Just Booked a Deal I could Not Pass Up

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Hi Everyone, I just booked for the first time "On-Line" My wonderful TA told me grab it while I can. If it is a mistake I think they have to honor it. On *********** I booked a S Suite on the Oosterdam for Oct 2005 for $1260 per person. The best my TA could do was almost double per person. She said go a head and book on line. She was guessing it was a mistake and when I went to use my credit card it would say I would need to call in. Well, it took it:D I would think they have to honor it. So if anyone wants to join us next year here's your chance to have a S Suite at a "dam" good price:D We took aft corner 5187

[FlorenceItaly]

Lisa - I think you and I are two peas in a pod with all these bookings, LOL:). What a great deal!!

Where are you going??? I want to go to the South Carib/Panama Canal late next year, 10 days...I sure would love some other CC'ers on board!

Marie

[doone]

GOOD FOR YOU, a deal too good to pass up is right. Have a great time.

[localady]

Marie-
You should look at the 11/26/05 "Veendammers" cruise with many CC'ers going. The price for the cruise is still good, and you'd have plenty of company from fellow CCer's! :D

Lisa-
What a great price! How many nights is it, 7 or 10??? It reminds me of the deal I found for our South American Honeymoon, how Suite it was!!:cool:

[FlorenceItaly]

I would book the Veendaamers cruise in a heartbeat, but my son's 18th birthday is November 30th, I just can not be gone cruising! I so wish there wasn't a conflict. I just can not be gone cruising over his birthday. Now, once he is 18, off to college, yada, yada, yada, well, that's a different story, LOL ;).

Marie

[sail7seas]

Good Going!!! Glad you jumped on that price!! Hold onto your printed confirmation and all that!!!

Which itinerary?

[LAFFNVEGAS]

localady, It is a 7 day cruise, I wish I had the time from work to take a 10 day cruise. I just hope SW airlines keeps the cheap airfare to San Diego from Vegas. We recently booked $39 each way for our November Ryndam.

[localady]

Marie-
I totally understand!!! I couldn't be away on a cruise for my boys birthdays, especially something like 18:eek: . Too bad you can't take him on the cruise for his birthday!! You will be there is spirit with us "Veendammers" for sure!!

[FlorenceItaly]

He does not share my love of cruising, LOL. We as a family are cruising in March(Spring Break), but I only booked a 4 night because I know that's all he'll be interested in. We'll do some pre-cruise in Miami. Also, you know with Senior year and all, he can't miss school for the Nov 2005 cruise. I do hope I am able to travel with some HAL CC'ers real soon. I will be going on my first official CC Group Cruise next month with about 200 people from the board. My sister from Sacto. is joining me on this CC cruise. She and I are booked on Celebrity, Mercury, out of SF next April also, but that is not a group cruise.

Marie

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Good Going!!! Glad you jumped on that price!! Hold onto your printed confirmation and all that!!!

Which itinerary?
It is the 7 Day Mexican Riveria out of San Diego that goes to Cabo, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta on Oct 8th 2005

I felt bad I did not book thru my regular TA but she said not to. This is a deal that cannot be passed. I have everything all printed out.

Has anyone here on this board ever booked with ***********?

[FlorenceItaly]

Lisa - I have not personally booked through *********** but as you know I spend way too much time on CC :). From what I have read, they are very reputable, and you will be fine. Wow, enjoy!!

Marie

[voyeurism26]

Hi Laffnvegas

I was wondering how you got this great deal? I was checking on the HAL website and the Oct. 2005 sailings are for the mexican rivera and the price is much higher then what you are paying for through ***********

Can you be more specific on the dates and the itenerary in which the ship leaves and what port?

Thank you!
V26

[wwinfl91]

Check out this link if it stays on the board. It is another on-line cruise company, *************.com. They seem to be offering a suite for $900 a person for this cruise.

http://www.*************.com/fastdeal.cfm?deal=11381

Have a great next cruise.

[sail7seas]

Sounds absolutely fabulous.

