How is a charter different than a regular cruise?

[TMJplus1]

Well...less than 3 months to go until my Zuiderdam charter! This will be my first charter cruise and I'm wondering how it will be different (if at all) from a regular cruise. Will the activities on board be the same? Will they still have the special reception for previous HAL cruisers? Will they still have the art auction, Newlywed Game, Culinary Arts demos, and all those other activities I enjoyed on the Oosterdam?!

 

I also have a question about my on-board account. I'm traveling with a dear friend - will our account be combined and we'll just figure out who owes what when we receive our final statement? Or can HAL put our account under 2 credit cards...?

[bepsf]

Depends entirely on the charter company - they have complete control over the activities, entertainment, dining arrangements, dress code, etc. for your specific cruise.

As far as on board accounts: When you check in, you will register your separate credit cards and have your photos taken. Whenever either of you makes a purchase, the server/salesperson will punch in your room number and match your face to the face photo that was taken on the pier to identify you for security and accounting purposes so that your purchase goes to your personal account.

[gizmo]

Hi CuriousJ,

 

Your questions are difficult to answer. Much depends on the organization who booked the ship.

 

For instance if it is a religous group that is anti gambling, the casino may be closed.

Some charters bring on their own entertainment.

Some activites can be the same. Maybe nothing will change.

 

To get your questions answered correctly contact the organization that is running the charter.

 

Hal can put your on board accounts on two different credit cards. I believe you do this at check in.

 

Looks like be bepsf and I were posting at the same time.

[jtl513]

My guess is that some of the activities that you would normally see will be replaced by specialized meetings or activities for the chartering group. I would bet that revenue-producing things like art auctions will still be there!

 

Yes, you can register two credit cards. However, even if you used only one card there would be separate pages for each person, and you wouldn't have "figure out" anything yourself.

[cruiseco]

Well...less than 3 months to go until my Zuiderdam charter! This will be my first charter cruise and I'm wondering how it will be different (if at all) from a regular cruise. Will the activities on board be the same? Will they still have the special reception for previous HAL cruisers? Will they still have the art auction, Newlywed Game, Culinary Arts demos, and all those other activities I enjoyed on the Oosterdam?!

 

 

It really depends on the wishes of the chartering company or organization. For most charters -- perhaps a large company chartering the ship as a sales promotion/reward -- there will be very few changes in the routine except for extra meetings, conferences, etc.

 

Other shartering groups -- for example religious groups -- will bring their own entertainment onboard, close the casino, and completely revamp the daily activities.

 

And some large agencies have been known to charter a ship and sell the cabins to the general public. For these sailings I'd expect no changes at all in the shipboard routine.

[TMJplus1]

Thanks for the replies! This is a sales incentive cruise won by my friend, and she is graciously taking me along as her hubby does not want to go. :cool:

 

The charter company isn't saying much (yet) about the activities, so I guess I'll just have to wait and see what the schedule is. Either way, I'm sure it will be fantastic - I've never cruised the Caribbean and I'm very much looking forward to HMC.

 

Another question (hopefully not too dumb): I'm assuming passengers on a charter are still responsible for the usual onboard gratuities?

[bepsf]

Another question (hopefully not too dumb): I'm assuming passengers on a charter are still responsible for the usual onboard gratuities?

 

You betcha!!!

[kryos]

Another question (hopefully not too dumb): I'm assuming passengers on a charter are still responsible for the usual onboard gratuities?

Depends. The charter company may be paying them upfront, so you won't have to. If that's the case, then you can just choose to tip anyone who did you special services or made your cruise extra special. Or, you can opt not to tip at all if the regular "suggested" gratuity amounts are prepaid.

 

As for activities, your friend will probably have to attend some workshops or sales meetings on certain sea days, and you may have special activities in the dining room ... perhaps an awards program after dinner, etc. But otherwise, I can't imagine the activities will be any different for your type of charter than for any other sailing.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[hammybee]

Unless it's a nudist charter :)

[garydm]

We, unknowingly, booked an Alaska cruise on HAL Amsterdam a couple years ago that was a charter. The ship had been chartered by a travel agency in Vancouver and as stated above, they then have control. They loaded about 1800 passengers on a ship designed for 1300, offering boarding to pre-screened people at the dock 5 minutes prior to departure based on availability. 3rd or 4th person in a cabin-no problem, just pay the port fee and tax. Long story short, the crew was overwhelmed, there was not enough seating in the dining room, and they ran out of many food items. Lines everywhere. I would never do this type of charter again.

 

Gary

[sgttami]

I can only answer for the one time that I went on a fully chartered ship. Celebrity..Century in 1996. The cruise was not open to the public. It was a PBA cruise and you had to be a NJ Police officer or family member to go.

 

We sailed from Miami and went to St. Maarten for 4 days..(back when you had to tender to the dock). There were no other ports for that cruise. Entertainment and events were mixed as a lot of that trip was a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the NJ PBA. For the most part it was a "regular" cruise. It was wonderful! At the time I had been on two cruises prior so it was quite comparable.

 

I had gone as a rep for our PBA and my trip was fully paid for (air, cruise, tips). In return I had to attend several meetings throughout the week so even though it was pleasure, there was a bit of business. I had to pay my own bar tab/seapass bill and whatever other expenses I incurred for pleasure.

 

This was definitely a "party cruise"..and according to crew, the only time that the ship ran out of beer before reaching St. Maarten...With over 900 cops on board, I wonder why!!!

 

I guess it depends on the charter...and if part of it is open to the public. In this case, it wasn't. Have a great tiime...

 

Pam