?? HALs CONVERSION from DOUBLE to SINGLE RATE??

[palmgirl]

I have a good friend traveling on the Zuiderdam October 24th. She understands it is past final payment and certain restrictions apply. I believe HAL's normal single supplement is 150% of fare. She is offering to waive any refund and give them the amount paid for both of them ($200%).

 

In desperation from HAL's lack of timely response she sent this email to HAL:

 

"My husband is seriously ill and in the hospital. I wanted to change my current booking from double to single. I do not want a reduction in any money we have paid. My husband insists that I go since on our trip to Alaska (with HAL) he had to be flown from Denali to Anchorage and after 2 weeks in the hospital we returned home. I stayed with him missing the cruise portion.

I have requested that they keep all monies currently paid and just allow me to go on the cruise in the cabin I booked (inside Cat. I) across the hall from my friends. I have been told that to do this I would have to pay an additional $500+ to keep my room for which we have already paid $2855.28

I do not understand why they have to have an additional $500+ to keep the cabin I have. My friends are frequent HAL cruisers and have highly recommended the cruise line, but even they are having a hard time understanding the logic behind this. I have been put off for the last 2 days waiting for an answer. I do not see why you cannot come to a decision in a timely manner.

What can you do for me, that I can stay on the ship, near my friends, and not have to spend more money for a room than the $2855 I have already paid?"

 

We know they are probably concerned with loss of revenue on board but her husband is wheelchair bound and would not leave the ship. He does not gamble and the strongest thing he drinks is ice tea.

 

HELP Has anyone been in a similar situation?

[richwmn]

I had a similar situation a couple of years ago on the Westerdam. I pretty much knew that the other person in my cabin would not make it.

 

I had several conversations with my PCC, and the best answer she had was to NOT change to a single cabin, just show up and tell the person at check in that the other person was traveling separately. They will ask if the other person is going to show up -- you don't know.

 

Just before sailing I got a call in my cabin asking if I knew the status of the other person -- told them I didn't.

 

After the end of the cruise I received a small refund (some port charges and taxes I believe)

 

Hope this helps.

 

Rich

[vbmom87]

It has recently been reported that the single supplement is 200% on most cruises.

 

There have been quite a few threads on this topic. As I understand it, when one person cancels, the remaining person then has to pay the single supplement which now is usually 200%. So, in your friend's case since it is past final payment, the husband would not get a refund and the wife would be responsible for the full amount of the cabin.

 

Now if they took out travel insurance that covers the traveling companion cancelling for a covered reason, the insurance would cover this and the husband would be refunded his portion and the wife would not have to pay the additonal supplement. So, first they must have insurance, the insurance must cover a traveling companion cancelling and if the husband's hospitalization is due to a pre-existing condition they must have insurance that covers pre-existing conditions.

 

I hope they had insurance that covers them. If not, this was a costly lesson for them. If they don't have insurance or the type that covers them, they need to realize that it is not up to the cruise line to cover their losses. That is what insurance is for.

[eh2zed]

Surely someone at HAL is being a bit overzealous. The only thing HAL will not get are some shipboard charges while on the other hand they will save on the food side. Hopefully it will work out. Too bad you would need to misrepresent the circumstances to get through this.

[richwmn]

On the Westerdam cruise I mentioned, it was already fared at a 200% single supplement. That's why I invited a friend along. I was already going to pay for two so I might as well drag someone along.

I did have HAL's premium insurance on both passengers.

About 2 weeks out, he decided for sure that he was not going to go. I had several conversations with my PCC and the best she could come up with on one cancellation was about $400 more out of my pocket. If I canceled both and rebooked it was a little bit more than that.

By keeping both bookings active no penalties were incurred.

The best thing OP can do is to keep both bookings active and just show up alone.

 

Rich

[LAFFNVEGAS]

There is a catch-22 to your theory Rich, if there is one passenger not going and they have any kind of Travel Insurance that passenger MUST cancel with the cruise line and get confirmation they have canceled in order to process a claim on Travel Insurance even if you purchase HAL's Platinum insurance. Then at that point the single remaining will then be charged the single supplement rate which is what I am guessing is happening in this case. Keep in mind the person canceling if they have insurance is in fact receiving money back.

[richwmn]

There is a catch-22 to your theory Rich, if there is one passenger not going and they have any kind of Travel Insurance that passenger MUST cancel with the cruise line and get confirmation they have canceled in order to process a claim on Travel Insurance even if you purchase HAL's Platinum insurance. Then at that point the single remaining will then be charged the single supplement rate which is what I am guessing is happening in this case. Keep in mind the person canceling if they have insurance is in fact receiving money back.

