received $100 onboard credit) but the particular TA was no value, expecially since AAA does not allow their reps to have voice mail, so you can't get in touch with them.

This TA could "hold" the cabin for a few days but at that point we had to pay the 25 or 30% about 7 months prior to our cruise. This year I booked directly through HAL so I have a TA with a voice mail. I was told I would get any advertised discounts up until the day of departure. I am looking...

So, since now HAL (along with other lines) has these low deposits, I assume you can get trip insurance somewhere at the same time as the final payment? I have still not heard whether any companies offer the 90% cancellation for any reason up until the day before departure, because that really isn't insurance, it's cancellation offered by the cruise line. (The fear is that we wouldn't be able to travel because of a sick relative or the person who is supposed to take care of our pets suddenly backs out. Btw, we have reptiles so they are special care and no kennel option available.)

[Tinknock50]

Jade,
Regarding insurance....there is a site called "insuremytrip.com". It allows you to check several companies plans.

Haven't noticed specifically, but maybe there is a policy there that will let you cancel for any reason.

[Jade13]

Tinknock50, thanks. I took a look, and will have to look further.

The initial quote that I received was for Medical/Dental (don't need, my policy is 90% out of network after a $300pp yearly deductable), car rental (don't need), flight (well, I'm using frequent flyer miles this next trip, so would have to read the fine print but doubt it would pay out anything, since I'm not paying for the tickets. If I miss the connections, the airline says they will get me on the next flight). If I cancel I can redeposit the miles for $100pp. I know the issue is medical evacution...I still need to find out about cancellaton. It is mentioned, so I will do a bit more research. It still seems like that's a risk the cruise line would take more than anyone else and they are the ones requesting payment at the time of booking. I think it's a great queston I should raise with HAL regarding why the insurance can't be chosen 60-90 days prior to travel since the insurance companies are doing it. It's the one issue that I have with the year or more in advance deposit. I don't have a problem with $100pp.

[waiting2retire]

Thank you, jade13, for raising the topic of travel insurance. I booked a November cruise with the $100 deposit while on board recently and declined the HAL insurance since I have out-of-country medical insurance through work and I get a reduction on the rest through a family member who works for a major (Canadian) travel insurance company.

However, while reading this thread, I got to thinking about when I need to book insurance. It doesn't make sense that I would have to buy insurance now for a cruise that I am not entirely sure I will take since I can transfer my deposit to a different cruise prior to final payment in August. I went online and discovered the following: "Must purchase coverage at the time of initial travel deposit OR if you purchased a cruise vacation, before any cancellation penalties are in effect". That means I can wait to purchase my insurance until I make final payment. This information may only be of assistance to Canadian travellers; I don't know whether American travel insurance companies do the same.

By the way, you have expressed concern regarding emergency medical evacuation costs. My medical insurance through work does cover these costs in the event of an out-of-country emergency.

Bonnie

[waiting2retire]

Thank you, jade13, for raising the topic of travel insurance. I booked a November cruise with the $100 deposit while on board recently and declined the HAL insurance since I have out-of-country medical insurance through work and I get a reduction on the rest through a family member who works for a major (Canadian) travel insurance company.

However, while reading this thread, I got to thinking about when I need to book insurance. It doesn't make sense that I would have to buy insurance now for a cruise that I am not entirely sure I will take since I can transfer my deposit to a different cruise prior to final payment in August. I went online and discovered the following: "Must purchase coverage at the time of initial travel deposit OR if you purchased a cruise vacation, before any cancellation penalties are in effect". That means I can wait to purchase my insurance until I make final payment. This information may only be of assistance to Canadian travellers; I don't know whether American travel insurance companies do the same.

By the way, you have expressed concern regarding emergency medical evacuation costs. My medical insurance through work does cover these costs in the event of an out-of-country emergency.

Bonnie

[waiting2retire]

Wow, first time ever WSOD for me! Does this mean I am an official CC member now?? ;)

[Tinknock50]

Wow, first time ever WSOD for me! Does this mean I am an official CC member now?? ;)

Yep...Congratulations!!

