Sun&Sand52

20 hours ago, Blackduck59 said:

Still no word from @margar as to just how long these 9 cruises were on "courtesy hold" before the one she apparently was going to book got cancelled. I mentioned this in the $1.00 deposit thread, I would hope and I do believe that the vast majority of cruisers book cruises they intend to take. But then there are those few that book a whole bunch of cruises and tie up those cabins with a $1.00 deposit, and they have no intension of going on all or even any of them. They may view themselves as "clever", others think of them as selfish and rude; and some will think I am rude for pointing this out.

Hello again - Original poster here…. Just checked back and saw this.  I would like to clear something up and that is that the cruises were on hold for only 2 days when the PCC canceled this one particular cruise.  I do not consider 2 days to be a long time frame for something to be on hold.  And just to repeat, this was a simple “courtesy hold”, NOT a cruise where a deposit ($2.00 or otherwise) was made.  Just a simple “hold”.  In addition, as mentioned previously in this thread, this cruise that the PCC canceled was a sailing all the way out in the spring of 2025.

POA1 that is a strategy that I would love to employ upon retirement!  Sometimes it might be cheaper as you said.👍🏻

11 hours ago, IAcruising said:

 

... and that sucks, big time. Please don't do that.

 

 

I personally did not do that.  No deposit money was given.  Mine were simply was on a courtesy hold. HAL allows you to put cabins on a courtesy hold, as do all cruise lines.  

But again, just to be clear…. Mine were only “holds” NOT put on a deposit.  No money handed over to HAL that would cause the cabin to be out of inventory until final payment.

And to all who celebrate may it be a very sweet New Year!! 😊

16 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

I am confused.  Did yu pay the deposit?  The whole $1 for each one?
 

if you did, it’s not a courtesy hold.  They die automatically in a certain time.  I think it’s 7 days?
 

If you made a deposit, it’s a booking, not a courtesy hold.

one thing I hate about the $1 sales is that people book cruises they are not going to take and tie up cabins until the last minute.  9 cruises?  If you are going on them all well and good but maybe that is why you were “red flagged”.  

Kazu:  No.  I did not pay any money for the cruises I was considering.  No deposit was paid. 

They were just on a hold.  Which will / should normally fall off by itself if the deposit is not paid for within x amount of days.  

Yes, I was guilty of putting several cruises on hold (Not a deposit - no money paid) as I was considering various days due to work schedules, family holidays, etc.  So I was trying to take advantage of the $1.00 hold for something that might work with our future schedules.  I know - I probably got carried away with future planing!  🫢. They were several cruises that I was considering at different times of the year.  

I do wish that HAL had some type of a "cancel hold" button on the website so that we could delete holds that are not going to work for schedules.  That would make life easier for everyone.

1 hour ago, kazu said:

 

Careful - you made a deposit not a courtesy hold.

 

there is a difference IF you want to complain.  

Interesting - I had made a "Courtesy Hold" on each of the bookings.  No deposits.  No money was given, they were just put on hold when I was booking online.  No money passed over to HAL.  Was still in the process of deciding on dates and cruises. 

So is that better that they were on "Courtesy Hold" if I would like to complain to HAL?  Or is that worse?  

3 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Personally, I wouldn’t let it go.  I would call the supervisor and then find a good TA.

that’s absolute hogwash as far as I am concerned.  It there’s a limit to he $1 bookings it should be in the terms and conditions.

 

It wasn’t a courtesy hold - it was a booking.  HAL set the terms and you abided.
 

No cancellation should have been done without your prior approval.

 

I think your PCC screwed up and is covering their bases.

My good one was retired.  I used one for a casino booking as I didn’t think it was worth the work for my TA.  Biggest mistake of my life.  She screwed it all up and I ended up paying full price for one segment of the cruise.  There are too many new ones and they know zip IMO.

I agree with you. HAL allowed me to make multiple courtesy holds during the $1.00 deposit day.  Not my fault that they allowed me to do that.  The PCC told me when too many bookings are made they flag your account and she was trying to save it from being "flagged".  Hogwash?  Or truth?  I have no idea.  My fault as I did get a little carried away and made 9 bookings for various months and the one that was way out in 2025.  But, I thought we were allowed to do that in order to make decisions.  Cabins go fast sometimes.  Anyway, it's done.  My cabin is gone to someone else.  Not the end of the world. But it leaves a bad feeling for me with this particular PCC.

