Cruise - n00b questions

[Feresa]

Hi all,

I am new to this board and new to cruising. I have been reading a lot of the older threads and now I'm ready to start asking some questions. It seems like this board is really friendly and helpful, so hopefully you won't mind going over some basics with me!

Background: My DH and I will be cruising this winter with his family. This will be our 2nd cruise; we were on Caribbean Princess in 2005. That was fun. I think we like cruising, although DH and I usually prefer to take land-based dive vacations. This should be a great way to travel with the family because we can all enjoy different activities but still spend a significant amount of time together.

DMIL has cabins on hold for a Western Caribbean cruise on Veendam and I think we need to deposit on them this week. I don't understand the booking process at all. If we deposit on one kind of cabin, say Oceanview, could we change the category later? Or does this just depend on how quickly it fills up? I was thinking about a balcony but it is more than twice as much as the oceanview. We could afford it but I'm not sure it's worth so much extra money (which could be spent instead on booze and spa). Do prices ever go down significantly and if they do could we get the lower price? When is final payment usually due?

I am also thinking about booking our air now. DH is leaning toward booking air with the cruise, because he thinks it guarantees the ship will wait if your flight is late. It seems from reading around (especially alaskabound's terrifying and hilarious review) that this is not the case. I am thinking we need to be there at least one day in advance and book our own flight. Advice?

I have many more questions! But perhaps I will save them for another thread. Thanks in advance for your help.

[DesertDogs]

First of All - Welcome!

I will try to answer some of your questions but others may have more insight.

You can book a specific cabin or a catagory guarantee. If you book an oceanview guarantee, you will get whatever cabin is assigned to your within at least the catagory you book. You could be upgraded to a higher catagory outside cabin, or even a balcony (but don't count on it). Book the highest catagory cabin you are willing to pay for.

Final payment is usually due 60 - 75 days prior to sailing and you can cancel anytime before final payment with no penalty. If you opt for HAL's insurance, you will lose the amount you pay for insurance if you cancel.

I would recommend flying in the day before. We always drive to port and still get there the day before. Have not booked HAL air so can't advise you there.

[cf_chuck]

Hi all,

I am new to this board and new to cruising. I have been reading a lot of the older threads and now I'm ready to start asking some questions. It seems like this board is really friendly and helpful, so hopefully you won't mind going over some basics with me!

Background: My DH and I will be cruising this winter with his family. This will be our 2nd cruise; we were on Caribbean Princess in 2005. That was fun. I think we like cruising, although DH and I usually prefer to take land-based dive vacations. This should be a great way to travel with the family because we can all enjoy different activities but still spend a significant amount of time together.

DMIL has cabins on hold for a Western Caribbean cruise on Veendam and I think we need to deposit on them this week. I don't understand the booking process at all. If we deposit on one kind of cabin, say Oceanview, could we change the category later? Or does this just depend on how quickly it fills up? I was thinking about a balcony but it is more than twice as much as the oceanview. We could afford it but I'm not sure it's worth so much extra money (which could be spent instead on booze and spa). Do prices ever go down significantly and if they do could we get the lower price? When is final payment usually due?

I am also thinking about booking our air now. DH is leaning toward booking air with the cruise, because he thinks it guarantees the ship will wait if your flight is late. It seems from reading around (especially alaskabound's terrifying and hilarious review) that this is not the case. I am thinking we need to be there at least one day in advance and book our own flight. Advice?

I have many more questions! But perhaps I will save them for another thread. Thanks in advance for your help.

Putting a deposit down gives you a position in the queue for dining and also allows you to reserve the room(s). I don't know how DMIL has rooms "on hold" without a deposit unless she's working with a TA and the TA is using the "float" time between when the reservation is made and when the deposit has to be sent to HAL. Most TAs require a deposit at the time of the "hold". Your final payment will be due about 75 days before the cruise leaves.

Upgrading is possible depending on availability. Just be aware that you may lose your place in any queue for dining selections.

Prices can go down, but typically these are for new reservations. If you are outside the window before final is due, you can cancel and rebook, but this has implications on your dining priority and if you have travel insurance, it will need to be updated. IF you book any excursions or gifts, you will have to ensure that they are appropriately transferred IF you get a new booking number.

I generally book air to arrive a day ahead and pick flights leaving in the afternoon the day before to ensure there's a backup or two the same day as well as the next. I've booked air with HAL before but haven't had the disappointing experience of flight misses, so I can't comment on what those advantages might be.

[Taxguy7]

Booking the cruiseline's air does NOT guarantee the ship will wait as the airline could cancel all flights for many hours, but it DOES insure that the cruiseline will give you all the help they possibly can to get you to the ship ASAP; and probably pay any additional charges you might otherwise incur.
Our last cruise we booked going with the cruiseline. We arrived at the port late,were met by a rep and told to sit in a defined location for the bus lady. We arrived at the ship with another couple almost an hour AFTER last call, boarded ahead of them and missed the lifeboat drill! :cool: Had we booked our own, who knows if we would have gotten on board?
Saying this, on our upcoming trip I booked the air myself, as we wanted to spend a couple of days in Lisbon prior to sailing.:) If the Euro gets where it used to be, I'll try another day!.

