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Thanks for sharing this information. I will try both Mariner #'s in the future. We are both 2 Star but 15 plus years difference in age.

They seem to use the non refundable OBC first, and that's typically from sales and Holland America promos. I guess you'd have to ask the TA if their OBC was refundable or not. I do know that everything you buy yourself or that you are given as gifts from friends is fully refundable.

Yes that is how I understand it - non refundable OBC is used first. I don't have experience with OBC from American Express. I appreciate you commenting. Thanks!

We recently had a lot of shipboard credit. We didn't buy any onboard credit.

The shipboard credit was part from HAL from a cruise that we had booked and was cancelled by HAL. The rest came owning stock, American Express and our TA.

At the end of the cruise, we did have some shipboard credit left and it was credited to my credit card.

Very interesting. Do you think it was only the unspent OBC from your TA?

I can certainly see doing it for budgeting purposes, or as a currency hedge for our Canadian friends.

This certainly is a consideration for Canadians.

I agree. If I'm going to do anything ahead it would be to put money in my usd account. Different people, different ways of doing things. I'm seriously not going to get bent if someone does something differently than I do.

This is what I do too. Agree with your comments.

Have a great time on your partial Panama Canal cruise TexasBalletLover.

We prebooked with HAL this morning and finished the booking this afternoon with our travel agent. To Eastern Carribean. HAL discussed with me at length and read the information to me and then sent me an attachment and link to accept that we understood. She discussed at length our daughter being 22 and of child bearing years. This afternoon the new alert came out and travel agent called and asked us to discuss and think about with our daughter before he finished the booking. We decided to move forward and book but they discussed it over and over with us. They are very aware of the situation

 

 

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It' so interesting to hear about individual experiences with how HAL is dealing with this so thanks. We hope you love the Ms Westerdam as much as we did.

I'm so excited I can't focus today. Haha [emoji3]

 

 

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Your excitement is palpable and infectious. Happy dance.

Congrats! Looking forward to your picture review.

Just another wonderful and information packed post after another and so easy and fun to read. THANK YOU! What a remarkable itinerary and trip! Thanks again for letting us sail along.

Anyone sailing in the next 1-2 months get a notice from HAL regarding the Zika Virus. We received a notice from Princess.

See the link if you would like information about the Zika Virus.http://www.kcra.com/health/who-leader-zika-virus-spreading-explosively/37682662

Some friends were in 8099 (same slanted cabin on the starboard side) once and loved the space. If the ship is moving, there is a "wind" and the angled part of your balcony will catch it. You should have some calm at the bow end of your balcony due to the partition. The only balconies with no "wind" are those on the stern.:)

 

Perhaps, (depending on the temperature and "wind chill") when you aren't comfortable outside, you can move your chairs near the door for balcony viewing and just put your luggage under the beds.:):)

 

The views, while in port will be extensive and especially enjoyable if it's sunny.

 

Enjoy Alaska!

 

Cheers!

We were in SY 8099 (starboard side) on the Westerdam to Alaska (RT Seattle). When it was too windy or rainy we used the part of the balcony that was near the cabin partition forward. We loved the extra balcony and cabin space and having the slant/angle.

I really appreciate the ship information you share in all of your posts. The changes will be completed on the Eurodam prior to our voyage.

Following along on your website. Just a fabulous job packed with information and some great pix, etc.

Thank you for the information.

The processing occurred before I got the response from you and talking with the second specialist after reading the post by Smokesmom. The responses conflicted with what I was told by the Redemption specialists (see my reference about the coupon). My response to your post was 11 minutes after your post and it describes what had already occurred. Did you miss that post? All's well that ends well.

This is what two of us tried to tell you.

The processing occurred before I got the response from you and Smokesmom. Your responses conflicted with what I was told by the Redemption specialists (see my reference about the coupon). My response to your post was 11 minutes after your instruction and it describes what had already occurred. Did you miss that post?

Just got off the phone with a manager from Barclays Visa HAL Rewards Card who confirmed that I received wrong information from the Redemption Specialist who also processed my rewards redemption incorrectly. The manager also stated:

***Card holders may also contact 877 Sail HAL (877 724-5425) for additional details regarding redemption of a cruise discount (or other options). The Barclays Redemption Specialists at 866 922-7663 are generalists and rules are different among the cards they answer calls for. You can ask them to talk with a HAL card specialist to confirm details.

