shadow 123

On 6/3/2024 at 10:35 AM, rcrabb1513 said:

FYI - I bought the HAL gift cards through AARP and got a 10% discount, i.e. a $500 card was $450.  I needed 2 more cards to cover the HAL cruises booked for 2025 and the discount was reduced to 8%.

I don't understand. You can get 5 $500 gift cards a month from AARP and get the 10% discount. 

Where you trying to order a sixth one?

54 minutes ago, jlawrence01 said:

I saw that last week as it was a major discussion in the videos on YouTube.

 

I would add one more warning.  Realize that if you post on a roll call that you will be on a particular cruise on a particular date - something that I have been guilty of, you are informing everyone that you are away from home during the duration of the cruise.

 

Fortunately, our pet pit bull cannot come with us on the cruise ... and she loves visitors.😁

I leave 2 grown sons and a husband at home, what I like to call human pitbulls!

18 hours ago, SEA58 said:

Sounds like a possibility for us and hadn't thought about trying room service that early in the cruise.  Thanks!

Yeah thanks for that. I never thought of this either

32 minutes ago, AV8rix said:

Yeah, but they weren't transitioned, were they?  The CCL IT folks were umm, "transitioned" to Capgemini just long enough (about 6 mos or so) to teach the offshore coders their jobs, then were jettisoned.

So sad. But that seems to be the way of the world now.

5 hours ago, clueless2 said:

 

Or if we go way way bach, "Sarah, get me Juanita down at the diner."

I love it

23 minutes ago, KAKcruiser said:

I remember two letters and one digit and then four more digits like tu4-8123.

 You're right! We were AT4 and then 4 digits. How about 2 party lines?  Do you remember them ?

18 hours ago, HappyInVan said:

Guys,

 

I'm not an IT person. But, I'll offer a few comments on the functional areas. Please contribute if you have IT experience.

 

These days, the company's IT functions are dispersed among service providers and specialist contractors. First, the telecoms industry provides the gateway between the customers and the company. Problems here may cause slow response times.

 

Occasionally, the service provider is disabled. Pretty obvious since all users are disabled.

 

Second, customer information (profile, orders, history) is stored with a database company Google Cloud etc provides secure and high speed services. Occasionally, disruptions here result in missing data. “What happened to my bookings?”

 

Third, a multitude of vendors provide essential and additional services to handle your queries and transactions. The sales vendor maintains the price list and tracks the discounts and special offers. The payment vendor handles the $$$$. Then, there are the vendors that analyses the data into reports for the Management Information System.

 

Problems occur frequently in this area because of the amount of data exchange between multiple vendors. “My fault???? It's your fault!!!”

 

The security vendor is usually invisible, until someone hacks the company. Then, a chunk of the company's customer base shows up on the dark web. The amount of data stolen will reflect how much or little the company paid for IT security.

 

Then, there are the vendors running the company's app. Definite under-funding here, because most cruise app have limited functionality or under-perform.

 

Frankly, the problem presently by this thread's OP is confusing. The database used by the online service appears to be corrupted. The app reports the correct period to embarkation, but onboard bookings are missing? Frankly, I'm surprised by the persistent of data corruption for a company of this size.

 

In the end, the company sets spending priorities. Customers experiences the lapses and confidence is lost in the prolific offenders. Blame HAL management, not the CSR. To be fair, the online experience could be better if there were enough money from higher fares.

 

For the better companies, they acknowledge the problem. "Sorry, we're experiencing technical difficulties. Please come back later to access your bookings." They don't leave the customer confused and anxious.

 

Probably dating myself but I remember when every company,  especially a fortune 500 company, had their own IT department on site

On 5/26/2024 at 12:05 PM, ChinaShrek said:

Some people think HAL is going out of business this year but there is no evidence to support this idea.

I hate to be the 1 to say this but I wouldn't be surprised if they did go out of business. I'd hate to see it, but it wouldn't shock me. Sometimes I wonder how they stay in business. I am  a loyal  customer. Actually since 2017 I really only travel with Holland America. I like the line I like the crew.

