future cruise while on board

Is there any good reason to purchase future cruises while on HAL cruise? Thanks to all who help

Is there any good reason to purchase future cruises while on HAL cruise? Thanks to all who help

Within the last 1-2 years HAL increased the OBC for booking onboard so that it would be in-line with the OBC that we got from just buying a Future Cruise Deposit (FCD) and then applying the email offer we normally got after returning home (and had 60 days to use).

So, now it is a toss-up between these two options (both of which are superior to just booking on-line or thought a travel agent IMO). Booking onboard can take away from your cruising time and does not allow you the leisure of booking from home (and doing all your research then). Booking/purchasing using a FCD IMO is a better option, as I do not feel rushed and have 60 days to watch for deals, pricing, etc.

Within the last 1-2 years HAL increased the OBC for booking onboard so that it would be in-line with the OBC that we got from just buying a Future Cruise Deposit (FCD) and then applying the email offer we normally got after returning home (and had 60 days to use).

 

So, now it is a toss-up between these two options (both of which are superior to just booking on-line or thought a travel agent IMO). Booking onboard can take away from your cruising time and does not allow you the leisure of booking from home (and doing all your research then). Booking/purchasing using a FCD IMO is a better option, as I do not feel rushed and have 60 days to watch for deals, pricing, etc.

Agree with you 100% Dave. And, for those of us with casino play time, it can take a a bit of time for you "play time & $" to get logged in so that you may possibly receive another discount ;) assuming they are applicable on the cruise you are interested in ;)

I've never booked a cruise on-board because I usually don't know for sure what's next. Plus, I must buy travel insurance within a certain time after a deposit is paid for the pre-existing condition waiver to be effective.

I do find it beneficial to make a future cruise deposit to be used for another cruise. Or, refunded, if I so desire. The OBC offered for doing so satisfies me. Doing so, then encourages me to start to consider "where to next" once I am home.

We booked a future cruise while onboard the Oosterdam in November 2016. We booked a Sept 2017 cruise of 21 days. We paid a $100 P/P deposit and we got $400 P/P OBC. After we got home for a while, we found a better cruise of 26 days in Oct 2017. We had transferred the first 21 day cruise to our TA during the booking process. We asked our TA to transfer our 21 day cruise booking over to the 26 day cruise. She got it done, we kept all the OBC, and kept the $100 P/P deposit. Later on, we also got free HSC thrown in because HAL changed a promotion and my TA grabbed it.

So, we are very happy with booking onboard. You do not get the double OBC if you simply make a deposit for a non-specific future cruise. You only get the double OBC if you actually book a specific cruise. So, do your due diligence at home before you leave, and you can book a future cruise. If you change your mind, you can transfer it to another cruise and keep the benefits. Of course, if you book a 26 day cruise and get $400 P/P OBC, and then cancel and rebook a 7 day, don't expect to keep that $400 OBC.

We booked a future cruise while onboard the Oosterdam in November 2016. We booked a Sept 2017 cruise of 21 days. We paid a $100 P/P deposit and we got $400 P/P OBC. After we got home for a while, we found a better cruise of 26 days in Oct 2017. We had transferred the first 21 day cruise to our TA during the booking process. We asked our TA to transfer our 21 day cruise booking over to the 26 day cruise. She got it done, we kept all the OBC, and kept the $100 P/P deposit. Later on, we also got free HSC thrown in because HAL changed a promotion and my TA grabbed it.

So, we are very happy with booking onboard. You do not get the double OBC if you simply make a deposit for a non-specific future cruise. You only get the double OBC if you actually book a specific cruise. So, do your due diligence at home before you leave, and you can book a future cruise. If you change your mind, you can transfer it to another cruise and keep the benefits. Of course, if you book a 26 day cruise and get $400 P/P OBC, and then cancel and rebook a 7 day, don't expect to keep that $400 OBC.