Your regular TA also sounds great. How generous and decent of him/her to encourage you to grab a good deal even though he/she is not getting the booking. That's a nice person IMO and I would be more eager in the future to always give them a chance to match a price I found.

[FlorenceItaly]

My guess is that VTG's is the SS category they are offering for that rate. I just went to bpc's and they are showing no S's for the whole month of October. Perhaps *********** is holding a group....Great deal, Lisa!

Marie

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Hi Laffnvegas

I was wondering how you got this great deal? I was checking on the HAL website and the Oct. 2005 sailings are for the mexican rivera and the price is much higher then what you are paying for through ***********

Can you be more specific on the dates and the itenerary in which the ship leaves and what port?

Thank you!
V26
V26, it is the Saturday October 8th

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Sounds absolutely fabulous.

Your regular TA also sounds great. How generous and decent of him/her to encourage you to grab a good deal even though he/she is not getting the booking. That's a nice person IMO and I would be more eager in the future to always give them a chance to match a price I found.
S7S she was actually waiting for me to book it on line and call her back to see what it would do. She was guessing that after I put my credit card in that it would come back and say I had to call in to them. It did not, it gave me my invoice number and confirmation number. It had the cabin number and early seating for dinner and table size. They did not show very many available for S and none on the Rotterdam Deck so I grabbed the corner Verandah Deck one. Figured I might be able to change later other wise it still was a good pick.

This link should pull it up.http://be.cruisebase.com/CBE/Forms/CabinSelection.aspx?k=18&d=0

[FlorenceItaly]

Lisa..you were at the right place at the right time. Great deal. I just went to icruise, and they are showing S's, unlike bpc's, but they are over $2000 per person..GREAT DEAL!

Marie

[SANDY BEACH]

LAFFNVEGAS, You will love your S Suite. We had a similar deal last November. Holland does have some great rates on suites. Enjoy the planning.

[momrox1]

Lisa-
I got up early this a.m. and checked the boards and found your message. Well, I did it! I checked *********** and booked 5186 for Oct. 2005 for the same fare!!! I am so excited, and I am your neighbor! I first went to all of my usual cheapo sites and they were all at least double that price per person. Thank you so much! This is an itinerary I have always wanted to do, and even though the hubby said "no" from his sleepy state this a.m., I know I made the right choice. It'll be our 20th anniversary. BTW, I used Rhonda at *********** and she even did promo 7032 for the $50pp credit. One thing to check on....she said online had billed me for the entire amount so she is fixing this for me today. It also automacially billed me for transfers which I am not using so check your statement.
wwinfl91~ I called ************* and the $900 suite is a cat. SS with a total with taxes of 977.
Thanks and happy sailing.

[trubey]

I just looked at ***********. Great prices, but did anybody notice this in the fine print?

Infants are considered passengers and are charged the applicable rate based on the # of people in the cabin.

!!! Lane

[jollycruiser]

They do seem to have great pricing. We recently booked a 7 day E. Carribean in an S suite for $1213pp. I have seen SS suites for as low as $840pp. on some of the Mexican 7 dayers.

[momrox1]

Rhonda did say that on this particular cruise they had reserved a block of rooms, hence the low price. And Trubey, I will not be bringing any infants along on this cruise as I celebrate a 50th birthday this year. :)
Judy

[JoeCruisin]

BestPriceCruises has similar prices on 7 Oosterdam cruises this October - forget 2005! We are bringing our 11 month old daughter whom we are paying about $550 for - port and govt taxes + $369 for her fare. :eek: How crazy is that? She won't eat or drink anything supplied by HAL and is staying in our room in a pack'n'play yet HAL thinks we need to pay $369 for her, which is the same price they'd charge if she was 12? :mad: Crazy! You only find this moronic stuff in the cruise business. She would have been free to bring on any other type of vacation. Oh well, the great deal we got through BPC offsets the madness I guess.:D

[JoeCruisin]

Check that - there aren't 7 Oosterdam cruises this October - I meant to say 7 DAY Oosterdam cruises:eek:

