Florida_gal_50

Can you still book the mdr ahead anymore? I’ve been asked many times if I’m sure I want a second, usually an app. Probably 7 or 8 years ago I wanted to order a second app at lunch in the pinnacle and the guy made such a fuss about it I was totally embarrassed. I’ve also heard comments like “you sure cleaned that up” which embarrasses the heck out of me. I’ve never heard that comment made to anyone else.

It’s true. I had halibut one night and it was delicious but I doubt it was more than an ounce. I know some people snack constantly and eat the huge desserts at the Dutch cafe but I eat pretty sensibly during the day so I would like more than that. Before someone says you can order more I don’t know it will be tiny until served. When I’ve asked for more sometimes I get asked if I’m sure or a fuss is made so I don’t bother.

That probably a good idea to have fixed on the koningsdam. Some people I met had a great experience in early dining on the koningsdam when I was on it. It was an absolute zoo in open. I could see the huge line up sitting in club orange when I went. Hopefully cruises on that ship aren’t over capacity like they were from November until after new year. That said it can be super difficult to get early never mind that it’s super early.

No that area is restricted. That is what you pay for. On the koningsdam I believe on deck 11 there is a nicely shaded area which has comfortable loungers for free. I’m not sure if the Rotterdam is the same. Part of the reason I get a cabana is for those comfortable loungers. I may not get it otherwise.

I don't think starlink is anywhere close to coming to hal yet.

Hal’s prices are very high. Apparently you and I are the only ones paying these high prices. If I had a nickel for every time on this board I’ve heard how cheap cruises are I’d never have to pay for another one.

Nov 12 to 26. Lots of kids on the second week so who knows if that made it worse. It was fine in March but I think we were at 40 percent occupancy so it should have been.

I think the hampster fell off the wheel on my cruises. We were over capacity on my cruises so maybe everyone was on it.

You and me both. Especially when I upgraded to premium the last few day as I had some obc to burn up.

There needs to be better control of these cabanas it's happened quite often that I've reserved and been confirmed a cabana to have it changed once on the ship.

I quite like the keg. I think a few years ago it was better than the keg. I'm not interested in going at night even with my freebies. I did go there for lunch a couple times in November I thought the cod sandwich was quite good. The salmon had a weird color to it and the steak tasted almost mushy.

No kidding. That's really odd. Especially since you'd think it was something special.

They have been doing those notes in thr laundry for a while on the koningsdam. I agree about the desserts in the tamarind. Everything I liked is now gone. Used to like the tamarind chocolate, the mini doughnuts and the fortune cookie. Some of the entees I enjoyed are gone too. I know people love the wasabi steak. It's not a favorite for me.

Don't know. I'm not much of a drinker. What I like about hia is being able to have some perrier during the day and maybe a virgin caesar. I generally have 2 or 3 drinks at night so the beverage package alone isn't much of a draw.

No it can be used on something else until the balance is zero. It used to be the way you described.

I find the price for the hia on some cruises is very high, much more than the $50 per day.

You we’re lucky. I was on the koningsdam for 2 weeks in November. While there were some websites I didn’t have a ton of problems with I could never access my bank account or airline.

You’ve got it. I don’t know why people don’t do it but frankly it makes me happy if they don’t. Some say they don’t like eating in a “fishbowl”. It’s always people that have never set foot in the place but I’m great with their decision.

That is such bs. There is no way it takes months to cut cheques. Speaking from experience staff does need to come into the office to cut cheques but that shouldn’t take months. I’m pretty sure they are not telling their suppliers that. I think a lot of Hal’s staff has been working home for years so they should have figured it out by now.

I think any time you deal with the public it’s not going to be pretty. Some are great, some not so much.

This ta offered zero obc. She also wanted to charge me $800 over the rate on the hal website saying she couldn’t help it if the price went up. It hasn’t. Unless you are retired most people aren’t taking 50 plus day cruise so very few will be “losing” thousands. I haven’t spent a minute on hold. I’m emailing a pcc. I have a very busy desk at work so I don’t have time to lose “experimenting” with ta’s. Remember the one I just got rid of came highly recommended 🙄.

I’ve been pretty happy with it except one morning when I had to wait a half hour to get in. It didn’t seem like they were restricting passes on that cruise. I generally eat in specialty restaurants at night because I’m over eating with groups of people. I do eat on occasion at night at club orange but one night someone decided to bring a 2 or three year old in there that was making non stop noise. The mother also decided to sing on top of it. That wasn’t enjoyable.

That’s likely the case. I think we all need to dampen our enthusiasm about club orange 😛.

Well I just got rid of a ta that booked me two cruises on the same ship same date, neither of them right. She told me you can’t book flights through hal anymore. She wanted to book transfers that I couldn’t possibly use. This is a person that came highly recommended and has been in the industry for years. She wasted my whole week and I had to almost threaten her to cancel what she booked after asking her nicely several times to cancel cruises. That’s a great ta.

I agree. Looking at a cruise for the fall and my pcc told me there are only 5 spots left. I was shocked.