eyesazul

Thanks whogo for the comment - so true. - after this discussion with Ruth; I understand completely the confusion; and the thinking of the front desk on the Maasdam. Why there is no confusion on other ships in the fleet throws me.. Don't go with the program name for the medal make up your own name and in my 1st comment they also make-up/ignore 4&5 star rules.

And where did the Olympics come from ....

When the "new" medallion program replaced the "old" medallion program in 1999 or 2000, the first medallion was the COPPER one, not bronze.

The same medallion is the one being given now.

Just took this off HAL site under Mariner/FAQ -

6. Will I still receive medallions and pins as I have in the past?

Existing lapel pins will be replaced with brand new lapel pins for 2-Star, 3-Star, 4-Star and 5-Star Mariners. In addition, we will continue to recognize our most loyal Mariners through the awarding of a special medallion; a Bronze Medallion for guests sailing with us for a total of 100 days, a Silver Medallion for guests sailing with us for a total of 300 days, a Gold Medallion for guests achieving 500 days, and our highest level Platinum Medallion for those guests who have joined us for 700 or more days. Medallion status is calculated using Cruise Days only; Suite Bonus and Onboard Spending Bonus do not apply toward Medallion status

NOW I'm really confused. I'd think that would be the right answer.... Note this is fairly current because it mentions 5 star..

When the "new" medallion program replaced the "old" medallion program in 1999 or 2000, the first medallion was the COPPER one, not bronze.

The same medallion is the one being given now.

Thanks I never saw the old medallions or rules. I would think that 13+ years later they would use the new names. And, I've been on 7 other HAL ships and the "Maasdam" is the only one, I keep hearing "Copper used". The GSR; when I asked about it told that was what it was called because she said it was. And she was quite rude about it and she has been the only one that acted that way of the thousands of HAL employees, I've met. She also is supposed to train and monitor the FD, for the other issues I raised.

As a "Gold" 5 star I thoroughly enjoyed this cruise and there were many wonderful things to say about it.

Oh, and yes we did anchor off Sorrento. And there were food hogs. I especially disliked seeing plates full of strawberries taken so there were none left & then see those plates left on the table with mounds of NOT eaten strawberries.

This cruise had so many 4 & 5 star cruisers it was unbelievable. However, my only complaint is when you have so many 4 & 5 stars. Why does the front office lack in the skills to say NO to some people and to understand the benefits these people are or are NOTentitled to.

They say "NO" to % off for LeCirque, [wrong] they send messages to Seattle's Mariner office and they agree[wrong]. Then, the guests have to fight for what they shoud NOT have to even give a single thought to. This happens on Maasdam time & time & time again. A guest has to battle the front office. You notice I say again & again that is because I DO love this ship. But, why are the front office & night auditor NOT trained in benefits for 4&5 star when the ship is full of them. Amazingly I hear 5 star is new and I reply yeah since Jan. its now November.

As I said a great cruise - but why can this ship NOT figure out there is NO "COPPER" medallion ???????? Why does Seattle send them a list with COPPER as a heading????..... They NEED to understand that it is BRONZE or change the requirements for medallions in Q&A to copper.

Now it's a small thing; and some may say petty, but what an embarassment for the Captain & Cruise director to be awarding a medallion that does NOT exist. They have to fib and say there is some question to whether it is copper or bronze is sad [ but that's what the front office told them]. After the cruise I was on before it never even considered anything but bronze.

This is a great cruise - however if considering it take plenty of cough medicine and head cold medicine. This cruise had more people coughing and sneezing w/o covering their mouths/noses than any I had ever been on before. And I've done this one before.