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Maasdam oversold for this Saturday

clopaw

By clopaw,
in Holland America Line

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clopaw

clopaw

Posted
Posted

Apparently this Saturday's sailing of the Maasdam is oversold. We just had a call for our TA offering us back half our fare to move our sailing to the following week or the week after that. Unfortunately changing our airfare would more than eat up the credit.

 

Even more unfortunately for us, they were offering half the fare back and a 10 day Rotterdam New England cruise in October. My job's busiest season is the fall, so that's not an option for us. (let's see, calling in sick from a cruise ship, would they fall for that? ;) )

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boot

boot

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I've just received the same call from my TA. If it were not 3 days away, I would seriously consider it. As it is now I would have to change too many arrangements, pet sitter, limo, etc.

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Roz Great Review Rare

Roz

Posted
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Does this happen often? Do they overbook and then hope a certain number or percentage don't make the final payment? Sounds good though, if you're retired and live close enough to the port to drive.

 

Roz

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iluvcruzin

iluvcruzin

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If you could make the change it sounds like a good deal. Unfortuantely not everyone is so flexible. As far as how this happened.. my guess is they had too many guaranteed cabins sold. I could be wrong as it's just a guess.

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sail7seas

sail7seas

Posted
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CALL ME.......

 

 

Aside from the fact we have a friend flying in to join us aboard, I would "sell" back our cruise if asked.....IF THE OFFER WERE GOOD ENOUGH. What would be the big deal for us as we live in Boston. The only bad part would be if my husband could not rearrange his schedule.

 

We once sold back our Suite on Rotterdam Transatlantic 17 day cruise and the offer was AMAZING. They must have wanted a Suite big time!!

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stillfrantic

stillfrantic

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Seems that even with the guarantees sold, the fianl payments would have determined how many were allowed to book. Seventy five days ago they should have know how many were left. Maybe too many took advantage of a last minute discount and instead of some reserving and not following through with full payment, everyone paid?

 

We wouldn't be able to cancel either because of airfare. I guess the OP booked their own air? Would they not offer the incentive to those using HAL air because then HAL would have to pay the change fees?

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clopaw

clopaw

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Now they've changed it to the 10 day cruise of our choice, upgrade from outside to balcony and 25% refund. Just need to check dates with my boss. Obviously gives us much more flexibility with changing plane tickets

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gizmo

gizmo

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This is nothing new, but I haven't heard about it happening on Hal in a long time. It happens on all cruise lines and every now and then I see it posted on other boards.

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Cruiseoften

Cruiseoften

Posted
Posted
:) How did that happen that HAL over sold a cruise?[/color][/font]

Wonder how they selected you? Any clue?[/color][/font]

HAL should realize that people who don't live near the port and have to fly have a hard time changing flights plus the additional cost.

:)

 

KKs, your post raises a question so................

 

Have to ask, Clopaw, - did you book the 'royal' Penthouse Suite? :D

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tankerjo2

tankerjo2

Posted
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Happened to us twice on HAL. Wife and Mother's 7 day Alaska cruise in 93 was oversold...offered a 10 day cruise to Alaska out of SF with a nice upgrade, they declined the offer and happened once again 4 or 5 years ago we had 2 inside cabins booked for Alaska when we got a call offering us 2 balcony cabins to go the following week. Since it was Vancouver to Vancouver and since we had no air involved and we live within easy driving distance of Vancouver we jumped at the offer.

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clopaw

clopaw

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Well, we are now booked on the Rotterdam 10 day Panama Canal cruise in December. We went from an outside far forward with portholes to a balcony with a refund of twenty five percent of what we paid for a week on the Maasdam. We could change the Boston tickets on Delta to Fort Lauderdale with a $100 charge per person. HAL is giving us a ship credit for the $200. While we had looked forward to the Canada/New England tour, we have wanted to do the Panana Canal so we are excited about this one, too.

 

Our travel agent says that in her experience Princess is the line that most commonly overbooks, but she has seen it on HAL as well. This will be our ninth cruise, first on HAL. We have never had any kind of upgrade in the past...always happy with the room we've paid for. Who know?...maybe HAL will be our new favorite.

 

I have no idea why they chose us. Our TA said we were her only passengers on this sailing, so I have no idea how widespread their offer was. We're from Ohio, so they probably could have guessed we would be flying, but not with their air. I'm just glad they chose us.:D

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FlorenceItaly

FlorenceItaly

Posted
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WOW!!!!!!!!!! I am a recent first time HAL'er, first cruise on the Maasdam last month, but from what I have read on here, and in talking to other passengers Rotterdam is a favorite ship among MANY. It sounds like you are going on a wonderful ship AND a wonderful itinerary. HAL was very generous.

How exciting! Congrats.

 

Btw, I DID love the NE/Canada cruise and the Maasdam so make sure you book it for next summer :).

 

Marie

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Aussie Gal

Aussie Gal

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Clopaw,

 

How wonderful for you. That will be such an exciting trip especially on the lovely Rotterdam.

 

It could never happen to us, living so far away from the action, but it is great when nice things happen for others.

 

Jennie

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clopaw

clopaw

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We're excited. It just seemed like a great opportunity. The last two cruises we've done have been 10 days, and the idea of going back to a 7 day was a little difficult. Still, the ports were all new to us on the Maasdam cruise, and we were looking forward to our first HAL cruise. Now we just have longer to look forward to it. :D I had used these boards a lot for information, so I'm starting over.

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Flyingfish

Flyingfish

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Yes this does happen! We booked HAL's Amsterdam for their 17 day Copenhagen to NYC Northern Adventure (forgot the proper cruise name). This happened in 2001. The TA called twice to try to talk us out of an inside room. The offer was fantastic, but, we weren't giving up this cruise having missed it the year before (Maasdam). We never regretted it!!

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