I think I was the first!! (New Signature Preferred Boarding Pass Available)

[InTheWASide]

Just went on to do my Signature Preferred Boarding Pass, and the new features are up and running.

Totally easy and a total breeze. Well worth the wait.

There's a status bar that tells you what step (of 5) you're on and goes over the terms and conditions and asks for either your CC info or you can say that you're bringing cash and it gives you a few more instructions.

SUPER easy.

Now I just need to hope September can get here faster.

:cool:

[Krazy Kruizers]

Sounds great!!

[jhannah]

Wonderful! This will really be a useful enhancement.

[sail7seas]

Thanks for telling us about it......

We'll wait and give them our credit card when we check in as we always have done.

Creatures of habit...... :D

[cp556]

Thanks for the heads-up.
The process also had a good reminder: to call your credit card company and advise them of forthcoming usage from HAL and in unusual locales. That's one thing I usually forget to do so I appreciated the reminder.....

[jhannah]

... call your credit card company and advise them of forthcoming usage from HAL and in unusual locales. Absolutely. I always make notification and we've never had any problem using the card anywhere across the globe.

Thanks for adding this reminder.

[Atomica]

Maybe this is a silly question, but does this Signature Boarding Pass mean that HAL isn't issuing paper tickets anymore, or is this basically just the Immigration Form version 2.0?

[LAFFNVEGAS]

OK, I just went to to our on-line immigration form (still hoping that upgrade fairy would appear:D ) It looks to me that when you do the on line immigration you must now state if you will be doing Cash or credit card and if credit card you must fill in the information to even complete the on line immigration for the future. I am one that is careful but I am also not afraid of using my credit card on line, the sight did have the secure lock symbol. Under the immigration form it now showed pending for credit card. I did go in and complete it and reprinted our (now called Signature Preferred Boarding Pass) it does look different than the previous Immigration form. The way it looks to me is you will no longer be able to complete with out doing the credit card or stating you are paying cash. It does pop up and say it is putting an immediate hold on our credit card for $420.00 If that is all I would spend my CC company would be shocked:D

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Maybe this is a silly question, but does this Signature Boarding Pass mean that HAL isn't issuing paper tickets anymore, or is this basically just the Immigration Form version 2.0?

This is basically just the immigration form with the added feature that they have already gone thru the credit card authorization process:)

[cp556]

Hi Lisa--
When I did it earlier today, it accepted my husband and I had to continue in order to allow myself as an additional person on the onboard account.
Our 17-nt cruise asked for a "hold" of $60/pp/day ... so it's a $2040 hold! My understanding is that the hold is placed when you check in at the ship. Eeek ... I hope so ... lol.
For your cruise, if it's $60/pp/day ... $420 would be 7-night cruise for ONE person. Is that right???
Thanks for all your reviews along the way ... you've been very helpful to me...

[LAFFNVEGAS]

CP, yes, when I did it at first I was doing it under Tom but the credit card I was using I am the first person so I went back and did the update under my name first but I forgot to add Tom when I saw the box come up stating the hold of $420.00. I then went back in and added Tom so it most likely did place another hold on the account. But I did just check on line to my credit card company and there is no holds showing so most likely it is not done till you board the ship.

CP BTW thanks :)

[traveler1980]

As I am new to cruising, can I ask for a little more help. We just got our cruise docs a couple of weeks ago. Haven't filled them out or anything. Is the new online feature in lieu of the paper docs? So if I fill it out online that is all I would need to do?

Also, I understand about the hold on the credit card, but can you give light as to charges that you usually incur along the journey. I guess I am not sure of all the things you can purchase on board.

Thanks!

[jhannah]

You can purchase pictures made by the ship's photogs, cruise video DVD, adult beverages, bingo cards, shore excursions, trinkets and necessary items in the ship's shops, and spa services. Oh yes, your automatic service charge (sometimes called tips or gratuities) is added to your onboard account each day.

[jtl513]

As I am new to cruising, can I ask for a little more help. We just got our cruise docs a couple of weeks ago. Haven't filled them out or anything. Is the new online feature in lieu of the paper docs? So if I fill it out online that is all I would need to do?

Also, I understand about the hold on the credit card, but can you give light as to charges that you usually incur along the journey. I guess I am not sure of all the things you can purchase on board.

