Are There Special Perks For Repeat Hal Cruisers?

[many cruises]

Does HAL have special "perks" for repeat cruisers? Since our second HAL cruise is approaching, we were wondering if HAL does anything special for the repeat cruisers...such as cocktail parties, free wine tastings, etc?

[jtl513]

Hah! :) You can get a small discount on some cruises. There is an "improved" Mariner program promised for later this year, but we don't know details yet.

See http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=808877

[cf_chuck]

Does HAL have special "perks" for repeat cruisers? Since our second HAL cruise is approaching, we were wondering if HAL does anything special for the repeat cruisers...such as cocktail parties, free wine tastings, etc?

Mariner's brunch on most cruises. Not a bad menu and free wine / champagne in my experience.

A badge with your docs that show you've cruised before with HAL. If you wear it, the people greeting you will say "welcome back" ratheer than "welcome aboard".

Mariner's luggage tags. They're like the other ones, just designate you as a Mariner. When delivered to your cabin, if you're there, the steward will likely say "welcome back".

Occasionally HAL offers special, limited time offerings to Mariners, but this isn't applicable in your case since you're already booked.

Then as JTL said.

[andeesue]

Returned from my second HAL cruise this month....I didn't receive Mariner luggage tags ahead of time. However, I was invited to the brunch which was lovely.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Mariner's brunch on most cruises. Not a bad menu and free wine / champagne in my experience.

A badge with your docs that show you've cruised before with HAL. If you wear it, the people greeting you will say "welcome back" ratheer than "welcome aboard".

Mariner's luggage tags. They're like the other ones, just designate you as a Mariner. When delivered to your cabin, if you're there, the steward will likely say "welcome back". Mariner Luggage tags delivered to your cabin??? What is this?? We have over 40 cruises on HAL and have never had Mariner luggage tages delivered to our cabin!!!

Occasionally HAL offers special, limited time offerings to Mariners, but this isn't applicable in your case since you're already booked.

Then as JTL said.


Where do you get some of your information?? I notice that you have cruised only 6 times on HAL.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Does HAL have special "perks" for repeat cruisers? Since our second HAL cruise is approaching, we were wondering if HAL does anything special for the repeat cruisers...such as cocktail parties, free wine tastings, etc?

Second cruise and all future cruises -- you should get paper luggage tags to attach to your luggage for boarding the ship - included with your documents.

Soory -- no free wine tastings.

Most of the ship's have the Mariner's Brunch -- for you - being as this will only be your second cruise -- you will receive an invitationa and told when and where to report. Most times all you get is one free glass of wine.

Either at the lunch or delivered in your cabin you should receive TILES -- one for each of you.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I tried to post the tiles here for 2008 -- no luck.

[pms4104]

Many Mariners on the HAL board refer to the Mariners brunch ... we have been invited only to a champagne reception/award event. Perhaps there will be a brunch invitation for us on the Statendam in December. We hope.

[pms4104]

Where do you get some of your information?? I notice that you have cruised only 6 times on HAL.
I am surmising that cf_chuck meant that your luggage will be delivered to your cabin. Or, perhaps he meant to say that the luggage tags, with your luggage attached, would be delivered to the cabin.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Many Mariners on the HAL board refer to the Mariners brunch ... we have been invited only to a champagne reception/award event. Perhaps there will be a brunch invitation for us on the Statendam in December. We hope.

Statendam -- you can count on the brunch being on that ship!!! Been there -- done that!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

I am surmising that cf_chuck meant that your luggage will be delivered to your cabin. Or, perhaps he meant to say that the luggage tags, with your luggage attached, would be delivered to the cabin.

You may be right -- but it has been several years since our cabin steward "Welcome Back" by looking at our luggage tags.

There is just so much luggage to be delivered to the cabins that they don't have time to check out all the details on the luggage tags.

[pms4104]

Statendam -- you can count on the brunch being on that ship!!! Been there -- done that!!
Thanks for the assurance that we can expect an invite to the oft-mentioned brunch.

[cf_chuck]

Where do you get some of your information?? I notice that you have cruised only 6 times on HAL.

My mariner luggage tags were delivered with my cruise docs. I didn't say they were delivered to my cabin.

[djhsolara]

Our second HAL sailing was last December on Westerdam. We did get the luggage tags and pins prior to sailing. Onboard, we were invited to a reception/awards ceremony where the champagne/mixed cocktails were free-flowing. It wasn't an open bar but rather free drinks being served by stewards.

We did not have any invitation to a Mariner Brunch and didn't know if that was reserved for those who have done more sailings. We're wondering if there will be a Mariner Brunch on our Eurodam sailing in February and if we will be invited.

[cf_chuck]

Our second HAL sailing was last December on Westerdam. We did get the luggage tags and pins prior to sailing. Onboard, we were invited to a reception/awards ceremony where the champagne/mixed cocktails were free-flowing. It wasn't an open bar but rather free drinks being served by stewards.


