ExpatBride

Just now, 0106 said:

There is a vegetarian option on the regular MDR menu every evening.  I eat seafood and often order multiple appetizers to replace my main course. 

I know. I'm looking for specific recommendations that I might otherwise overlook.

1 hour ago, rodndonna said:

 

I missed the post on the new Vegetarian menu - would you be able to post it or refer to it?

You can see it here: https://profcruise.com/25-holland-america-dining-secrets/

Thanks to a recommendation on this forum, I enjoyed a mezze plate most nights the last time I sailed HAL. I wouldn't have chosen it otherwise, and it turned out to be one of my favorite MDR dishes of all time. I even ordered a double portion and ate it for my "main" on several nights.

I can see that HAL has revamped the vegetarian/vegan menu since then. Unfortunately, they've removed my beloved mezze plate. Are there any sleeper items on the new menu that I should try? I'm sure I won't starve, but nothing really appeals to me.

1 hour ago, pinto18 said:

I dont think Susans comment was rude. It seems like Elaine was questioning whether the dog was "official"...the OP said he was and that everything was already arranged. I understand there are people that try to bypass the rules, but why assume the OP is? She just doesn't want the share her grand daughters need for a service dog, nor should she have to

If it's a legit service dog and everything is in fact arranged, there should be no cause for concern 🤷‍♀️

On 5/8/2023 at 6:34 PM, Liljo22 said:

 Now every POS system asks if you want to leave a tip.  You could avoid the tip jar but now you are consciously telling the employee that you are not tipping them if you don't add a tip.

 

This started happening in Denmark a few years ago. It asks if you want to add "drik penge" (drink money) to the total and all of the waitstaff I've ever encountered press "nej" (no) without asking. Before I moved here, I traveled over from the US 1-2 times a month and the taxi drivers always used to remind me that "a tip is not customary in Denmark." I love the no-tip culture over here. It's so much easier to just pay what the establishment feels is a reasonable price for whatever they're selling without the need to play the tipping game.

As for daily gratuities, it's a ridiculous system but I just include it in the cost of the cruise and don't give it a second thought.

Layers! I live in Denmark and even now our weather can go between needing a winter coat to barely needing a sweater depending on the position of the sun and which way the wind is blowing. To be comfortable, it's not a good idea to dress for absolutes in one direction or the other. 

In these weather conditions, I usually wear a dress with tights, a cardigan, coat, and shoes that will look ok with or without tights.

20 hours ago, california and cruising said:

It is hard when someone is not there. 

I am sorry I asked a simple question. This has never happened in the states with a manicure that was 1/4 less in price. When a person goes on a ship I feel that someone should be skilled at their position.

I have a friend that from a simple so called boo boo ended up with sepsis. 

 

 

 

You've been lucky. I used to have acrylics, which I got filled every few weeks (in the States). The nail techs nicked me with the drill and took a hunk out of my finger more than once. Did it suck? Yes. Did I make a big deal about it? No. Accidents happen even with the most skilled manicurists.  

I would've pushed for a resolution onboard, but wouldn't have expected more than having the treatment comped with the rationale that a manicure is supposed to make your hands look nicer and a big cut has the opposite effect.

This is the info I got from HAL when I contacted them about gala nights on my 7-night cruise, maybe it's helpful to you:

Dressy or Gala nights are deteremined by the ship staff, based on sailing itinerary and are not announced prior to sailing. Generally speaking, on a 7 day cruise, the Dressy nights will usually be scheduled for the first night at sea and the 2nd to last night. 

 

18 hours ago, 3Shelaghs said:

When we booked last Sept, for this Aug cruise, the HIA included everything. That sale was over around end of Oct, and replaced with lesser deals since. I was told it was the best sale HAL ever has, and it doesn't come around very often. (Included: wifi, Sig Beverages, 2 Shore Excursions, 2 Specialty restaurants, prepaid Crew Grat. 50% deposit, Sale price, OBC all per person). I continue the "watch"....lol

I just booked a July 2023 sailing a couple of weeks ago with the HIA, pre-paid crew gratuities, and $200+ in OBC at a very nice price. It's a 7-night sailing, so we only get one specialty restaurant (which we will use) and one excursion (which we won't use). Was I just lucky?

I generally book in short time – like 90 days out or less. Would I do better to book a farther out? I'm still learning the cruise pricing game. I always book a guarantee because I don't mind walking, and I generally don't have a strong preference for cabin location, so getting a prime pick of cabins isn't important to me.

I'm in Europe, but I have a US address and book through a US-based TA.

3 minutes ago, ldtr said:

Their desired demographic is getting younger. Their avg passenger age is down to 57 according to Frommers most recent update.

That's still about 10 years ahead of me 😅

4 hours ago, iceman93 said:

Part of HAL's charm is its ability to make a cruise about the journey, which blends both the destinations and the ship experience.  Expecting it to be like RCCL, or Disney, or Viking, or whomever else is silly.  But to be successful in the increasingly competitive marketplace, HAL better figure out its niche soon, and make it clear to customers what that niche is.  Otherwise I'll sound like a REAL fuddy-duddy when I lament how I used to like to sail on HAL at all...