***Wait until after final payment has been posted to your card before processing a rewards redemption. You will receive an e-mail confirmation when you complete the redemption process. For *Cruise Discount* requests, after processing is finalized your credit card balance will be adjusted (reduced) by the amount of your dollar amount awarded.

I, too, have twice redeemed 40,000 points for a $500 credit toward a HAL cruise. Very easy to do.

 

I coordinate the redemption date and the final payment date. When final payment is due, I authorize my TA to pay the bill, as a charge to HAL on my HAL Visa card. Then, when the bill with the charge is to be paid, I redeem the points, subtract the $500 from the amount due on my card that month, and pay the difference.

 

I could redeem the points any time after the final cruise bill has been charged, so long as it's done by the time I write the check to Barclay card.

 

Don't make this more complicated than it needs to be.

I told both specialists I had a final payment coming up early next month and wanted to redeem my points for a discount off the final payment amount. I asked them to describe how this is done. They said it needed to be processed as a cruise discount and the last one processed it for me saying the discount would be subtracted from my final payment when it was made. They did not instruct me to wait until after I made final payment and then how at that time to subtract the amount due on my card. I will see when I get it in the mail but the "coupon" may be a gift certificate. I hope I can hold the "coupon/certificate" until after final payment and it can be subtracted when I go to pay off the balance. :)

I've used points to get a $500 cruise discount on 2 different cruises. Each time it was after final payment of the cruise. About 7 business days after I submitted the information, I received a $500 credit on my HAL visa bill. Very easy.

I dealt with two different representatives both who said I would get a coupon in the mail. Do I phone in the coupon/confirmation number after final payment? They said I would give the coupon to HAL when on board which does not sound correct. Does it matter if you booked with HAL vs a travel agent? Below is the information that came in the e-mail; appears to be processed as a gift certificate.

Please review this information carefully.

By agreeing to and confirming your redemption, xx,xxx points will be deducted from your Holland America Rewards account - agreed to and confirmed your redemption. Redemption transactions are non-refundable/non-changeable/non-transferable.

Gift Cards/Certificates cannot be combined with any type of coupon, voucher, or other certificates. Gift Cards/Certificates are not valid on previous purchases. Please allow 7-10 business days for processing.

The HAL rewards card details state that one option is to use your points toward a cruise discount. We are only interested in using the card for this purpose. For those who have experience with the process, will you please comment about how it works. I walked through adding the points and discount and all the other information but did not finish the processing. I want to know if it comes off the credit card balance or you are sent a coupon. If sent a coupon do you give the confirmation number to your travel agent at time of final payment and the discount is applied?

Thanks so much for answering my concerns/questions.

Has anyone in a suite taken advantage of the "complimentary cover charge for one of the speciality restaurants on embarkation evening" with no issues? Do you let them know you are in a suite when you make your reservation (upon boarding)? Is this amenity available on the Crown Princess?

I wouldn't know whether or not there's a formal system for reviewing the passengers, but I am -dam ;) sure there's a bush system going on.

 

I have boarded a ship, and gone for service somewhere, and been treated like a queen right off the bat. Other stewards have seen it, and been right there for me, too.

Love it. :D

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It depends - if the cabin is a Vista or Signature (or Neptune) it is considered a suite, although many people would call it a balcony. Which ship and which category are you looking at?

Mollyanne stated for a balcony (aka veranda). Is it $50 per person OBC? We received $100 for 2 persons for a Signature or Vista Suite.

ZPM is correct. ZPN I think is for Alaska cruise/tours.

 

Here is the details on OBC (just from the ZPM code):

 

Interior & Oceanview Cabins - $25 for up to 10 days, $50 for 11-21 day cruises.

Veranda Cabins - $50 for up to 10 days, $75 for 11-21 day cruises.

Suites (Vista/Signature/Neptune) - $50 for up to 10 days, $100 for 11-21 days.

For a balcony it is $50 per person (or $100)? correct?