[Jade13]

I emailed Insure myTrip.com

I will need to dig further but a 75% back is still not as good as HALs 90%, but it will depend on the cost. I also wonder if the $25 pre-deposit is considered a booking.

I'm surprised that I seem to be the only one concerned about a cancellation or even a change...

I will check re evacuation..


"Thank you for using InsureMyTrip.com.
We do offer "cancel for any reason" policies with two package policies.
M.H.Ross and TravelSafe. Please read below the qualifications for this coverage. **Must purchase one of these policies within 15-days of your first trip payment or deposit.**
Optional Cancel For Any Reason Benefit:
If you cancel your Trip for any reason not otherwise covered by this policy, we will reimburse you for 75% of the prepaid, forfeited, non-refundable Payments or Deposits you paid for your Trip provided:
1. your enrollment form and premium payment is received (or, if mailed, is
post-marked) within 15 days of the date your initial deposit/payment for your Trip is received; and
2. you insure all prepaid Trip costs that are subject to cancellation penalties or restrictions and also insure within 15 days of the payment for those arrangements the cost of any subsequent arrangements (or any other arrangements not made through your travel agent) added to your Trip; and
3. you cancel your Trip two (2) days or more before your Scheduled Trip Departure Date.
The package policies are designed for travelers going on a single trip.
They can
be used for Cruises, Tours, Flights, House Rentals and a world of other trip types."

[Tinknock50]

Jade,
Don't forget that most policies will cover the "sick relative" case you mentioned 100%. The 75% would apply for something like the pet care problem.

So really not to bad to go outside the cruiseline for insurance.

[silvercruiser]

Princess onboard booking works through your travel agent.

[RuthC]

I'm surprised that I seem to be the only one concerned about a cancellation or even a change...
I'm not.

I've been a faithful reader of threads on CC for a number of years now, and found that when this topic comes up most posters say they don't take the HAL coverage---they insure through any one of a number of companies.
The HAL plan doesn't cover what many (most?) of us are looking for: trip interruption, medical coverage, evacuation, repatriation of remains, assistance to travelling companion, etc.

[Jade13]

Hal Platinum better cover trip interuption and emergency medical evacuation, otherwiae there is no sense for me to get it. My medical is a PPO and covers out of the country after $300pp yearly out of network deductable (which I use regardless of whether I travel.)

[HeatherInFlorida]

Jade called my attention to this thread and I have to admit I am perplexed beyond words. There is no way HAL accepts a $25/pp deposit until final payment unless the TA is covering the difference to HAL. HAL will not take a booking for less than the required deposit which varies dependent on the length of the cruise, but it is never $25/pp (unless possibly a special arrangement is made for a large group cruise).

It may be that Steamboating is a member of this American vehicle organization and part of their service is covering that deposit since they know it is fully refundable until final payment is due. That's the only explanation that makes any sense at all.

Even onboard HAL this past December 2006, they required the deposit IN FULL which in our case was $600/pp.

Even to just get our name on a LIST to be called when they opened bookings for the Holiday 2008 itinerary cost us $100/pp.

[Jade13]

Note that my Jan 30 post was that I once received $50pp on-line credit (not $500.00!).

For those who booked recently on-board for $100pp,did everyone get the same additional incentives regarding the on-board credit, or is this ship by ship?

I still don't get the agent who allows $25.00pp booking (is this with an assigned cabin?) up to Hal's final payment date. And again, I e-mailed insuremytrip. Only two insurers have trip cancellation (included with the medical) and they both have to be paid within a couple weeks of the initial booking.

Heather, I may be totally wrong regarding the costs for Hal's insurance programs. They must be on a scale based on age (we are under age 50) because it would not make sence to insure a 30 year old at the same cost as a 90 year old...I will ask.

We have a lot of pets, so always scared one will get really sick and we would need to cancel (or change our dates which is the same as canceling after final payment - so the cancellation is important in our case).