Thanks!Jim covered your second question, and in answer to your first: you can do either the paper form or the on-line form, but there is no need to do both. Often at embarkation the "on-line" line is much longer than the "paper" line. We fill in the forms on-line, but at embarkation we just go to the shorter line. Nobody objects. So far. :)

[the2ofus]

As I am new to cruising, can I ask for a little more help. We just got our cruise docs a couple of weeks ago. Haven't filled them out or anything. Is the new online feature in lieu of the paper docs? So if I fill it out online that is all I would need to do?

Thanks!

Just remember to bring your printout of the immigration form with you also. They need that copy with your signature when you actually go through the line at embarkation. Which-ever line you go through, you will need to hand them that signed copy.

have a wonderful cruise and come back to tell us all about it.

[Atomica]

This is basically just the immigration form with the added feature that they have already gone thru the credit card authorization process:)

Thanks for that clarification, Lisa! Have a great time on the Noordam!

[pms4104]

Thanks for telling us about it......

We'll wait and give them our credit card when we check in as we always have done.

Creatures of habit...... :D



Hmmmm ... wonder if there'll be a special check-in line for those of us who answer "cash" and (wink, wink) change their mind at the pier.

I'll be curious to learn whether this new process speeds or slows the lines at embarkation.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Thanks for that clarification, Lisa! Have a great time on the Noordam!

Thanks Aaron:)

[RuthC]

You can purchase... trinkets ....
Some of those "trinkets" can melt a credit card, though! I've seen some pretty nice diamonds, emeralds, Ruby's, sapphires, .... :D

[Krazy Kruizers]

I was looking at the new immigration forms this afternoon. I have a feeling that many people are going to check "cash" and then change to a credit card once they check in at the pier.

And then I forsee another possible problem at the end of the cruise. It is going to be like years ago. Many people being called to the front desk to settle their bills. For many years many people never bothered to register their credit card and all we heard on the last morning were tons of names of being who had not settled their bills.

[pms4104]

And then I forsee another possible problem at the end of the cruise. It is going to be like years ago. Many people being called to the front desk to settle their bills. For many years many people never bothered to register their credit card and all we heard on the last morning were tons of names of being who had not settled their bills.

Guess I'm too practical or analytical ... never quite understood why HAL activated any "key" for other than room entry unless a credit card had been registered or cash put on the cabin account. Catch-22 ... if the staff in bars, shops, casinos, etc. refused sales/services to those who'd not secured their account, it would impact HAL's revenue stream ... loss of sales and possible loss of those passengers as repeaters. But, until the account is secured, no way for HAL to know if they'll get paid. Maybe there's been a loan officer onboard all this time.

[RuthC]

I had completed the on-line form for my July cruise a few weeks ago, but can't remember if I printed it out. So, I just went in to look---can't access the "print" page unless/until I complete the cash/credit card info page. So, I hit "cash" and it's done.

They should have had a "will present credit card info at check-in" option. :rolleyes: 'cause that's what I'm "gonna" do.

[Sunshine91]

It is going to be like years ago. Many people being called to the front desk to settle their bills. For many years many people never bothered to register their credit card and all we heard on the last morning were tons of names of being who had not settled their bills.

Not likely. I think folks will do as RuthC or Sail have indicated - check the "cash" button & then present a credit card at check-in. OR if they do truly intend to pay w/cash or traveller's checks, they have to pony up enough greenbacks on Day 1 or replenish throughout the voyage, otherwise onboard buying priviledges are suspended.

I'm curious. I read that some folks complete that form MONTHS in advance. :confused: Now when you do this, is the hold put on your credit card immediately? Or is the hold delayed until the ship actually sails? For 2 people sailing a 7-day cruise you're talking more than $800. For some, that's most of their credit limit. That could hurt.

[Big Al B.]

Somewhere in the site there is an explanation of the credit card hold. It states that they will institute the hold upon embarkation not immediately. I filled mine out last week and nothing has shown up on my card's account.

[jhannah]

I filled mine out last week and nothing has shown up on my card's account. A hold doesn't show up on your credit card account. All you will ever see is the final charge applied at the end of your cruise.

