Booted from Zuiderdam - 1/15/05

[Ralphpea]

I have been informed that zuiderdam's 1/15/04 sailing has been chartered and my booking has been cancelled by HAL!
They said every cabin on the ship was chartered. Anybody else have this experience?

[doone]

I personally haven't, but have heard others on not only HAL, but other cruise lines as well, having this happened to them. I think it stinks, I hope they give you some type of compensation for this.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

I have also heard of this.

Did HAL offer you any compensation?

How does this effect your vacation plans? Are you able to travel at another time? Do you work?

:)

[Roz]

It happened to me last year. I booked a Pacific NW cruise that ended up being chartered by an insurance co. as a reward trip for their agents. HAL offered me either a full refund or, for only $100 more, a 7-day Alaskan cruise. Guess which one I took? It all worked out for the best.

Roz

[sail7seas]

This does happen from time to time and while very disappointing for those effected, if there is adequate notice, I can see why they do it.

The part that annoys me the most when someone comes here and reports that happened to them is that IF one had booked their own air, HAL takes no responsibility for reimbursing air rebooking fees that we all know can be $100+ per ticket. I think regardless of who booked what air where/ with whom or any other expenses incurred due to HAL cancelling a passenger.....HAL should pay any expense the passenger incurs in order to become "whole". Pax should not be out money because of such a cancellation IMO but that is not always the case.

[dakrewser]

The part that annoys me the most when someone comes here and reports that happened to them is that IF one had booked their own air, HAL takes no responsibility for reimbursing air rebooking fees that we all know can be $100+ per ticket. I think regardless of who booked what air where/ with whom or any other expenses incurred due to HAL cancelling a passengers.....HAL should pay any expense the passenger incurs in order to become "whole". Pax should not be out money because of such a cancellation IMO ut that is not always the case.
That's why you should get travel insurance...

[Orcrone]

I'm surprised at what I'm reading. I also believe that HAL should offer compensation for items like air not booked through HAL. However, a couple of months ago the same issue came up on this board. One other person and I thought that HAL should pay the airline change fee and we almost got crucified for our view.

[jhannah]

In reality, if I purchase air on my own and HAL has no role in the purchase (when they offered to do so) then it is a risk that I knowingly assume. That being said, Nordstrom, possibly the hands-down leader in customer service, has been known to take back a tire ... when they don't even sell tires ... in the name of customer service. They must feel it pays off for them in the long run.

[Orcrone]

In reality, if I purchase air on my own and HAL has no role in the purchase (when they offered to do so) then it is a risk that I knowingly assume. That being said, Nordstrom, possibly the hands-down leader in customer service, has been known to take back a tire ... when they don't even sell tires ... in the name of customer service. They must feel it pays off for them in the long run.Great to know. The treads getting shallow on my Explorer. Hey, with the money I save on new tires I can pay for a few shore excursions.:D

[sail7seas]

I respectfully disagree that the passenger has any responsibility to have bought travel insurance in order to remain whole in the event HAL does the cancelling.

If the pax cancels, sure....it is the pax responsibility.

If HAL cancels, the same should apply.

HAL cancels....IMO they should make everyone whole.

[Orcrone]

Sail,

Where were you a month or two ago. I was one of two people making that argument, and we were in the minority. I agree, if HAL cancels the cruise because it's to their financial benefit to charter out the ship, then the PAX with reservations should not suffer any financial hardship, no matter how minor, for HAL's financial gain.

I argued that even if they have no legal reason to reimburse PAX, they should still do so for good customer relations. I know that if I were bumped off a cruise without adequate compensation I would never sail that line again. That's not the way any business should treat a customer. Was I flamed for that attitude.

[sail7seas]

I vaguely remember the thread you are referencing but somehow it seems to me there was a slight twist to the facts of that matter that made it slightly different. I am not clear about it and do not accurately recall the facts.

[Orcrone]

I vaguely remember the thread you are referencing but somehow it seems to me there was a slight twist to the facts of that matter that made it slightly different. I am not clear about it and do not accurately recall the facts.From what I remember it was a cruise cancelled about 4 to 6 months out due to the ship being chartered. I'll try searching for it.

[dakrewser]

I respectfully disagree that the passenger has any responsibility to have bought travel insurance in order to remain whole in the event HAL does the cancelling.

If you feel that HAL caused you to suffer financially, you can contact them and ask them to "make you whole", if they say no then you can sue. Or, you can get travel insurance and let the insurance company sue should they feel the need. Me, I'd rather not have to pay the lawyer....

[karensj]

You buy your air with Holland. They cancel. Can you still keep your air and do a land vacation? You just get reimbursed for the cruise portion. I'm going on a cruise school vacation week in February. Flights are very expensive. Holland was cheaper. As long as I was somewhere warm I would be satisfied. Just wondering.

Karen

[Giorgi-one]

Does travel insurance cover the airfare for this type of cancellation?

Even if they do, the cost of travel insurance may be more than the $50 - $100 fee to rebook the air at another time.

My wife and I have been on 14 cruises. We only buy the medical insurance which is very reasonable. The money I have saved on cancellation insurance is probably more than enough to pay for an entire cruise if I ever have to cancel. Definitely more than enough to pay for rebooking airline reservations.

[dakrewser]

Does travel insurance cover the airfare for this type of cancellation?
Mine certainly does.


The money I have saved on cancellation insurance is probably more than enough to pay for an entire cruise if I ever have to cancel. Definitely more than enough to pay for rebooking airline reservations.
Peace of mind means more to me then a few dollars one way or the other.

[Giorgi-one]

I can't argue with your premise that peace of mind is worth the money spend on travel insurance.

