Hlitner

I think many misunderstand how the system works. In most cases, the major cruise lines enforce price controls on all of their travel providers (travel agencies, cruise agencies, etc). But the big difference comes with various extras such as On Board Credits, rebates (sometimes done after the cruise), various amenities, etc. How much you save will depend on the agency, the particular cruise line, etc. With some of the mass market lines (i.e. HAL, Princess, etc) we normally save 7-10% in terms of the overall deal. While we might pay the exact same price you would get from the cruise line, our favored agencies might give us hundreds or even thousands of dollars in refundable onboard credits With some lines it can be more difficult to score really big savings. We have seen this more with the luxury lines than with the mass markets. With some luxury cruises we have only been able to save 3-5%, but consider that these lines are expensive so even 5% can mean more than $1000 in your pocket. One of our favorite cruise agencies actually has an online site that will show multiple pricing for a given cruise. So, at a glance, I can see what it would cost without any amenities, with various packages (i.e. drink packages, dining packages, etc). There are times when it pays to take the lowest price (with no extras) and other times when it makes sense to pay more upfront for various amenities. We suggest that folks try to compare options by looking at your true cost per person/day. Take your total cruise cost (including taxes, fees) and back out the real value (to you) of the various packages. Just because a cruise line tells you that a drink package is worth $80 a day, it might only have a real worth (to you) of $50 per day (depending on your drink habits). Getting it all to a cruise price per person/day allows you to compare multiple cruises and cruise lines. Hank

You are also assuming that the onboard Internet will be adequate for unbroken streaming. On cruise ships (of any line) this is a crap shoot. We have often had no Internet (or very very slow Internet) for days at a time. Hank

Always a touchy subject, but we think most (not all) folks simply want to dress in a way that "fits in" with the crowd. There will always be outliers (at both ends of the equation) but that is just life with large groups. DW and I always enjoyed dressing-up on formal/gala/dressy nights but we think that is no longer the norm. When we have been on HAL ships (over 500 days) I always brought along my tux and DW had plenty of formal wear. On our next HAL cruise (in March) this will no longer be the case. Times have changed (whether we like it or not) and we are willing to change with the times. So now, we will no longer bring along my tux and DW will likely tone down her outfits. For we men, I think just having a jacket (I prefer a basic blazer) now works on just about any line/ship. One possible exception is Cunard, but that is a different story. I seldom wear a tie anymore (except if wearing my tux) as I find them uncomfortable and no longer see the need. Decent slacks, a nice, collared shirt, and blazer seems to work on just about any ship. As to the ladies, I think most understand what looks good on themselves. I do think that some of my fellow men go out of their way to dress like low life's and that is enough to tell me to avoid those folks. Personally, I do not see the lure of wearing a backwards ball car (or any ball cap) indoors unless in a venue like a sports bar. But I am old fashioned (like many on HAL) and come from an era when gentleman did not wear hats indoors (except in Texas and Oklahoma). Hank

We would not be comfortable with a 9:40 flight. It is possible to make that flight (assuming you dock on time, use express debarkation, and do not have to wait more than a few short minutes to get a taxi) but it would not be within our personal comfort level. This past year there have been numerous problems/delays at most European airports (including BCN) which caused many missed flights. There is no way to predict what will happen in the summer (high tourist season) of 2023. One can hope that Europe solves their airport problems (i.e. shortage of labor, too frequent work stoppages, etc) but at this point it would be anyone's guess. Speaking of express debarkation (this is when folks carry all their own luggage off the ship) just beware that it is a relatively long walk from ship through the winding gangplank, through part of the terminal, down the escalator, through more of the terminal, out the door, and over to the taxi queue. Not a problem for the mobile who are comfortable rolling their luggage, but it can be difficult for others. You do pass through a customs area, but we have never been stopped (or noticed anyone being stopped). Hank

I will add that for folks that enjoy long walks it is very simple to walk from the port into the central part of town. There is a nearby outdoor shopping area with the nearby Pompidou Center. One can than walk along the shoreline towards the center of town. It is a nice walk (with plenty of benches) and if the weather is good there will plenty of others enjoying the park-like area and wide walkways. There are buses between the port and areas closer to the center of town for those that prefer to not walk. Hank

While there are plenty of taxis, there also can be a long queue during debarkation. We agree that a taxi is the best way to get to the airport (or port) with luggage, one should factor in some waiting time at the port (30 extra minutes should be adequate). Hank

