update: HAL Has Made a Decision

[stillfrantic]

Update:

Port closed. Zuiderdam will return at Pt. Everglades when possible. Sunday departure 8 pm

Ocho Rios Jamaca now on

Key west and HMC out.

[stillfrantic]

No word on transfers or such yet.

[sail7seas]

Sounds like they are doing the best they can. Doesn't sound real terrific but if they can salvage the cruise at all, I'll be happy for those who are disappointed what Frances has done to their vacation.

For those who have to fly to meet the ship, I hope you get there with ease and do not encounter any problems.

[Lithium]

I just talked to HAL

"Whats going on for this weekend with the Zuiderdam?"

"It is now leaving Sunday night, you can either go for a 6 night cruise with shipboard credit or get a full refund."

"How much shipboard credit?"

"That is listed on the website."

"No, its not."

"Oh, ok, I don't know then."

"What is going to happen if the airport is still closed?"

"I don't know."

"When do I have to make a decision by?"

"Tomorrow at 3:30 PST"

"ok, thanks bye.

[stillfrantic]

Got more info. We have to tell them by 3 pm Saturday if we wish to cancel. Ship will sail at 8 pm. 6 nights, 3 ports. $350 per person shipboard credit in an ss suite.


Full refunds if you choose to cancel.

[stillfrantic]

They said $350 credit, website says $250.

[jstducky]

Hurricane Frances Update - Thursday, September 2, 2004 - 1:00 pm PDT

A hurricane force storm, Hurricane Frances, has developed in the Caribbean and Bahamas region and is now approaching Florida.

The ms Zuiderdam is sailing south of Hispanola, in calm seas, sunshine and light winds. This vessel, which was scheduled to call in Nassau on Friday, September 3rd, will instead spend the day at sea, far from the impacts of the storm. The ship was scheduled to arrive in Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) at the conclusion of its cruise on Saturday, September 4th.

The US Coast Guard has closed Port Everglades to incoming vessels due to the approaching hurricane. At this point, depending on the impact of the storm, the port is expected to re-open sometime late Saturday afternoon or Sunday. The ms Zuiderdam will arrive at Port Everglades as soon as practical following the opening of the port. We will continue to closely monitor the storm and will make additional changes if needed. Friends and family of those currently on the ms Zuiderdam can call 888-624-5788 for the latest information.

The Saturday, September 4th sailing of the ms Zuiderdam will now depart on Sunday, September 5th at 8:00pm. The cruise itinerary has been changed with the addition of Ocho Rios, Jamaica and cancellation of Half Moon Cay, Bahamas and Key West, Florida. The revised itinerary is as follows:

Date
Location
Arrive
Depart
Sunday, Sept 5Fort Lauderdale
8 pm
Monday, Sept 6at sea

Tuesday, Sept 7Cozumel Mexico7 am
5 pm
Wednesday, Sept 8Georgetown, Cayman Is8 am
5 pm
Thursday, Sept 9Ocho Rios, Jamaica7 am
5 pm
Friday, Sept 10at sea

Saturday, Sept 11Fort Lauderdale8 am


Guests booked on the Saturday, September 4th sailing of the ms Zuiderdam have the following options.


Sail the revised 6-day itinerary and receive a Holland America Line future travel discount in the amount of 25 percent of the cruise fare paid in addition to a per person ship board credit. Amount based on cabin category purchased as follows:

Inside staterooms (categories NN-I): $150 per-person
Outside staterooms (categories H-C): $175 per-person
Deluxe verandah staterooms (categories BC-A): $200 per-person
Superior verandah suites (category SS): $250 per-person
Deluxe verandah suites (category S): $350 per-person
Penthouse verandah suites (category PS): $500 per-person
3rd/4th guests sharing stateroom: $75 per-person

Guests opting not to sail will receive a full cash refund. Please contact the Holland America Line reservations center 800-577-1728 by 3:00 pm PDT Saturday, September 4th to receive this refund.
Guests can also call 888-624-5788 for recorded updates.

This page will be updated by 6:00 pm, PDT.

All other Holland America Line ships are operating as scheduled. At Holland America Line, the safety and comfort of our guests are our top priorities.

[Orcrone]

I'm going to get flamed, but I don't think HAL did right. Carnival gave a discount off the current cruise. HAL is giving a discount on a future cruise. If you cruise a lot, no big deal. If this is a once in a lifetime cruise then you essentially have a choice of cancel your cruise or get nothing in return for the current shorter cruise. I realize that HAL is not responsible for the weather, but I don't see any reason that they couldn't apply the discount to the current cruise. JMHO

This board has talked about HAL becoming more like Carnival. I think they should.:(

[srpilo]

You know, I'm not the one with the shortened cruise, but IMO thats a pretty generous offer from HAL.. Just the fact that they're offering FULL refunds for those who want them, is in my opinion a classy act.