I look at it another way. If I ever had to cancel a cruise due to sickness or death (mine or close relative), the cost of the cruise would be the least of my worries.

[stillfrantic]

In a situation like that, privately purchased trip insurance would pay the change fee on the air tickets....but you then have to turn around and buy another policy because you are now taking a different cruise. The HAL insurance would not cover change fees. Absolutley, HAL should make it right. They should pay for the changes in air tickets, they should get the passenger on a similar cruise at the same rate(what if this person booked a year ago at the lowest early fare and to rebook the following week is now $500 more. HAL should remake the arrangements at no charge to the passenger.

[BCEagle78]

On my very first cruise with Holland America, in April of 1998, we had booked a 7 day eastern Caribbean cruise. About 6 weeks before the sailing, we were contacted by our TA and informed that the cruise was "overbooked". They asked if we could go on the sailing 2 weeks later. We had booked an inside cabin.

It is fortunate that we could change the date of our vacation. They gave us 4 category upgrade and refunded 75% of our fare. I know that may be ancient history but at that time we were very pleased that we could cruise for a low amount of money...

Just one person's experience.

[KAKcruiser]

HAL seems to treat overbooking different from cancelling a cruise. In an overbook situation, they go out of their way to compensate you. When they cancel a cruise, they usually only offer a very small incentive.

[iluvcruzin]

I think they (meaning all cruiselines who do this) should do something for those who placed a deposit on a cruise only to have it chartered out. The deposit is like a contract for goods and services. Unfortunately the cruiselines put in their brochures all that fine print that says "we can do whatever we want to and change the cruise or cancel it". To create goodwill it would be good business to offer some sort of compensation. After all, the cruiseline is making money on the charter cruise above what they would have made as a regularly scheduled cruise. I guess the cruiseline thinks 4-6 months notice is ample time for people to make other arrangements. The least they could do is offer shipboard credit to cover the airfare changes on future bookings.

[chefajax]

Hi to All....
I know that I am not a lawyer but, I beleive that one does have a case for small claims court, which you do not need a lawyer and it is for claims under $5000......Dennis

[Roadwork]

It appears I am in agreement with most. I think Holland should pay for the air, since they chartered the ship out. The rebooking fees for air are highway robbery. The customer should not be stuck with this fee.

[Linda-E]

Ralphpea,
How did you hear this? We are booked and haven't heard anything about this?

Thanks,
Linda

[sail7seas]

That may be handy if you live in Seattle. It is dictated under the terms of the contract with HAL where any suit may be brought. I am not a lawyer either.

[kryos]

Sail,

Where were you a month or two ago. I was one of two people making that argument, and we were in the minority. I agree, if HAL cancels the cruise because it's to their financial benefit to charter out the ship, then the PAX with reservations should not suffer any financial hardship, no matter how minor, for HAL's financial gain.

I think that the very least HAL should do in such a case is pay for the airline change fee, and then offer a selection of somewhat higher priced cruises for the "bumped" passenger to select as an alternate.

I think HAL has some sort of disclaimer that they can bump passengers from a cruise if the boat is chartered, and if it's done six months or more out, then I can understand their position. But, surely, the passenger shouldn't be left holding the bag if they made their own air arrangements. HAL should at least pay the change fee for the passenger who selects another sailing.

By the way, that's why I never buy my airline tickets for any trip until about a month or so out ... just in case my plans change and I either can't make the trip or wind up having the dates shuffled around.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[Ziggy7]

just a newbie here but I think this is a lie to get everyone worked up, its Ralphpea's one and only post, I think they call them trolls ??? JMO

[stillfrantic]

I think it is true. There is no Jan. 15 sailing showing on the HAL website now for the Zuiderdam. There is another leaving the same port the same day. Surely they would accomodate you on that ship.

[Linda-E]

Ziggy7, How unfair of you to start name calling! Are you a troll?:(

We were booked on the same cruise and it definitely is true. I very much appreciate Ralphpea giving us a heads up before I had to make up my mind what to do instead.

Thanks Ralph.

Linda

[Orcrone]

By the way, that's why I never buy my airline tickets for any trip until about a month or so out ... just in case my plans change and I either can't make the trip or wind up having the dates shuffled around.

Blue skies ...

--ritaRita,

Don't you wind up with some very expensive tickets waiting that long? Seems to me that you might be better off purchasing ahead of time and occasionally paying the change fee.

[Ralphpea]

Thanks for all the input. We are now booked on the Westerdam to the Western Carribean. We were actually able to get the same cabin cat. for 250 less & 100 on-board credit from HAL, so it all worked out okay.

[AV8OR]

Based on a story in the local newspaper this past week, there is an even worse problem with Carnival's cruises out of Baltimore. Apparently, Carnival is not handling the overbooking situation very well. Some folks did not know they were bumped until they got to the terminal!

[jazzsea]

It is unusual for Holland America to switch a sailing with deposited bookings to a charter. They have a responsibility to the deposited passengers to offer them something else in place of the now chartered date.

Those of you that are sailing on this ship and date should contact Holland America or your travel agent.

If you are offered another sailing date and ship and you accept the offer ask if you can have the cost of your airline change fee as an onboard credit. Let your TA negotiate for you. Your TA will know to send your request to the VP of Passenger Services.

[sail7seas]

Ralphpea.....I'm happy it worked out for you and hope you have a wonderful time.


Happy Cruising.

[Tatka]

I just wanted to add that itinerary isn't a great concern take a look at Celebrity Century for the same dates. (Jan 15) You will probably love that ship and won't have to change airtickets. ;)

Also..I am not sure why but w*w*w*.*i*c*r*u*i*s*e.*c*o*m currently is showing higher ocen-view category #4 cheaper than lower inside rooms. :confused: