avian777

31 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

If you are going to clean your room with disinfectant wipes, you might as well do the whole ship!

... tried that but quickly realized that it was a losing battle ...

8 hours ago, KroozNut said:

 

I could be entirely wrong (which happens a lot), but I think you have missed the OP's point in starting this thread altogether.

 

I interpreted their point more as a query about whether folks may be a bit concerned about sanitation and germs in their cabin, and for this reason tend to sanitize or 'clean' their cabins upon arrival, or even periodically during their cruise.

 

Like I said, I could be wrong though..

3 hours ago, Randyk47 said:

 

I personally didn’t read it that way but you have a valid point.  Somehow I don’t equate doing some “sanitization” of your cabin as cleaning it when you first board but I understand the potential.   That said my answer stays the same, no we don’t sanitize or clean our cabin when we first board or any time afterwards.   

3 hours ago, AncientWanderer said:

 

Oh my...I didn't respond to the OP because I didn't want to admit that I, too, go around with disinfectants and so forth to make myself more comfortable.

 

I Am a Germ Freak.

 

But if I can virtue signal, I also do my best throughout the cruise to keep our cabin clean and lighten the load of the stateroom attendants.

 

We owned a pleasure boat for many years and the motto in our family was, "A clean boat is a happy boat."

A rule to live and die by.

 

 

I think all of you are spot on in your observations. My view may have been jaundiced by so many Posts that had nothing to do with sanitizing their staterooms and IMHO were the most blatant virtue signaling.   In any event, I thank you for correcting my mis-impression of this Thread.

When I first saw this Thread, I was at a loss to understand its purpose - after all, who cares whether or not I "clean my room".  But then it dawned on me - this Thread was started to give folks an opportunity to virtue signal, much the same as the frequent Threads about how much to tip room stewards, dinning attendants, bartenders, Front Desk personnel, concierges, etc., etc., etc.  And now, some 70 Posts later, I see that the purpose has been fulfilled.  Congrats, all!!!

P.S.  Only our Room Stewards know how well or poorly Mrs A and I clean our staterooms ... and they're not talking!

33 minutes ago, iancal said:

Why on earth would anyone care what a Carnival Corp ships are being used.  No doubt they used the closest and the ones that made sense.  Carnival, Princess, Costa, HAL.....does it matter what logo is on the funnel as long as the ships get there.  This is about Carnival Corp.

Spot on, iancal!  👍👍👍

From some of the comments on this Thread, I'd say there is an excellent, untapped market for a travel stupidity insurance product.

Since you are using a TA, I suggest that you ask your TA if you will be allowed to cancel your booked tours (once you are onboard) without penalty and immediately re-book the same tours using your OBC.  If your TA doesn't know the answer to your questions, I feel fairly certain he/she will be able to get the needed information directly from HAL ... and may even be able to arrange a pre-cruise cancellation/rebooking for you. 

👍👍👍

Kudos to Carnival Corporation and the Arison Family Foundation for the generous pledge to the Bahama relief effort.

9 hours ago, cruisernan said:

We are traveling on the Veendam soon and have not been able to get responses from HAL.

1.  Does the Soda Fountain Beverage card include tonic, juice, or n/a  beer?

2.  Can we carry onboard juice or tonic?

3.  Have often asked, but not answered -  can we carry on n/a beer?.

Thank you for any info !!

Based on our experience:

1. Yes on tonic, but probably no on juice and N/A beer, although some ships may allow it - best to ask ahead of time, so call Ship Services.

2.  Yes to both.

3.  Don't know for certain, so suggest you check with HAL Ship Services before you go.

I'm fairly certain that it won't answer/meet all of your questions/needs, but here's a link to a "pretty good" glossary of food terms:

https://www.finedininglovers.com/article/90-food-menu-terms-explained

Hope this helps ... bon appetite!

3 hours ago, sevenseasnomad said:

We have been cruising since 1975 with Sitmar, Carnival, Celebrity, NCCL, and RCCL.  We discovered HAL in 2008 and never looked back.  We enjoy this line for its gracious, efficient service and ships' ambiance.  Yes, we've noticed the cutbacks/reductions (whatever you want to call them), but feel that HAL still delivers a good product for our $$.  I now cruise with my son who is 32 and also prefers HAL.  In fact, he flat out loves it, probably more than me.  

 

When I feel that HAL no longer meets my expectations or value for the money, I won't complain on these boards.  I'll book with another line; however, I don't see that happening any time soon.  Is every cruise perfect?  No.  But I tend to look for the positives and forget the negatives, which IMO are few and far between at present.  I often wonder about Cruise Critic members who post only negative reviews/responses.  Why cruise with a line that offers nothing but dissatisfaction?  With so many choices, it makes no sense to me.  

👍👍👍  Agree 100%, sevenseasnomad!  Thanks for sharing your very positive insights.

4 hours ago, iancal said:

We vote with our feet and with our wallets.  We see little value in complaining or moaning and groaning about cutbacks.  Does not matter if it is cruise lines or anything else.  There is lots of choice in the marketplace so instead of complaining we simply switch products or vendors in order to find something closer to our current tastes and preferences.

 

All of the mass market cruise lines seem to have experienced cutbacks. People complain.  But they don't seem to complain when the fares stay constant, or near enough to, for years on end.

 

 My  guess is that if some HAL cruisers took the value of the fares they willingly paid 15 or 20 years ago, adjusted for inflation, they could easily pay for a cruise on a truly premium or luxury line.   It is the same on other cruise lines.    But they either do not want to pay the fare of they are quite happy being stuck in a rut enjoy complaining about their own choice of cruise line.  Those good old days are not coming back.  Time to get over it and move forward.

