SetAnOpenCourse

I got a prompt reply to the email I sent about this to officeofthepresident.  It was written by a “Special Advisor”, and seemed like a canned answer.  It dubiously stated “limited staffing availably”

as the reason for the change.

Anyway, perhaps those who’ve gotten no reply can try that email address instead.

IMHO this is poor timing from a business standpoint.  Where I live, the large Catholic church is absolutely packed on weekends, and FWIW, the congregation is exactly the demographic HAL wants - younger, high-income, and many families.  There is also a resurgence of tradition - the kind of people who would appreciate Mass on board.

On all our HAL cruises we attended Mass on most days, whether port or sea day.  This announcement is indeed a major game changer, making HAL just another cruise line.  The stockholder perk loses most of its benefit, as sailing on other cruise lines now becomes much more probable.

6 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

I wanted to point out that this thread was started in December.  We were on the Rotterdam in May and had none of the above listed issues.

Was your cabin on deck 4 forward?  If you did not experience the OP’s biggest complaint (noise in cabin), and you also had a cabin in that location, then could you share your cabin #?

My only whale watching tour was with a HAL excursion, late May 2013, in Juneau.  We had a few sightings, but they weren’t much more than the whale breaking through the surface a bit, basically a lazy bobbing motion.  It was not worth it.  It was a fairly expensive excursion and thus an extremely poor value.  Of course some people talked as if it was wonderful.  It’s nice if they have no expectations, but I think some people would rather say their trip was awesome, amazing, etc. rather than share an honest evaluation.

3 hours ago, Horizon chaser 1957 said:

Our TA was able to attach our stockholders benefit to our standby booking. She sent us a copy of HAL’s confirmation. 
So while the standby program can’t be combined with other offers, the stockholders benefit doesn’t fall in that catagory and still applies.

Do you need to be cleared (i.e. have a cabin) for the stockholder obc to be applied?  I’m still waiting on standby for a sailing that embarks this Sunday, and do have 150 shares.

A simple and tactful solution:  no cellphone speaker use (allow headset or earbuds) in all eating venues.  I’d think the managers would feel fine about enforcing this.

No visa needed for USA passport holders, but possibly needed for citizens elsewhere?

3 hours ago, skandsea99 said:

Folks should feel comfortable as long as they dress with reasonable decorum.

That’s a good way of putting it.  IMHO it’s not about looking fancy or financially successful, but more about willingness to adjust for a special occasion.  I’ll be bringing a jacket and probably a tie for my next Caribbean cruise.  I really don’t feel like I’m impressing anyone, and I’m pretty sure I’ll have just about the least expensive clothing of anyone on board, but I’ll be neat.

17 hours ago, skandsea99 said:

takes things back at least 20 years from societal norms now.

I hope I’ll always find at least a few traditions on board that don’t depend on the latest societal norms.

16 minutes ago, POA1 said:

 

On 3/19/2024 at 11:49 AM, SetAnOpenCourse said:

Can anyone confirm whether or not one’s PCC can put one on a standby list?

They can.

 

Thanks.  To my confusion, when I asked to get on standby for a sold-out cruise, the reply from my PCC was:

“Sailing is sold out so no Standby available.”

Not knowing if that makes sense, I then called HAL, and the rep put me on the list (taking payment, etc.).  This PCC has been a HAL PCC for a long time. 🧐

9 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

I suspect the hahas were directed at your comment about HAL's system being sophisticated enough to find a reasonable new location.

I see.  Makes sense, considering the history of website issues.  And, on second thought, even if the system does select a reasonable new cabin, it can’t read our minds as to the true factors behind the original cabin choice.

8 hours ago, SetAnOpenCourse said:

If I get bumped into the same or better category, no obstruction, tub/no tub to match cabin I chose (fwiw I’m a tub guy), same fwd/mid/aft to match, same size or larger, no noise issue, and within say two decks of the one I chose, then I wouldn’t mind much.  A major cruise line’s system is likely sophisticated enough to handle this.

It’s too late to edit my post, but I just need to say my comment is sincere.  The three emoji-reactions thus far were HaHa’s.

🧐

If I get bumped into the same or better category, no obstruction, tub/no tub to match cabin I chose (fwiw I’m a tub guy), same fwd/mid/aft to match, same size or larger, no noise issue, and within say two decks of the one I chose, then I wouldn’t mind much.  A major cruise line’s system is likely sophisticated enough to handle this.

Sorry if this info is up thread, but I’m wondering what HAL does with taxes and port fees for passengers who are selected but don’t go.  A HAL agent told me taxes and port fees must be paid to get on standby, and they are not refunded if I’m selected and don’t go (I.e., I’d lose it along with the cruise fare).  Can HAL really keep it?  Even if they fill the cabin?

Can anyone confirm whether or not one’s PCC can put one on a standby list?

I have a $500 Holland America Line gift card, issued by AARP.

Checking in online, I am asked for a credit card to pre-authorize $420, or, presenting to the front desk within 24 hours of boarding, a "Cash/Pre-paid Card".  Has anyone used their HAL gift card for this?

I can confirm tomorrow when my PCC returns to the office on Monday, but I'd like to complete check-in today.

For my upcoming cruise, I’m also VH Gty, and I’ve gotten two upsell offers to signature suite, $200pp (7 day).  I don’t know what the big difference is though from verandah.  I just want to get back out on the sea again.

If the sailing is undersold I’d guess that you’ll be upgraded to a “better” stateroom, so, possibly to waste money on club orange.  Or they may try to upsell you, in which case applying the club orange towards it (as reported above - I haven’t done this) seems a good deal.  But, if they have your money from club orange already, maaaybe they’re motivated to send the upsell offers to people who they can get more money from in the upsell (ie, not deducting club orange).

Thanks for your review.  I’m no cheerleader, however none of the negative points are important for us.  I’d take the NA over any Pinnacle, although our upcoming is on Zuiderdam, which I have a slight preference for due to the entertainment (less noisy) options.

3 hours ago, MisterMatthew said:

do SpringBreakers select specific sailings MORE SO than "other sailings"?

There are a few websites that list the week that each college is on break.  You could avoid Caribbean itineraries that are within the two or three weeks in which the majority are clustered.

Our favorite things about HAL:

The ships that have the wide promenade, and that you can walk all the way around, or spend time seeing and hearing the ocean.

Peaceful atmosphere, at least compared to some other lines.

Daily Mass (Catholic).

Overall classy, courteous atmosphere.

I called HAL and booked category VH guarantee on the Zuiderdam, was told it’s fully obstructed but this merely meant a steel balcony wall (not plexiglass).  I was pleasantly surprised that the cruise fare was about $80 lower than what showed on the HAL website.  Later on I noticed the website showed that exact price for oceanview.  It seemed too much of a coincidence especially since it’s an unusual dollar amount ($466).  I was wondering if anyone had anything similar happen.

Has anyone here been able to use a future cruise deposit on a cruise that embarked after the "Sail By" date for the FCD.  I have two, one expiring about 5-6 weeks before the cruise that I have booked.  I suppose HAL might be motivated to use the earlier one and not refund it, and therefore let me use it on a cruise after the Sail By date.

Group not on current list:

Zuiderdam : 15 December 2022 - 22 December 2022 : Cruise With A Mission

I'm not a participant, but found the group's info:

https://www.cye.org/get-involved/mission-trips/cruise-with-a-mission/

On 10/3/2022 at 10:14 AM, Sir PMP said:

The good old days:

 

 

 

People like to be outside in an unstructured area.  In other words, on a promenade deck.