Agree that using taxis will make life easy and expedite matters. Public transit is also doable as the city has a decent Metro (subway) system and bus lines. I will admit that we enjoyed Parc Guell more when it was free. Now, you do have to pay an admission fee (around 10 Euros). If you have the time we suggest adding a visit to the Gaudi houses. Hank

While we have often suggested that Istanbul is a great DIY city, getting to or from the port (with luggage) is not something to be done on public transit or by foot. When going to the port you should simply get a taxi! A taxi will be able to get you to the luggage drop place (and your ship) and is worth the money when compared to walking into the port while dragging all kinds of luggage. Speaking of Istanbul taxis, like taxis all over the world, there are many dishonest taxi drivers. Make sure they use the meter and that it is reset when you enter the cab. If you are going from a hotel to the port, ask the hotel to get the taxi and they can also tell you the approximate cost. Hank

We understand the reluctance of some to rent a car, but it is actually a terrific option in Italy (and most of Europe). Keep in mind that on the continent they drive on the right, signage is usually pretty good, and GPS makes life so much easier. In Italy one does need to do some reading about the parking rules and Zona Trafico Limito (ZTLs), but otherwise, things are not too much different than driving in the USA/Canada. If one cannot (or does not want to) drive a manual transmission they should make sure to reserve a car with automatic (usually more costly). We have often driven in Italy (far more than 10,000 miles) without mishap other than a few parking tickets. The major car agencies (Hertz, Budget and Europcar) all have offices in Civitavecchia and it is usually possible to book one-way rentals. If one is renting for 3 or more days we strongly recommend talking to Autoeurope or Kemwel which are sister companies located in the USA. They are "consolidators" or discounters who deal with nearly all the major rental car agencies and can offer better prices (with zero deductibles'). In Italy, we have often picked-up a car at the airport (FCO) and dropped it at Civitavecchia (or the reverse). I will also mention that if one picks up a car at FCO it is easy to use the ring road to escape the Rome area without having to drive into Rome. We DO NOT recommend driving in Rome or Florence for most folks :). When we stay in Florence, and have a car we always book the Hotel David which is outside the ZTL and has free parking. Hank

Since you are aware of the train option we will not talk about it. But another option would be to use the Flixbus (you can Google their schedules) which has a route from Le Havre to Paris (La Defense) and another bus from La Defense to CDG. They do sell inexpensive tickets (less than $20) from Le Havre to the airport (I think you have one bus change). Another option (which we have used) is to simply rent a car (one-way). This does involve getting from the port to the rental car agency (there are a few agencies within a long walking distance). If you have a fast walker in your party it is possible for them to get the car and than drive back to the port to pick up others and the luggage. Europcar and Hertz are usually about the best options for one-way rentals and expect to pay about $200 (you might find a better deal). The drive is not overly difficult (especially with GPS). This would give you the ability to drive into Paris although that is not for the faint of heart. I have driven in Paris (multiple times) and like most large cities it is a pain with parking sometimes difficult (and expensive). A third option would be to hire a car/driver or taxi. But the cost of this option will be outrageous since you would be hiring somebody to do it round trip (they will need to get back to Le Havre). Hank

We are talking about cruisers, most of whom will not even walk down one deck! There are 582 steps on that path down to the tender pier! That is 3 or 4 times the number of steps from the highest deck to the lowest deck on most ships and we sure don't see many folks using the ship steps. We have not had an issue with slippery steps, but part of that walk (up or down) is you must cross the many swtichbacks of the donkey path/road. On a busy day, that pathway can have a lot of donkey poop and one must be very careful since that stuff not only sticks, but it becomes a very slippery muck. But for the healthy, it is a reasonable alternative to waiting an hour (or more) when the cable car queue (at the top) is too darn long. Hank

The latter is what we fear. But in a few short months we shall find out for ourselves whether things have improved, stayed about the same, or gone downhill. We still have no plans on the horizon for a Pinnacle Class ship. Hank

That would be considered a new show by many HAL cruisers :). For some, anything newer than Glenn Miller is too modern.

