Strange E-mail From Hal

[kakalina]

Did anyone else get an e-mail from HAL regarding the "win a free cruise" contest?

As did many others here awhile back we sent in a card from our Mariners magazine about which itinerary's we would like to see. One card was to be picked to win a cruise.

Today we received an e-mail stating that there were some "problems" with the contest. They went on to say they would do this again when everything was straightened out sometime in the future.

Sounds odd to me. Maybe they caught someone trying to make certain a friend or family member "won" the cruise :rolleyes:

[LoveMyBoxer]

It doesn't say anything about "eliminated". Here is what is says:

Thank you for your recent entry in our cruise sweepstakes and for completing our online survey regarding your cruise interests. We have received your reply and your name has been entered into our cruise drawing.

Due to an overwhelming response, we experienced some technical difficulties that may have made accessing our survey and sweepstakes form a challenge. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and/or confusion this may have caused you.

As a valued Mariner Society member it is our desire that your every interaction with us surpasses your expectations. We appreciate your patience and understanding in this specific matter. We thank you, too, for your enthusiastic response!

Holland America Line

[Chillen]

It was the subject line that freaked me out before I opened it. I thought they were telling me they were canceling my cruse in October. Almost had a heart attack till I read it :-)

[washaw]

In 2004 HAL gave a free cruise to a Mariner Society member. That's the most recent free cruise based on my search of the internet and according to HALs press release archieve.

While a little off thread, but I think interesting....

Stein Kruse (CEO of HAL) gave the keynote address to 1,000 travel agents in June at the CRUISE-A-THON in Seattle. He told them that generation Y, born between 1986 and 1998, connect through digital grapevines and are constantly chatting online. He said boomers, on the other hand, need a personal relationship with a travel agent, brochures, printed material, i.e. not digitized. Gen X, in the middle of Y and boomers, communicate with e-mail which is very important to them he says. He learned this from his 18 year old son and wanted to share it with the TA at the conference.

I about fell out of my chair laughing. Stein is IMHO completely out of touch with his customers and even more so with the TA. I hope the TAs were kind enough not to laugh him off stage.
Anyway, back on topic, HAL routinely gives free cruises to TAs but I think it will be awhile before another Mariner Society member is a winner.

[obriendan]

When we first go yhe message, the supplied link didn't work. After several days, I tried it again and it did work. Filled out the survey, mainly about future cruise plans. After I submited it, got the thankyou note email sayin they were having trouble

[HeatherInFlorida]

This was discussed on another thread as well.

I was so excited when I first saw it in my inbox because I thought I was a WINNER!

Then I saw it was just an apology. I had filled it out online, but hadn't had any trouble.

Oh well! I could still be a winner!!!:D

[kryos]

Did anyone else get an e-mail from HAL regarding the "win a free cruise" contest?

I got the same email. The thing is, though, that I don't even remember entering the contest to win a free cruise.

I have a feeling that what happened is the database of entries somehow became corrupted and they have to figure out what they are gonna do to make this contest fair. They might wind up scrapping everything and starting the contest over.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[HeatherInFlorida]

...............
I have a feeling that what happened is the database of entries somehow became corrupted and they have to figure out what they are gonna do to make this contest fair. They might wind up scrapping everything and starting the contest over.

...........

Rita, I don't think so. If it's the same letter I got it was simply an apology for the difficulty in logging on to the site to fill out the survey. When I first tried to get on, I couldn't. So I went back a day or so later and filled out the survey.

This letter seemed to me to simply be an apology for all the difficulty everyone experienced. They probably underestimated the number of Mariners who would want a free cruise!!!:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Well since we did not get the recent Mariner Magazine, we did not get anything about winning a free cruise so therefore we would not have received an e-mail.

Oh well.

[sail7seas]

We got the 'apology' e-mail as well.

I wouldn't mind winning a free cruise. :)

[Cruisin Kay D]

2 HAL cruises & never got a Mariner magazine -- have a number & that's about it! What/who do I need to do/contact?

[jtl513]

2 HAL cruises & never got a Mariner magazine -- have a number & that's about it! What/who do I need to do/contact?Use THIS (http://www.hollandamerica.com/contacts/emailForm.do) address and put in Mariner Society as the topic. :)

[paradisegal]

It was the subject line that freaked me out before I opened it. I thought they were telling me they were canceling my cruse in October. Almost had a heart attack till I read it :-)

I had the same reaction!!!!!!