Alaska Shore Excursions are Up

[QueenofEverything]

Alaska shore excursions are showing now when you sign into your account if anyone is interested.

[silversneakers]

Still waiting to hear if HAL will require ship shore excursions only.  Anyone know anything further?

[AKJonesy]

Just now, silversneakers said:

Still waiting to hear if HAL will require ship shore excursions only.  Anyone know anything further?

Gus Antorcha said, what we know right now is that passengers will be able to get off the ships and walk around on their own in Alaska and Greece.  

[silversneakers]

Just now, AKJonesy said:

Gus Antorcha said, what we know right now is that passengers will be able to get off the ships and walk around on their own in Alaska and Greece.  

Hopefully that's the case.

[Crazy For Cats]

I booked an excursion today.  I had hoped that the excursion credit would automatically be applied, it didn’t.  That’s disappointing.

[QueenofEverything]

15 minutes ago, Crazy For Cats said:

I booked an excursion today.  I had hoped that the excursion credit would automatically be applied, it didn’t.  That’s disappointing.

Same for me.  I am hoping there will be a way to get that credit later.  I didn't want to risk missing out on the shore excursion we really wanted.  Not sure what their capacity is this year or how fast they will book up. 

[Crazy For Cats]

10 minutes ago, QueenofEverything said:

Same for me.  I am hoping there will be a way to get that credit later.  I didn't want to risk missing out on the shore excursion we really wanted.  Not sure what their capacity is this year or how fast they will book up. 

I have to think that they will issue a credit once onboard.  We can use that money to pay for gratuities.  We will look over the weekend and probably book more so we can get what we want.

 

in the past when we get the 10% discount it applied right away.

[fatbob66]

Able to log into my account but not able to purchase any excursions. Gotta love the HAL website

[PSR]

1 hour ago, fatbob66 said:

Able to log into my account but not able to purchase any excursions. Gotta love the HAL website

 

Me too; tried about 30 minutes ago and almost got the shorex to load, but curser just wouldn't work. Guess everybody found out and were trying to book...that's why I am on CC now!😏

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I have spent that last two days on the phone with HAL Shore Excursion Desk to get retold the same thing even having someone go to bat for me at HAL. Here is the scoop....If you booked with the New Have It All Promotion and wanting the $100.00 per person credit, that will not be available till July 7th, that is when the IT department will have the system up and operating that it will acknowledge that you have credit coming and will discount it when you purchase the shore excursions. They absolutely will NOT give you credit after the fact if you have purchased prior to July 7th. I tried to get them to give me ship board credit. They will not do it. The advise two do one of two things wait till July 7th or if you absolutely want to reserve you can book and then later use your $100.00 for another excursions. Or book it and if it has not yet sold out you can cancel and rebook on July 7th. But if the shore excursions has sold out you will not be able to cancel and rebook because those on the wait list will be up next if you cancel and you cannot jump the line. I bought one that I really wanted , the second I am just going to have to wait and see because there is not a third excursions I want for July since I am returning again in September.

It also appears with the update that HAL IT is doing for July 7th that you also will be able to book Dining Reservations that show on your reservation. That should work for the new promo as well as previous promotions.   

[LAFFNVEGAS]

3 hours ago, Crazy For Cats said:

I have to think that they will issue a credit once onboard.  We can use that money to pay for gratuities.  We will look over the weekend and probably book more so we can get what we want.

 

in the past when we get the 10% discount it applied right away.

Sadly I was told twice now that they absolutely will not be issuing a credit if we purchased shore excursions prior to July 7th. Trust me I tried.

[Florida_gal_50]

1 hour ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

I have spent that last two days on the phone with HAL Shore Excursion Desk to get retold the same thing even having someone go to bat for me at HAL. Here is the scoop....If you booked with the New Have It All Promotion and wanting the $100.00 per person credit, that will not be available till July 7th, that is when the IT department will have the system up and operating that it will acknowledge that you have credit coming and will discount it when you purchase the shore excursions. They absolutely will NOT give you credit after the fact if you have purchased prior to July 7th. I tried to get them to give me ship board credit. They will not do it. The advise two do one of two things wait till July 7th or if you absolutely want to reserve you can book and then later use your $100.00 for another excursions. Or book it and if it has not yet sold out you can cancel and rebook on July 7th. But if the shore excursions has sold out you will not be able to cancel and rebook because those on the wait list will be up next if you cancel and you cannot jump the line. I bought one that I really wanted , the second I am just going to have to wait and see because there is not a third excursions I want for July since I am returning again in September.

It also appears with the update that HAL IT is doing for July 7th that you also will be able to book Dining Reservations that show on your reservation. That should work for the new promo as well as previous promotions.   

Too bad they can’t build a system to recognize your Mariner status.  Maybe 10 years from now🙄.  There was supposed to be a 10 percent discount on my shorex for a cruise this fall that never showed up on my booking. I shouldn’t have to call.  I wasn’t that interested in parting with my money.  Hal should stop using  high school students as their IT people.

