Booking a cruise while on board?

We're going on the Niew Amsterdam in the spring 2018 and I want to book my next HAL cruise this fall for 2019. Is there any advantages to wait to book our next cruise while on the ship or does it matter?:confused:

Thanks,

Phil........floridacruisers

You'd get the current price less a $100 discount, and double onboard credit.....$100 pp in veranda, $200 pp in suites. It's probably a gamble with prices rising for the cruise you want and room you want. But currently the only trips they have for 2019 seem to be the New Statendam sailings, at least as we were told last week while booking.

The biggest advantage of booking while onboard for us is booking with small deposit $100pp ($400 instead of $1000) and picking the room...and we monitor the price the rest of the year... usually there's a better sale later in the year so if price changes we'll call and re-fare before final payment

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In all honesty, you get the same OBC by buying a Future Cruise Deposit on board (refundable in 4 years if not used) and if you book within 60 days (at least I think that is still the norm) you get the double OBC.

I have heard enough misinformation on board from certain FCC's (not all of course) that I prefer to relax at home and choose my next cruise itinereary.

Now, that doesn't mean that we will never book onboard but I have never seen an advantage to it.

There was a time when we used to buy the Future Cruise Deposits and wait until we got home and choose the cruise we wanted as well as the cabin we wanted.

But after having to cancel a couple of cruise because of several incidents -- major snow storm destroyed part of our house, my falling and fracturing my wrist in 2 places and another major storm storm closing down airports for several days -- we had to cancel those cruises about 3 - 4 days before sailing -- and we lost those cruise deposits. Got the 90% back from HAL insurance.

So we stopped buying the future cruise deposits on board.

You have to decide if it is worth it to you.

Actually the Future Cruise Consultant had access to cruises well into 2019 in her catalog. We booked for South America + Antarctica for Jan 2019 (22 days) with reduced deposits, selection of preferred stateroom, increased OBC and so on; while we were completing our recent Alaska cruise.

And no, it wasn't a hurried or forced sale, we were allowed to take several print-outs of the cruise itineraries back to our cabin to make a decision and come back on another day to discuss and make the booking.

We wer on the oosterdam over Christmas last year and new we were going to go on a cruise over Christmas for this year. We got the current sale, which was the view and veranda sale, our casino discount, plus double obc and extra obc for booking a holiday cruise on a holiday cruise. We got a great price for the four of us and a nice amount of obc.

We just returned last night from a 12-day Baltic Sea cruise on the Zuiderdam. On our first sea day we booked a 28-day Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas cruise on the Eurodam in March 2019. Plus we bought two Future Cruise Credits for when we can break away for a short cruise before that!

We just returned last night from a 12-day Baltic Sea cruise on the Zuiderdam. On our first sea day we booked a 28-day Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas cruise on the Eurodam in March 2019. Plus we bought two Future Cruise Credits for when we can break away for a short cruise before that!

Your new cruise sounds heavenly!

I have booked after arriving home. I don't know if HAL still does it, but I usually get an e-mail telling me if I book with-in 60 days of my last cruise I get an extra $100 obc. So lots of time I wait and get $200 instead of $100. After my next cruise I will need to ck and see if I get both.

I have booked after arriving home. I don't know if HAL still does it, but I usually get an e-mail telling me if I book with-in 60 days of my last cruise I get an extra $100 obc. So lots of time I wait and get $200 instead of $100. After my next cruise I will need to ck and see if I get both.

They still do it. Even if you don't get the email, just mention the zpm promo.

In April 2016 on a Panama Canal cruise we talked with the FCC onboard for an Alaskan cruise for June 2016. She quoted $5000 for DW and I. Just cruise fare. Got home and talked with PCC and he quoted $1900 for cruise and $1100 for airfare. This was for the exact same room number and date. I don't even stop and talk with FCC anymore.

During the past year or so, the onboard cruise consultants starting offering double the OBC, which then put the offers on par with buying a Future Cruise Deposit (FCD) and applying code ZPM (from email) within 60 days of sailing. Prior to this, it was definitely a better deal to just get the FCD.

However, I wonder how it works when you book onboard and then, lets say 6 months later, you cancel and rebook a different cruise. Do you lose half (or all) of your OBC? This normally happens when using FCDs as you are beyond the 60 day period. Of course, with the FCD if you are a frequent cruiser and do this rebooking within 60 days of a different cruise, you still get the doubled OBC amount (in any case you always get the original OBC).

Anyone have recent experience with this (rebooking beyond 60 days after booking onboard)?

During the past year or so, the onboard cruise consultants starting offering double the OBC, which then put the offers on par with buying a Future Cruise Deposit (FCD) and applying code ZPM (from email) within 60 days of sailing. Prior to this, it was definitely a better deal to just get the FCD.

