Club Orange Cost and Benefits???

[roxybear135]

14 minutes ago, Sea42 said:

How do you find out if CO is available on your sailing? I cannot find it on the website.

I think you have to just call and ask if they have any more passes available to purchase.  Something to keep in mind: Club Orange has its own dining room on the Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam but it's just an extra entree on the menu in the MDR on their other ships.  It's available on all of their ships but the private dining room is only on the newest two ships.

[Sea42]

20 minutes ago, roxybear135 said:

I think you have to just call and ask if they have any more passes available to purchase.  Something to keep in mind: Club Orange has its own dining room on the Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam but it's just an extra entree on the menu in the MDR on their other ships.  It's available on all of their ships but the private dining room is only on the newest two ships.

Thanks, I did find the PDF on the website with the phone number. I'm strictly doing it to upgrade our cabin on our "free" cruise.😁

[roxybear135]

7 minutes ago, Sea42 said:

Thanks, I did find the PDF on the website with the phone number. I'm strictly doing it to upgrade our cabin on our "free" cruise.😁

That's the main reason we did it too.  We did not like the idea of having an obstructed balcony and figured since we weren't paying for the cruise, we might as well pay for Club Orange and get a room we will actually enjoy.  Plus the added perks of it are nice.  We also did it for my mother-in-law, who booked her own room on the cruise (it will be her first cruise).  We were able to book her an obstructed cabin and then add on Club Orange to get her an upgraded room without a huge added cost (since she's a solo traveler and only had to pay for one Club Orange pass vs. paying the huge cost to upgrade to a non-obstructed balcony).  We're excited to try it out and see whether we think it's worth the cost on future cruises.

[Crew News]

1 hour ago, Sea42 said:

How do you find out if CO is available on your sailing? I cannot find it on the website.

Call 1-888-628-8107 and ask to purchase Club Orange.

[Calnev1]

On 9/29/2021 at 12:00 PM, Vict0riann said:

 

@roxybear135, were you able to pick your own room with the CO upgrade?  And how much of an upgrade was it?

Just booked a "cheap" casino deal this morning on the Konigsdam (i.e., free interior cabin, $50 play money, DOU in casino).  Of course, only the lowest category insides came "free," and I didnt like the locations.   HAL agent said the cheapest way to upgrade to an inside, midship, middeck cabin was to buy club orange at $25 pp per day.  SO we did that and, yes, we got to pick our specific cabin.

[NCTribeFan]

I just booked B2B Alaska casino offers on Zuiderdam.  Appears the large interior cabins are sold out on both sailings.  But if I think Club Orange was "worth it" in a couple of weeks, I'll consider buying for those sailings just to see what cabins are available.

 

My original boarding pass had 1 pm, Group A boarding time.  My revised boarding pass just updated shows 1:20 pm, Group B.  Not a big difference, but since I've never had Priority boarding on HAL, I'm not sure what happens with Priority boarding.  Do they start with 5* followed by 4*?  Do suite guests also get priority regardless of Mariner status?

 

I'm hoping we'll soon get some posts from folks that are now sailing from Port Everglades to hear whether HAL is sticking to the assigned boarding times.  Certainly would be nice to be on board for lunch.

[oaktreerb]

1 hour ago, NCTribeFan said:

 

 

My original boarding pass had 1 pm, Group A boarding time.  My revised boarding pass just updated shows 1:20 pm, Group B.  Not a big difference, but since I've never had Priority boarding on HAL, I'm not sure what happens with Priority boarding.  Do they start with 5* followed by 4*?  Do suite guests also get priority regardless of Mariner status?

 

I'm hoping we'll soon get some posts from folks that are now sailing from Port Everglades to hear whether HAL is sticking to the assigned boarding times.  Certainly would be nice to be on board for lunch.

I just called Club Orange and was told that priority check in just means there is a “priority” boarding line.  It does nothing to get you onboard early.  We are 4 star and Club Orange and have been moved from Group B to Group C.  I have no clue as to how the computer assigns boarding times.  I called my PCC and he says there is nothing he can do to get us into Group A.

 

I like to have lunch in the dining room on embarkation day.  

[NCTribeFan]

Well, guess I'll just have to see if it changes again before I sail.  Others have said their boarding time changed multiple times and then ended up back with the original time.  HAL's IT system at work yet again!

 

This sailing in particular may end up boarding early.  It's the first sailing once Eurodam arrives in Port Everglades.  Our itinerary was cut short by two days while they do a "deep cleaning," so there won't be disembarking pax to clear.  One would think they would be able to start boarding before 1 pm!

