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#1
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UPGRADING
Hi
My wife and I will be first time cruisers on the ZAANDAM on Sep 30th this year on a Panama cruise from San Diego. we have booked through a travel agent here in Newcastle (N S W AUS). I would welcome any suggestions re upgrading. We are currently "H" GRADE OUTSIDE GUARANTEED and our agent says there is a fair chance of an upgrade upon embarkation. However we wanted to increase our chances (especially considering we are travelling fron Australia to take this cruise)and would like to hear from anyone regarding the ettiquette of contacting HAL and just plain asking? Is this a no no or is it a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained? Also we read that the port side is the better side to be on. Is this so? And how do we go about asking for a particular side of the ship? Any suggestions would be appreciated. |
#2
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UPGRADING
You probably won't like my suggestion, but I'll give it anyway: Don't
fixate on an upgrade. In most cases, if you get a free upgrade, it's just to the same kind of cabin on a higher deck anyway. Having said that, I think you're more likely to get an upgrade by your TA requesting it than by your own request, though I don't think you have anything to lose by trying. The cabins on the Zaandam are very comfortable; you will not suffer with an H, unless you get one in the rear third of the ship and the ship still has problems with the air conditioning there! You cannot not ask for anything in particular when you book a guaranteed cabin. If you really want to be on the port side or pick your location in some other way, don't do a guarantee - they often don't save you much money anyway. Theoretically, port side gives you a view of the shore for that cruise, but in reality, you will be be too far away to see the short until you're approaching a port. Port side for this cruise will mean morning sun as opposed to afternoon sun shining through your cabin window, and in my experience, that will be the primary difference. I highly recommend that you stay tuned in to rec.travel.cruises and read lots of posts! I predict you will love your cruise. Eileen John Canning wrote: Hi My wife and I will be first time cruisers on the ZAANDAM on Sep 30th this year on a Panama cruise from San Diego. we have booked through a travel agent here in Newcastle (N S W AUS). I would welcome any suggestions re upgrading. We are currently "H" GRADE OUTSIDE GUARANTEED and our agent says there is a fair chance of an upgrade upon embarkation. However we wanted to increase our chances (especially considering we are travelling fron Australia to take this cruise)and would like to hear from anyone regarding the ettiquette of contacting HAL and just plain asking? Is this a no no or is it a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained? Also we read that the port side is the better side to be on. Is this so? And how do we go about asking for a particular side of the ship? Any suggestions would be appreciated. |
#3
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UPGRADING
There isn't any way to increase your chances of upgrading except by purchasing
a higher cat guarantee cabin. If you want port side then you loose your guarantee and your upgrade. As mentioned- if a higher priced cabin is your priority- pay and book one. |
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#6
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UPGRADING
I can't speak for Danni who is busy trying to defend us against the far
right on Court TV, but I love Hawaii and I love the days at sea that that itinerary offers. When I was much younger my wife and I visited a lot of places without Danni and over the years since my wife passed away I have tried to show Danni all of the things that she missed. In 1995 I cruised the Canal without her, so this was my opportunity to make it up to her. We did the Canal and Acapulco and Cabo, and even Curacao, all of which are great ports. I hope that helps. -- DG in Cherry Hill, NJ "RTCReferee" wrote in message ... "Dick Goldhaber" wrote: We did the Canal from San Diego in 2001 on Veendam in a suite on the starboard side. Most things of interest, going through the Canal locks are on the right side, and because we love the sun, the right side was the right side to sit on our balcony in the afternoon. Since you have done both Hawaii and the Panama Canal on Statendam-class ships with HAL, could you comment on which of the cruises, itinerary and overall experience, and which ship/staff/etc. you preferred, and why? I'd love to hear Danni's point of view, too. |
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#8
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UPGRADING
"RTCReferee" wrote in message ... "Dick Goldhaber" wrote: I can't speak for Danni who is busy trying to defend us against the far right on Court TV, but I love Hawaii and I love the days at sea that that itinerary offers. When I was much younger my wife and I visited a lot of places without Danni and over the years since my wife passed away I have tried to show Danni all of the things that she missed. In 1995 I cruised the Canal without her, so this was my opportunity to make it up to her. We did the Canal and Acapulco and Cabo, and even Curacao, all of which are great ports. I hope that helps. Yes, it does, thanks. Living on the West Coast, a round-trip to Hawaii requires shorter and less-expensive flghts. That's very attractive. I just wish there were a speedier ship doing the itinerary, where more time could be spent at port in the lush islands without making the overall cruise last so long. Could you fly one way and cruise the other? |
#9
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UPGRADING - High speed to Hawaii
Having done Hawaii on the Olympia Explorer I can honestly
say that speed can get too high for comfort. Fly one way and cruise the other or just give in to the "round the islands cruise" and fly both ways. Enough lubrication and you won't remember the fun of the flight! Cheers, John RTCReferee wrote: Yes, it does, thanks. Living on the West Coast, a round-trip to Hawaii requires shorter and less-expensive flghts. That's very attractive. I just wish there were a speedier ship doing the itinerary, where more time could be spent at port in the lush islands without making the overall cruise last so long. |
#10
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UPGRADING
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