CanadianPacific

On 1/27/2024 at 4:12 PM, Skorpora said:

I prepaid my daily gratuity in 2023 prior to the fee increase in 2023. When I was on the cruise, I looked to see if I was charged the old rate or the new rate. I was not charged the difference. 

Interesting!  I have two booked cruises upcoming (both post-February).  Both have a prepayment option which describes grats @  only $16 per day - but the Cdn$ per diem is CAD$1.75 higher for one booking.  Suggests one is charging $16, the other $17.  I've emailed Ship Services (per live chat staffer) for an explanation.  Will advise.  🧐

7 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

edited to say - By the way - I LOVE your CC name 🙂 

Thank you!!  I'm an avid LURKER on this board for <checks avatar> 10 years now.  Very impressed and thankful for the tremendous amount of useful HAL info and memories shared.  ☺️

4 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

If I am charged extra for the crew - so be it.  I will not remove the differential.  I have warned my travelling partner we may hit this.

I agree!  My point  I guess (beyond answering OP's question) is that there's really no reason to PREPAY the gratuities months in advance.  The website could be clearer that you're just buying $XX of OBC, but not locking in the gratuity cost.

Gratuities is one item we can prepay in Cdn$ - HAL's exchange usually much better than from a credit card.  So I may 'prepay' for my upcoming cruises, but much closer to the sail date.  

I was in this situation over the prior gratuity increase.  Prepaid at the lower rate.  Onboard, the current higher rate was charged daily, with a corresponding credit of the (slightly lower) daily amount I'd prepaid.  Brought up the discrepancy, and was offered to complete the 'usual' form to request lowering of the gratuity.  Not a big deal, but it did leave a bad taste.  I believe most lines honor the prepaid amounts (for....everything!) or else what's the point?

Hi all,

First-time poster here.

I took a HAL Canada/New England cruise on the Veendam in May 2013: Quebec City - Boston - Quebec City. The ship overnighted in Quebec City on both ends of the cruise. To use Airmiles - and save $$$ - I boarded 'late' the first evening and disembarked 'early' on the final morning.

How early? Did you know there's such a thing as a "0:00 - 5:00" disembarkation window? That was me, so I could make the 06:35 am WestJet flight to Vancouver. Room Service had continental breakfast available all night (coffee & toast @ 4:00 am). I was apprehensive about getting a taxi, but the cabbie I spoke to on the dock the previous day had assured me that a taxi would be waiting. And there was...at 4:30 am.

Are you American? Even so, the whole ship will have cleared Canada Customs already, at the first Canadian port. I guess the safest advice is to check with your travel agent or HAL, but unless something has changed, you should be OK.

- Anna