avian777

1 hour ago, Bella0714 said:

No, I'm not, but I also want to know what I'm paying for, especially if I'm purchasing a non-refundable fare. I mean, by your reasoning, as a responsible consumer, I should be allowed to ask for a refund in the price difference if a cruise line drops its price after my final payment is made. Or does it only work one way?

 

I'm taking a chance when I purchase a non-refundable fare. Why is it not fair for HAL to take a chance when it sells them, too? I am not saying that HAL doesn't have the right to charge $10 for additional entrees; I'm just saying that I want to know about it before I make final payment.

 

I am sure HAL takes into account how its costs are going to change over the period of time from when it starts selling cruises to when the cruise departs.

It appears as though you and I are just going to have to agree to disagree on this issue.  In an effort to extend an olive branch to you, however, I will suggest that you look at other cruise lines, as I'd hate for you to be disappointed (angry) if HAL should increase any of its prices between now and November 2021 and forget to personally notify you of those price increases.

1 minute ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Sir PMP does not have an info source; his original post is an April Fools day joke

Duh - really?????????????

1 hour ago, BJzink said:

That was mean!!!!!

 

I disagree - it was very thoughtful of taxmantoo to share his portrait with all of us.

1 hour ago, taxmantoo said:

Thanks, taxmantoo, for sharing your portrait but I was asking Sir PMP for his information source.

12 minutes ago, Sir PMP said:

Because of pressure from hundreds of loyal Hal passengers, Hal announced today that the Prinsendam will stay in the fleet.

She will go into dry dock on July 1st for a 4 week major renovation..

Would you care to share your source for this item?

1 hour ago, JRG said:

The real survey question should be:

 

 Will HAL customers change cruiselines if the policy stays?

 

 

Sadly, I think many CCers would view that as the only option they have, while overlooking their option to eat in the Lido where they can get virtually as much of everything as they want.. 

33 minutes ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

... I also take pictures of the items I send out.  One time one of DH's Polo shirts did not come back and I was asked to describe it -- I couldn't -- he has too many Polo shirts.  

4 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

GREAT IDEA!  Will do in the future.  

So your DW also has too many polo shirts, eh Dave? LOL

16 minutes ago, Bella0714 said:

Okay, fine, but HAL needs to make sure that people are aware of this policy BEFORE they pay for their cruises, which was apparently not the case with this roll-out test phase, if some previous postings are accurate. Right now, for example, I'm looking at a cruise for November 2021. I certainly don't want to find out after the final payment date that there's a new policy in the MDR. Hopefully, HAL understands business well enough to be aware of this problem.

Are you considering a HAL cruise solely (or mainly) because you want the certainty of knowing that you will be able to order unlimited entrees without being charged extra for them?  If so, you might want to consider another cruise line because, as a responsible corporate entity, HAL has an obligation to charge enough for its goods and services to make a profit for its CCL shareholders (such as yours truly) - this necessarily includes the ability to change its prices for cruises more than 2 years in the future.

On 3/30/2019 at 7:57 PM, iancal said:

It is still in the test stage.

 

If  implemented, it will hardly be the end of the world.

 

 It might drive some people who would otherwise spring for a second meal to consider an alternate dining venue.  They will get better value for their money, even with the incremental price.

 

Seems to me there is a 'pay as your play' trend happening on all cruise lines in order to keep the base fares low.   One might look at this as nickel and dime.  On the other hand, some may prefer to have lower fares because they  have no interest in a second course or whatever else  it is that the cruise line decides to implement a charge for.     No matter what, the cruise line has to make a profit so the revenue must be sourced somewhere on the ship.

 

There are lots and lots of cruise choices out there.  Seems to me that if someone is really attached to HAL they are not going to sweat the occasional $10. charge.

👍👍👍  Spot on, iancal - great Post!  Good to "hear" from someone who obviously understands business.

38 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

IMHO if they charge an extra fee for a second entrée in their specialty restaurants, then they should be able to charge an extra fee for a second entrée in the MDR.

30 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

What about the Lido? How much extra should they charge the guy I saw eat five lobster tails? (two trips, first time 3 second time 2)

 

 

Agree wholeheartedly with both of these Posts - HAL has an obligation to CCL's shareholders which IMHO is best served when HAL charges appropriately for its goods (meals) and services.

