DW may either love me or kill me

[Orcrone]

DW thinks we have an inside room for our cruise at the end of the month. As she is slightly claustrophobic I upgraded us several months ago, without her knowing, to an outside room.

I just looked at the cruise prices (as I do every day) and noticed that a B category room became available. There have been no verandahs or suites for several weeks now. It's about $360 per person more. I'm not willing to spend that much more. But I just called my TA and told her that I'd be willing to spend about $360 additional for both of us. She said that she'd call HAL and get back to me in 20 minutes.

So I'm just sitting here waiting to here.

[ekerr19]

Marc, I hope you can get it! The balcony is so nice to have...

Keeping my fingers crossed! :D

[want2travelbad]

I'll wait with you and help you kill the time. So, I hope your DW loves you and doesn't kill you; I wouldn't want you to go on this cruise alone! Seriously, I bet she would be okay with upgrading as you are wanting to ensure she isn't so claustrophobic. What a nice thing to do, if you ask me. I hope HAL makes you a good offer. A verandah would be nice. A suite even better (not that I would really know since I have never stayed in one, but it's gotta be better I would think)!

[Charliesmom]

I think you have started something that will add pleasure to you lives for many years to come. My DH booked us in a balcony stateroom in 1992 and now I will not take a cruise in anything less. The pleasure of sitting on that balcony is immeasurable. You will love it and your DW will, too.

Roberta

[Orcrone]

Thanks everyone. I'm still sitting here waiting. (Come on phone, ring now!!!)

I'll wait with you and help you kill the time. So, I hope your DW loves you and doesn't kill you; I wouldn't want you to go on this cruise alone!Actually, if she kills me, she'll be going alone. She'll of course love the room, but she'll also wonder what I paid. Keep in mind, she thinks we paid for an inside room.

But, what the heck, it's only money.:D

[Orcrone]

I think you have started something that will add pleasure to you lives for many years to come. My DH booked us in a balcony stateroom in 1992 and now I will not take a cruise in anything less. The pleasure of sitting on that balcony is immeasurable. You will love it and your DW will, too.

RobertaRoberta,

Several years ago we had a screened in porch put on the back of our house. We love sitting out there, just the two of us, relaxing and talking. I'm imagining a balcony would be very similar.

Even if we don't get it, we have one reserved for our Zuiderdam cruise in March. The difference between an outside and the verandah was not that much.

(Still waiting for the phone to ring).

[ekerr19]

(Still waiting for the phone to ring).

Just walk away from it and it will, without a doubt! :D

[Orcrone]

Just walk away from it and it will, without a doubt! :DI was just replying to your post when the phone range. HAL wanted almost $800 extra to go from an outside to a verandah room.

Oh well, I can always try again if it's still available in a couple of weeks. But I'll still surprise DW with the outside.

[want2travelbad]

Yikes...$800...too much! Yeah, I guess you are right, if your DW killed you that would mean she would go alone. Really, this is how my brain works (or doesn't work) when I am running on 3 hours of sleep and too much caffeine!

[FlorenceItaly]

I was just replying to your post when the phone range. HAL wanted almost $800 extra to go from an outside to a verandah room.

Oh well, I can always try again if it's still available in a couple of weeks. But I'll still surprise DW with the outside.

OUCH!! That's alot of money....sorry it didn't work out for you. She will love the outside room, and don't forget to order her those dozen roses :).

Marie

[HeatherInFlorida]

As I read through this thread I was so hoping for you, Marc!!! Not fair! Too much money. I'm amazed it's that much at this late date.

But just in case it does end up working out for you? I'll bet you anything DW won't kill you.

I've not been on the boards all afternoon because I'm researching our 20th anniversary cruise for next year. Found 2 great ones from CA to Ft. Lauderdale next October, but neither one is HAL:( . Have to talk with DH tonight and see what he says.