It seems that on your cruise the reception / awards ceremony was a substitute for the Mariner's brunch. Perhaps it depends on the cruise. From my experience, the Mariner's recognition is open to all Mariners, and there is a "special" recognition for those that have received or are receiving medallions. On the last two cruises I was on, there was a brunch, but now that you mention it, on the cruise before that there was a reception, IIRC.

[sail7seas]

They have been doing the Mariner's Brunch instead of the traditional Mariner's Party we all were accustomed to. If you have not sailed HAL in the last year and half or so, you would not have been to the brunch.

They still run the traditional Mariner's Party on some ships, some itineraries. If they don't have enough sea days to plan all the usual events, they may run the old style party. There are several reasons they may not do the brunch.

[pms4104]

They have been doing the Mariner's Brunch instead of the traditional Mariner's Party we all were accustomed to. If you have not sailed HAL in the last year and half or so, you would not have been to the brunch.

They still run the traditional Mariner's Party on some ships, some itineraries. If they don't have enough sea days to plan all the usual events, they may run the old style party. There are several reasons they may not do the brunch.






We had reception/no brunch on the Amsterdam in December 2007 (10 nite with 3 sea days) and on the Volendam December 2006(10 nite with 4 sea days). So who really knows HAL's parameters for brunch vs. reception.

[cf_chuck]

You may be right -- but it has been several years since our cabin steward "Welcome Back" by looking at our luggage tags.

There is just so much luggage to be delivered to the cabins that they don't have time to check out all the details on the luggage tags.

You're right, the Mariner's designation is only on one side and that's not the side where the name / room information is. There's a 50 / 50 chance that the steward will overlook this because the tag is flipped. Probabilistically, the chance of the Mariner designation on the bag tag being overlooked is diminished by the number of bags delivered.

I always print out the information required for the bag tag. If the point is important to you and to improve your odds, you could print out "Mariner" and attach it to the side that has your name and stateroom. I find it unnecessary, and I don't even wear the round blue button on embarkation to receive the "welcome back" greeting at the gangway.

[pms4104]

My mariner luggage tags were delivered with my cruise docs. I didn't say they were delivered to my cabin.Actually, you did ... see below.

Mariner's luggage tags. They're like the other ones, just designate you as a Mariner. When delivered to your cabin, if you're there, the steward will likely say "welcome back".

Chuck: rest assured, I'm not trying to be snarky and surely Krazy Kruisers can defend her own statements. Sometimes we all get too literal when we read, and sometimes we don't say exactly what we mean when we write ... shows we all are human. Nothing wrong with that.

[cf_chuck]

We had reception/no brunch on the Amsterdam in December 2007 (10 nite with 3 sea days) and on the Volendam December 2006(10 nite with 4 sea days). So who really knows HAL's parameters for brunch vs. reception.

Good question. Now it's time for the speculators to move in and drive up oil prices again. :)

[cf_chuck]

Actually, you did ... see below.


Chuck: rest assured, I'm not trying to be snarky and surely Krazy Kruisers can defend her own statements. Sometimes we all get too literal when we read, and sometimes we don't say exactly what we mean when we write ... shows we all are human. Nothing wrong with that.

OK, I should have said "when your bags are delivered to your cabin". Mea culpa and good catch, thanks.

[innlady1]

We received Mariner luggage tags with our docs. No big deal. And buttons that I think I tossed! :eek:

While on the Noordam, we were invited to a Mariner luncheon one of the last sea days. at Noon or 1 PM, I believe. Very nice.

And, two HAL tiles in our stateroom.

I must say, we sail HAL because we love it...not because of any additional "perks."

[lorekauf]

I find it unnecessary, and I don't even wear the round blue button on embarkation to receive the "welcome back" greeting at the gangway.
I wonder why anyone whould wear those buttons. That just plain strange to me. Then again I'm not a HAL coaster...pin...or medal lover either.

[KeysRes]

Where do you get some of your information?? I notice that you have cruised only 6 times on HAL.

Yikes! Sounds a little.... ?????

[lorekauf]

Yikes! Sounds a little.... ?????

Actually I find KK to be one of the nicest posters on this board. There are a few others...not so nice. I doubt if anything was meant by it.

[AZjohn]

We received Mariner luggage tags with our docs. No big deal. And buttons that I think I tossed! :eek:

While on the Noordam, we were invited to a Mariner luncheon one of the last sea days. at Noon or 1 PM, I believe. Very nice.

And, two HAL tiles in our stateroom.

I must say, we sail HAL because we love it...not because of any additional "perks."
Tags and pins.... "I'm not that special"....(lol):rolleyes:
Dinner with the Captian.... COOL;)
Cruise to somewhere special on HAL.... PRICELESS :D