7 minutes ago, YourWorldWithBill said:

I agree with @bennybear, but getting a new PCC is an effort. I called the PCC number and held - without entering an extension - until someone answered. I asked for a supervisor, and when the person on the line offered to take a message (tried that without success before) I said I would hold for a supervisor. Once a supervisor came online he was extremely nice and assigned a new, excellent PCC who has been really helpful. It was worth it.

Thank you for the suggestion.  I may try to do that.  Or I might just do my own booking in the future.  Just paying online and being done with it.  Seems so convoluted to jump through all these email hoops or missed phone calls with these PCC.  Should not be this difficult to book a cruise.  Might also start looking at the Big Box TA where I buy my toilet paper LOL!

8 minutes ago, bennybear said:

I can’t believe they cancelled something without your permission.  Should not be possible! Perhaps call and ask for a different PCC and a supervisor.

I know... she did.  All without my knowledge or consent.  Lost the deck 4 cabin that I wanted which had an extended balcony. I did not know they could even touch your bookings without your consent. I understand when bookings fall off due after the courtesy hold date expires.  But that was not the case.  It was not due to expire for several days.  Not much I can do.  So I will let it go.  But it leaves a bad feeling on my end.  

12 minutes ago, horseymike said:

I have never used a PCC. I book online and call the main number for any additions or changes .

That has worked well for me .

I believe that I will do the same in the future.  It has been difficult to get in contact with the this PCC at times and I think this has caused confusion.  Simpler to just call the main number and deal with the people there.  Really I do not know the difference between the PCC department and the main reservation number.  Maybe one is more knowledgeable than the other?  Or maybe not.

Thanks so much for the quick reply! 😀

Took advantage of the $1.00 deposit for booked a Feb and March cruise.  Currently on Courtesy Hold, but need to pay deposit.  If I want to add Club Orange to this booking, do I have to pay for CO in full ($450 plus $2.00 deposit)?  If I decide to cancel the cruise, prior to final payment - will I be refunded the Club Orange payment?  Sorry if this question has been asked before, but have not cruised since right before the beginning of the pandemic.  And we did Club Orange on the NS, so I am not a newbie to CO.  But somehow or another it just seems so much more complicated than when I last booked a cruise......  

BTW - Have been in contact with a PCC at HAL but things are getting tense between us as the PCC canceled a 2025 cruise that I booked under the $1.00 + HIA perks, + early booking bonus.  Was told I had too many cruises on courtesy hold and she need to cancel something.  So she (or maybe the "system" canceled the one I was holding) canceled it.  And when I told her to reinstate it, I was told she could not get the cabin and perks that I had at that time.  Needless to say, I am not pleased at all and am considering just canceling all the cruises I have on hold and dealing with all this at another time in the future.  Too much stress. 

Thanks for any help on this.

Nice video!  We enjoyed Canelletos when we were on the NS and NA.  Great food!

24 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

I agree about the poor design putting the ceramic loungers in a busy pathway. 

 

I haven't heard a snorer--that's really awkward. Do you wake someone who's snoring, or is only a spouse allowed to do that?

 

Glad I’m not the only one who thought it was a poor design with the showers in the same area.  Wonder why they designed it like that. Bad in my opinion.

Yes the snoring was awkward but I tried to ignore and just turned my new age “spa” music up a bit more on my earphones!  After a bit, I just decided I’d had enough and left.  Guess it didn’t bother anyone else 😊

For the next cruise, I am investing in high quality noise canceling head phone.  That should take care of any noise issues for me - or at least I hope so! 👍🏻

Headphones worn while on the heated ceramic loungers helps a bit when there is a “talker” in that quiet area.  Next cruise I am investing in noise canceling headphones! I hate when I go there to just zone out and relax and some people are carrying on a loud conversation.  Very inconsiderate.  But then there is occasionally the loud snorer near by too! 😱

While on the NS, I did enjoy the spa area, I found the way they designed that ceramic heated lounger area to not be the best for quiet relaxing.  The crew kept coming in and out to fiddle with the water dispenser and the plastic cups.  The showers are directly by the heated ceramic loungers and when they are being used, it is on the loud side.  Depending on where your lounger is located.  As that whole heated lounger area is connected to the shower area, which I find odd and a bit of a bad design.  JMHO.

when using the thermal pool I did not come across any loud talkers.  Mostly just the pulse of the water which is relaxing. Guess I was lucky in that respect.