Did you try calling HAL directly and being real nice???:o

[dakrewser]

I was just replying to your post when the phone range. HAL wanted almost $800 extra to go from an outside to a verandah room.Save the $800 and put it towards your bar bill. Or a couple of nights in the Pinnacle. After dinner, go up to the sky deck and stretch out on a lounge chair - it's a really, really, really, big verandah! :)

-dave

[Orcrone]

I was surprised at $800. Looking at my TA's website the verandah room was $720 more than what I paid for the outside. I would have questioned them about that, but I wasn't spending $720 extra either. In a way I'm glad. If they would have come back and said "we won't do it for $350 extra, but we will for $450 or $500 I would have had a tough decision. $800 was a no-brainer (like me).

Heather - I'm not sure what cruises you're looking at, but my mom took a Celebrity cruise from San Diego back to FLL through the canal and had a great time. I also didn't know if I could bypass my TA and go directly to HAL. I may give it a shot tomorrow. There's only one verandah room left, so I guess they don't see any reason to discount it.

[Orcrone]

Heather,

I called HAL directly last night and got the same price as when I called my TA. I was real nice about it, I even faked sincerity.:D

One interesting aspect. When they went through the prices they added up everything for the new room (fare, taxes, port charges) and it sounded like it was going to be a lot more than what my TA quoted. Then they told me what I paid, and it was a lot higher than my fare. I'm guessing that they receive the wholesale fare from the TA, and just repeated the retail fare to me. The TA probably provides the lower fare through a reduced commission.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Heather,

I called HAL directly last night and got the same price as when I called my TA. I was real nice about it, I even faked sincerity.:D

One interesting aspect. When they went through the prices they added up everything for the new room (fare, taxes, port charges) and it sounded like it was going to be a lot more than what my TA quoted. Then they told me what I paid, and it was a lot higher than my fare. I'm guessing that they receive the wholesale fare from the TA, and just repeated the retail fare to me. The TA probably provides the lower fare through a reduced commission.
I believe you're right. They can still do that with HAL. Pricing Celebrity is a whole new ballgame now because the TA's can no longer lower their commissions. So when I get quotes, they all came in the same. Instead, TA's now offer "points" toward insurance, car rentals, etc., on a later cruise.

Anyway, you gave it your best shot! And as you say, you're getting the Verandah next time:) .

[Cinder]

Marc, when I booked our trip, the trip was such a steal I booked a suite, so if you are real nice, I'll invite you and your wife up to see the suite life!

[Orcrone]

Marc, when I booked our trip, the trip was such a steal I booked a suite, so if you are real nice, I'll invite you and your wife up to see the suite life!We'll definitely take you up on it. Perhaps if DW sees a suite, she won't mind if we spring for one next time. Then I'll mention the other perks (free laundry may just get her).:D

[Charliesmom]

Orcrone, next time you book a cruise, check out the prices on the early December cruises. We got a steal on a suite for December 12th. I couldn't believe how cheap it was. Then I got an even better price by going to a discount internet agency.

What you might try to do is to see if when you check in if you can purchase the verandah room for less than you were quoted now. Who knows, maybe someone cancelled at the last minute?

Wherever you end up, have a terrific time.

Roberta

[HeatherInFlorida]

Heather - I'm not sure what cruises you're looking at, but my mom took a Celebrity cruise from San Diego back to FLL through the canal and had a great time. Marc, just between you and me, I just booked the Celebrity Summit (with Verandah) for 10/23/05 for our 20th anniversary:D ... 14 days from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale. I am so excited ... longest cruise we've ever taken! Only trouble is I guess I have to go over to the Celebrity boards after our Oosterdam cruise this November:( .

I really wanted to do the HAL trip from SF to Ft. Lauderdale (15 days), but couldn't rationalize the extra $3000. I couldn't believe the difference in price particularly when Celebrity is no longer letting TAs discount. I love Celebrity as much as HAL, but the cabins are just a bit larger on HAL. Oh, well. I guess I can handle it;) .

