HIA Selling Without PPD Gratuities ?

[mcrcruiser]

Personally, we don't feel it is worth  the  money that HAL charges for the Have It All  promo with out the PPD Gratuities  included . In Fact they could take out the Excursion Part & replace it with PPD Gratuities

[Iamthesea]

We thought it was when we purchased it for 50% off.  We have plenty of OBC from both HAL and our TA that we will use for gratuities and for the spa.  

[crystalspin]

Fortunately, no one who doesn't find value in the HIA promo has to buy it. Just be careful about buying the Best Price booking, as it will have a non-refundable deposit. Call your PCC and ask for the Advantage fare for the bare-bones deal, but refundable deposit.

[mcrcruiser]

1 hour ago, crystalspin said:

Fortunately, no one who doesn't find value in the HIA promo has to buy it. Just be careful about buying the Best Price booking, as it will have a non-refundable deposit. Call your PCC and ask for the Advantage fare for the bare-bones deal, but refundable deposit.

 Yes  new people booking need to know this  . Many tears ago this was never a issue with the cruise lines  .Like every thing else things change  .

[mcrcruiser]

If HAL offered the HIA with ppd gratuities which they do some times, then we would buy it 

[billbunger]

Here we go again!

[VMax1700]

7 hours ago, mcrcruiser said:

Yes  new people booking need to know this

The banner on the website lists the features and there is a link to the terms and conditions.

Why is that difficult?

Everyone, specially 'new people' should always read the t&c as they may (and do) change from time to time.

[kazu]

3 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

The banner on the website lists the features and there is a link to the terms and conditions.

Why is that difficult?

Everyone, specially 'new people' should always read the t&c as they may (and do) change from time to time.

 

I so agree.  What’s not worth it to some is worth it to others.  

 

No one has to buy it or get it.  I simply do the math and determine if it is worth it or not. 😉 

[Crazy For Cats]

On a seven day cruise it’s not worth it to us to buy it without gratuity included.  On our upcoming 10 day cruise we thought it worthwhile so we bought it. 

[3rdGenCunarder]

13 hours ago, crystalspin said:

Fortunately, no one who doesn't find value in the HIA promo has to buy it. Just be careful about buying the Best Price booking, as it will have a non-refundable deposit. Call your PCC and ask for the Advantage fare for the bare-bones deal, but refundable deposit.

 

That's why I always book cruises through my TA. HAL doesn't show the advantage fare. Just best price and HIA. My TA always finds the advantage fare for me so I can compare that to the HIA fare. She said she resists booking nonrefundable deposits, especially if it's far out. People assume they won't need to cancel, but if they do they're unhappy about not getting the deposit back. 

[mcrcruiser]

I am going to check the HAL web site about the promotion  HIA ,I think that the excursion allowance is low  per trip . Besides  if we do excursions ,we plan our own  not ship tours because we like small  group tours   .I would just find  tour money involved  in the HIA for us wasted 

[mcrcruiser]

As we thought the portion of the HIA promotion  for tours would not suit us . Additionally ,we are not drinkers  .a occasional glass of wine   is sufficient  .A person needs to consume a lot of   liquor to make the high cost worth it   .If HAL opens this promo with  the ppd gratuities  ,we then could be interested after doing the math ,if we save money 

 

 FWIW the TA we work with always knows to book refundable deposits for us . We are older than most cruisers on these threads  & need that protection  in case of illness   .We but only yearly insurance policy from Allianz ;which is a lot cheaper than a per cruise basis .It also insures our land trips . any trip under 90 days we have this insurance 

 

 

[Josie201]

Last year for our Hawaii cruise on Koningsdam we booked with HIA but gratuities were not included.  A couple months later they offered a promo with the gratuities included and the HIA.  I called, was able to have it included, and received some additional OBC to boot.  Winning!

[cruisemom42]

For my upcoming cruise, HIA minus gratuities was added free of charge after one of several price changes, shifts, OBC, etc. 

 

At no additional cost, it is definitely worth it to me. 

[Overhead Fred]

13 hours ago, billbunger said:

Here we go again!

 

[mcrcruiser]

20 minutes ago, Josie201 said:

Last year for our Hawaii cruise on Koningsdam we booked with HIA but gratuities were not included.  A couple months later they offered a promo with the gratuities included and the HIA.  I called, was able to have it included, and received some additional OBC to boot.  Winning!

That one sounds decent . imo Holland America management   is not in the business of giving  money / profits away   .This type of promotion guarantees  HAL that there is on board spending  which  they  need   .In our case we spend our  OBCs first to cover the tips ,then we use any balances for the special restaurant dinners . Thus ,I sincerely doubt   that even with  the tips included that we would come out ahead   

 Obviously ,the HIA promo works for many others & that is great for them 

[mcrcruiser]

13 minutes ago, Overhead Fred said:

 

looks delicious

[AFNavigator]

1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said:

For my upcoming cruise, HIA minus gratuities was added free of charge after one of several price changes, shifts, OBC, etc. 

