Hal's Cruise Insurance, Price Drops & Incentives

[Jade13]

Ok, I finally got it in writing from Hal that if you switched cruises you could transfer their insurance with you.

"Currently, we are able to transfer provided that we are outside of penalty."

I had been told by one rep you could and another you couldn't and was concerned about booking a year in advance and then needing to change cruises or dates when still outside the penalty/final payment due date.

Well, last week I found out that my TA is offering $300.00 onboard credit for new bookings on the specific cruise that I am on. The money comes directly from Hal (which I never knew before). The cruise price is the same. Since I was still outside the penatly phase I wanted to "rebook" and get that $300. The TA has spoken to several people and I can do it but will loose over $700 in insurance so of I won't do that. I pointed out that I had it in writing that the insurance was transferable. They are saying that it is transferable if I switch to a different cruise, not the same one.

Now I know they don't want to just give me $300, but I was under the final payment due date. I just want to know if anyone has "rebooked" on the same cruise and kept Hal's insurance in order to get some other perk? (It would be so much easier if they just gave me the credit).

Grrrr.

[pms4104]

Guess I'm extra cautious and/or skeptical ... good you got it in writing directly from HAL.

[hammybee]

Oh Jade, I don't have any experiences to share with you but have to say, based upon the response from HAL, I inferred it to mean that insurance was transferable, so long as you kept the booking, within HAL.

Unless one has some pre-existing condition issues, I do not understand the need to buy insurance so early in the game. Maybe I'll learn something here, today.

It seems to me that you you really need to lean on HAL to get at least the same OBC incentive they are providing travel agents and I think you are going to have to escalate this within the organization, to do so. The only reason you are not transfering your reservation out of HAL, is the blasted HAL insurance. I wish you the best of luck.

BTW, when is your cruise and how much time before final payment date- the point of no return?

[Jade13]

Hammybee, just fji I had already transfered my cruise outside of Hal since I sort of got a better price. Well, I paid about the same but got a better cabin. The insurance goes with you.

The issue is that the TA is offering (Hal pays it) $300.00 on-board credit for new booking as of April 1. So, I was willing to cancel and rebook to get the $300.00 (It did mean that I would have to wait for a refund for 2 months, which I could afford to pay or probab put it in "dispute" with my credit card company while it gets straightened out, etc. So, not worried about the extra hassle. My e-mail to Hal (which was before I found out about the lastest special) was about changing cruises because lets face it, some are booking cruises before the airline fares are out. My response from Hal was short and sweet (posted above) and who would ask "Can I cancel and rebook the same cruise".

They have no prexisting condition clause but payment is at the time of booking. Here again is my little concern about their insurance. Most policy are within 14 days and there is a great thread about the one at final payment with no prexisting conditions. You an cancel for anyreason and get 90% back.

Look, I know these perks are to get new clients, but I did have this in writing (although not specific to rebooking the same cruise), just "cancelling and rebooking".

I'm just wondering if I'm being petty (not the right word) or if everyone's undestanding is that "changes" can be made up until final payment date, so this is worth writing a letter to someone at Hal? It is $300 afterall and the TA confirmed the rest of the price is exactly the same.

Would you believe today was the final payment deadline date?

[hammybee]

HA ! Of course today is final payment date. Otherwise, where would the fun be?

Your FYI certainly puts a different spin on things and I am thrilled to learn that HAL allows the insurance to travel with the booking, outside their system.

If you did not have HAL insurance there would be no question, cancel and rebook, to take advantage of the $300 OBC. That's the only card you have going for you ( you chose HAL's insurance and now it's biting you) and since you are using a T/A and the deal is for new bookings only, it seems you will be at the mercy of HAL and you T/A's willingness to fight for you.

You have nothing to lose so you might as well go for it. Good luck.

