Please tell me more about group bookings - Page 2 - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

Cruise Novice · 05-14-2009, 07:56 PM

Do any one of you experts out there know what the group amenities are on a HAL cruise.

I think we got a bit better price on our 7 cabins. But if our TA is able to fill the 8th cabin, can we expect anything else?

Thanks as always

Cruise Planner · 05-15-2009, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruise Novice

Do any one of you experts out there know what the group amenities are on a HAL cruise.

I think we got a bit better price on our 7 cabins. But if our TA is able to fill the 8th cabin, can we expect anything else?

Thanks as always

Yes.

You will get a TC (Tour Credit) and some amenity points, which can be used to lower the rate or for other things such as gifts.

A TC will be equal to the cruise fare of the majority of cabins. Keep in mind that the cruise fare is not the cost of the cruise. The amount advertised consists of two amounts; the cruise fare and the port fees (also called the non-commissionables). Then you have to add taxes on top of that. So the TC is not the same as the advertised amount, it's only a part of it. But this amount will be refunded back to you and will be the amount of the majority of cabins. So, if you have 3 inside cabins, 4 oceanview cabins, and 1 balcony cabin, then the TC will be the amount of the cruise fare for an oceanview cabin.

Many times, an agent will not tell their clients about the TC and/or the amenities, so make sure you get both.

However, keep in mind that sometimes the cruise line may not be offering any group amenities for a particular sailing. This can be due to high demand, in which case no groups are being accepted, or it may be due to the fact they have already sold out of their alloted group space (they often will only allow so many cabins to be sold into groups).

Let me know if you have any questions.

Pete

CruiseHelper · 05-15-2009, 01:02 AM

If you will supply the ship and saili date on HAL, I will check what amenity points are available and a list of what the points will add to your group. I don't know how your agent operates, but some agents will only allow a group to use a Tour Conductor Credit if they supply all the cabins for the group.

However, the amenity points will apply to the whole group.

Cruise Novice · 05-15-2009, 08:17 AM

Pete, it's all far more complicated than I suspected. You sure offered a complete explanation, but I think I've only grasped the point that it's not a straightforward offer of benefits.

Cruise Helper it's a May 22, 2010 sailing to Alaska on Zuiderdam. Interesting that the actual sailing makes a difference.

As I said we've only booked 7 of the required 8 cabins and they're all steerage ones. And unfortunately upgrades wouldn't be helpful if offered later to the sailing as we need 3 sets of connected cabins and I suspect there's not much hope any of these would still be available.

WOW! Thanks to each of you for such generous information and research time. Planning time is on our side for sure. Since this is just a routine sailiing I suspect that we might have booked the first lot of cabins.

Ruth

Char · 05-15-2009, 08:23 AM

Ruth, you will find that our travel agents here are always ready and willing to help our members.

They are the best!