New to Holland America? This is for you...AKA "HAL For Dummies"

[epistax]

I should have some on board credit from a couple of sources for a cruise in November. I've looked in the app in one place I'd expect to see this but the credit states $0. I haven't seen any place on the website to check.

 

Is this viewable before the cruise starts somewhere? Thanks!

[HAL4NOW]

1 minute ago, epistax said:

I should have some on board credit from a couple of sources for a cruise in November. I've looked in the app in one place I'd expect to see this but the credit states $0. I haven't seen any place on the website to check.

 

Is this viewable before the cruise starts somewhere? Thanks!

OBC shows up in your cruise confirmation notice, under Guest Information.

I have never seen OBC listed anywhere on the website or in the Navigator App.

[coffeeboy77]

Thank you!

[cruiser3775]

If I book a cruise today, is there a "cooling off" period where I can back out without losing my deposit? I can see a good deal on a cruise and a particular room, but I have to arrange some things before I can be sure I can actually go,

[RuthC]

18 minutes ago, cruiser3775 said:

If I book a cruise today, is there a "cooling off" period where I can back out without losing my deposit? I can see a good deal on a cruise and a particular room, but I have to arrange some things before I can be sure I can actually go,

There are three fares, two of which are refundable. If you choose one of those fares you can cancel for full refund up until (usually) the day before final payment date. Some of the longer cruises have an earlier cancel by date. 
If you book using a non-refundable fare, you are normally out of luck. 

Another thing you can do is put a 'hold' on a cabin. That will last for a few days only. My experience has been one day, but I have read posts where some people have gotten 5-day holds. 

[cruiser3775]

3 minutes ago, RuthC said:

Another thing you can do is put a 'hold' on a cabin

Thanks, Ruth. How do I do that?   24 hours would be enough for me to confirm I can actually use the booking.

[RuthC]

10 minutes ago, cruiser3775 said:

Thanks, Ruth. How do I do that?   24 hours would be enough for me to confirm I can actually use the booking.

I have had my TA do it, and I have also done it online, but it was so long ago I don't remember how. I haven't booked online in years.
Perhaps someone else will jump in with up to date info on that. 

[Chickadee910]

Just go to the Holland site find the tour go through to find your room put in info then it will ask you for deposit or hold.

[cruiser3775]

Thanks everyone. I managed to get a two week hold on the booking without paying the deposit.

[Aloha3]

I see the day I am due to board, the ship leaves port at 1 pm.  Has any one had this? What time would I be expected check in?  The Port is an overnight stop but I board on the second day.  

[dropframe]

Shareholder credit.

Was the shareholder OBC credit voted on at the last stockholder meeting?

What's the procedure to get OBC for being a CCL stockholder? What's the time frame for submitting? 

[KrausHaus]

9 minutes ago, dropframe said:

Shareholder credit.

Was the shareholder OBC credit voted on at the last stockholder meeting?

What's the procedure to get OBC for being a CCL stockholder? What's the time frame for submitting? 

Here's what I found a few weeks ago, haven't submitted mine yet:

Carnival Corporation is the parent company of cruise brands including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America, Cunard and luxury line Seabourn. If you hold a minimum of 100 shares of Carnival Corporation stock, you’ll receive an onboard credit of $250 per cabin for cruises of 14 days or longer, $100 for cruises of seven to 13 days and $50 for cruises of six days or fewer. (Note that by “days,” Carnival means nights on board.)
The current benefit is available on sailings through July 31, 2023; reservations must be made by Feb. 28, 2023.
You can use the credit for drinks, gift shop purchases, spa treatments or other onboard expenditures. You can’t use the credit in the casino, for gratuities or to get cash. The credit applies only to the shareholder-occupied stateroom; you won’t get additional credits if you book multiple cabins.
Related: Cruise onboard credit: What it is, where to get it and how best to use it
To receive the credit, first book your cruise vacation, then send the specific cruise line an email, fax or mailed letter with your legal name, reservation/booking number, ship and sailing date. You’ll also need to provide proof — such as a copy of your proxy card or a dividend tax voucher — that you own 100 or more shares of stock.
The request needs to be made no later than four weeks before your sail date.
You’ll find emails and addresses for each Carnival Corporation brand and specific rules on the company’s website. For Carnival Cruise Line, the email is shareholders@carnival.com, the fax number is 305-406-6102, and the address is Guest Administration, 3655 N.W. 87th Avenue, Miami, FL 33178.
 