I would take a wild guess that if this same post was on the Princess board the answers would be somewhat different :). On a TA we would actually prefer Princess for a few reasons. #1 would be our love of the International Cafe which is our hang-out in the mornings. This venue is open 24/7, has decent coffee (and coffee/tea drinks) with a rotating food menu. We also enjoy the piano bar on Princess ships (remember when HAL had that on all their ships?). But we have never been happy with the lack of a forward view lounge on Princess vessels. Princess also has a lot more activities and there is always something going on in the atrium. DW and I once calculated that we both read a lot more books on HAL than on Princess since HAL has few activities other than trivia, trivia and more trivia. A fellow cruiser once remarked that the only requirement to be a cruise director on HAL is the ability to read trivia questions :). Hank

I will run the risk of the wrath of some fellow long term cruisers. I have no issue with the passengers! The problem is the cruise lines with their ridiculous "crew appreciation" and other schemes desigened to make the passengers feel guilty because the companies underpay the crePerw and transfer the blame/built to cruisers. It is not our problem! The mass market lines have created this ridiculous mess and many folks (mostly from North America) fall into the trap. Personally, I do prefer the luxury lines that have a real no tipping policy. They properly compensate the crew and we pay the cost through the cruise fare. None of these silly games of "crew appreciation," or silly blank lines on invoices for drinks and alternative restaurants. When we are on Seabourn, nobody is

I have done a lot of posting on the trip insurance blog and have long argued against cruise line offered policies because nearly all have insufficient medical coverage. Folks should consider that the most they lose with cancellation is the cost of the cruise (which they were going to spend anyway) but one's liability, for medical problems, is practically unlimited! We agree with the suggestion to contact the Trip Insurance Store or a similar travel insurance broker. Folks that feel comfortable evaluating the options on their own might want to look at the options available on a few web sites such as insuremytrip.com or squaremouth.com. Hank

Humbug (and we said this in another post). Take a ship like the Koningsdam that may have over 2000 passengers and 1000 crew. If one passenger removes their auto tips ("crew appreciation") do you think that the ship sends out some kind of magic bulletin to 1000 crew members saying "Attention: So and so has removed their "crew appreciation?" And even if they could do something like that, how many of those 1000 crew would even have a clue as to what they person looked like. Ohh. I guess they are also sending out your photo to those same 1000 crew Or perhaps they are printing large "Wanted Posters" that have your name and picture and are posted all over the crew area 🙂 I do think the crew has other issues of more importance. Hank

Life is a risk and most forms of travel involve some additional risk. There are folks who hardly every leave their homes because of various fears (i.e. agoraphobia). Over more than 50 years of extensive cruising we have met many cruisers who are afraid of getting off a ship in any port unless they are on a cruise line excursion (do not know of a phobia name for that issue). The reality is some folks live their life with the constant anxiety attached to multiple fears and other folks just live their life and accept risks without a lot of thought. When the world was having a massive phobia related to COVID, DW and I were still trying to live our lives with a reasonable amount of precaution (such as getting vaccinated). But we never accepted the idea of long term lock-downs or travel bans and posted our belief, here on CC, that folks needed to learn to live with COVID. When we were on the Big Island, DW and I drove up to Volcano National Park with the knowledge that nobody really knows when, and if, there will be a major eruption of that monster volcano. We have actually met folks who will not go to those volcanos because they fear being caught in an eruption. We happily live in Mexico part of the year (where we feel safter than in most parts of the USA) with the knowledge that many fellow Americans avoid Mexico because of their fear of violence. I mention this stuff because there is no reasoning with the unreasonable! DW and I simply accept reasonable risk as part of life. We also are well aware that many of our best travel moments were when we did things that many others would avoid because of their various fears. Such is life. Risk tolerance is just part of life, and each person learns to deal with their demons or simply surrenders to their various fears. As to the OP's comments, I would not depend on any cruise line to properly evaluate the risks associated with an excursion. The cruise lines do make sure that excursion operators have sufficient insurance, but I doubt if they routinely do an independent evaluation of risks. Some of us prefer to make our decisions, regarding risk, rather than relying on some third party (like a cruise line) to make those decisions on our behalf. Hank

I did watch the entire video, but we must be cognizant of only hearing one side of the story. For all we know somebody got hurt (or was very sick) on the pier and perhaps the security guy was rushing to a phone to get help. That is total speculation on my part, but the point is without hearing from the other party we do not know all the circumstances. However, the blogger was certainly owed a quick apology. Hank

Wake up folks. CCL has only 5 ships on order (all ordered prior to COVID) and none of them are for HAL. Even if CCL were to decide to build something for HAL it would likely be at least 2026 before it came to fruition. But with over $34 Billion of debt, and still losing around $1 Billion a quarter, it is more likely, than not, that there will be no new builds for HAL for many years. The CCL corporate strategy seems to pay down their debt, not invest in new ships. Hank

