Bentleg

Do you think I would be able to use the FCD against a cruise where the full payment is due? If I found a cruise 60 days out where I loved the itinerary, that could be the ultimate in combining the best price and still retaining OBC.

 

 

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Have never done it, but can't see why it could not be used as part payment. I would hang on it to it until the next time I booked. The reduced deposit is very useful. You have four years to use it and if you don't it wiil be refunded.

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If you are looking for the best deal, is it going to be 30-60-90 days from sailing? Or am I missing out on some even better deals available on board? I am looking for non-US, non-Caribbean itineraries but am fairly flexible with my dates and don’t care about my cabin assignment unless it is an amazing deal to upgrade.

 

FYI: For HAL, I have never booked onboard, or with a TA — only directly through the HAL website. I have never had a deal that includes OBC, but have taken advantage of discounted 3rd and 4th passengers or veranda upgrades.

 

Love to hear from you seasoned HAL cruisers.

Cheers.

 

 

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There is no simple answer to your question. Depending on how a cruise sells, the price can go up or down. There can be some excellent deals at short notice on some cruises, but these won't happen on cruises that sell well. If you want a particular itinerary best to book it as far ahead as you can, then watch the prices. If they fall before final payment date you can get the new price but you have to ask for it.

Booking on board can be done on a nominal deposit and attracts on board credits you might not get otherwise. When back home I then do all the price comparisons and if my agent can do a better price (which happens) I then move the booking to him, retaining the reduced deposit and on board credits for booking on board.

A while ago we could not get a balcony on six months notice on a once a year itinerary, so we booked (on board) for twelve months later. By the time we sailed the selling price for balconies had doubled. We also did a cruise in the Medit on two weeks notice at a fraction of the full price, although we were in a balcony right next to the outside lift on Zuiderdam (no privacy) but for what we paid it was fine.

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Sailing on the Westerdam over Christmas. We're never quite sure how much cash to take, and usually take more than we need. If we should find ourselves needing more cash, is it possible to get cash from our credit card on the ship?

You have no need for cash on the ship. To get more cash I am fairly sure you can get a cash advance on your shipboard account, although there may be a commission charge.

If I need more cash I use my debit card at an ATM when ashore. I use a debit card on my bank account as I don't wish to pay the cash advance interest rate that applies if I use my credit card.

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I googled and coudl nto find anything recent. Is the in room safe on Noordam keypad or do I need to bring an old card? TIA!

Noordam safe in 7055 had keypad.

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On the Prinsendam, cabins 030 to 037 are category SY and there are blocks of SS cabins both forward and aft of this SY block. Does anyone know why they are a lesser caregory? There doesn't appear to be noisy venues below or above. They are near the elevators, but it appears there are some SS just as near. if elevators are the answer, just how much of an issue are they? thanx

We have travelled in 036 and in 039, the elevators were not a problem, their proximity was very convenient. The bathroom in 039 was different to 036, no bath, instead a roll in shower with seat, as 039 is a disabled suite.

Have no idea why the classifications are different.

Can you get glass of wine in Neptune lounge

Yes.

Not sure what "s bar" is. There is a self service bar, payment by an honour system. There is a free drink reception on the first or second night.

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Just go ashore whenever you can, there are people at the tender landing offering tours. No need to book anything ahead or through the ship. In my opinion you do not need to do any tours, the site is easily negotiated, you will given a map on arrival and each feature is signposted and has a story board. You can do most of the site in a couple of hours.

(We have done it like this twice, one on Diamond Princess in 2016 and again on Carnival Spirit this year).

You have no worries about cleanliness and food quality on HAL Noordam. We had a Neptune suite and the service there is top shelf. The concierges (Glenn and Yvonne) in the Neptune lounge make a big difference. You will not be disappointed.

There is plenty to do, although I must add that the cruise directors staff have been cut so some activities like bowls, toss the bean bag and some of the games in the pool have disappeared. Did not worry us. The lectures, shows, bingo, trivia, computer workshop, cooking demos, bridge etc all continue. There are several choices of pre dinner music every night.

Enjoy!

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Has anyone been on Holland....this is our first.....we love Celebrity and hope this is close

We got of Noordam 22 Oct. Excellent. Many others have been on it too. Did you have a specific question?

Thank you for the info . I went to my HAL account . Where would I find the $100 that's supposedly in my account ? I can't find it .

From my experience credits such as this are not visible in the information you can access on-line.