No one's happy about this Hurricane, but because of HAL stepping up to the plate, at least the Sept 4th cruisers have some options available to them.

Srpilo

[Krazy Kruizers]

On our 5 PM news they said that Port Everglades would be closing down tomorrow and that any cruise ships, casinos, etc., have been ordered out of the port and not to return until at least Sunday.

[RevNeal]

I'm going to get flamed, but I don't think HAL did right. Carnival gave a discount off the current cruise. HAL is giving a discount on a future cruise. If you cruise a lot, no big deal. If this is a once in a lifetime cruise then you essentially have a choice of cancel your cruise or get nothing in return for the current shorter cruise.

I'm not going to flame you Marc, I'm simply going to disagree with you: you've ignored the shipboard credit. HAL is offering passengers who agree to take the cruise a per diem rebate equal to roughly 150% the shortened day relative to the catagory cabin one has booked.

Inside staterooms (categories NN-I): $150 per-person
Outside staterooms (categories H-C): $175 per-person
Deluxe verandah staterooms (categories BC-A): $200 per-person
Superior verandah suites (category SS): $250 per-person
Deluxe verandah suites (category S): $350 per-person
Penthouse verandah suites (category PS): $500 per-person
3rd/4th guests sharing stateroom: $75 per-person

Now, granted, it's in the form of a shipboard credit, but that's as good as money.

Frankly, this is a good deal. I would take it.

Another factor which one might want to note is that HAL has a much higher repeat passenger ratio than Carnival; it's reasonable to assume that most of the passengers will take another cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

As we always are in a suite and already get $300 (total) shipboard credit, another $350 per person would make a total of $1000. Take away $120 (for this cruise only - 6 days) in the automatic tips - that would leave $880 to spend in 6 days. Even with eating at the Pinnacle a couple of days and having a good bottle of wine, we wouldn't be able to use up that credit.

For us, more off a future cruise would be better.

[Nebraska Admiral]

When you get on board check with the front desk. I was able to apply my casino losses towards my shipboard credit. You could buy chips for a 3% fee, walk around for a while and cash them in for cash????? If you are afraid you would not use all your credits, its just a thought.
Dick

[Spot]

Nebraska Admiral

That is a great idea!!!

[srpilo]

That brings up an interesting question.. What happens to the "Credit" if you don't spend it all onboard ??


Anybody have actual experience with excess onboard credit ?


Just Curious
Srpilo

[Lithium]

I am very happy with their decision except for one thing...they gave no head to what happens if the airport is closed. They told me that I have to tell them no later than Saturday if going. When I asked what would happen if the airport is still closed on Sunday, they said I would lose all my money. This will most likely make me get a refund, otherwise I thought their offer was pretty generous.

[dakrewser]

I'm going to get flamed, but I don't think HAL did right.
Not a flame but look again at the comparison between the offer from HAL and that from Carnival. The latter is offering only $100 credit and 50% off a future cruise along with that refund. Now, as most of us know, 50% off a future cruise amounts to $0 (or less) off what we pay.

[sail7seas]

That brings up an interesting question.. What happens to the "Credit" if you don't spend it all onboard ??


Anybody have actual experience with excess onboard credit ?


Just Curious
Srpilo


On a cruise about 2 years ago, they called our names while waiting to disembark. We could not imagine why as we knew DH had registered our credit card with Neptune Lounge. He went to the Concierge and she was all smiles. Said to him...."Mr. ********, sorry to disturb you but you and Mrs. ******* did not use all of your shipboard credit. We owe you money and here it is. " She handed him the cash. It was not alot of money but we were VERY impressed. We never would have even thought to ask for it.

[Orcrone]

I'm not going to flame you Marc, I'm simply going to disagree with you: you've ignored the shipboard credit. HAL is offering passengers who agree to take the cruise a per diem rebate equal to roughly 150% the shortened day relative to the catagory cabin one has booked.Perhaps I read it wrong. I was thinking that the entire credit for the shortened cruise was to be applied to a future cruise. Are you saying that the 25% rebate is for a future cruise, but the shipboard credit based on category is for the present cruise?

If that's the case then quoting the immortal words of Emily Littella, "never mind". Hal has actually done very well in my even more humble opinion. OOPPSS!:o

[sail7seas]

I think the offer very fair. HAL was under no strict obligation to offer any refund/shipboard credit or future credit. I think it smart business and appropriate and would have been disappointed if they had not done so but the fact is they are offering way more than they HAVE to.