 

At no additional cost, it is definitely worth it to me. 

It definitely pays to periodically check prices or specials after you book.  You might be able to reprice at a lower rate, get free gratuities, additional OBC, etc., just for the sake of asking when you see a promotion.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I just came back from an amazing cruise with NCL in The Haven, don't get me wrong but Haven is not cheap never has been but in several cases over the last several months the pricing with for Haven has been about the same as HAL Neptune but offering so much more. So after a wonderful cruise I cam home an booked NCL to Alaska over Labor Day figured I could fit it in. This morning I work up and told Tom I guess I should look at at least compare HAL for that same date and Discovery Princess. I told him it would need to be drastically less to change. Well first checked Discovery Princess since we were ust on her in December and it was about $2100.00 total less with compreable perks. Then looks at HAL sailing on the Westerdam I was shocked could get my favorite corner aft Neptune for Net difference (more HAL SBC) for $3641.00 less. So I grabbed it placing on hold but started relooking at it. The Have It ALL was a Non-refundable deposit, I went back in relooking and oddly could not find it being refundable. And of course the perks keep getting less and less, no longer the premium Wifi for suites, Only one Speciality Dining, of course Beverage package and $100 pp shore excursions credit and $450 in SBC. I then took a look at pricing coming up for Mariner with No Perks. It was $600 pp less granted the SBC was less mine was coming up with $150 per cabin. In reality we do not drink much usually just 2 glasses of wine per day maybe one bottle between Tom and I. I would prefer doing the Wine Package. The Wifi is only $109. Been to Alaska 16 times so shore excursions are not important and being 4 start have discount on Specialty Dining and coffees at Exploration Cafe. I figured we were saving quite a bit.  With what we will spend we are saing quite a bit not getting Have It All and saving about $4400.00 from booking NCL. This time HAL comes out way ahead pricing wise.

 

Sorry for the long explanation 😁

One really needs to do the math, Right now HAL has taken away so many perks of the Have It All, it does not make it a smart decision for many. I totally agree if it included the Pre paid Crew Incentive then I would have second thought but as it stands it did not.

[Lady Arwen]

Thank goodness we booked our Rotterdam 2024 TA last week.  We received the Early Booking Bonus which does include prepaid crew incentive and upgraded drink package, two Specialty Dining, premium wifi, etc.

We also got the 20% cruise fare discount with our Casino Rate benefit.

It makes a big difference when gratuity is included and offers a refundable deposit.

[Wakepatrol]

The cruise lines should get smart. They should just charge twice the amount for a cabin and give paid gratuities with it. The cruiser will be so relieved he doesn’t have to pay tips, that he won’t even notice he paid double for the cabin. Easy peasy 

[terrydtx]

On 2/13/2023 at 8:39 PM, mcrcruiser said:

If HAL offered the HIA with ppd gratuities which they do some times, then we would buy it 

We booked this week an 11 day NE/Canada cruise for Aug 2024 and got the early booking HIA promo which included the Premium Wi-Fi, Elite Bev package, and gratuities, plus 2 excursions and 2 Specialty dinning. We also got the Mariner loyalty $200 OBC and the deposit is 100% refundable. If you can book early within 90days of a cruise being released this is a very good deal and it makes the HIA a bargain. I believe the promo is worth over $135pp a per day for a $50pp per day cost.

[terrydtx]

15 hours ago, Wakepatrol said:

The cruise lines should get smart. They should just charge twice the amount for a cabin and give paid gratuities with it. The cruiser will be so relieved he doesn’t have to pay tips, that he won’t even notice he paid double for the cabin. Easy peasy 

I bet the last day of the cruise you will still see many at guest services demanding a refund for the gratuities that were included.

[FLCruiser97]

3 hours ago, terrydtx said:

We booked this week an 11 day NE/Canada cruise for Aug 2024 and got the early booking HIA promo which included the Premium Wi-Fi, Elite Bev package, and gratuities, plus 2 excursions and 2 Specialty dinning. We also got the Mariner loyalty $200 OBC and the deposit is 100% refundable. If you can book early within 90days of a cruise being released this is a very good deal and it makes the HIA a bargain. I believe the promo is worth over $135pp a per day for a $50pp per day cost.

I agree. We booked a TA next year with early booking HIA and I added up the amenities separately and the $50/pp/per day came out so much cheaper. 

[ski ww]

Just booked a cruise for 2024 with the HIA which includes crew gratuities. Looks great for us.