For 2 people sailing a 7-day cruise you're talking more than $800. For some, that's most of their credit limit. Really? Do folks with barely over a thousand dollars limit on their card take cruises? That doesn't compute with me.

[Grumpy1]

A hold doesn't show up on your credit card account. All you will ever see is the final charge applied at the end of your cruise.

When I go to my online account access, I can see an aggregate of all "hold" or preauthorization amounts. The account info page shows the "outstanding balance", "pending charges", "total credit limit" and "available credit". Since I check it almost daily, I know if there is anything going on with the account even before charges are posted. as of this morning, there has been no preauthorization for the amount that would be expected for the cruise. There was a $1.00 pending charge after I filled out the online immigration form, so I suspect that the procedure is to preauthorize $1.00 to verify that the card information is correct and the card is active. The larger amount will be preauthorized the day of the cruise, probably prior to checkin. If that bounces you will likely be flagged in the computer at checkin.

[Big Al B.]

I am the same way, Grumpy. I haven't seen anything as of yet.

[jtl513]

Really? Do folks with barely over a thousand dollars limit on their card take cruises? That doesn't compute with me.Maybe that's all some have remaining of their credit limit after charging the final payment! :) (I'm not speaking through experience - just hypothesizing. :D )

[sail7seas]

I don't plan to check 'cash' on the on line form. I don't intend to do the on-line form. I have never done it on line and find the one they include in our documents to be just fine by me.

I complete the paper form that we receive, it is signed and ready to be handed over when we check in. I don't want to put our credit card number on the on line form. (I have a low limit card that I got specifically for the purpose of making inexpensive on line purchases......I won't use our AmEx card or high limit Visa etc on line.) That low limit card is the only one I'll use on internet and it wouldn't suffice for our onboard bill.

When/if HAL switches to no paper forms.........I'll have to find a different method for 'registering' but it isn't likely I'll do it on line.

[gg3]

I don't plan to check 'cash' on the on line form. I don't intend to do the on-line form. I have never done it on line and find the one they include in our documents to be just fine by me.

I complete the paper form that we receive, it is signed and ready to be handed over when we check in. I don't want to put our credit card number on the on line form. (I have a low limit card that I got specifically for the purpose of making inexpensive on line purchases......I won't use our AmEx card or high limit Visa etc on line.) That low limit card is the only one I'll use on internet and it wouldn't suffice for our onboard bill.

When/if HAL switches to no paper forms.........I'll have to find a different method for 'registering' but it isn't likely I'll do it on line.




Totally agree with you. I did my on line check in several weeks ago, before the credit card data was up and running. At that time I printed out my Signature Boarding Pass. When I rec. my docs last week, I filled out the paper form for credit card use for my shipboard acct and will present that. In fact, I just received an update today from VE to SS, so I went online to update that and print out a new Boarding Pass with new cabin #. Could not do, so I emailed HAL and within minutes a reply telling me not to do anything else.....the cabin number is changed in their records and I am done. Re: the immigration forms.....when we filled those in on line......we did not get a printed copy of that....correct??? But, we do not fill out the immigration form that came in our blue folders either.....correct ?? I assume that is for folks w/out PC's. gg

[CruiseBumm]

I filled ours out several months ago, but had to go back and add the cash or credit otion this week. Am I corect to say this replaces the old imigration forms? I assume when I get our docs in a few weeks there will be more of these forms included incase I want to fill them out a third time.:p

[Golfette]

Now I am totally confused (not a rare occurrence). We filled out our immigration forms on-line in May & printed out Signature Preferred Boarding Passes at that time. There was nothing on it about credit cards. Now, if I understand what you are saying, I have to redo our Boarding Passes and fill out credit info? I checked on our on-line immigration forms which we filled out in May & they are "completed," but the Boarding Pass is now listed as "pending" even though we already did it & printed it. If I just want to register our card on boarding, can I just use the already-filled out Boarding Passes which I printed in May?

If I do, my inclination is to do as Ruth C says & just click on cash. Also, as Sail mentioned above, it might be a good idea to get a 2nd card just to use for purposes like this. We don't sail til 12/8. Any problems with doing it this way? Would appreciate your thoughts.

[Solution]

If you check the online check-in site, HAL actually advises you not to print the boarding pass until two days prior to sailing in case new information is needed.