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Lisa-
I got up early this a.m. and checked the boards and found your message. Well, I did it! I checked *********** and booked 5186 for Oct. 2005 for the same fare!!! I am so excited, and I am your neighbor! I first went to all of my usual cheapo sites and they were all at least double that price per person. Thank you so much! This is an itinerary I have always wanted to do, and even though the hubby said "no" from his sleepy state this a.m., I know I made the right choice. It'll be our 20th anniversary. BTW, I used Rhonda at *********** and she even did promo 7032 for the $50pp credit. One thing to check on....she said online had billed me for the entire amount so she is fixing this for me today. It also automacially billed me for transfers which I am not using so check your statement.
wwinfl91~ I called ************* and the $900 suite is a cat. SS with a total with taxes of 977.
Thanks and happy sailing.
Judy, thanks to you I just got off the phone and I am also getting the $50.00 per person credit under promo 7032. They also set it up for the 6:15 dining time and an aft window table. Since I did not have my Mariner number with me they had to call HAL to get number. They will be faxing me the confirmation within the next hour.
Did you choose the October 8th sailing? I noticed that these good prices were for the whole month of October 2005.
Also I noticed you stated you will be turning 50 this year. When? I too will be turning that great age in November:D We are book in a Suite for the Ryndam this November to celebrate that great occasion and paying almost double what we paid for this.

Anyone else out there that thinks they would like a Suite this is really a bargain that can't be pass up.

Thanks again Judy!!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Judy, New information, I just got an email from *********** and said they cannot offer the Promo 7032 because that is for sailing dates in 2004 ONLY. There currently are no Promos for 2005. They said if a Promo does appear for Mariners in the 2005 sailings they will gladly attempt to obtain it for me. You may want to confirm with Cruise .com. I am still happy because the price is practically buy one get one free.

[Navy_Chief]

I've never looked at *********** before. Let us know how they work out.

["Wandering Wino's"]

Sounds like there will be alot of happy cruisers on the Oosterdam in October of 05. We have Eight, Category S Suites S7048 - S7062 on the Rotterdam Deck reserved for the Oct. 22nd, 05 cruise to the Mexican Riviera. Not only were the prices so low that everyone we mentioned it to wanted to join us (we started out with a possilbe 3 cabins), most of us live in Southern California so no airfair needed. We used the same online agency you did, and found them to be very easy to work with, answering calls and questions from our large, and maybe getting larger group.

[momrox1]

Hi Lisa
As far as I know I am getting the promo but I will let you know when I hear more. She did call to tell me I was all set..I'll double check. I am booked on the same sailing as you and am in the cabin opposite corner of yours, 5186. I turn 50 in Sept and hubby is taking me on a "surprise" trip and I am bursting with excitement waiting to see where I am going. I am booked this November on the Oosterdam western Caribbean and am looking forward to that. Only in a cat. A for that one, though . Just as well, I don't want to be too spoiled!
Judy
In the time it took to edit this, Rhonda called me back and said I do indeed have the $50pp credit. There is a thread here entitled promo 275 and 7031. This may answer some questions. She did say that 7031 is for non mariners and 7032 is for Mariners. I will still believe it when I see the black and white. :)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Judy, we have a lot in commen. We will also be on a cruise in November but not the Oosterdam we were on her this past May. So next October will be our 2nd time on the Oosterdam. We are doing the Ryndam to celebrate my 50th, we are excited since this will be our first S Suite. Then the Westerdam next March we are currently booked on an A Aft cabin but we know we are going to change just have not decided if we want to move up to the S Suite or a SS.

[momrox1]

Lisa, Had an S suite on the Zuiderdam. Fell in love with it. It was also a corner aft. Never wanted to leave the room and funny, but I loved having the free laundry service and of course the Neptune Lounge. How did you like the Oosterdam? I imagine it's identical to the Zuiderdam. Was on the Zaandam this May with my girlfriends and was NOT impressed with it...too dark and too many long corridors for my liking. Was also on the Century this year and the Millenium and enjoyed those ships. I keep checking prices to see if I can upgrade this November to an SS or better. So, what does hubby do? See if the boys have anything in common. You can email me at momrox1@hotmail.com
Judy

[sea-n-me]

Promo 276 gave us our $50 pp credit for '05. You may want to have your TA try that one.