 

However, I wonder how it works when you book onboard and then, lets say 6 months later, you cancel and rebook a different cruise. Do you lose half (or all) of your OBC? This normally happens when using FCDs as you are beyond the 60 day period. Of course, with the FCD if you are a frequent cruiser and do this rebooking within 60 days of a different cruise, you still get the doubled OBC amount (in any case you always get the original OBC).

 

Anyone have recent experience with this (rebooking beyond 60 days after booking onboard)?

It is my understanding that both a lower deposit and the extra on board credit still apply when choosing a different cruise. My question is ...can I transfer the $100 pp RATE REDUCTION I received for booking on board to a different cruise date?

I would prefer to enjoy the cruise I am currently on and worry about my next cruise after I return home. It just seems like a high-pressure sales tactic for HAL to push the next cruise on current passengers.

igraf

We're going on the Niew Amsterdam in the spring 2018 and I want to book my next HAL cruise this fall for 2019. Is there any advantages to wait to book our next cruise while on the ship or does it matter?:confused:

Thanks,

Phil........floridacruisers

I would prefer to enjoy the cruise I am currently on and worry about my next cruise after I return home. It just seems like a high-pressure sales tactic for HAL to push the next cruise on current passengers.

 

igraf

You have to physically take yourself down to the Cruise Consultant , after all. Otherwise, it is just another listing in the cruise daily.

I would prefer to enjoy the cruise I am currently on and worry about my next cruise after I return home. It just seems like a high-pressure sales tactic for HAL to push the next cruise on current passengers.

 

igraf

Yeah, I see a lot of that; people being forced with knives in their backs to see the future cruise consultant at her/his desk :cool:

Yeah, I see a lot of that; people being forced with knives in their backs to see the future cruise consultant at her/his desk :cool:

I would prefer to enjoy the cruise I am currently on and worry about my next cruise after I return home. It just seems like a high-pressure sales tactic for HAL to push the next cruise on current passengers.

 

igraf

While I have personally only talked to the Future Cruise Consultants a few times, you can certainly overhear them in the Atrium bar on the Westerdam, while you are waiting or, if they are chatting with a potential cruiser in the Neptune Lounge.

I have NEVER heard them or heard of them applying pressure. That's not a sales tactic they use IMO.

The biggest advantage of booking while onboard for us is booking with small deposit $100pp ($400 instead of $1000) and picking the room...and we monitor the price the rest of the year... usually there's a better sale later in the year so if price changes we'll call and re-fare before final payment

 

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And getting a O B C.

And getting a O B C.

what difference is in there in the OBC whether you book on board or use your FCD's and YZM promo? What am I missing.

the promos (extra obc, etc) are offered. Should I be taking the time out of my cruise (<sigh>) if there is really extra obc over and above what I get when I get home?

In April 2016 on a Panama Canal cruise we talked with the FCC onboard for an Alaskan cruise for June 2016. She quoted $5000 for DW and I. Just cruise fare. Got home and talked with PCC and he quoted $1900 for cruise and $1100 for airfare. This was for the exact same room number and date. I don't even stop and talk with FCC anymore.

We have had similar experiences. Our normal cruise booking pattern is to shop around among several of our favorite cruise agencies...and book with whichever one offers us the best deal (always at least 7 -10% less then we would pay if we booked directly with HAL). The FCC onboard will suggest that we book with him/her and then transfer to a cruise agency...but this takes away much of our leverage when we shop around. We sometimes will make an appointment with the onboard future cruise person...and go armed with the deals being offered by a few of our favorite cruise agencies. Up to now, we have never booked with the onboard FCC because they could not come close to the cruise agency deals...other then offering a lower deposit.

Hank

You would be surprised what people will do for $100 of OBC. Heck, you would be surprised what people will do for free laundry....

Obviously commercials and promotions are in fact a powerful form of selling. Couple that with it being pushed in the daily programs. Yes, it is real and I find it to be intrusive. Having said that, I don't mind promotional material being sent to me afterwards (as long as I can opt out).

igraf

Yeah, I see a lot of that; people being forced with knives in their backs to see the future cruise consultant at her/his desk :cool:

We were offered close to $800 OBC, plus the new 2019 South American Signature Experience which include all transfers and 3-night stay in Buenos Aires, tours and dinners pre-cruise for the same price. This Signature Experience for 2019 is not yet on the HAL website or available for booking (apparently its worth $999 each if/when they have additional capacity for sale, and available to Vista and above passengers only).

We have had similar experiences. Our normal cruise booking pattern is to shop around among several of our favorite cruise agencies...and book with whichever one offers us the best deal (always at least 7 -10% less then we would pay if we booked directly with HAL). The FCC onboard will suggest that we book with him/her and then transfer to a cruise agency...but this takes away much of our leverage when we shop around.

Hank

I've had the opposite experience. I book with the cruise line then look around for the best offering. They give me the same deal to transfer as if I'd booked it new.

Onboard, they wanted to send it directly to my agent I had booked the current cruise with. I had to sign a form saying it was my wish to keep to the booking with HAL.