[SUESEABE]

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.carnivalcorp.com/static-files/50351a91-4dc0-4f6b-bfec-684647e6129f&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjSgqfW06n6AhUQrmoFHR7qCXkQFnoECAoQAg&usg=AOvVaw0_mE6cqb1wa42Z8B_F5wye

[cruiser3775]

I am now thinking of taking the "Have it all" package. A question about the Signature Beverage Package. I can see it allows wine by the glass up to $11 and that includes the 18% gratuity, right?

But what happens if you opt for a glass of wine costing say $18?  Do you pay the full price, or just the difference between $11 and $18?

[puppycanducruise]

2 hours ago, cruiser3775 said:

I am now thinking of taking the "Have it all" package. A question about the Signature Beverage Package. I can see it allows wine by the glass up to $11 and that includes the 18% gratuity, right?

But what happens if you opt for a glass of wine costing say $18?  Do you pay the full price, or just the difference between $11 and $18?

You pay $18, plus the 18% gratuity.

There was a test run on one ship of just paying the difference, but that has not been rolled out fleet wide.

[dropframe]

On 9/21/2022 at 11:03 AM, HAL4NOW said:

OBC shows up in your cruise confirmation notice, under Guest Information.

I have never seen OBC listed anywhere on the website or in the Navigator App.

Then what are these Navigator pages all about??

[epistax]

1 minute ago, dropframe said:

Then what are these Navigator pages all about??

 

And these pages show $0 for me right now. I wanted to verify I have $300 OBC before the cruise so I can correct it if there's a mistake. Looks like I'll have to call.

[HAL4NOW]

7 minutes ago, dropframe said:

Then what are these Navigator pages all about??

 

5 minutes ago, epistax said:

 

And these pages show $0 for me right now. I wanted to verify I have $300 OBC before the cruise so I can correct it if there's a mistake. Looks like I'll have to call.

I have OBC for three different cruises that we have booked for this year and next year. The APP says, "YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ONBOARD CREDITS". It always says that, even though I have OBC for every cruise we have taken. Not sure why it doesn't show any, but that has been my experience. It doesn't concern me. When I get onboard, I can see the credit on my statment so I have never looked for the OBC in my profile while onboard. Maybe I should try looking there next month when we are cruising.

[richstowe]

How long does it take to receive the $100 OBC for being a CCL stockholder?

I sent in my proof 3 weeks ago and wonder when I should follow up with them .

My cruise is in 2 months .

thanks

[epistax]

4 minutes ago, richstowe said:

How long does it take to receive the $100 OBC for being a CCL stockholder?

I sent in my proof 3 weeks ago and wonder when I should follow up with them .

My cruise is in 2 months .

thanks

 

It took me less than 24 hours. My cruise is in November. I emailed "World_Cruise_Reservations@hollandamerica.com" and got a very quick response.

 

 

[Dismomx5]

1 hour ago, richstowe said:

How long does it take to receive the $100 OBC for being a CCL stockholder?

I sent in my proof 3 weeks ago and wonder when I should follow up with them .

My cruise is in 2 months .

thanks

Mine took a few weeks. Definitely under a month, though. I need to add to my January Caribbean cruise now.

[dropframe]

My TA sent my documentation for me and I got confirmation same day from HAL.