[Orcrone]

Orcrone, next time you book a cruise, check out the prices on the early December cruises. We got a steal on a suite for December 12th. I couldn't believe how cheap it was. Then I got an even better price by going to a discount internet agency.Roberta,

I wouldn't have minded a December cruise. Let the weather get a little nastier here before getting away for a break. However, my mom is flying up from Florida to watch our daughters. I wanted her to come up before the weather got too nasty. So we chose this week partially because it was the first trip for the Maasdam out of Norfolk, after summering in New England and Canada.

[Orcrone]

Marc, just between you and me, I just booked the Celebrity Summit (with Verandah) for 10/23/05 for our 20th anniversary:D ... 14 days from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale. I am so excited ... longest cruise we've ever taken! Only trouble is I guess I have to go over to the Celebrity boards after our Oosterdam cruise this November:( .

I really wanted to do the HAL trip from SF to Ft. Lauderdale (15 days), but couldn't rationalize the extra $3000. I couldn't believe the difference in price particularly when Celebrity is no longer letting TAs discount. I love Celebrity as much as HAL, but the cabins are just a bit larger on HAL. Oh, well. I guess I can handle it;) .Congratulations Heather,

That sounds like a great cruise and I'd love to do that sometime. I would have a heck of a time rationalizing an extra $3000, especially from my understanding the two cruise lines are very similar.

BTW, DW has said that out next vacation after these two cruises will not be another cruise (and I'm sure it won't). We're talking about driving across country for a few weeks and heading out to the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, etc. However, we received a HAL book with their European cruises and DW seemed very interested.:)

[HeatherInFlorida]

So funny, Marc!!! We were thinking of a very similar trip to what you describe for next year. We thought we'd head out to Arizona, go to Tahoe, San Diego, Grand Canyon. Then I saw this cruise and priced it and couldn't pass it up. Told DH and he said "book it!!!" ... I love when he does that:D . Since we life in West Palm, we can fly from FLL to LA for only $100 pp (amazing!!) on Southwest. Then the cruise practically drops us off at our front door. So it's perfect for us.

Thanks for letting me share my excitement on your thread!!!

[Orcrone]

Heather,

Unfortunately my DW suffers from this strange affliction that causes her to get delussional and think that not every vacation needs to be a cruise. Doctors and scientists have been working on a cure, but right now there are proven therapies (e.g. Cruise Critic) but no cure.

When my mom went on her Canal cruise they flew out to her DH's son outside of San Diego and stayed there a few days. The cruise then left out of San Diego and left them off in Fort Lauderdale. As they live in Boynton Beach (you know, near the bagel shop on Boynton Beach Blvd and Jog Road) it was very convenient for them too.

[dakrewser]

Only trouble is I guess I have to go over to the Celebrity boards after our Oosterdam cruise this November:( .
Oh geez, you don't want to do that! They fight about dress codes all the time!:rolleyes:

-dave

[HeatherInFlorida]

Oh geez, you don't want to do that! They fight about dress codes all the time!:rolleyes:

-dave
Oh, yeah! And we have noooooo problem with that over here on the HAL boards;) . Everyone is totally in sync on that score. LOL:D

[HeatherInFlorida]

Heather,

Unfortunately my DW suffers from this strange affliction that causes her to get delussional and think that not every vacation needs to be a cruise. Doctors and scientists have been working on a cure, but right now there are proven therapies (e.g. Cruise Critic) but no cure.

When my mom went on her Canal cruise they flew out to her DH's son outside of San Diego and stayed there a few days. The cruise then left out of San Diego and left them off in Fort Lauderdale. As they live in Boynton Beach (you know, near the bagel shop on Boynton Beach Blvd and Jog Road) it was very convenient for them too.
Right!!! I had forgotten!! DH was just talking about "Bagels &" the other day! I wish the cruise went out of San Diego still because I'd rather stay over before there than LA but we can't have it all;) .