VIP Mail Out

[BADBUOY]

Can anyone tell me why I received in the mail yesterday the HAL VIP pricing schedule when I've never sailed with them?

I'm currently booked on a Carnival ship for next month but that is the extent of my cruise experience. HAL is offereing some good deals for December of this year and some better deals on European cruise in 2005.

How did I rate? Did Carnival sell my name to cruise list?

Buddy

[sail7seas]

Buddy....


Carnival Corporation owns HAL, Costa, Cunard, Princess, Windstar, Seabourn and Carnival Cruise Lines.

If you have cruised on any one of them, you are entitled to 'repeater discounts' on all of them.

Days you sail on each only accrue to that line's repeat passenger program.

It is the 'Carnival Family of Ships' concept.

[dakrewser]

"VIP" supposedly stands for Vacation Interchange Program (a very tortured post facto construction) which means that previous cruisers on any of the Carnival Corp lines (Carnival, HAL, Windstar, Princess, Costa, Cunard and Seabourn) get discounts on the others.

[BADBUOY]

Thanks for the quick reply. Have you cruised a HAL ship to Europe yet? Which one? Which itinerary do you recommend?

Thanks kindly,

Buddy

[sail7seas]

We have cruised HAL ships in Europe a number of times. ....we were on Maasdam, Statendam and Rotterdam in Europe.

For a 'first' European cruise, I heartily recommend European Capitals itinerary particularly if it is your first trip to Europe....let alone first cruise there.

We had done a great deal of land travel throughout Europe before we ever started cruising and even still, we loved that European Capitals cruse and got alot out of it. London, Paris and Rome surely are high on most people's list to see if they have not yet been there.

There are so many very experienced cruisers here that I am sure you will get loads of suggestions/info.

[BADBUOY]

"VIP" supposedly stands for Vacation Interchange Program (a very tortured post facto construction) which means that previous cruisers on any of the Carnival Corp lines (Carnival, HAL, Windstar, Princess, Costa, Cunard and Seabourn) get discounts on the others.
I guess the question is why did I get it when I haven't taken my cruise yet (December 11th)?

Maybe a mistake?

Buddy

[BADBUOY]

We have cruised HAL ships in Europe a number of times. ....we were on Maasdam, Statendam and Rotterdam in Europe.

For a 'first' European cruise, I heartily recommend European Capitals itinerary particularly if it is your first trip to Europe....let alone first cruise there.

We had done a great deal of land travel throughout Europe before we ever started cruising and even still, we loved that European Capitals cruse and got alot out of it. London, Paris and Rome surely are high on most people's list to see if they have not yet been there.

There are so many very experienced cruisers here that I am sure you will get loads of suggestions/info.
Thanks. I've back packed Europe after graduating so I'm familiar with the sites from a land based adventure but would love to travel there with my wife on a cruise.

Do you think the VIP program offers the best discounts or is it better advised to shop around? The brochure is also offering a 2 cat upgrade which may be impossible to find for that price elsewhere. What do you think?

BD

[jhannah]

We recently returned from a cruise of the Mediterranean on the Prinsendam. It ranks up there among our best-ever cruises. We enjoyed the ship very much, and are booked on her next year to circle the British Isles.

[TedC]

It's always best to shop around. Check internet sites, your own TA, etc.

Check HAL website for 2005 European cruises and select the itinerary you like. Med cruises and the Baltic are always popular.


We prefer cruising in the Med in the spring and fall when schools are still in session. The weather is generally good, not to hot. A plus is that Europe tends to be somewhat less crowded then.

[Bill S]

We received one of those letters yesterday, as well. We are considering taking one of the featured cruises, but have to look at our schedules (and bank account) to see if we can fit it in!!