[Sea42]

On our upcoming "free"  casino cruise we were originally scheduled for a 7 PM boarding time (11 PM sailing). After purchasing Club Orange our boarding time was reassigned to 2:20 PM.

[Caribbean Chris]

18 hours ago, oaktreerb said:

I just called Club Orange and was told that priority check in just means there is a “priority” boarding line.  It does nothing to get you onboard early.  We are 4 star and Club Orange and have been moved from Group B to Group C.  I have no clue as to how the computer assigns boarding times.  I called my PCC and he says there is nothing he can do to get us into Group A.

 

I like to have lunch in the dining room on embarkation day.  

Thanks for checking that out. DH & I were discussing yesterday what “priority” meant with Club Orange. We’ve always arrived early (11:30 or so) in the past at the FLL pier since we drive. But next week we are going to abide by the 2:30 time slot we have been given. So it may be hot dogs at FLL Costco for lunch, since we always stop there to fill the gas tank for the return drive through the Everglades.

 

Our last HAL FLL cruise in 2019, for Club Orange, there was a banner on a stand for that priority line. We were whisked off to a holding room with other people and boarded before noon.

[NCTribeFan]

If I get to the terminal at 11:30 and told I have to wait until 1:20, do you think if I faint from low blood sugar that they'll let me go ahead and board early? 😁

 

No worries.  I'll be sure to have a snack with me.  I just don't want to have to stand outside the building for 2 hours.  Bad back doesn't like prolonged periods of standing in one place.

 

I know, I know.  So just show up when my boarding pass says to show up.  I'm just in a hurry after 18+ months of waiting to get on a Dam ship!

[DaveOKC]

21 hours ago, NCTribeFan said:

I just booked B2B Alaska casino offers on Zuiderdam.  Appears the large interior cabins are sold out on both sailings.  But if I think Club Orange was "worth it" in a couple of weeks, I'll consider buying for those sailings just to see what cabins are available.

 

My original boarding pass had 1 pm, Group A boarding time.  My revised boarding pass just updated shows 1:20 pm, Group B.  Not a big difference, but since I've never had Priority boarding on HAL, I'm not sure what happens with Priority boarding.  Do they start with 5* followed by 4*?  Do suite guests also get priority regardless of Mariner status?

 

I'm hoping we'll soon get some posts from folks that are now sailing from Port Everglades to hear whether HAL is sticking to the assigned boarding times.  Certainly would be nice to be on board for lunch.

Have you considering upselling yourself to a Verandah and then purchasing Club Orange to get a nice location upgrade - such as an aft one for Alaska?  My relative did this and was quite happy with the total deal.

[Caribbean Chris]

8 minutes ago, NCTribeFan said:

If I get to the terminal at 11:30 and told I have to wait until 1:20, do you think if I faint from low blood sugar that they'll let me go ahead and board early? 😁

 

No worries.  I'll be sure to have a snack with me.  I just don't want to have to stand outside the building for 2 hours.  Bad back doesn't like prolonged periods of standing in one place.

 

I know, I know.  So just show up when my boarding pass says to show up.  I'm just in a hurry after 18+ months of waiting to get on a Dam ship!

I share that feeling!  A snack is a good idea anyway. At  least twice we’ve been stuck at the pier unable to board for hours past our time until some crisis was dealt with. I always bring a water bowl and baggies of dog food for my service dog in my hand baggage in case of major delays or missing luggage.
 

 

[MonicaHappy]

On 12/20/2020 at 4:06 PM, Okanagans said:

I think Club Orange is a huge slap in the face to HAL’s loyal Mariners. You complain about the daily costs to jump the Q and have special dining and boarding privileges but many of us have sailed many days and spent much more than that daily rate to earn our Stars.  I hope HAL cancels that whole programme.  It stinks to some of us. 

 

I completely agree.  We just finally got 4 star status on our last cruise.  We estimate that we have spent more than $100K on this cruise line.  We were surprised by Club Hal on our last cruise.  It was incredibly offensive to have priority lines for first time cruisers, including priority tendering.   It felt like a kick in the gut.  For those who say loyalty programs aren't worth it, you're right.  I will never be duped like this again.  And as for HAL, we are moving on.  I honestly don't think we can cruise them again, that's how betrayed we feel.   I hoped that the change of CEO would have them see how poorly this program has been viewed, but no luck.  Money money money, and who cares about the customer. 

[tpkuhnen]

On 7/9/2021 at 2:08 AM, leerathje said:

Sounds possible.....And are you able to pick your room, or is it guarantee?

You can pick your room