[richstowe]

Okay . I'm going to contact them next week . Thanks all

5 hours ago, epistax said:

 

It took me less than 24 hours. My cruise is in November. I emailed "World_Cruise_Reservations@hollandamerica.com" and got a very quick response.

 

 

 

3 hours ago, Dismomx5 said:

Mine took a few weeks. Definitely under a month, though. I need to add to my January Caribbean cruise now.

 

1 hour ago, dropframe said:

My TA sent my documentation for me and I got confirmation same day from HAL.

 

Edited September 24, 2022 by richstowe

[dixiejen]

Hi all…advice please! First cruise on HAL coming up in January on the Koningsdam. When I booked, I let HAL choose the location of our Neptune Suite, thinking this level of suite surely couldn’t differ very much from one location to another.  (I know better now…) I noticed recently that we had been assigned SC — a Neptune Suite at the very front of the ship. After researching the SC category and seeing pics of SC, I learned that the balcony has literally nothing to break the oncoming wind, and the reviewer felt the balcony was practically useless because of this. Also, when I looked at the deck plan, I saw that the SC balcony was, with the exception of a little useless curve on the end, the exact same size as the veranda stateroom balcony (which is half the price of our suite.). A reviewer also remarked that, because of the odd shape of the room, the toilet was in the same room as the tub and shower, which resulted in a tiny little shower, unlike the pic/description of the Neptune suite which has the toilet in a separate powder room and a fairly large shower. We adore spending time on the balcony and are so disheartened that it won’t even hold a lounger and then there’s the wind…
 

I called HAL to express our discontent, and was told that there were no more Neptune Suites available, but they would put me on a waiting list. I know it seems a trivial problem, but the thought of not being able to enjoy our balcony (and paying double the price of a veranda stateroom for the same size balcony)has us contemplating cancelling the cruise. 

Is it unreasonable to expect that suites of a certain level should be at least comparable to other suites in the same category? In your experience, is there ANY chance that other Neptune suites may become available by sail date? Hate to sound like a whiny baby, but this is a lot of money for us and I feel we’re getting a little shafted. Any advice would be appreciated, and thanks in advance!

[*Miss G*]

16 hours ago, dixiejen said:

Hi all…advice please! First cruise on HAL coming up in January on the Koningsdam. When I booked, I let HAL choose the location of our Neptune Suite, thinking this level of suite surely couldn’t differ very much from one location to another.  (I know better now…) I noticed recently that we had been assigned SC — a Neptune Suite at the very front of the ship. After researching the SC category and seeing pics of SC, I learned that the balcony has literally nothing to break the oncoming wind, and the reviewer felt the balcony was practically useless because of this. Also, when I looked at the deck plan, I saw that the SC balcony was, with the exception of a little useless curve on the end, the exact same size as the veranda stateroom balcony (which is half the price of our suite.). A reviewer also remarked that, because of the odd shape of the room, the toilet was in the same room as the tub and shower, which resulted in a tiny little shower, unlike the pic/description of the Neptune suite which has the toilet in a separate powder room and a fairly large shower. We adore spending time on the balcony and are so disheartened that it won’t even hold a lounger and then there’s the wind…
 

I called HAL to express our discontent, and was told that there were no more Neptune Suites available, but they would put me on a waiting list. I know it seems a trivial problem, but the thought of not being able to enjoy our balcony (and paying double the price of a veranda stateroom for the same size balcony)has us contemplating cancelling the cruise. 

Is it unreasonable to expect that suites of a certain level should be at least comparable to other suites in the same category? In your experience, is there ANY chance that other Neptune suites may become available by sail date? Hate to sound like a whiny baby, but this is a lot of money for us and I feel we’re getting a little shafted. Any advice would be appreciated, and thanks in advance!

 

I haven’t been in an SC on the Koningsdam but I’ve been in an SQ-10006.  It was large but I didn’t much care for it for multiple reasons.  Can I ask what date you’re sailing to provide specific input?  I’m surprised you’ve been assigned a room already but it may be a popular itinerary.