BAH Humbug! I am an investor realist and I see only clouds in the near future of CCL (and HAL). Why? Let's consider that CCL now has over $34 Billion in debt during a time when interest rates are increasing. The Corporation has really tightened its belt and only has 5 ships on order (across all 9 brands) none of which are for HAL. All those 5 ships were ordered prior to COVID. I think that CCL has changed their attitude from a growth strategy to a survival strategy. The priority must be the paying down of much of that debt and this it a big problem. In its best years CCL made 2 less than $3 Billion in profit and now it still is losing about $1 Billion every quarter (although the rate of loss is dropping). Where does this leave HAL? Hard to know but assuming that the remaining older ships are on the chopping block we might see HAL go through a period of shrinkage. I do see MSC as a big problem for the CCL Corporation. Unlike the other 3 major cruise line brands, MSC has very deep pockets (because of the huge profits from their Container Ship arm) and reasonable debt. MSC continues to add new ships (I think they now have about 21) plus they are in the process of starting a new luxury cruise line, Explora Journeys, which will likely have 6 ships within a few short years (the first ship starts sailing next summer). RCI, with its own debt problems, has really established itself in the Mega-ship category and that particular market seems to be quite strong. So what is the market for HAL? History tells us the line generally excels at longer more exotic itineraries all over the world. But, in this they have some good competition, with Oceania. Azarama and Viking offering a smaller ship experience (favored by many old HAL fans). And all the negative posts about HAL are concerning and are likely to drive away some future business. Hank

I am wondering why anyone would think that HAL made a mistake. It is more likely that somebody, with a little influence, got preferential treatment. The fact that HAL sent the e-mail means they were well aware of situation and simply screwed the OP. Unfortunately that seems to be the way of the world. We have friends who booked a First Class Suite on Emirates (these are outrageiously expensive) and looked forward to the experience. A few days before their flight they were notified that they had not only lost their suite but had also been bounced off the flight (and booked on a different flight). Why? They were later told a VIP got preference. Hank

It occurred to me that many in this thread are only thinking about Caribbean islands. My post was also intended for ports all over the world. Most (not all) Caribbean islands are relatively compact and passengers are likely going to be within a few miles of the port. But once you start cruising in other parts of the world you will likely discover that there are port days when you will travel 50+ miles from the port. Many of us routinely go (on our own) more than 50 miles from the port and that does require some good planning. Again, I urge folks to do their pre-trip homework and know your options. Another issue (especially in the Caribbean) is that it is a good idea for at least one person (within a group) stay relatively sober so they can look out for their friends and have a mind that continues to function 🙂 Hank

DW and I have been doing on own thing at cruise ports (all over the world) for decades and have never missed a ship (came close on two occasions). For us, going off on our own (even when we go hours from the port) is not a big deal. But, it does involve planning to minimize the risk and, at some ports, to have a Plan B, in case we would miss the ship (this has never happened. The first rule is always (and I mean ALWAYS) know when you must be back and know the proper time. The basic rule is to head towards your most distant place early in the day and work your way back towards the cruise port as you get closer to when you must be back aboard. Another of our basic rules is to never rely on the last possible train unless we feel good about catching up to the ship the following day. Trains do run late and some times get cancelled. Allowing extra time gives you some wiggle room to find an alternative way back to the ship (i.e. taxi, etc). Another very important thing is to have the name and phone number of the ship's agent (this is usually in the daily schedule) so you can call if you will miss the ship. These days some vessels have a direct phone number and we always ask about this (early in any cruise) since it can be very handy to be able to directly call a ship. o Although we prefer NOT to carry our Passports, in Europe we always have photocopies on our phones. This can be necessary in the event you need to check-in to a hotel if you need to move to Plan B and play catch-up. I should mention that there are times when I rent a car (in Europe) where the rental agency does want to see my Passport (a copy on the phone is often acceptable). Hank

Depending on the cruise line it may be called tips, gratuities, daily service charge (DSC), or crew appreciation. When we started cruising on HAL the line used to say "tipping not required." Eventually they eliminated that language and encouraged tipping (by leaving envelopes in the cabins). That eventually gave way to the daily auto-tips. And now, somebody in Seattle with nothing better to do decided to rename it "crew appreciation." I sometimes wonder how long before HAL imposes a "Resort Fee" similar to many hotels. That would include things like usage of your commode, shower, safe, the pool, gym, etc. And perhaps we will soon see the entertainers waiting at the exits with a tip cup. And I wonder when the crew who help load/unload tenders will have their hands out. When does it end? Hank