No matter what they do there will some few who will never think it sufficient. HAL is not responsible for weather or motion of the ocean nor closing of airports and cancelling of flights.

[Lithium]

so wait, I am confused now...is the credit for the current cruise or for the future cruise?

[RevNeal]

I've never failed to spend all my on board credit. Of course, I've never stayed in a so-called suite so I don't know about any of the extra credit one gets in those. But I usually sail with between $100 - $250 credit from various sources ... and, of course, church members usually deposit a bit in my account. I don't know what they're going to do for me, but my Secretary told me that she was given several hundred dollars from two Sunday school classes to phone in as a shipboard credit for me. She wouldn't say how much. :)

I'll spend it ... and then some. :D

[AV8OR]

As long as I can get to FLL on 9/5 I'll be happy (keeping my finger crossed on this one) but I'm hoping HAL will provide one more incentive to take the shortened cruise....CANCELLATION OF THE DUTCH NIGHT!!!!

[stillfrantic]

I talked to some special department because the origional person didn't know the answers to some of my questions. Initially he said ship board credits were not refundable, but checked iwth a supervisor regarding a question I had about the allocation of the credits since we would end up with a lot of credits from cancelled excursions and items we pre paid. He came back and said he was wrong, that in the is case it absolutley would be refunded to us at the end of the cruise. I don't have it in writing, but I guess I have to have faith sometime.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Right now most of the airports in the Ft Lauderdale are scheduled to be closed through noon on Sunday, Sept 5.

This could change depending on Frances path and destructiveness.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Stillfrantic

If you pre-booked shore excursions using a credit card, then cancelled tours will be credited back onto your credit card.

[Jacqueline]

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September 2, 2004

Hurricane UPDATE -- Thursday, Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
Following is a roundup of cruise line alterations, with respect to Hurricane Frances. We will update them as announcements are made and as long as Hurricane Frances is impacting cruise travel.

A couple of things to keep in mind:

At this point, cruise lines have announced cancellations of short, three- and four-night weekend cruises (departing on Thursday or Friday).

Regardless, travelers booked on a cruise that embarks this weekend from a S. Florida port should be flexible. The cruise you thought you bought may not resemble the one you eventually (hopefully) will take. And remember: Cruise lines are not required to compensate passengers for changes caused by forces of nature. Any such gesture -- Carnival, for instance, is offering onboard credit on some altered voyages, discounts on future trips and even airfare change refunds -- should be considered exceptionally generous.

Cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival, which have outright cancelled voyages beginning today or tomorrow, will most likely send their ships out of harm’s way to the Florida Straits (the waters south of Key West and north of Cuba -- where the Atlantic meets the Gulf of Mexico).

Because September is one of the slowest months in the Caribbean season, ships affected are limited -- luxury cruise lines, for instance, simply aren’t even sailing Caribbean itineraries at this time.

South Florida-based lines, whose headquarters are located within Frances' projected (as of Thursday) strike zone, are closing and sending employees home as of this afternoon. These include Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian Cruise Line and Silversea, among others. Most of the lines either have established satellite reservation operations -- or are setting them up temporarily.

Stay tuned -- and check back often.

Carolyn Spencer Brown
Editor
Cruisecritic.com



Holland America Line

(Thursday, September 2, 7:10 p.m.) -- Holland America’s Zuiderdam will – as expected – experience itinerary changes. The ship, which sails a seven night Port Everglades-based Caribbean and Bahamas cruise, will not turnaround on Saturday, September 4 as scheduled. In an oddly vague statement, Holland America says Zuiderdam will "arrive at Port Everglades as soon as practical following the opening of the port" -- which could be late Saturday or sometime Sunday. More definitively, the company reports that the ship will set off on its next cruise on Sunday, September 5 and sail a modified six night itinerary. Zuiderdam will not go to Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas – HAL's private island – or Key West but will head instead to Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Guests booked on the Saturday, September 4th sailing of the ms Zuiderdam have the two options. Those who decide not to sail will receive a full refund. Those who sail on the revised voyage will receive a Holland America Line future travel discount in the amount of 25 percent of the cruise fare paid, plus a ship board credit ranging from $150 - $500 per person (based on cabin category purchased).>

[gliles]

As we always are in a suite and already get $300 (total) shipboard credit, another $350 per person would make a total of $1000. Take away $120 (for this cruise only - 6 days) in the automatic tips - that would leave $880 to spend in 6 days. Even with eating at the Pinnacle a couple of days and having a good bottle of wine, we wouldn't be able to use up that credit.
I would NEVER have that problem!

