VermeulT

17 hours ago, roxybear135 said:

We thought the cost of club orange was worth it for the room upgrade alone, but it's really up to you as to whether you think it's worth the cost or not

I just posted about this.  My PCC booked us in the lowest Vista cabin category, added Club Orange for $150/pp for our 7 day cruise and the we chose any 'A' category cabin that was available.

Not only did this get us a better cabin, but it used all our FCC which we couldn't have gotten through other means.

I love my PCC.  I have to book a cruise using my FCC before the year is out.  My sister just starting working at a preschool so her schedule next year is limited and I will be moving south next year so summer is out for me.  The two cruises we were looking at had private sale rates.  We'd either have to take a Vista Suite without perks or verandah guarantee leaving like $50 pp credits to waste. My sister doesn't drink so I was torn which way to go.  She suggested adding Club Orange, which would give us a choice of any available cabin in the category and the other Club perks and would need very little out of pocket.... something I would have never thought of! 

So after about 3 years - I'll finally be back on board!

My first adult cruise was NCL to Bermuda... from NY. HAL has done Bermuda from Boston... I'd love to go back... I'd prefer to leave from NY. but beggars can't be choosers, right?

Hubby paid for expedited processing and return shipping (hoping to do a land vacation in Nov for my 50th)... he got his just got his back in (7 weeks.)

15 hours ago, Crew News said:

The 14-day for Alaska 2022 was added just a few days ago.  First cruise is 9-11 and repeats on 9/25 on the Nieuw Amsterdam.  I have already started a roll call for the first cruise.

 

Similar to Ms Zaandam cruise I took in 2019.  Deleted Homer and ISP, added Prince Rupert and Valdez.

OOOOHHHHHH!!!!  and I love that it leaves from Vancouver!

17 minutes ago, JeanieCM said:

 I hadn't realized that the platinum insurance was non-refundable, even if the cruise was canceled before final payment, but could live with that...*except* that I honestly feel, in this case, that money should be refunded to us as my husband medically requires the portable concentrator.  I do have a call in to our TA to see if HAL would be willing to extend any grace with that.  (Not criticizing their decision to not allow POC's,  I get it, but we'd paid the insurance money before this change was enacted.)

 

IMO they should refund it.  THEY are cancelling your cruise. You didn't initiate it.  Like you I kind of get them restricting people that need POC due to higher risk and "for the greater good" but ... they're denying you a refund of what you paid because of your [husband's] disability.

On 8/3/2021 at 4:23 PM, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

  I am sadly doubtful the 14 day from Seattle or Vancouver will return for 2023.

Unfortunate. I think it was an itinerary that made HAL stand out.  I'd take it again in a heartbeat.

IMO the 72 hour tests are meaningless.  If I get a test in CT within 72 hours of boarding - I'm still going through an airport, on a plane, through another airport, and spending a night in a hotel in my depart port city.  TONS of ways to pick up some spores of the virus before I board.
Even if you test me as I sit in the terminal - those spores I just picked up haven't been in my system long enough to register on a PCR test.

I'm on the fence.  I want to cruise SO SO badly, but the extra steps and stress might not be worth it. As @agathasmum said - "This is not the relaxing cruise vacation I had hoped it would be."

This is on their facebook page as of this morning.

posted on Facebook:

On 4/16/2021 at 2:34 PM, mcrcruiser said:

imo buying gift cards is like buying CCL stock tight now  .There is no way of telling how successful cruising will be or not be  this year .There is a  financial risk  to be seen  .My question is why is HAL doing this when cruise prices are rising ?

Cash Flow.  They want/need money coming in.

On 4/17/2021 at 8:08 PM, kapitch said:

I am confused as to why using HAL gift cards to pay for a cruise would void credit card trip cancellation insurance if payments had already been made using the credit card.  Where can this be verified?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Kathy

I've had a similar issue with a discounts from work site... I got 6% off a gift card for Delta flights, but I couldn't use points from my credit card toward the gift card.  The transaction is coded as a gift card not the product the gift card is for.

I imagine the same sort of issue is with these HAL Gift Cards and trip protection.

The work around might be to not pay for the cruise in it's entirety with gift cards, and put some value on the credit card directly.

24 minutes ago, kazu said:

For domestic flights in North America, I haven’t seen much difference.  The prime advantage in that scenario becomes that you don’t have to pay for the flight until final payment.  In these covid times with cancellations, changed itineraries, etc that can be a good advantage 😉 

This right now is HUGE.

15 hours ago, ShipWalker said:

I'll be riding the Amtrak rails back and forth across the country this spring/summer just to go somewhere until HAL ships start sailing again. (hopefully by August 31st. 😁)

Love this!

58 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Restricted has to be paid for up front and is subject to cancellation fees up to 100% of the cost of the air fare.  From HAL’s Flight Ease page

 

 

 

That's what I thought.

3 hours ago, Mary229 said:

Yes they do drop and you can change them until final payment. 

Do you need to pick flexible fares for that or can you change with restricted too?

@YXU AC*SE You are THE BEST!

Thank you so very very much.

I am working on my scrapbook for my 2015 Alaska cruise.  I am looking for the map that shows the route for the 14 day Statendam itinerary.  It doesn't need to be specifically for the dates of my cruise... the map was the same for all of them.

If you happen to have one - would you consider mailing it to me? I will compensate you.

Thank you.

I was booked for the 14 day Statendam for Aug 2020.  Then booked for Aug 2021.  Then booked for May 2021 on the Koningsdam/Oosterdam (Vancouver round trip/ Seattle round trip) DIY back to back.

Now I'm booked for New Year's in the Caribbean. 

If you're using cruise credits and want to try - go for it... book again in late summer.  But know it's very likely not going to happen.

My PCC said smoothies etc are covered too.  Where does one get those?  I've never tried before.

Thank you all for this thread.

Since Alaska has now been cancelled 3 times for me between last year and this year - I decided to book another New Year's trip and will consider a land trip in Alaska for this summer.

I have enough credits to cover half the New Year's cruise... with the beverage/wifi promotion.  Plus we have $600 OBC banked.  I'll add another $100 in OBC from stock.

My sister is going to get a gift card for $500.  With the 10% bonus and applied to pre-pay part of the remaining fare - she'll get another $125 OBC.  Guys... I don't think anyone has spelled this out... for $500 you end up with a $675 value.  Where else today will you get 30% return on your money?  Especially (if all goes well) in less than a year?

So we'll have $825 in OBC and the full drink package.  Hello spa!!!!

19 hours ago, zelker said:

 

What do you mean by DIY B2B? 

one week on Koningsdam out of Vancouver (Sat-Sat) followed by one week on Oosterdam out of Seatte (Sun-Sun)

17 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

 

Interesting how they are pushing for a PVSA waiver.  Might be too little too late though.  The cruise lines are already canceling and refunding passengers.

I have 2 cruises for Alaska in late May... DIY back to back.  I have heard of neither being cancelled, yet.  I expect it mind you... even before this latest news came out.

Only ship sponsored excursions wouldn't be a deal breaker per se.... I might choose to not go ashore.  I'd have to see offerings &/or pricing for the itinerary.  I'm not paying $79/pp for a ride to a beach...