singleflyer

Many AMEX Offers are targeted.  Meaning they have a profile on you based on your spending.  HAL then decides who they want to target.  It could be "target anyone that has never spent a dime on HAL".  Or "target anyone that has spent money in the past on Royal Caribbean".  Or "target anyone that has an Amex Business Platinum that has purchased at least three airline tickets in the past 6 months and has eaten out at least four times in the month of April".  

Yes, there is a limit to 100 offers.  In my experience, the cruise offers always go straight to the top and will bump down "lower" offers.  My guess is that is because cruise lines pay AMEX more to get their offers listed than say that strange hair care company you have never heard of.  So I doubt adding a bunch of offers is going to reveal the HAL offer.  If you find otherwise with this offer, please report back.

Sailing 6 weeks from today on Oosterdam.  Just got an email offering upgrade from Signature Suite to Neptune Suite for $749 per person on a 14 day sailing.  

Called and was told there are not upgrades available... Not sure why they would send us the email saying there was!  I was able to get on a waitlist.  It looks like our sailing is listed as sold out online, so maybe they just send that upgrade offer out to everyone even if there isn't space available.  

Had already purchased Club Orange ($210 per person) and laundry ($147 for the room), so assuming I could remove those, that would mean it would only be $466 per person for the upgrade.

Anyone yet tried purchasing on board credit in advance of their cruise to see if it triggers?  

Nearly double the cost as last summer, but still a good deal.  Especially with some of the transfer bonuses available.

19 hours ago, Oren said:

Check out the Port of Los Angeles Starting March/April 2026 Calendar for the possible secret answer to this mystery:

https://artifacts.portsamerica.com//wbct/pdf/2026-la-calendar.pdf

Moving on to Seattle for Alaska season on May 3, 2026...

16 hours ago, rcs931 said:

Note Pinnacle lunches are not listed in the daily program, so we missed all of them. Our fault, not well enough informed. 

Going to be on the Oosterdam this July.  Are Pinnacle lunches an up-charge or included?  What exactly is a Pinnacle lunch?

Scenario: Two adults sailing in the same stateroom.  Neither wants either of the alcohol packages.  

If one passenger wants Quench or Unlimited Coca Cola Package, do both have to get it?

There is conflicting info on the page.  The top part makes it seem like only if an alcohol package is booked do both people have to book it.  But then down below it says that all guests must book it.  

When I go to actually book it, it gives me the option to book for just one passenger, where if booking the alcohol package it forces me to book a package for both.  This makes me think I can book for just one passenger.  

1 hour ago, AV8rix said:

Hi neighbor.  No, that's on her.  They ALWAYS make announcements of the absolute deadline when you must cash in your chips or whatever it is the slot players have to do to redeem their cash.  No excuse for missing the announced cutoff time.

Hey neighbor!  I don't know the full story; what she said is that the casino was unexpectedly closed on the last night of the cruise (maybe an IT problem or a delay leaving the port?).  Definitely could have been on her -- don't know the full story.

I would also recommend you cash out most of your money at least two days before the end of the sailing.  I spoke to a passenger that didn't do that on a previous cruise; only to have the casino not open the final night and her money was "stuck" in the casino.  She had to fill out a bunch of paperwork online and is still waiting 6 months later to get a check.  

11 hours ago, Zippercat said:

You do have to have the cup to use the Freestyle machine.  I presume it reads a chip in the bottom of the cup?  
 

The cups are insulated so your ice lasts longer, which is nice.  I agree they’re a pain to lug about sometimes.
 

But on our Rotterdam cruise March 2023 the Freestyle machine only worked with Diet Coke for a few hours of the 10 days we were onboard.  We were sailing with friends who usually sail Royal Caribbean (their first HAL cruise) and they said the newer RC ships -known as “Apartment Buildings of the Seas” by some folks- have multiple Freestyle machines and almost always worked. 

Since the Freestyle machines were broken (and then removed completely half way into the cruise), there was no need to have the plastic cup at any time on my sailing.  Instead I just showed my "Coke" sticker on my room key and was given soda at the bars.  I did sometimes use my Coke cup, but often the bartenders wouldn't serve the drink in the plastic cup (probably because of germs) and instead would pour it in a fresh glass and have me pour it into the plastic Coke cup if I wanted to do so.  

I agree, if there were Freestyle machines all over the ship (or at least Lido and Promenade decks), it would be much better (and I would have carried around my cup).  I'm guessing you are right, there is probably a chip in the bottom of the cup.  I've seen much smaller Freestyle machines now so they could place them around the ship without it being an eyesore.  

Check out Cedarbrook Lodge if you want to stay by the airport.  

Some of the Verandah rooms on Deck 4 have the extra large balcony; if that's your thing...

I was in Stateroom 4034 last week.  https://singleflyer.com/2024/04/06/hal-koningsdam-verandah-vb-stateroom-review/

West Coast, Best Coast!

On 12/17/2023 at 8:59 PM, KAKcruiser said:

Isn't it annoying to have to walk around with a special cup all the time?  

You don't have to carry the cup.  You get a "Coke" sticker on your keycard and can show it at any bar to get a soda of your choice (from the "gun", not cans). 

On Koningsdam now.  This morning they removed the Coke Freestyle machines (that hadn't worked at all this trip... or probably most any other sailing).  Bar tender told me they were sending them back to Coke... Not sure what that means!  

I'm curious why Oosterdam is in last.  I have a sailing on the Oosterdam coming up... is it really the worst ship?

The officer in the blue is unprofessional.   

Random question.  Have you seen people using the Coke "Freestyle" self service machines?  I'll be on Kdam later this month and wondering if they are working.

2 hours ago, kazu said:

 

there is a priority line for CO if you have open/anytime dining (not fixed).  I didn’t see a special area.  I had CO by nature of a Neptune Suite on my last O cruise, had fixed and sat at the table I expected.  It was fine with me.  On a ship like the O, all that counts is the chance of an upgrade at no cost, the special line up at guest services, the special line up at at the MDR for open dining and if you are not 4/5*, the priority embarkation, tender, etc.

Thanks.  Yeah, it was worth it for me to get a better room (not under Lido and with a larger balcony).  Figure anything else is icing on the cake.

Can anyone share how Club Orange in the Main Dining Room works?  Is there a separate area?

This was on my cruise on Nieuw Statendam in July.  Not sure why this is "news" -- I'm guessing because it is expanding to more ships?

Seems like they are trying to follow Holland America's lead with Club Orange, but more expensive and not as good of perks...

Going Club Orange on Oosterdam this summer.

I did CO on Nieuw Statendam and really liked it.  But not sure how it will be on the smaller ship with no CO dining room.  

Any recent experiences with CO on Oosterdam?  Particularly when it comes to the Main Dining Room (and/or Room Service)?

I think it is especially worth if if you book a "guarantee" level room (cheapest in the category) and then get to upgrade to the top level room.  Can save you a lot of money. 

Plus love the dining in the special restaurant.  Much better service than in the dining room.  

I just booked another cruise today and added Club Orange.

https://singleflyer.com/2023/08/07/holland-americas-club-orange-explained/

1 hour ago, hcat said:

thanks for photos..even more dorm like than X.  No bathroom door is awful..but the  shower doors are nice!

On the standard balcony rooms there is a true door on the bathroom and then a glass door on the shower.