I worked in a call center I can tell when someone has been trained. I do not believe they're getting the proper training. And their IT department is a mess

On 5/25/2024 at 2:16 AM, REOVA said:

Actually we only had 4 digits (before they went to 7) on grandma's phone 😉

I'm old enough to remember that. There were 3 letters preceding the 4 digits.  I'm also a telephone company retiree

11 hours ago, rsans93 said:

Hi, this is the first time my family and I are cruising with Holland America. We're traveling to Iceland on the Nieuw Statendam next week and I'm contemplating whether or not to get the Have it All Package while it's on a "discount". Would you say it's worth it? Also, I know for the internet, it allows web surfing, emails, news & sports apps. Messaging apps (audio/video features not supported) - but will Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and Snapchat work? If anyone has experienced using these specific apps already on the cruises before with this package/internet option, please let me know as it'll help me really decide what package to get. 

 

Thank you!

As mentioned by others, it depends how you going to use it. I don't drink alcohol so that really doesn't benefit me. I do like it for coffees and sodas. The excursions I really wouldn't get it just for that. I do get the have it all package  ,depending on the length of the cruise,because I like to have the internet  and I like the prepaid gratuity. $300  for excursions  Is a plus. If I never had the dinners I would be just fine. That's just my humble opinion.

On 5/7/2024 at 11:08 AM, POA1 said:

You can get distilled water for $2.95/gallon if you want water with nothing whatsoever in it. It is intended for CPAP users, but it's on the beverage preorder list. Take a reusable cup or bottle and you are all set.

 I buy it for my machine and it's only $2.95 a gallon. I think that's reasonable considering where you are.

3 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

Thanks for starting this thread @Copper10-8 - I am grateful for all who made the ultimate sacrifice so I can enjoy my freedom.🇺🇸

So beautifully said

8 hours ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

"Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices." — Harry S. Truman, 33^rd U.S. President, 1945

 

Amen Amen Amen!

11 hours ago, JVes said:

It took me years to accept that yes, I need help. Maybe even decades. Even now, I hate it. I hate it so very very much that it's a constant scream in the back of my mind. I rage against my body, sometimes quite literally screaming into my pillow.

Shadow, I'm glad you took the courage to post that. I don't have answers. All I can tell you is that it's normal to grieve your former freedom and what your body used to be able to do.

 

 

Thank you. I keep telling myself that pain at my age is normal. That what I'm going through now is just part of the process. I have to accept it but doesn't mean I have to be thrilled about it. But the upside is we're still here and we're still upright so good for us! Bless you 

Therein lies the problem,, asking for help. I don't think it's so much that I  do not want to bother anyone It's that I hate to think that I need help! It's very difficult for me to accept I'm not who I used to be. I'm not ready to give up but I'm very uncomfortable with being unstable mobility wise , with not being able to do the things I used to do comfortably. It really changed my life.

I envy older people who run up and down the stairs on cruise ships. I used to be able to run up and down the stairs

 With me, it's mostly the pain and the stability issues.. The walking. I can't walk as far or as long as I used to but I do it. I hate trudging along but I do it. Of course I have the Rollator!

12 hours ago, afdds said:

Never thought about that.  The representative was trying to tell me it was something I did.  He kept saying there was a pull down tab for either Main Dinning Room or Cabin delivery.  And for the longest time he was trying to switch my reservation to the Cabin instead of the Main Dining Room.  It took awhile for us to get on the same page that NO I wanted the actual restrauant, which is what I assumed I was receiving.  Of course, I can't check on this tab because I have already made the reservation.  I can however, go into our 2025 cruise once the reservations open and see if there is such a tab that exists.  I know there was no such tab on the first day they opened their books.

I've been sailing with Holland America for quite a while now and I have never seen a drop down tab giving you the option of having the dinner in the main dining room. Never.  Can't imagine why you'd want to

When I started this thread it was because I could not get the AARP benefit combined with my travel agent benefit. However, I changed travel agents for my cruise next year and I got both.. I got the new travel agent on board credit and the AARP obc. Like I said before....go figure.

And..... Some of you may think this is mean and I'm sorry if you do but for my cruise that the travel agent benefits and the AARP benefits couldn't be combined, well I had that transferred to a different travel agent and everything was combined.

Ps .. I could transfer the cruise over because it was within the 30 days.

2 hours ago, Sea42 said:

Our TA send us a statement that includes this information:

Includes: "Have It All" Perks.

Includes: Club Orange Upgrade - VC stateroom at VH rates.

Includes: $100 OBC Military Benefit

Includes: $100 OBC from Group Program

Includes: $1000 OBC as our gift (added prior to sailing).

Total OBC - $1200 per stateroom.

