Anyone ever heard of this?

[abb4k]

The December 7 Westerdam sailing shows SZ guarantee cabins available, but I cannot book one, because they are only available for double occupancy, not for a triple. We are traveling with our 3-year old daughter who is going to sleep on the couch. HAL says they cannot put three pax in a guarantee, because not all cabins have accommodations for a triple.

 

Does this make any sense? Seems weird to me. Seems like there must be a way around it.

 

???

[ekerr19]

No, it happens to us all the time. We usually have a 3rd, sometimes a 4th and cannot book GTY in Suites when we have the kids with us.

 

Because the GTY berths are not filled until after final payment, and the triples might all be filled as paid categories, HAL has no way to guarantee you will get one of the triple SZ cabins as a GTY -that's why they don't let you do it.

 

You should ask about the next highest and be willing to upgrade for the best results, price wise.

 

Anymore, we just book what we want in order to avoid disappointment.

[ekerr19]

oops, double!

[abb4k]

Thanks for the info. We're in a verandah that we're happy with. But the SZ's are now available for $50 more per person, which seems very cheap. When we called to inquire about it, they told us we couldn't do it because of the triple issue. SY's are available, but they're like $300 more per person.

 

No, it happens to us all the time. We usually have a 3rd, sometimes a 4th and cannot book GTY in Suites when we have the kids with us.

 

Because the GTY berths are not filled until after final payment, and the triples might all be filled as paid categories, HAL has no way to guarantee you will get one of the triple SZ cabins as a GTY -that's why they don't let you do it.

 

You should ask about the next highest and be willing to upgrade for the best results, price wise.

 

Anymore, we just book what we want in order to avoid disappointment.

[ekerr19]

Make sure your agent knows you'd be willing to take one of those SY's if they become available at a lower price. You might get lucky - there have been a few here lately who have. :)

 

Good luck & keep us posted if it does come through -

[abb4k]

Thanks, I did just that. Agent also suggested that I keep checking website, to see if any triples open up. (I still think HAL should allow us to occupy a double-occupancy cabin, if we are amenable to 3-year-old sleeping on couch, which we are. But I know what they say about fighting city hall).

 

Will keep you apprised.

 

Thanks again for the info.

[richnorto]

Have you called HAL directly? I discovered in my last booking that I really don't have to book kids and parents split as long as we are next door and booked as escorts. HUH? I've been using TA's who said we had to split and change on board. The system won't accept a guarantee for a triple(computer issue maybe) but you may be able to work something out by booking a double with a crib. You know you will have a couch so you can have the crib removed. Just a suggestion.

[abb4k]

Thanks for the suggestion. I did call HAL directly, and they told me that Maritime laws apply, and that cabins that are not "triple or quad eligible" cannot be booked as such. They said the only exception is if we are traveling with an infant (under two years old) -- then they can sell you a double-occupancy cabin, even though there would actually be three in the cabin.

 

Rules are rules, but it makes no sense to me that the three of us can be accomodated in a SMALLER cabin, but not in a Suite that for whatever reason is not designated as a triple.

 

Have you called HAL directly? I discovered in my last booking that I really don't have to book kids and parents split as long as we are next door and booked as escorts. HUH? I've been using TA's who said we had to split and change on board. The system won't accept a guarantee for a triple(computer issue maybe) but you may be able to work something out by booking a double with a crib. You know you will have a couch so you can have the crib removed. Just a suggestion.