iancal

It means Dam, the AC is not working....check the plumbing.

We lived in Vancouver for many years. Recommended the Westin Bayshore to many business colleagues and clients coming into town on business and for pleasure over the years.

 

IF only they had left Trader Vics alone....many happy very long business lunches spent in that establishment!

We would never spend six nights in Fort Lauderdale. We do spend much longer in Florida but we rent a car and head south to the Keys, north to some other beaches, or west to the Gulf Coast. Two days actually spent in Fort Lauderdale is our max. If we happen to stay longer, the other days are day trips to somewhere else.

 

When we go now it is usually a day walking the beach, or a few hours strolling Las Olas, including a trip of that paddle boat that tours the canals.

Westin Bayshore is our absolute favourite city hotel in Canada. Great location, great people.

 

Fabulous on a warm sunny day in Vancouver.

There was no rhyme or reason to the Princess offer. We had not booked very early and not directly with Princess. We knew another couple on the ship, frequent Princess customers, who had booked months before us. They did not even get a sniff at this deal. The offer was made while we were on a Celebrity cruise over Christmas.

 

It took us four days to nail it down since the Princess booking folks were apparently busy/short staffed over the holiday period. We were concerned that we would miss the offer. The TA got a con call going with us, her, and the Princess rep. We did a verbal, and the details followed a day or so later. We were very impressed with the entire process-how our on line TA and Princess handled it and responded to our questions.

You could also consider the Bayshore.

 

It is not at Canada Place but is a very short cab ride away. It has a unique waterfront location and is beside Stanley Park. The Pan Pacific and the Bayshore are our favourites. Failing that, the Sylvia is very different. Located at English Bay...on the other side of Stanley Park.

We are sitting with one way air to Thailand on Dec. 31. We have a Feb. 20-March 6 cruise from Australia. We have not made any travel arrangements after that date.

 

Our goal is to grab a second last minute cruise since we do not want to return home to winter so early. And hopefully pick up an attractive cruise air fare for the trip home. No plan B yet but it will all fall into place. Retirement allows us to travel like this. Could not do this when I was working so we are taking advantage of it now.

We had a South America cruise booked on Princess last Feb. They called in Dec. and asked us to give up the cabin.

 

The deal was give up the cabin, get a full refund, a free 14 day cruise (any cruise), a cabin upgrade from balcony to mini suite, and up to $300. to offset airline cancel charges (we used $200.).

 

We thought about it for a split second and accepted. Our on line TA arranged the offer, ensured that we got it in writing, and rebooked us on an Australian cruise. I think it was called a 'move over' offer.

 

Not certain how this happens given final payment is well in advance of the cruise but it apparently does from time to time. We would very happily accept more of these offers if they come our way.

If I attend my spouse's family church in Ontario suits, jacket/tie are acceptable and the norm.

 

If I attend my spouse's church in Calgary, Alberta there are lots of jeans, shorts in the summer, etc. They are acceptable and welcomed.

 

Big difference between the two locales and what is the norm in terms of acceptable dress.

We have lived in a number of diverse regions and cities.

 

Wearing what you would wear to go out for a nice dinner could vary greatly between cities/regions as well as urban, suburban, and rural.

You need to select your ship carefully on HAL..according to your personal preferences. There are some large variations in ship size and conditions within their fleet.

 

Not unlike a few other lines but certainly more pronounced and variable on HAL.

HAL appears to be one of the most restrictive cruise lines in forcing people to book in certain geographical areas. If you compare like for like pricing based on booking origin you will sometimes see very large discrepancies...not only in terms of pricing but also in terms of contracts. Especially as it relates to repricing when the prices are reduced prior to final payment.

 

We have met a number of people from Europe and from Australia who have abandoned HAL on many cruises for this very reason. Not al cruise lines do this. Shop around on some of the US on line sites. Some will accept cruise bookings on certain cruise lines..often at considerably less than booking in the UK, Europe, or Australia. Not always, but I am told often. It also helps to have an accomodation address you have a friend or business colleague who lives in Canada or the U.S. We have sometimes noticed, though very, very seldom, that a last minute cruise is offerered on a UK or EU site for a lower price or more gimmes than the same cruise on a U.S. website

 

It works the opposite for us. We have in the past booked packaged vacations and hotels,in Europe on a UK site using a UK accommodation address because they were either not available to us in Canada or were priced at a significantly higher price on a North American web site.