[hotzej]

We have booked the Oosterdam 7 day Eastern for 10/24/04, S suite for about 1200.00/person. Booked it about 3 months ago. Found it on a website,but my TA matched it.

This will be our first time on HAL, 8th cruise overall. We are really looking forward to the suite. The last Suite we were in was on the Norway on the last cruise that the boilers exploded. I'm sure this will be a better experience.

Bill

[terrybiz]

Hi All
We are also booked on the Oosterdam Oct 1, 05, we got cabin 5186
These prices are group rates and also qualifies for a $50 pp OBC
Most TA could get these rates if they look hard enough

[sheldrvrT6A]

Laff/Momrox
Thanks for the information. Tami and I are with you Oct 8th on the O!
We did also get the $50 pp credit. I was unhappy with my current TA and went to *********** and the people there were uncredibly nice. Amy worked it out for us for 6060. Look forward to meeting you folks. We just got off of the O on the July 3rd Alaska cruise and 14 months cannot come quick enought for us. Again, Laff, thanks for the information. Have fun.

Jerry/Tami

[momrox1]

Terry
Take care of "my" cabin~5168 ~I will be there the following week :)
Jerry/Tami-Glad you got the credit
I finally got confirmation via email of my 50pp credit...keep trying all.
Anyone sign up for a Roll Call or is it too soon?
Bill-I too can get an S suite for my Nov 04 Oosterdam for about 1200-seems the prices for the Caribbean are less for an S Suite - does it have something to do with the Mexico cruise being so far away timewise? Or is it the itinerary that makes it more $ ?
Judy

[sheldrvrT6A]

Lisa/Judy
Are you on the O Oct/05? They quoted us 2600 for two for a S and 1900 for an SS. Does this seem about right with what you guys got?
Tami

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Lisa/Judy
Are you on the O Oct/05? They quoted us 2600 for two for a S and 1900 for an SS. Does this seem about right with what you guys got?
Tami
Tami, our total price came to 2552.08, so yes that is pretty close. I am still trying to get them to give me Ship Board Credit they claim there are no Promos for the Mexican Riveria for Fall of 2005. They were suppose to call me back this morning. No call Yet:confused:

[sheldrvrT6A]

Lisa
We had to call twice to our *********** lady and she had to call a couple of times herself to get the promo. Hang in there. Are you on the Oct8th sail with Judy aka Momrox? Thanks.
Tami

[momrox1]

Tami
My total came to 2488 for two, then I added 234 for insurance. Here is the breakdown. Unit Price Quantity Extended
1. DISCOUNTED CRUISE RATE 1,110.00 2 2,220.00
2. GOVERNMENT FEES 74.04 2 148.08
3. NON-COMMISSIONABLE FARE 150.00 2 300.00
4. AGENCY TO PAX DISCOUNT (90.00) 2 (180.00)
Optional Insurance 117.00 2 234.00

INVOICE TOTAL 2,722.08
Hope it's ok to post this .
Judy

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Hi Judy, my figures are exactly the same except I just noticed they are charging me for Pre/Post Package of $32.00 per per person which looks like they are charging me for transfers from the airport to the ship. Which I will need to call and have removed because it only cost $6.00 to $7.00 by taxi to go to the pier from the airport.
The good news is yesterday I called wanted them to relook into getting me Ship Board Credit, today a Lydia a rep for them called and said that HAL was giving me the $50.00 per person credit she was just waiting for a fax from HAL then she would send me confirmation.

I still think this is one "dam" good deal;)

[alabamaman]

I met a guy who kept checking the website late at night and found a 21 day cruise there for about 200 dollars. Just to see if it worked, he booked it and paid for it and Holland had to protect it. It looked like someone left out a zero when they were putting the prices up.