Now if you ask me about the loud mouth balcony people, THAT is another story! Talk about inconsiderate! WOW! 

Yes agreed with 7seas!  The shower on the Nieuw Statendam is heaven!  You will not miss a bathtub.  For me personally, I prefer the wonderful and spacious shower on the NS than one with a smaller / cramped tub any day of the week!

10 hours ago, canadianbear said:

Just a guess but their last sentence is perhaps how they get around things-“other restrictions may apply”? 
 

Sorry you’ve experienced this.  I know I booked the V&V (not casino rate though) and had to confirm with  twice with my PCC that wifi was included.  It finally showed on the invoice.  

Yes, maybe that is their escape hatch (catch).  Very vague.  Your PCC seemed to be as clueless as mine.  When the V&V sale came out and I spoke with my PCC about this free wi-if perks, he was clueless at first and appeared to not know anything about it.  Then he checked into it and agreed it was a perk of the sale.  I’m not sure it is worth dealing with a PCC at HAL. I like to have more control over my reservation so I have been dealing with HAL’s PCC.  But, I am some loosing additional money (now a store gift card instead of OBC) as I could very easily go back to the Big Box travel agency I have used several times in the past.  

8 hours ago, I like vacation said:

Is your cruise this year or in 2021?  I questioned my TA about the free wi-fi for a cruise I booked last week but then realized the cruise is for next year and not eligible.  

It is for December 2020.  And was one of the cruise dates that qualified for the V&V sale.  When booking the cruise, the V&V sale is what was shown on screen.  So it was eligible for the promotion.  I guess the issue is that it turned out to not be eligible for all the promo benefits due to the casino rate (that I was unaware was included).

It is just hard to decipher what rate you are booking under as in this case the particular “casino rate” was hidden to me.  I think the online booking process needs to be more transparent so a passenger can fully see what rate they are under and what is included.  But before they book and pay the deposit.

BTW, I did speak with my PCC when I put my cruise on a Courtesy Hold  (which was 4 days before paying my deposit) and I questioned him about this Free Premium Internet promo and if it was “attached” to my Courtesy Hold.  He told me it was not attached to the booking.  But to let him know if I decided to go through with the booking and pay the deposit and he would just add it to the booking.  So I assumed (always a bad thing to do!) that is would be added with no problem once I paid the deposit.  

I wound up paying for the deposit on the HAL website as it was the weekend and after hours (no PCC or reservations open) and I wanted to get the deposit in before the deadline of Saturday 2/29.  Then called PCC Tuesday and spoke with him and supervisor and all this was found out.  To me its pretty confusing and convoluted.

27 minutes ago, saskacruiser said:

The only way I know that I am getting a lower casino rate is if I first do a booking without signing in, and then exactly the same booking after signing in (which always gives me the lower casino rate). It does not indicate that anywhere otherwise. The casino rate, for me, is applied to any fare and not just the ones that are marked private sale.

 

I tried doing that to compare fares prior to booking.  I would log in with out my Mariner number (made sure to clear my browser history /clear cashe before proceeding) and I received the same fare cost as with my Mariner number so I assumed it was the general fare for the V&V sale.  Do not remember any price difference if I was logged in or out.  That was why I just thought the booking was with the V&V sale.  But it turned out it was not.  

Hope some experienced cruisers can help explain something to me……

(sorry in advance for the long winded post)

I booked a new 10 day cruise in an assigned verandah under the V&V sale that just expired Feb 29.  V&V sale comes with certain perks as seen in the screen shot below.  I received all the perks with the exception of the free "premium wi-fi". Called my PCC this afternoon and was told that I received a "casino discount" and that discount is not combinable with the free wi-fi perk.