13 hours ago, slidergirl said:

...  Does anyone have actual proof that you must pay for a replacement entree if you say it is not good (after one or two bites)?  Or, is this just hysteria talking?

IMHO it is definitely the latter - good ole CC hysteria!

Absolutely, yes!!!

On 3/29/2019 at 9:43 PM, SilvertoGold said:

...  I would phone the Mariner Society and ask.  If you email, they are taking 2 weeks to reply these days, so I would phone.

👍👍👍  Good advice.  Thanks.

10 hours ago, slidergirl said:

Doesn't the Contract of Carriage say that they can change ports at any time without notice?  Or, is something different for the Prisendam?

8 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

... The most recent HAL contract I can find states:

 

"Except as otherwise provided, Carrier may, for any reason, without prior notice, cancel the Cruise, Land + Sea Journey, and/or Land Trip(s); deviate from the scheduled ports of call, route and timetable; call or omit to call at any port or place or cancel or modify any activity on or off the ship; comply with all governmental laws and orders given by governmental authorities; render assistance to preserve life and property; or change the date or time of sailing or arrival, change the port of embarkation or disembarkation, shorten the Cruise, Land + Sea Journey and/or Land Trip(s), or substitute ships, aircraft or other transportation or lodging." (Emphasis mine).

 

Question (rhetorically) asked, question (definitively) answered!!!

14 hours ago, dillpickle48 said:

No wonder that fewer people are using Cruise Critic with so many aggressive and repetitive responses. If you have nothing constructive to add to the question asked, why both responding?

 

2 hours ago, sammiedawg said:

There are holland America regulars posting daily who think they are peaches and cream.  But some are not nice people.  

Over the weekend there were a couple really nasty threads going, including one about the Viking ship.  A couple regular posters jumped on a “duplicate thread” diatribe.  I was happy their posts were deleted.  Who cares if there is an occasional duplicate thread. 

Posting volume is way down. 

44 minutes ago, Roz said:

 

I've noticed the same thing.  I think there are a variety of reasons for this.  IMO, one of them is that people are tired of posting an innocent question or observation, and taking a beat down from the know it alls.

Roz

👍👍👍

1 hour ago, notladjr said:

... Canaletto's on Nieuw Amsterdam in November was unique and very, very good.

👍👍👍  Agree 100%.

48 minutes ago, Snowesha said:

... but my wife is vegetarian and they don't seem to have any appetizers for her to eat besides a salad. It seems like most of the sushi seems like it has meat and fish too. Any advice?

 

IIRC the Tamarind California rolls are 100% vegetarian ... you might want to check this out with HAL Ship Services before giving up on your desire to try Tamarind ...

For us, PG has been worth every cent (& dollar) we've paid for all of our meals there.

IIRC it's generally 4-6 months prior to departure.  I'm sure a call to HAL Ship Services would get you a more definitive answer.

On 3/8/2019 at 1:21 PM, slidergirl said:

...  Reminds me of a wedding reception at the Elks Club...

Are those memories are a good thing or a bad thing?

The one thing HAL has that X doesn't have is a Roman Catholic priest (who offers daily Mass) on every one of its cruises.  So, if spiritual renewal is an important component of your vacation experience (as it is for us), HAL would be the easy choice between the two.  Good luck and smooth sailing.

On 3/9/2019 at 4:42 PM, kazu said:

 

They do have a station as you are getting off, but, IIRC, they didn’t have the ability to use the beverage cards or SBP (in case you have one of those).

That is certainly contrary to our experiences, as we have always used our Room Key (card) to "pay" for our bottled water as we made our port exits.  And now that the SBP "card" is included (embedded) in the Room Key card, it can be used it to "pay" for bottled water at the exit areas: and that is exactly what we did on our Zuiderdam Panama Canal cruise in late-January/early-February, 2019. 

On 3/2/2019 at 4:43 PM, I like vacation said:

Quite a few decorated doors for the days before and after Halloween on the Zuiderdam last October.  

... and also on the Zuiderdam in late-January/early February this year ....

👍👍👍  Thank you for your very thorough, thoughtful & upbeat review.  Especially happy to learn that you'll be returning to HAL.  Smooth sailing & welcome "home".

10 hours ago, Germancruiser said:

... when worn with long trousers they are better worn with socks. For some feet it is better to be covered with socks... !

👍👍👍  Agree 100%!