[sheldrvrT6A]

Again those are for the S (rates quoted) vs. SS right? (Lisa/JudY)
Tami

[FlorenceItaly]

I am not Lisa or Judy, but yes those are S rates, NOT SS. Thought I would answer, in case you needed to know asap.

Marie

[sheldrvrT6A]

Marie
Thanks, as I thought so and have to make our mind up by tomorrow on an S or SS as we have blocked both for 2 days (per ***********). Are you going on the Oct 8th/05? I think Lisa and Judy are going to start a roll call in the near future. Thanks again.
Tami

[sheldrvrT6A]

Judy
They are quoting us 156 pp for insurance??? yours 117 do you have any idea difference.Thanks.
Tami

[momrox1]

Tami
My insurance quote is not through HAL, although the *********** agent booked it. It's through Travel Guard and the difference between the two is that HAL is more money and gives you more coverage. If you have to cancel the cruise up until sail date, for no apparent reason (change of mind) Hal will give you a full credit, while Travel Guard will only give you $250 for change of mind after final payment. I am booking my own air and transfers as I plan to drive up to Frisco for a couple days post cruise and didn't need quite that etensive coverage. And I don't plan on changing my mind. :) Remember, we still have until final payment to change our mind and be refunded the cruise deposit. I can email a copy of the policy if you contact me. Speaking of final payment, Lisa-make sure they have not billed you for the entire cruise like they did me. I had to keep calling to have them remove it and put just the deposit on my card. Congrats on the credit Lisa. Tami, yes that is for an S Suite-aft corner cabin deck 5. :) Marie-Go For It!!! I want a deal like Alabamamans friend got so I can make it three cruises to look forward to :)Judy

[FlorenceItaly]

Judy/Tami - No, I am not on this sailing. Have fun y'all :).

Marie

[allen.crawford]

we booked our latest cruise through *************.com. Once we booked we received the HAL booking number and sure enough, when we went to the HAL website, we were confirmed!!

It is so tempting to book a cruise when you see such great prices!

Although, we have got fabulous prices through HAL's website that even the HAL TAs couldn't see on their own computers!!

[sheldrvrT6A]

Judy
Earlier in the thread you asked about a roll call if it was too early. Is that for the Oct 8 2005 O cruise?
Tami

[wilsonzoo]

Thanks to all of your legwork... my hubby and I will be joining all you folks on Oct. 8th! Just couldn't pass up that price, and had been looking for a deal to Mexico anyway! We're in 6158 (corner aft), our first time in an S suite, so very excited. Looking forward to chatting with you all more about this trip!
Dana

[LAFFNVEGAS]

WOW, I have been out and about all day. It is my first Saturday off in a month. We are remodeling the kitchen and putting down new tile so was busy looking at flooring stores. I missed a lot in Cruise Cruitcs.. Can't believe that we are close to 1 year and 2 months away and there are already 4 of us on the October 8th 05 cruise. There is now Dana, Tami, and Jerry and Tami along with my husband Tom and I. This will be fun since we are all in a S Suite.
As far as I know they only charged me the $700.00 deposit.

Welcome aboard everyone:D

[momrox1]

Tami
Yes, that roll call I mentioned would be for Oct 8/05. Anyone sign up yet? Hey, Lisa, don't forget me and husband Bob for this sailing. I am in the corner suite directly opposite you. Welcome Dana! You will be directly above me. Allen, was ************* priced the same as ************? When I phoned them they were higher for this particular cruise. Anyhow, I have used them in the past and found them to be very good. Does indeed sound like we have a good bunch of S suiters :)
Judy

[sheldrvrT6A]

Again, Tami and Jerry with you from Wichita, Kansas. Looking forward to next year and the O cruise.
Tami

[wilsonzoo]

Tami
Welcome Dana! You will be directly above me.
Judy
Hye Jusy --

If DH and I get a bit too loud doing the cha-cha above you, just pound on the ceiling!!! Or better yet, come on up and join us!!!