 

I do not buy the line about the price delta being attributable to EU or UK travel protection. I can understand five, perhaps ten points but not thirty or forty. let alone the restrictive contract terms

Perhaps HAL will give you a complementary bottle of plonk or a $50. OBC on your next cruise.

But only if you change your mind and book another HAL cruise.

Not certain why this is such a big deal if, as you say, you will not be cruising on HAL again.

There must be some more polite/respectful cruise lines out there who send customers nice little notes.

I get 'ripped off' every time we take a flight, cruise, or book into a hotel.

 

Why? Because there is no doubt in my mind that someone has paid less than me for the air, cruise, and hotel.

 

That is how supply and demand works. If you wait for the absolute lowest fare I suspect that you will be spending more time at home.

We are part way there. Sold our home, downsized, and moved everything to email.

 

I would happily give up the rental and travel for a few years as per Lynn Martin however DW says NO!

 

We find that by having a cruise at the end of a longer period of independent land travel really helps. You get some pampering. Just did this in the fall, doing it again in the winter. We did one seven month trip but our max now seems to be 2-3 months. We have been home for three weeks and we are looking forward leaving again at the end of the year.

The challenge with the Lido is the hours of operation-they close at 8PM-but some stations are close earlier than that.

 

In our experience, the Lido really starts closing at 7:30 because no fresh food is brought out after that time. Plus, the staff start closing down some of the buffet sections at that time.

 

SO, if you want to skip the MDR on formal nights, your only REAL choice is to dine in your cabin or get to the Lido prior to 7PM. IMHO, very poor customer service.

HAL currently has some good deals for the end of Dec. on 7 day Caribbean runs on Noordam and NA.

 

Depending on demand, you can in fact snag a good deal on Christmas/New Years cruises. This time last year we booked a 14 day Celebrity cruise over the Christmas period. Did the same the year prior on a 10 day NCL cruise. Both were balcony cabins, guarantees-both at much reduced prices.

 

We have also done the first week in Dec-many more offers at this time.

We do a random act of kindness.

 

We leave a cash tip over and above the cruise line gratuity.

 

We do not feel a need that we have to be best buddies or make friends with everyone we come in contact with. This is a business relationship.

HAL could certainly use a new management team, some fresh thinking and a little innovation.

 

The air in HAL's mahogany row is as stale as stale can be....and it shows in where HAL's product has been going in the past several years.

papcx...agree with you completely.

 

 

I do not get it either. Why compromise the relationship. I do no need to become best friends with the room steward, and the reverse is true.

 

And, like you, I just do not get this special gift idea. These hard working folks are working for money...they want tips not some tshirt from East Rubber Boot or a box of salt water taffy.

We are very comfortable taking carry on only, no checked bags, and not looking particularly sexy.

RocketMan275....we are exactly the same.

 

HAL is a great cruise line. Don't be put off by the comments. Just select your ship carefully to meet your personal preferences. Same as any other cruise line that has different types/sizes/ages of ships in the fleet.

I believe that it should be made VERY clear to people reading these forums that while some posters may long for the old ways, when it comes to enforcing the code in a reasonable manner and one which reflects the desires of customers, HAL has the last say.

 

Not in their preferences or requests posted on their web site... but with what REALLY happens on their ships.

 

You will have absolutely NO issue in wearing casual attire in public areas on formal evenings as long as you are not attending dining venues that request formal.

 

More and more cruisers are going casual...either dining in alternate venues OR changing into casual attire after dinner.

 

The expectation that those folks should remain in their cabins is well...just silly. It is not reasonable and therefore it is not enforced. This may cause some folks a little angst but this is how it really is.

If Sears keeps on the way they have been, everything will be on sale at 75 off for a final liquidation sale!

We no longer bother with formal nights in the MDR but we certainly do not stay in our cabin all night. You may find us in a lounge, a movie, show, or casino...in our casual attire.

 

I cannot imagine HAL asking revenue generating customers to leave the bars, lounges, casino, shops etc. on formal evenings simply because they are in casual attire. It does not happen, nor will it happen. HAL knows better than that.