As usual, iancal, you nailed it!  👍😎👌 Thanks and best wishes for smooth sailing to you & yours ...

14 hours ago, LoveHAL said:

... BUT, it seems that over the past few years, Cruise Critic has turned into a place where many people have become so negative about seemingly everything HAL management does. In my opinion, the enjoyment and benefit of this Forum has declined significantly. Sure, not everything is perfect, but there are a number of Cruise Critic members that seemingly NEVER have anything positive to say. You know who you/they are..... "Orlando is trying to ruin the company"; "HAL is nickel and diming us"; "They are taking away....."; How can I sneak on alcohol or will HAL carry on my cases of waters/soda? At the end of the cruise, why doesn't HAL pay me back in cash the on-board credit that they didn't buy, but that HAL as given to them?  , and so many other things. The irony is that they seem to continue to cruise with HAL (how else would they know what is going on now?). They continue to look for the cheapest fare (nothing wrong there), but still expect all the things they got in the "good old days".  

 

My question is, if it is so bad, why complain so much? Why not just spend your travel dollars elsewhere? Or, is it just fun to complain? 

😎👌👍  Spot on, LoveHAL.  I agree with EVERYTHING you said and thank you for sharing your very good insights.  🚢🛳️⛴️

Congrats & Happy 19th Anniversary, sail7seas!  And thank you for your many, valuable contributions to the CC HAL Forum. I am truly impressed by your honesty and frankness and look forward to enjoying more of the same for many, many years to come.

8 hours ago, HAL4NOW said:

I should clarify that "Apostleship of the Sea" is who supplies the priests for HAL.

Thanks for the clarification - here's a link to AOS' web site for anyone who'd like to know more about AOS and/or support AOS' Cruise Ship Priest Program:  http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/cultural-diversity/pastoral-care-of-migrants-refugees-and-travelers/apostleship-of-the-sea/index.cfm

On 8/19/2019 at 2:52 PM, sail7seas said:

A few days ago, I called Mariners Society.

I spoke with a lovely woman and  told her I left my Platinum Medallion on Zaandam  in  May  and asked if Mariners Society could  provide  me with another.  She said yes and I received it in my mail   today;  Impressive.  I am most appreciative  and  will  carefully put  i t away to have for my next HAL cruise

Thank You,  Mariners

sail.noordam@gmail.com

And thank you, s7s, for your very classy and positive message.  Best wishes & smooth sailing.

2 hours ago, kevingastreich said:

We've LOVED the Canaletto every time we have eaten there. We take recommendations from the server. IMO, it is the often overlooked little brother to the Pinnacle Grill but it shouldn't be.  Service, food and experience were all top notch!

Spot on, kevingastreich!  👍👍👍

3 hours ago, FRANKIEDNYC said:

If it's still on the menu the zuppa de pesce  (seafood soup) is outstanding and to me worth the price alone

 Agree 100%! 👌👏👍

2 hours ago, taxmantoo said:

      Available on Amazon ...   

I wasn't aware that Robert Morrison is HAL's official writer - did he also author the KBYG booklet?  BTW where in CS(FD) does Morrison set forth HAL's policy against using the laundry bags as totes?

1 hour ago, Homosassa said:

Let me put it this way, on our last Rotterdam cruise we sat next to a couple chowing down on the so called pizza.

 

When we asked how it was, they responded, "It's great - just like what we can get in (unknown small town), Michigan."

Isn't it amazing that people from an "unknown small town" in Michigan could possibly enjoy something that you don't enjoy?

1 hour ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

...

One comment. PLEASE, people, the laundry bag is NOT a tote bag. Seriously, I saw a woman walking around the ship with the laundry bag and using it as a tote bag.

 

Thanks for the helpful suggestion.  For newbies who may not be aware of HAL protocol for such things, where is the no-tote laundry bag rule posted? Thanks again.

17 hours ago, sevenseasnomad said:

...  As all of us know, one representative at HAL says one thing, which can be contradicted by a second HAL representative.  This occurs all the time unfortunately.

In the interest of fairness and accuracy, not ALL of us know that HAL reps contradict each other, but ALL of us do know that it does not occur ALL THE TIME.  I, for one, have never had this happen to me, nor have I ever gotten bad info from the HAL reps I've consulted.  I know it can happen, but I also know that not everyone asks questions perfectly and definitely not everyone understands answers/remembers correctly or the same way.

I do, however, agree that, on an issue such as this one, people should get written confirmation of a permission to avoid problems with ship personnel who may be unaware of HAL's current policy.  BTW this is exactly what I advised in my Post # 7 above.

Seems to be no definitive answer on here, so I'd go back to basics and call HAL.  If the HAL rep says it's okay to bring a fold-up bike onboard, you might want to request written confirmation, just in case the ship's gate crew isn't aware of HAL's current policy.

19 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

A keurig would be a vast improvement.

That, RocketMan275, is the understatement of the decade!  IMO and based on my experience, anyone who says Keurig-brewed coffee is bad, horrible, etc., has either (1) no appreciation for really good coffee (which, for sake of clarity, I must point out does not include anything that comes from Starbucks), or (2) only tasted lesser quality (non gourmet) coffees brewed in a Kuerig.  After all, a Keurig is sort of like a computer program: GIGO ...

58 minutes ago, *Miss G* said:

If they were given access to the passenger information, wouldn’t that include the credit card # on file?  That’s how Luggage Direct is paid.... from your shipboard account.

Rhetorical question, right?

1 hour ago, Taters said:

...  I have an itch to book a short 7 day cruise to Mexico sometime in November, December or January to get me through  and now cannot even look up itineraries.   This website problem is potentially costing them millions.

I had no idea that fares on HAL's Mexican cruises had increased quite that much!!!  😂