[Crazy For Cats]

10 hours ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

I have spent that last two days on the phone with HAL Shore Excursion Desk to get retold the same thing even having someone go to bat for me at HAL. Here is the scoop....If you booked with the New Have It All Promotion and wanting the $100.00 per person credit, that will not be available till July 7th, that is when the IT department will have the system up and operating that it will acknowledge that you have credit coming and will discount it when you purchase the shore excursions. They absolutely will NOT give you credit after the fact if you have purchased prior to July 7th. I tried to get them to give me ship board credit. They will not do it. The advise two do one of two things wait till July 7th or if you absolutely want to reserve you can book and then later use your $100.00 for another excursions. Or book it and if it has not yet sold out you can cancel and rebook on July 7th. But if the shore excursions has sold out you will not be able to cancel and rebook because those on the wait list will be up next if you cancel and you cannot jump the line. I bought one that I really wanted , the second I am just going to have to wait and see because there is not a third excursions I want for July since I am returning again in September.

It also appears with the update that HAL IT is doing for July 7th that you also will be able to book Dining Reservations that show on your reservation. That should work for the new promo as well as previous promotions.   

Good Morning Lisa, thanks for this information.  I am afraid that this policy will cause a lot of headaches for the shore excursion desk and the front office.  On our cruise excursions are selling out.  If we wait until after July 7 for a July 31 cruise we could be SOL on the excursions we want.  IMHO they shouldn’t have opened excursions until everything was ready.  HAL has had enough time to get this worked out since the announcement of the promotion.

 

Am I understanding correctly that we can book the free dinner provided by the promotion ahead of time, after July 7?  If true that will be a nice feature.  I’ve been debating how to book the dinners, one from booking and from our first cruise as 5*.

[KirkNC]

Nothing like taking a perk and turning it into something else.  Horrible way to treat returning customers.  How hard is it to issue an OBC….

[LAFFNVEGAS]

4 hours ago, Crazy For Cats said:

Good Morning Lisa, thanks for this information.  I am afraid that this policy will cause a lot of headaches for the shore excursion desk and the front office.  On our cruise excursions are selling out.  If we wait until after July 7 for a July 31 cruise we could be SOL on the excursions we want.  IMHO they shouldn’t have opened excursions until everything was ready.  HAL has had enough time to get this worked out since the announcement of the promotion.

 

Am I understanding correctly that we can book the free dinner provided by the promotion ahead of time, after July 7?  If true that will be a nice feature.  I’ve been debating how to book the dinners, one from booking and from our first cruise as 5*.

Yes, it is my understanding that if you have any Free Specialty Dining available no matter the promotion, when IT completes this upgrade you will be able to reserve the Free Dining, your perk from which ever promo you had will show up which will definitely be better than the past. Hopefully they do not open up the Dining until IT has completed the upgrade, otherwise just one more headache for HAL.

I agree they really should have had this planned out a bit better and been more prepared. It's not like they have not had the time.  

[DDDallas]

On 6/8/2021 at 3:20 PM, AKJonesy said:

Gus Antorcha said, what we know right now is that passengers will be able to get off the ships and walk around on their own in Alaska and Greece.  

I asked my HAL representative yesterday about the ability to get off the ship in Alaska without buying a HAL excursion and was told that you must buy an excursion to exit the ship.  Hopefully, this will change.

[AKJonesy]

3 hours ago, DDDallas said:

I asked my HAL representative yesterday about the ability to get off the ship in Alaska without buying a HAL excursion and was told that you must buy an excursion to exit the ship.  Hopefully, this will change.

Then something changed since Gus Antorcha, President of HAL spoke on this May 25 specifically to  Greece and Alaska.  https://www.facebook.com/SethonHAL/videos/274546557753771

[zelker]

Still so much confusion about Alaska and our final payment is due in a little over a week (and I know others are already in the penalty phase).  I watched Gus and Seth's Live Chat and was also under the impression that we would be allowed to do our own thing so am definitely concerned when someone is told just the opposite.  And IF that's true, then we also won't be allowed off the ship to wander ports on our own.  I know it's ultimately up to Alaska and even individual ports to make the final determination but it's getting a bit late to still be hashing this out.  I also don't like that HAL is getting final payments and yet still doesn't have a Contract that includes Terms & Conditions.  We're seriously considering cancelling if I can't get some solid answers from HAL today.  😞 

[idiebabe]

1 hour ago, zelker said:

Still so much confusion about Alaska and our final payment is due in a little over a week (and I know others are already in the penalty phase).  I watched Gus and Seth's Live Chat and was also under the impression that we would be allowed to do our own thing so am definitely concerned when someone is told just the opposite.  And IF that's true, then we also won't be allowed off the ship to wander ports on our own.  I know it's ultimately up to Alaska and even individual ports to make the final determination but it's getting a bit late to still be hashing this out.  I also don't like that HAL is getting final payments and yet still doesn't have a Contract that includes Terms & Conditions.  We're seriously considering cancelling if I can't get some solid answers from HAL today.  😞 

I also watched Seth & Gus and had the same impression.  I just saw an email from Christine Duffy posted in a Carnival FB Page that went out to all those who are booked on Carnival for AK and it said that "Guests may participate in either Ship Excursions or Independent Activities".    This is in line with what Gus said on Seth's "Live".    