That's exactly how I see my onboard credits from my new travel agent. However, when I called in to Holland America and asked if they could see all of those onboard credits they told me no. The only onboard credits they could see were the ones they gave me directly. Actually,  I'm glad to see this because it was new to me and I didn't know how to feel about that.

10 hours ago, ScottishMaid said:

I booked two cruises back to back through a TA for August. I called HAL reservations today to follow up on the AARP benefit and the Educator/teacher benefit.

The agent said I already had an AARP benefit for a July cruise and I needed to reapply for the benefit for the August cruises. If I make dummy bookings for the cruises it shows I qualify for the benefit. Thoughts?

 

For the teacher benefit she said it can only be applied to one cruise so it's been applied to the first but not the second. I get the impression she's saying it can only be used once. It doesn't say that on HAL's information page. Anyone have experience with this?

I think the agents make it up as they go along

1 hour ago, kazu said:

Happy Hump Day everyone and thanks to Rich, Vanessa, Debbie, Dixie & Ann.

 

Sorry I haven’t been posting but I don’t have a lot of good things to say.  The drugs and pain and effort to walk make me very tired and it is hard for me to keep up with the Daily.  I’m on my last day of antibiotics and while there has been some improvement I can barely stand to put my foot in the softest shoe I own.  My foot nurse has given me a merino wool thing that makes it easier to walk on my hardwood floors and helps protect the foot.

 

X-Ray was done on Thursday and so far, I haven’t heard anything.  It was marked urgent by my FP so hopefully soon on the bone infection or what they see?   I have an appointment with the vascular surgeon next Tuesday.  Should be fun trying to drive there if the foot hasn’t improved.

 

I can’t walk Ivan obviously - but he is getting walked daily.  Ca-Ching - $$$$.  here he is motoring let full out (probably so she could get the pic). 

 

 

 

He’s doing 3 - 5 kms per day.  Hard to believe this is the same dog that could only be walked for 10 minutes 3 times a day when I first got him!  he’ll probably be sad when I start walking him again - LOL.

 

@marshhawk Annie I am so sorry to hear how things have turned out for Chuck and for you.  My prayers are with you both 🙏

 

Prayers for those on the Care list and all who need them.  Cheers to those celebrating.

 

 

Hope you feel better soon

3 hours ago, seagarsmoker said:

Good morning Dailyites and thank you for the Daily Report.

Sorry I didn't post yesterday. I had internet issues from the t-storms in the morning, then I played "catch-up" the rest of the day at work. 

I hope everyone here has a wonderful day! 

This is why we do it

10 minutes ago, Horizon chaser 1957 said:

Go down to the main stage, or wherever the excursions check in, really early when the first tours are checking in. Tell the excursion person on the check in desk, and they’ll cross you off the list for that tour. Once in a blue moon you can get on a sold out excursion the same way being Johnny on the spot for a ‘morning of’ cancellation but don’t count on it. 

That is great advice and I thank you for it. But sometimes I'm just not feeling well enough to do that. I am a woman of a certain age. Ty

Hello fellow cruises.

How do you cancel a shore excursion either the night before or the morning of. I've had problems with this. Please be advised this has nothing to do with a refund. Has nothing to do with money at all. I just hate the thought of people waiting for me when I'm not going to be there. I don't want to hold up the bus......

1 time I knew the night before I wasn't feeling well and I wouldn't make the excursion the next day. Of course no 1 was at the excursion desk. There was no voicemail, I had no email  address so I called the front desk. I explained my situation that I wouldn't be making the excursion and the excursion desk was closed. The representative at the front desk told me they would notify the excursion people. That was never done. I hate to repeat myself but I felt terrible thinking that people were waiting on a bus for me and I  wasn't going. On another occasion,,,, It was about 2 hours before the excursion was about to begin. Again, no 1 was at the excursion desk it was too early. I tried to call later  but they were all out with the excursion. So I really don't know how to cancel an excursion.

There must be a way and I'm sure someone out there knows it. I'd appreciate the help. Thanks

Ps.. If there's another thread out there I should be looking at please let me know.

On 5/7/2024 at 5:59 PM, Laminator said:

Here are the ships you can and can not smoke in the casino. 

Thanks so much for the information.

On 5/7/2024 at 10:09 AM, oaktreerb said:

We do our best to avoid the casino area because of the smoke.

I agree. I hate walking by the casino. Although,  I thought they had nights where there was no smoking in the casino.