Just to add you do get the double OBC with a future cruise deposit if you book within 60 days of coming home from your cruise. (I believe it is still 60 days ;) ). ZPM promotion. HAL emails with the offer, but, even if you don't get the email it can still be applied.

Do you know if that kind of offer is available now? We will be on a cruise next week and have in mind a cruise in March of 2019. The $100 pp deposit (refundable??) sounds good in the event we are unable to take the cruise, which probably would be due to health reasons. Not sure if that is fair to do for the reason mentioned.

Do you know if that kind of offer is available now? We will be on a cruise next week and have in mind a cruise in March of 2019. The $100 pp deposit (refundable??) sounds good in the event we are unable to take the cruise, which probably would be due to health reasons. Not sure if that is fair to do for the reason mentioned.

The $100 pp deposit is refundable in the sense that after 4 years you get it back. You can also move it back into your account for future use if you cancel your cruise. Also, the ZPM promotion is still active (as of last week anyway). I am referring to using Future Cruise Deposits.

Thank you. Can you get both the OBC from the future cruise booking and the ZPM promotion? Sounds a bit greedy to me!!!!

Thank you. Can you get both the OBC from the future cruise booking and the ZPM promotion? Sounds a bit greedy to me!!!!

Yes you can.

Not greedy at all - it's HAL's incentive to book and basically, the same OBC as if you book on board. :)

Thank you. How can you do a booking to get both OBC's?

Thank you. Can you get both the OBC from the future cruise booking and the ZPM promotion?

If you book a FCD while on board, you get an on-board credit attached to it. If you then come home and use that FCD to book a cruise within 60 days, the OBC is matched by the ZPM/ZPN promo. If you use the FCD after the 60 days has passed, the OBC is not matched.

If you book a cruise while on board, you get the on-board credit and the value of the ZPM/ZPN promo all included up front.

In other words, the only way to get the smaller OBC is to purchase a FCD, then wait more than two months to use it.

If you book a FCD while on board, you get an on-board credit attached to it. If you then come home and use that FCD to book a cruise within 60 days, the OBC is matched by the ZPM/ZPN promo. If you use the FCD after the 60 days has passed, the OBC is not matched.

 

If you book a cruise while on board, you get the on-board credit and the value of the ZPM/ZPN promo all included up front.

 

In other words, the only way to get the smaller OBC is to purchase a FCD, then wait more than two months to use it.

You are right,Ruth! I booked our Cuba cruise for next March on board the Volendam/Alaska in July. I already knew it was what I wanted. When we got home the ZPM promo arrived. I asked my TA about it...HAL said the promo was given to me upfront when I booked on board, which is the case. I felt it didn't hurt to ask anyway.

Karen

You get a extra on board credit

What is the ZPm promo?

What is the ZPm promo?

Many (but not all) HAL cruisers get an email about 2-4 weeks after their cruise from HAL, thanking them for sailing with HAL and offering to give them additional OBC if they purchase another HAL cruise within the next 60 days. The Travel Agent uses promotion ZPM to get you the credit. You can get this even if you do not get the email, just ask your TA.

On my past 2 HAL cruises, I went ahead and talked with the cruise consultant NOT intending to book anything. It was fun talking with them on a sea day and they gave me a ton of "extra" information about varying itineraries and cabin selection tips. Many cruise consultants have sailed on a lot of the ships. It is an easy way to guarantee a good cabin and a spot on some of the more popular trips --- it is only $100 and you are guaranteed to get it back should you change your mind. I have gone ahead and booked both trips!!! It is worth your time in my opinion.

If you book a FCD while on board, you get an on-board credit attached to it. If you then come home and use that FCD to book a cruise within 60 days, the OBC is matched by the ZPM/ZPN promo. If you use the FCD after the 60 days has passed, the OBC is not matched.

 

If you book a cruise while on board, you get the on-board credit and the value of the ZPM/ZPN promo all included up front.

 

In other words, the only way to get the smaller OBC is to purchase a FCD, then wait more than two months to use it.