[Crazy For Cats]

In Seth’s port talk about Icy Strait Point walking about on your own was discussed.  Based on that presentation we planning on doing just that.

[AKJonesy]

2 hours ago, zelker said:

Still so much confusion about Alaska and our final payment is due in a little over a week (and I know others are already in the penalty phase).  I watched Gus and Seth's Live Chat and was also under the impression that we would be allowed to do our own thing so am definitely concerned when someone is told just the opposite.  And IF that's true, then we also won't be allowed off the ship to wander ports on our own.  I know it's ultimately up to Alaska and even individual ports to make the final determination but it's getting a bit late to still be hashing this out.  I also don't like that HAL is getting final payments and yet still doesn't have a Contract that includes Terms & Conditions.  We're seriously considering cancelling if I can't get some solid answers from HAL today.  😞 

Just my opinion....but unless the information is directly from HAL, I don't believe it.  Also, I live in Alaska and visitors have been already arriving this summer and last summer and NO testing is required; it is completely optional.  The point is that the state is open and has been open.  People are right now flying into Juneau as tourists and no problem.  I cannot imagine that cruise ships would not be allowed when tourists are flying in and smaller ships are arriving in Juneau port and disembarking.  (Just using Juneau as an example).  However, I do know that Gus said they (HAL) has to work with each port and get agreements.  

[AKJonesy]

I just talked to the Port of Juneau and they said that the smaller ships that are arriving at the port now and disembarking passengers and they are free to roam at will.  I'm not making any assumptions as to what that means with HAL, but just passing on more information. 

 

[HAL4NOW]

5 hours ago, zelker said:

I also don't like that HAL is getting final payments and yet still doesn't have a Contract that includes Terms & Conditions. 

We have to "Agree to the Contract" every time we make a payment of any size; final payment or not. It does seem strange that HAL requires people to agree to a contract that is not available to look at or read.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE CRUISE CONTRACT

Please note the terms and conditions for your upcoming sailing are in the process of being updated to reflect information you need to be aware of due to COVID-19 procedures and protocols. Guests will receive a notification when the updated terms and conditions are ready for review and acceptance. We encourage you to download our Navigator mobile app for this and other travel notifications.

 

I have the Navigator App on my phone and it doesn't even have the correct booking number or ship listed for the Alaska sailing. HAL headquarters are in a city known for being heavy in high tech, but their technology is lacking.

Edited June 10, 2021 by HAL4NOW

[LAFFNVEGAS]

23 hours ago, DDDallas said:

I asked my HAL representative yesterday about the ability to get off the ship in Alaska without buying a HAL excursion and was told that you must buy an excursion to exit the ship.  Hopefully, this will change.

Unfortunately I think that you got one of the several TEMP Agents that are currently working for Holland America. I know for a fact that the day they opened the Shore Excursions the phone lines were jammed and they brought in the temps to answer phones and take orders for the excursions but if you had specific questions they were to send you to a Shore Excursion specialist. I think they were also giving these temps an incentive probably a few dollars for each shore excursions they booked. it would be to their advantage to state you have to book with them. I can pretty much give you a guarantee you will NOT be required to book a HAL Excursions.

Plus unfortunately if you have the newest Have It All and want to use your $100.00 credit you will have to wait till July 7th. 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

3 hours ago, HAL4NOW said:

We have to "Agree to the Contract" every time we make a payment of any size; final payment or not. It does seem strange that HAL requires people to agree to a contract that is not available to look at or read.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE CRUISE CONTRACT

Please note the terms and conditions for your upcoming sailing are in the process of being updated to reflect information you need to be aware of due to COVID-19 procedures and protocols. Guests will receive a notification when the updated terms and conditions are ready for review and acceptance. We encourage you to download our Navigator mobile app for this and other travel notifications.

 

I have the Navigator App on my phone and it doesn't even have the correct booking number or ship listed for the Alaska sailing. HAL headquarters are in a city known for being heavy in high tech, but their technology is lacking.

Holland America is in the process of updating procedures, this will be available on your on line check in this coming Monday July 14th for everyone with upcoming cruises. It is called Risk Acceptance Policy that we will need to log into either the Navigator App or our On Line Check In with Holland America, we will at that time have to personally accept the Risk Acceptance Policy along with the Vaccination Attestation (Holland America's wording , not mine)  This will be a form that you are confirming you are vaccinated and that you will be bringing proof with you to be provided to Holland America Representatives at the terminal. Along with this will be updated guidelines that will be required for pier check in and compliance while on the ship.