When I booked online, I had a choice of 2 rates: Restricted lower rate (non refundable deposit) or the View and Verandah promo.  I choose the V&V due to all the perks it came with and the $25 deposit.  Generally, if I see "Private Sale" when I am booking then that means a lower “casino rate” or some other "special" promo. But in this instance, that was not showing on the screen as Private Sale was not an option. Only “Restricted Price” or “V&V sale” price.  So when I booked I fully expected to receive the free wi-fi package in addition to the other perks that HAL was promoting in the V&V sale. BUT my PCC is telling me that he cannot add that free wi-fi to the booking as it would knock off the lower "casino rate" and then the fare would be higher. Makes no sense to me as all the other V&V sale perks were included in the booking, just NOT the free wi-fi.

How would a passenger who is making a new booking know that they are not getting all the perks of a promotion? No where when I was booking did it say casino rate. Or say you cannot receive free wi-fi due to not being combinable with your rate. No one would ever know this. Only after you make the booking and then I see that it is not included on the booking statement. 

Today I did speak with a supervisor (someone that the PCC put me through to) and she explained it the same way as the PCC did. Casino rate not combinable with that free internet promo under the V&V sale. She said she could take off the casino rate, but the rate would be almost $300 dollars (per person) higher and then she could add free internet promo to the booking.  Obviously that was not an option for me.

I told the supervisor that I was not happy with this as I felt the free internet should be included as it was part of the promo in the V&V sale. I felt it was misleading and that they should put it on the booking.  She stood her ground and said she could not.  I said then how about adding add some additional OBC to make up for this lack of free wif-fi.  

Again, she said she could not and that there was already OBC (part of the V&V promo) on the account and to use that to pay for the wi-fi on the ship.   Sigh… I was not getting anywhere.  But going around in circles.

She said I could email another supervisor, but that I would get the same response.  She directed me to send a letter to an email address at Reservations_submit@hollandamerica.com

So, my question is why does HAL promote a set of “perks” in a particular sale, but then not allow you to have all of them?  Seems very misleading to me.  There are no exclusions in the Terms and Conditions that say anything about this "casino rate" (which I did not know I even had until after booking and speaking with PCC).

I was on the NS earlier this month and enjoyed a one week thermal spa pass.  Great Thermal pool and love those heated ceramic loungers!!!  I purchased pre-cruise and paid $139 for the 1 week pass.

Here is a recent thread where the thermal spa was discussed.  It might offer you some additional information 

Your welcome!  Glad all the info everyone mentioned help you make a decision that is right for you.  Enjoy your cruise!  I'm sure your wife will find lots of ways to spend the "saved" money!! LOL 😉

5 hours ago, tma6973 said:

Yes! We did pre purchase it and leave on Sunday! Looking forward to it!

Great!  Glad that info helped.  Have a wonderful cruise!!!! 😁

I think sometimes it is cheaper to pre-purchase, but it may depend on the cruise sailing.  Not sure.  I usually pre purchase because my understanding is that the thermal spa is capacity controlled and they only sell a set amount of weekly passes and that is it.  So I want to make sure I have access to the thermal spa, as that is my “treat” for the cruise.  
 

Also, I have read other posters mention that if the price is less on the day of embarkation that the spa will refund you the difference.  In my experience, I have not had that happen (always has been more $ on the ship) but each sailing is different.  Hope that helps 😊

1 hour ago, sail7seas said:

 

 

I do not have, do not want a smart phone but  will find a way when on the ship to see/read the news on  a piece of paper.  Let them know when you are displeased or  dissatisfied with something t hat is  Easy to correct .  Coming here and grumbling is a good start but not far enough..

 

 

 If anyone gives a hoot,  I'll let you know what happens after my cruise  🙂

 

Let us know what happens.  Maybe you will have better luck.  
 

Hope your experience is better than mine and DH was on the NS earlier this month.  Went to the Club Orange guest services person almost every morning to complain about the app not working and unable to read the news.  Each time told definitively NO as far as getting a paper copy of the news.  No paper copies.  It is provided free on the app and that was all they could do for us.  Told to use the app.  Even though it was not working correctly and was very glitchy. Hope you have better luck on the HAL ship you will be on.  Maybe that ship will still provide it.  I hope so!