[sail7seas]

There's just so much one can drink/eat/spend in the on-board shops. We probably would not use up the whole credit though we normally have a 'healthy size' on board bill at the end of each cruise. :)


Two of us can just drink so many cocktails and so many glasses of wine.

[mattR]

Wanta chew up a ship board credit just head to the spa:) Oh ya Christmas gifts from the on board shops:) Shore tours:) Wow I can't imagine not being able to spend all my ship board credit. Of course get it payed out if you can but if not just don't hold back on your 6 day cruise:)

[ekerr19]

I've never failed to spend all my on board credit. Of course, I've never stayed in a so-called suite so I don't know about any of the extra credit one gets in those. But I usually sail with between $100 - $250 credit from various sources ... and, of course, church members usually deposit a bit in my account. I don't know what they're going to do for me, but my Secretary told me that she was given several hundred dollars from two Sunday school classes to phone in as a shipboard credit for me. She wouldn't say how much. :)

I'll spend it ... and then some. :D
Rev-

Don't feel bad, we've never failed to spend it either. On a 10-day we are FORTUNATE to get by paying about quadruple the amount of the shipboard credit for the four of us. Even in a Suite, for a 7-day Zuiderdam, we paid quite a bit towards our shipboard account. I guess it just depends on what you are used to... no harm, no foul. :)

[stillfrantic]

New update:

The ship will sail at 11:30 pm on Sunday now.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Wonder how many people will actually make it to the port since most of the airports aren't scheduled to open until after noon on Sunday?

And what is some cities don't start resuming their flights to the Ft Lauderdale area right away?

[stillfrantic]

That is our hold up right now. We have to tell HAL our decision before we know if we can fly on Sunday or not. Moving the sailing to a later time helps as long as people can board a lot earlier if they are able to get there.

[stillfrantic]

I just talked with United regarding the flights cancelled today. They said the Ft. Lauderdale airport is physically closed and will not reopen until Monday, September 6.:(

[Lithium]

I just talked with United regarding the flights cancelled today. They said the Ft. Lauderdale airport is physically closed and will not reopen until Monday, September 6.:(
:( :( :( I just changed my america west flight plans to fly into FLL arriving at 7:40PM on Sunday. They said nothing of this. sigh, I wonder if HAL will change things to monday. All their pax won't have much place to go if the airport is closed. Its going to be a miracle if we ever get on this cruise.

[stillfrantic]

That was what United told me. But as we've seen this week, things are often different depending on who answers the phone.:( Maybe mine was wrong when we inquired about the change to Sunday. I had her check it a few times and questioned her about it though. She said absolutley the airport was actually closed.

[stillfrantic]

FLL IS NOT CLOSED ON SUNDAY! The representative was wrong.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Right now Orlando is the only airport that isn't supposed to open until Monday.

[peaches from georgia]

All these statements of when the FLL airport will be open depend on how fast the storm travels, where it goes, how much rain and flooding there is, and the damage the storm does. No one knows for sure when the airport, roads, hotels, restaurants, etc. will be open.

If it comes ashore early Sat. morning and there is no serious damage to the airport and the heavy rain subsides then the airport probably will open sometime on Sunday. I think I originally read they hoped to be open Sunday noon if the projections of the storm made on Thursday were accurate. But to insist that the airport is 'open on Sunday' is no more than speculation.

I would be very concerned that if the airport was open and I flew in on Sunday and then the ship did NOT get in or was very late, where are you going to stay? And how are you going to get around if there is much damage? I will tell you from experience living on the coast every hotel near the water will be evacuated and every hotel further inland is full and has been for several days. To go into FLL or any place in FL this weekend is really foolish.

I'd take HAL's generous offer of a full refund and run with it.

[stillfrantic]

The shipboard credit HAL promised would be refunded will not be. They said absolutley, anything left will not go to the passenger.

[Orcrone]

The shipboard credit HAL promised would be refunded will not be. They said absolutley, anything left will not go to the passenger.If PAX have non-refundable money left in their shipboard account they should just make the crew very happy. Might as well leave it to them as extra tips.:)

[stillfrantic]

GREAT idea, Orocrone!:)

[kytykat]

I was told when I called today that even if you make your decision by 3:00 p.m. Sat, if they decide to leave Monday, you're stuck. ;(

[Smoky]

Looks like passengers who opted to stay on are "stuck". It leaves Monday, MAYBE, on a 5 day cruise!!

New itinerary posting doesn't change the deal and still refers to a 6 day cruise. It was posted Saturday at 4PM.