Yes! 100% this! I'm younger than HAL's target demographic BUT the classic sailing experience is what endeared me to HAL in the first place. I'd sailed RCCL and NCL and enjoyed it, but HAL was what I'd always imagined cruising would be like. I liked the classical music, the yum-yum-man, and the guy playing us into the early and late seatings. The onboard experience matched the elegance of their white and navy ships.

I was committed to HAL for that step back to a more elegant time that they provided. I haven't sailed since before Covid (personal choice) and I hope that at least glimmers of the former HAL exist on my upcoming summer sailing. Classic doesn't have to mean stodgy and outdated.

The Epic turned me off of NCL. I gave them a second chance on the Jade and they failed again, so I've moved on. I didn't like the Epic as a ship and that's on me for choosing it, but the service was not up to the usual standard and bordered on rude when I asked for things that I'd arranged ahead of time with guest services. I get that sometimes information doesn't make it to the ship, but these were basic requests that were within the crew's control given what's available on the ship.

I also got sick on the Epic. 

19 minutes ago, NavyCruiser said:

Think everyone should change their tagline to:  

"We love kids,  just not when we're on our geriatric cruise..."

 

I don't love kids, that's why I go out of my way to avoid them.

11 minutes ago, Cruise Suzy said:

Yes it does

I second this. I booked a sailing with the HIA within the past 2 weeks and got the answer straight from the horse's mouth and in writing that the 18% service charge is included. The only additional service charge would be 18% on the difference if we go above the $11 limit on drinks... and obviously the daily "gratuities" charge.

Few children is one of the reasons I prefer HAL to other lines. Maybe I've been lucky, but the one time I encountered children on HAL (Baltics) being obnoxious, their grandmother (I assume) snapped them back in line and told me that if I should see them stepping out of line again, I had her permission to correct them. They were good as gold after that.

Seeing food waste onboard is something I struggle with while cruising, though I think it's slightly better on HAL where they serve in the buffet vs. what I've seen on other lines. 

I volunteer locally to help reduce food waste. We collect food from 30 or so grocery stores 7 days a week and then redistribute it to refugees and other people in need. We also use some of the food to run a community kitchen. I've been doing this for almost 3 years now and I'm still shocked at the amount (and quality) of food that would be thrown in dumpsters if we didn't rescue and reroute it.

Let me consult my crystal ball. Who knows? Luggage gets damaged all the time. 

7 minutes ago, tscoffey said:

Well, I would argue that money spent on raising children generates a return many times over.

Money spent on alcohol is money that literally is placed down the toilet.

So no, your comparison is not at all valid.

I fail to see an ROI on kids for anyone but the taxman. Money spent on diapers and feeding them is also literally placed in the trash/toilet. 

The beautiful thing is that we're all free to spend our money on the things that matter to us.

On 5/5/2023 at 3:41 PM, tscoffey said:

Why are you willing to pay so much for something you don't even need?

 

The same can be said for many things. Most people have kids while all of the money spent raising them could go towards many, many luxury cruises. With your "logic," why do people pay for anything beyond basic necessities? The whole world is out to make a profit 🤷‍♀️

Always pay in the local currency. I have a multi-currency card with Wise, which gives pretty good exchange rates. The majority of my money is in DKK but I often have need to use EUR, GBP, and USD, and I find the exchange rates to be fair.

2 hours ago, klfrodo said:

Could have been a mis-communications situation.

English is my first language and if someone said to me "I would like a zero proof pirate punch", I would be confused as hell. I can only imagine what someone who's English is their second or third language might be thinking.

This! I would've asked if it was possible to get a pirate punch without the alcohol. English is my first language and after living abroad for many years, I've learned that fluency in a language isn't the same as speaking it natively. Therefore, it's helpful to everyone involved to keep things as simple as possible.

Port days, but probably for a different reason than most. The ship is my destination. I get on and I don't get off again until I have to. I like port days because most people are off the ship and I can enjoy the amenities and the quiet. I like some of the sea day activities, but I'm willing to forego them to have an uncrowded ship.

Whatever you decide, my suggestion is to do it privately. My ex proposed in Italy overlooking Lake Como at sunset in an outdoor dining area. It would've been perfect if we didn't have an audience – in retrospect, he liked the attention. The setting was amazing, but the proposal itself was not.

This is a moment for the two of you... propose quietly, savor your secret for a few days, and then share the news.

6 hours ago, OlsSalt said:

 

Not long ago, they had a brightly uniformed young man who handed out traditional seafaring treats on the way out of the dining room - but alas, a tradition no more: mints, candied ginger, dates or figs.

 

I sincerely miss the yum-yum man 🥺

The only time I've given chocolate as a "tip" was at an all-inclusive where tips were prohibited, and even then I slipped a few bucks here and there.