 

No theory Lisa -- it is what was actually done. NO claim was placed with the insurance. I had paid the full fare. PCC checked insurance options -- would have caused money out of my pocket to the tune of $400. So the option of not showing up and not collecting insurance was best.

 

Rich

[LAFFNVEGAS]

No theory Lisa -- it is what was actually done. NO claim was placed with the insurance. I had paid the full fare. PCC checked insurance options -- would have caused money out of my pocket to the tune of $400. So the option of not showing up and not collecting insurance was best.

 

Rich

Yes but if two separate people paid for their half of the cabin and each paid for their own Travel Insurance I am sure that the person canceling wants to receive their refund since they purchased Travel Insurance so it would absolutely need to be canceled. It is a whole difference issue if you just added a person into your cabin and paid the additional taxes because you were already paying the full single supplement.

[vbmom87]

On the Westerdam cruise I mentioned, it was already fared at a 200% single supplement. That's why I invited a friend along. I was already going to pay for two so I might as well drag someone along.

I did have HAL's premium insurance on both passengers.

About 2 weeks out, he decided for sure that he was not going to go. I had several conversations with my PCC and the best she could come up with on one cancellation was about $400 more out of my pocket. If I canceled both and rebooked it was a little bit more than that.

By keeping both bookings active no penalties were incurred.

The best thing OP can do is to keep both bookings active and just show up alone.

 

Rich

 

I am not familiar with HAL's insurance. However a friend had independent insurance and her companion had to cancel because of medical reasons. No one lost a penny and no one had to pay more money. My friend decided to cruise alone. Not all insurance plans are equal. The more stories I read about cruise line insurance, the more I am convinced I do not want it.

[OVgirl]

I have a good friend traveling on the Zuiderdam October 24th. She understands it is past final payment and certain restrictions apply. I believe HAL's normal single supplement is 150% of fare. She is offering to waive any refund and give them the amount paid for both of them ($200%).

 

In desperation from HAL's lack of timely response she sent this email to HAL:

 

"My husband is seriously ill and in the hospital. I wanted to change my current booking from double to single. I do not want a reduction in any money we have paid. My husband insists that I go since on our trip to Alaska (with HAL) he had to be flown from Denali to Anchorage and after 2 weeks in the hospital we returned home. I stayed with him missing the cruise portion.

I have requested that they keep all monies currently paid and just allow me to go on the cruise in the cabin I booked (inside Cat. I) across the hall from my friends. I have been told that to do this I would have to pay an additional $500+ to keep my room for which we have already paid $2855.28

I do not understand why they have to have an additional $500+ to keep the cabin I have. My friends are frequent HAL cruisers and have highly recommended the cruise line, but even they are having a hard time understanding the logic behind this. I have been put off for the last 2 days waiting for an answer. I do not see why you cannot come to a decision in a timely manner.

What can you do for me, that I can stay on the ship, near my friends, and not have to spend more money for a room than the $2855 I have already paid?"

 

We know they are probably concerned with loss of revenue on board but her husband is wheelchair bound and would not leave the ship. He does not gamble and the strongest thing he drinks is ice tea.

 

HELP Has anyone been in a similar situation?

 

Since the OP's friend is not trying to get any money back, it looks like the advice given here about not telling HAL the status of her cabin-mate (husband) is the way to handle the situation.

It is too bad that we have to dance around the rules to make them work to our advantage.

Hope your friend is able to go and not have to pay anything extra.

[richwmn]

Yes but if two separate people paid for their half of the cabin and each paid for their own Travel Insurance I am sure that the person canceling wants to receive their refund since they purchased Travel Insurance so it would absolutely need to be canceled. It is a whole difference issue if you just added a person into your cabin and paid the additional taxes because you were already paying the full single supplement.

Sorry, but my situation is closer than your theory. OP is part of a couple that paid for a cruise. She has stated that she does not want any money back, just doesn't want to pay any more. Same situation I had.

 

Rich

[palmgirl]

Since the OP's friend is not trying to get any money back, it looks like the advice given here about not telling HAL the status of her cabin-mate (husband) is the way to handle the situation.

 

She was told that on check in they would charge her a penalty for being a no show....... Again about $500+

[richwmn]

I am not familiar with HAL's insurance. However a friend had independent insurance and her companion had to cancel because of medical reasons. No one lost a penny and no one had to pay more money. My friend decided to cruise alone. Not all insurance plans are equal. The more stories I read about cruise line insurance, the more I am convinced I do not want it.

HAL's cruise protection plan is not actually insurance. The premium plan is after the cruise starts and includes some medical and other features. Prior to the cruise, it is just a means of returning your fare.

If your have third party insurance, HAL is getting paid for the full cabin.

 

Rich

[palmgirl]

If your have third party insurance, HAL is getting paid for the full cabin.