[Jade13]

Hammybee, The TA spoke to two Agents and a supervisor and then tried again with two more Agents (so spoke to 5 people). The answer was that the insurance can be transfered to another cruise (ship) on the same date or to the same cruise on a different date. Basically you can't cancel and rebook the same cruise. And, as the TA said she could have saved us $400 if we used their insurance but it didn't have the cancel for any reason and get back 90%. Btw, last year (shorter cruise) we paid $169 each for two and since we bought airfare through Hal it was a no brainer. Whoever heard of canceling for any reason the day before and getting back 90% of your airfare?

This year for three it's lots more but I can't use their insurance again knowing that if I book and a month later the fare goes down I can't rebook. (I think they make up the policys as they go).

Btw, I was going to write Hal originally when I was told the insurance was not tranferable because I thought they were loosing lots of money on insurance. Now, I'll definately write them. The other issue was although the due date was today, the TA took my final payment last week before our agreed upon date. I only care because the TA said its impossible once your final payment has been made. I e-mailed last Friday and payment wasn't really due until tomorrow. What is the point of a final deadline date, if the deadline for the same cruise if you use their insurance is really as soon as you book (Think of those on CC that have booked the Eurodam and what if you took Hal's insurance? They are saying you can't rebook if their is a better offer through your TA?)

If anyone has suggestions on a short to the point tactful letter, I'm up for any suggestions? Btw, does telling anyone you're a member of CC carry any weight. I normally wouldn't direct the cruiseline to a web-site but seems at least those in Guest Relations are reading. Again, the only issue is that I took Hal's insurance vs some other insurance. Otherwise, I'd cancel, rebook and get $300 in on-board credit).

[hammybee]

If it were me, I might approach this by making the insurance thing- the issue.

That you prepaid your cruise should not change the fact that you can cancel at any time up to and including the date of final payment. Of course you do not want to cancel and instead just want to take advantage of an offer for OBC- for new bookings only.

I would not use being a member of CC to argue for the OBC because it might be inferred as potential blackmail and cause HAL, or any company for that matter, to dismiss your request.

And lastly, I think you have a better shot when crafting your lettier as a request for consideration, than a demand.

Good luck to you and no matter what, being on a ship is better than being at home, on CC, dreaming about being on a ship. :)

[Jade13]

Hammybee, I agree with your last line!!!

Btw, I would never make a demand, only point out that I paid a premium for no hassles and should not be penalized the OBC because I chose Hal's insurance vs another...

[pms4104]

Unless I'm mistaken, if you take HAL insurance it must be paid in full at time of initial deposit.

[ocngypz]

The $300 onboard credit promo is actually through your agent's consortium which happens to be mine as well.

For oceanview and above and must book at the group rate (not necessarily the lowest rate available).

Most importantly, it is for NEW BOOKINGS.

[hammybee]

Most importantly, it is for NEW BOOKINGS.

I think Jade knows this and if she did not have HAL insurance, she would be able to cancel her booking and make a new one, before final payment date.
It's the HAL insurance that is preventing her from doing so.

[Jade13]

Hammybee is correct. Even the Agent (who called multiple times on my behalf) said the issue was the Hal insurance (Which I paid for at the time of booking). If I had any other insurance, this would not be an issue (The Agent was not going to charge me a cancellation fee). The TA also confirmed that the fare was identical.

Again, I understand no cruise ship wants to give back money (I think an OBC is the same thing), but the TA said her clients cancel and rebook all the time outside of the penalty/final payment phase in order to get better fares or some other perk.

Hal was willing to do this if I changed my date or same date on another ship, perhaps saying this because it was not what I wanted to do and have it in writing that the insurance can be transfered. Because the policy is unclear they should give me the OBC this one time and clarify their policy so I can make an educated decision if I want to use their insurance in the future.

So, I think my augument to Hal is "You either have a policy that bookings can be canceled and rebooked prior to the final payment date without loosing the insurance or you don't".

(Doesn't this sound like the Amex $300 perk mentioned on a different thread. Some pax got this booking an Outside cabin while others needed a Suite. In this case someone pointed out that the policy is clearly written in the Am Ex paperwork.)




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