[magictam]

Let me add my "Welcome to the boards" too.

I have always booked our own air. It's generally cheaper than adding it on to the cruise line. But I also always fly in a day early. We use that day to make sure we haven't forgot anything and time to stop by a store if we did. Also, to pick up any drinks/water to take on the ship with us. And it's a nice transition between work time and play time.

I have to admit I'm a balcony snob. We decided we must have a balcony on our first cruise to Alaska and now I don't want to cruise without one. My Sis did an inside guarentee. She was upgraded to a window cabin and enjoyed it. It was a nice cabin, but we throughly enjoyed the use of the balcony.

I have tried the massages on my last 2 cruises and wasn't impressed with them. Especially for the price. That could be because I see a massage therapist every 2 weeks (for much less) and I think she's immensly better. After a visit with her I'm can bend again in all directions and feel great. After my cruise massages, they felt more like buff and fluff (imho).

I would recommend cruise insurance. I haven't had a need to use it yet.......but. We did use HALs on the first cruise and have since found insurance at a much better rate (a company recommended by my TA).

Enjoy your cruise. I think you'll love sailing with HAL.

[Taxguy7]

Let me add my "Welcome to the boards" too.

I have always booked our own air. It's generally cheaper than adding it on to the cruise line. But I also always fly in a day early. We use that day to make sure we haven't forgot anything and time to stop by a store if we did. Also, to pick up any drinks/water to take on the ship with us. And it's a nice transition between work time and play time.

I have to admit I'm a balcony snob. We decided we must have a balcony on our first cruise to Alaska and now I don't want to cruise without one. My Sis did an inside guarentee. She was upgraded to a window cabin and enjoyed it. It was a nice cabin, but we throughly enjoyed the use of the balcony.

I have tried the massages on my last 2 cruises and wasn't impressed with them. Especially for the price. That could be because I see a massage therapist every 2 weeks (for much less) and I think she's immensly better. After a visit with her I'm can bend again in all directions and feel great. After my cruise massages, they felt more like buff and fluff (imho).

I would recommend cruise insurance. I haven't had a need to use it yet.......but. We did use HALs on the first cruise and have since found insurance at a much better rate (a company recommended by my TA).

Enjoy your cruise. I think you'll love sailing with HAL.
My DW & I used to have a great massage therapist, but she quit private practice to work for a college.:eek:
We love balconies on some cruises, but would rather spend the money in the bar:) or casino:( on others.
Cruise Insurance....Absolutly!!! Been there = done that!!!
This is our 1st time getting to the port a day or more before the cruise. We have on tours that included days built in (don't buy from cruise line), but never on our own. Will report after the cruise.:)

[krusin']

I guess we're fortunate our National TA will hold for 3 days before needing a deposit. It's very convenient when you need concensus for a cruise date I have found on the internet at work. I imagine all TA's have this privilege but may not like having to follow up.:D

[Krazy Kruizers]

The Veendam kis an S class ship -- booking a guarantee on that type of ship -- don't count on an upgrade. The smaller ships sell out quickly. The Vista class ships seem to have more upgrades.

If there is a specific category and cabin you like -- book it now so as not to be disaapointed.

Air -- do your own. HAL is now requiring that if you book air with them you will be reguired to pay your entire cruise right now. HAL is doing that as airfares are going up.

Definitely get there the day before. I have read over the years where several people missed the ship and they had booked air through HAL. Some had insurance to pick up the extra costs of hotels, food, etc. -- others did not.

The last couple of years we have not found cruise fares going down in price -- they just keep rising.

[Sailor Gal]

I highly recommend arranging your own air (cheaper and you get the kind of flights and times you want and can minimize lay overs). Arriving the day before the cruise is advisable given the number of cancelled flights and travel woes. We have flown in the day of the cruise and have not had a problem - but to me, it's not worth the worry and stress. Our travel agent has always had the ability to put a room "on hold" for at least a day while we consult with fellow travelers or think about our preferences. He has that arrangement with the cruiselines. Our TA also offers travel insurance (we always get insurance) through a private company with benefits equivalent to the cruiselines but at a lower price. We generally book a specific cabin because we prefer a certain cabin type and location on the ship. We usually travel with friends and like cabins next door to each other. We once booked an interior guarantee and it turned out fine, but we did not get an upgrade.

[Feresa]

Hi all,

Thanks for the warm welcome and great advice! My in-laws actually deposited on the cabins, so now the challenge will be getting them to accept a check from us to pay them back. They really are generous to a fault.

Still not sure which cabin cat they booked, but we will be happy with anything. We had an inside on Princess and it was fine. If we were going to Alaska, I would definitely pony up for a balcony to see the wildlife, but for the Caribbean it's not as important to me. Plus, DH and I are in our mid 30s and I think it's important to raise our expectations very gradually. It's so easy to get hooked on nice things! If we start pushing it now, we'll be suite-only Regent cruisers in no time.

Air: we booked our flight (not through HAL)! We decided to fly in 2 nights early and enjoy a day in Florida before the cruise. That way we can catch up on a little sleep before vacation.

So I guess this is for real -- we are going on a cruise! I should put one of those countdown thingys in my sig.

Thanks again for the great responses.