 

Rich

 

They have 3rd party insurance which is why I cannot believe HAL is acting this way!

[richwmn]

She was told that on check in they would charge her a penalty for being a no show....... Again about $500+

 

I did not receive, and do not know about, a penalty for being a "no show". As I stated earlier, after the cruise I received a credit amounting to the taxes and port charges.

 

Also - her statement about $500 was the amount she would be charged if she canceled her husband and was rebooked as a single. It did not say she would be charged that at check in.

 

Rich

 

[sorry -- didn't notice you were OP.]

[vbmom87]

They have 3rd party insurance which is why I cannot believe HAL is acting this way!

 

If they have third party insurance that actually covers her situation, she should get a refund for her husband and the insurance will pick up any other fees charged by HAL.

[richwmn]

palmgirl -- just curious -- did you book thru a TA or directly with HAL??

 

Rich

[palmgirl]

I did not receive, and do not know about, a penalty for being a "no show". As I stated earlier, after the cruise I received a credit amounting to the taxes and port charges.

 

It did not say she would be charged that at check in.

 

Rich

 

[sorry -- didn't notice you were OP.]

 

She was told today that if he did not show she would be charged a no show penalty. (about $500)

I have been a cruise specialist for 10 years and a big HAL proponent, however this is starting to make me wonder.

[vbmom87]

She was told today that if he did not show she would be charged a no show penalty. (about $500)

I have been a cruise specialist for 10 years and a big HAL proponent, however this is starting to make me wonder.

 

Why aren't they filing this with their insurance?

[OVgirl]

She was told that on check in they would charge her a penalty for being a no show....... Again about $500+

 

I'm guessing that you don't tell them at check-in that he is a no show. Just say that he is on his way..... and oops, he missed the boat.

 

They have 3rd party insurance which is why I cannot believe HAL is acting this way!

 

If he needs some sort of documentation from HAL stating that he did not sail, that might present the problem.

[palmgirl]

Why aren't they filing this with their insurance?

 

They booked direct with HAL.

 

They have to get a cancel date from HAL if they want to claim insurance. I just cannot believe that HAL wants to take $500 of the $800 that they are due back to cover the cost of the cabin that she already paid $2800+ for....

 

HAL keeps putting her off about a decision. If they wait until after the 9th it is 100% penalty instead of 75%

[djhsolara]

I'm not trying to hijack this, but please help me get this straight...

 

So if a husband and wife have paid in full but one of them is not able to go on the cruise, the person who goes is expected to pay more even though they are not requesting any type of refund on the "unused" portion of their fare that was paid in full for both of them?

 

I just can't seem to wrap my brain around this...

 

:) :)

[vbmom87]

I'm not trying to hijack this, but please help me get this straight...

 

So if a husband and wife have paid in full but one of them is not able to go on the cruise, the person who goes is expected to pay more even though they are not requesting any type of refund on the "unused" portion of their fare that was paid in full for both of them?

 

I just can't seem to wrap my brain around this...

 

:) :)

 

That is what is being said.

 

What I am familiar with is that if it is after final payment the one who is cancelling loses their money and the one who is now cruising solo has to pay the singles supplement (which is usually 200%). With good travel insurance, no one should have to pay extra.

 

I think the OP's friend needs to contact the travel insurance.

[richwmn]

I'm not trying to hijack this, but please help me get this straight...

 

So if a husband and wife have paid in full but one of them is not able to go on the cruise, the person who goes is expected to pay more even though they are not requesting any type of refund on the "unused" portion of their fare that was paid in full for both of them?

 

I just can't seem to wrap my brain around this...

 

:) :)

 

That is what is being said.

 

What I am familiar with is that if it is after final payment the one who is cancelling loses their money and the one who is now cruising solo has to pay the singles supplement (which is usually 200%). With good travel insurance, no one should have to pay extra.

 

I think the OP's friend needs to contact the travel insurance.

 

Therein lies the problem that those of us that travel solo run into quite often. Solo fare is at best 150% of double occupancy rate. It can be 200% on some cruises.

 

There is also the problem that if someone cancels, the cabin is re-faired at the current rate, not necessarily the same as the rate originally paid. So it is quite possible that changing to a single rate would cause the person actually cruising to pay more. That was the case on my cruise 3 years ago.

 

In my case, I was not charged a "no show" fee, but policies may have changed it the 3 years since my cruise.

 

As to the insurance, each policy pays different ways. But since they have 3rd party insurance, the insurance company should be consulted before making any judgments about HAL's policies.

 

Rich

[djhsolara]

I guess what I don't understand is that they would already have 200% of my money because we've paid for 2 people which would be 200% of one person's fare.