[wilsonzoo]

[QUOTE=wilsonzoo]Hye Jusy --QUOTE]
Fingers took a temporary vacation... Should read: "Hey Judy" DUH!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Tami
Yes, that roll call I mentioned would be for Oct 8/05. Anyone sign up yet? Hey, Lisa, don't forget me and husband Bob for this sailing. I am in the corner suite directly opposite you. Welcome Dana! You will be directly above me. Allen, was ************* priced the same as ************? When I phoned them they were higher for this particular cruise. Anyhow, I have used them in the past and found them to be very good. Does indeed sound like we have a good bunch of S suiters :)
JudyJudy, I am so sorry:o
Ok let me see, we have Dana, Tami, Judy and another Tami with Jerry and Tom and I. Is that 5 S suite booked on the October 8th cruise?

Hey everyone, I just started a thread under the Roll Call Board.

[momrox1]

Dana-Will do! Lisa I'll check out the roll call~Thanks!

Judy

[sheldrvrT6A]

Hey guys
Jerry and Tami in 6088 S on the O for October 8/05. Looking forward to meeting everyone. I will head to the rollcall thread.
Tami

[wilsonzoo]

Hi Everyone, I just booked for the first time "On-Line" My wonderful TA told me grab it while I can.
Hey Lisa --
Have you rec'd your confirming email from the online TA? They told me when I booked that they were backlogged and mine would take 7-10 days. Just curious if yours came thru? :confused: Also, did you get your $50pp OBC? They said they got me mine, so be sure to get yours. And you CAN get that "pre/post package" charge waived, though it took my online TA a bit to figure out how to do it! But it's done and I'm just waiting for my hard-copy!:D

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Dana, yes, I got the confirming email from *********** but have not heard anything about the Shipboard credit. I need to call them back to get that in writing as well, and get that Pre/Post Package taken off. I just have not had the time because you end up being on hold with them for quite a while. In my confirming email they gave me my booking number for HAL and a link to do the immigration form (which is a bit early) I did log in and it came up with our names and cabin number. Plus I saw on my credit card that the charge came thru from HAL for the $700.00 for deposit.

[wilsonzoo]

Dana, yes, I got the confirming email from *********** but have not heard anything about the Shipboard credit.

It's promo #276, the TA was on the phone with HAL as she was booking mine and confirmed that that is the correct promo. Yeah, they're always quick to bill your account :eek:, just not always as speedy with giving up the goods!

[sheldrvrT6A]

What is with the pre/post package charge you are talking about? *********** did not say anything about that. We did reconfirm with Amy of C.C that the $50 pp onboard is on our contract. Let me know about the other. Thanks,
Tami

[wilsonzoo]

Tami --
When I went to book it online, there was a line charge called "pre/post package" at $32pp. I called them to ask what that charge was, and the gal had to put me on hold to even find out herself. She said it was transfers to/from the ship, which I figure we'll work out ourselves. So she got that charge taken off. I love how they make it all cryptic so that you're not really sure just what the heck they're charging you for!

[momrox1]

Yeah, I really had to check the fine print on mine. Under the box with the bold itinerary but before the rundown of costs mine says: Thank you for choosing *********** ~ Rhonda. $50.00 per person ship board credit promo (7032) applied.
So check and double check. I'm still checking to see that they took the total cost of the cruise off of my credit card and just applied the deposit, before my billing cycle ends.
Judy

[SHayesShip]

For some reason HAL is offering great rates on the Oosterdam San Diego 2005 sailings. I booked an SS category for $880 total pp on a Nov 2005 cruise online.

Steve Hayes

Hi Everyone, I just booked for the first time "On-Line" My wonderful TA told me grab it while I can. If it is a mistake I think they have to honor it. On *********** I booked a S Suite on the Oosterdam for Oct 2005 for $1260 per person. The best my TA could do was almost double per person. She said go a head and book on line. She was guessing it was a mistake and when I went to use my credit card it would say I would need to call in. Well, it took it:D I would think they have to honor it. So if anyone wants to join us next year here's your chance to have a S Suite at a "dam" good price:D We took aft corner 5187