There are two credit components when you book on board. There is a credit for pre-purchasing the deposit which you will retain for the next booking. If you actually book a cruise on board there is another component that only attaches to that booking. This you will lose. The amounts involved vary according to the amount of deposit you pre-paid and the length of the cruise you booked. As already said these amounts are shown on the documentation issued when you made the transactions on board.

You can only resolve your position by calling or emailing HAL.

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If you are dropped off inside the site itself - do you still have to buy an admission? Or is that covered as part of your cruise fare port fees?

No admission payable.

As already mentioned there are optional extras, but the main site has no extra charge for cruise ship passengers. People arriving by road pay admission.

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You can hear the captains announcement in your cabin. It is either the navigation channel or the bow cam channel. Emergency announcements go everywhere including through a speaker in your cabin, and there is no way to suppress it. The call for boat drill is usually piped through your cabin too.

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Yes in about a week after the cruise

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The Hal deposit is refundable if you don't use it. I would expect the refund to go back to the credit card originally charged, but have never got into this position.

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Aussies can do it too. I've had mine a few years, nice capital gain too. If you buy through an Aussie broker, watch out for the annual custody fee which in our case (NABTrade) can be dodged buy buying 10 more one year and selling 10 the next year.

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Thanks.

 

I am not mad, but I wanted to try Pinnacle Grill since its my first HAL cruise and I have read good reviews on PG.

 

 

 

Someone told me that there is a possibility to make a reservation to PG once onboard, ill try it.

 

 

 

Greetings from Mexico

You make a booking in Pinnacle grill on-line before you sail, or do it on board. Sometimes some dates can be popular so book ahead.

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That is if Port Arthur is a port. if you mean from Hobart it’s a few hours drive.

Port Arthur is a frequent stop on cruises. I would not call it a "port" as there is nothing else there apart from the historic site. Ships use tenders to get you ashore. Hobart is another place, the capital city of Tasmania.

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Red taxi's metered fare should run about $13 to $15, except at rush hour & in heavy traffic to Kowloon side of Star Ferry in TST.

 

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From Kai Tak cruise terminal to Star Ferry Tsim Sha Tsui, two fare calculators tell me it would cost HKD 135 to 140. Flag fall alone is $24. No way for $15 but you might be talking USD - strongly recommend you use local currency.

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Port Arthur is the historic site. There a number of features. All major features would be within 500 metres of the tender drop off.

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Thank you! :)... That is advice that I can act on. I booked my upcoming cruise with the same person who handled my last two. However, I have yet to use their online feedback system, so I may have been missing the opportunity to "motivate" him.

Travel agents prime motivation is commission. If you frequently travel business class he will be more motivated than if you occasionally travel coach. Same applies with cruises. If he can get big commission hits from you he will bend over backwards for you. Also some individuals are much better than others, so when you find a good one, stick to him. If you see a better price elsewhere ask him to match it, rather than swap around.

The big online agencies work on turnover and small margins so they may not be interested in stuffing around with upsell offers.

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I book almost every cruise on board to get the on board benefits, then switch it to my agent in return for some discount.

(If he did not give me something extra I would not switch it).

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Tough question and it depends on what you want.

 

 

 

If you are used to mini suites on Princess and like space, I think you will be happier in a Signature Suite. A lot of pluses between the bathrooms and space.

 

 

 

 

 

The balconies are about 50% bigger than a regular verandah so while 4164 & 66 are longer, you have a decent sized balcony.

 

 

 

 

 

Easy decision if it is just your cabin - Signature Suite.

 

 

 

 

 

But with two cabins, the question becomes - do you need to be beside each other? That will most likely not happen with your SZ assignment. If you don't need to be beside each other, I'd take the SZ offer.

I agree with all the quoted comment above. A signature suite is superior and worth taking. Yes you might lose adjoining cabins, but you might not.

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I have done the same and IMO, it's a good strategy.

 

 

 

It allows the TA to snatch the cabin right away if it's within your price range.

Good idea. It will only work if you get included in the upsell process in the first place.

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Luck is not involved in getting an upsell offer. What you need is a good travel agent or good PCC that will have your best interests at heart and will not hesitate to contact you immediately when they are informed of upsells being made available.

Agree. The other factor which helps in my experience is if you are American or Canadian.

I am Aussie and got my first upsell a couple of months ago even though we are five star with over 600 cruise days. I believe it happened because we complained last time when our American travelling companions of lesser status on the same cruise got an offer from Vista to Neptune while we sat in a Signature and heard nothing.

garon&arlene - what nationality are you?

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