oneijoe

Actually, I can't think of a more seamless acquisition for FOCL than Rotterdam and Amsterdam.  When one considers HAL's primary customer segment in America is very close to FOCL's in Britain, one realizes the ships are already equipped ideally.

I enjoyed my former trip on the Rotterdam.  The huge complex clockworks at atrium's center really gives the ship personality.  Also, many cruisers will enjoy the ship's Lanai rooms which have direct access to the ship's old-school teak Promenade.

Unfortunately for HAL, it loses a touch of its brand distinctiveness in the U.S. market.  Lots of changes in today's Covid world, I'm afraid.  Regardless, it's pleasing to see these two ships will continue sailing under the Fred Olsen banner.

On 10/18/2019 at 6:38 PM, TAD2005 said:

Because this document is 9 months old, that explains the reason the per-drink allowance and daily cost are not current.   But all other details are correct, including the part about non-alcoholic beverages not included in the daily 15 count.   The document was "definitive" at the time of publication.

Yes, just so.  My apologies for not pointing out the post was dated 8 months earlier.

The HAL notice was posted 9 months ago so I'm sure there's been some adjustment to $$, but it's good knowing the morning latte's and afternoon sodas don't count against the total.  🙂 

Don't know if anyone mentioned the definitive word from HAL which was posted on Reddit.  In summation, non-alcoholic drinks do NOT count toward of the 15 drink/day (non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited with purchase of SBP).  Official response as posted:
 

9 hours ago, woody14h said:

... Smoke permeates the ship as one has to walk through the casino to get to dinner etc... 

This is not true of dining venues in the slightest.  The casinos of all HAL ships are forward whereas the MDR is aft and the Pinnacle Grill is midship.  One is only forced to go through the casino on the way to the same floor's entry to the Main Stage.  🙂 
 

2 hours ago, catl331 said:

I understand and agree ... but note that your post #67 follows my post #65. 

My apologies... I'm not very handy with the formatting.  🙂

3 minutes ago, catl331 said:

I think it's also partially to ease the pressure on crew to get the entire ship turned around in 2 hours or so.  If they turn around the rooms in the deck order specified, then if you ignore that and get on earlier than scheduled then you have no complaint if your room is not ready. The problem with that theory is that those of us with Priority boarding can still board anytime after it starts. 

The reasons given are completely understood.  My point is, and I said it earlier in the thread, most don't mind if their room isn't ready when boarding and are perfectly willing to hang out on the Lido or at a lounge until it is.  It has never been an issue for my wife and I on any previous cruises.

On 12/21/2018 at 7:40 PM, OlsSalt said:

Now that 2000 other passengers have broken the code (show up when you want anyway),  everything should be just fine. 

 

So when other passengers play by the rules and wait their turn easing the overall wait times, you now brag that showing up early worked for you,  because enough of your fellow passengers did cooperate up front with this new system? tell me what I am missing here. 

What you're -missing- is the situation is FAR less acceptable for those not allowed to board until the later scheduled times.  The opportunity to have lunch or being permitted a place to wait on the cruise's first day shouldn't be a "perk" reserved for select guests. 

My contention is this change seems, for the most part, unnecessary.  We have yet to encounter the "problem" this change is intended to fix on -any- of the cruises taken on HAL.  As 3-star Mariners, we have difficulty believing we've just been "lucky" not to run into it. 

On 3/4/2019 at 2:47 PM, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

The staggered times are meant to spread out the passenger flow so that people don't stand in long lines. It seems to be working. I got to the FLL terminal around 11:00 because the trip up from Miami was faster than I allowed for. I was surprised that there were so few people in line at security and check in. There were a lot of people sitting around and waiting (already checked in), but it wasn't as crowded in the waiting area as I have seen in the past. 

 

A good way to kill time is to go to a hotel, ask them to store your bags while you have a nice breakfast. 

 

Assuming you did as you suggested, which local hotels will accommodate those who just want to "kill time" (without charging 1/2 a night's lodging for a so-called "day room") ?     

A little different situation with my wife and I...

I received the e-mail for boarding times on the 3/24 sailing of the Neiuw Statendam.  We're supposed to board at 3:00.  The problem I have is we're flying into FLL that morning around 9:30.  We do NOT know Ft. Lauderdale well enough to feel comfortable killing time there through the day.  Before when we've sailed, we've had occasion where rooms have and have not been ready.  It's never been a big deal to us.  We've just kept our carry-on with us until the ready announcement.  

If it isn't a simple money-saving move by HAL (to avoid serving x number of lunches), could it be some folks are complaining enough about their room not being totally in order upon boarding that HAL felt pressure to go to assigned boarding times (esp. going so late) ?!?   If that's it, I suspect some people walk a mite on the spoiled side of the track... and as such, should listen more to the majority who have been satisfied in the past.  :)

None of this will spoil our cruise as we love HAL.  But I have to admit, getting backed up in the terminal for hours does take away one of the reasons my wife and I refuse to sail on the competitors' huge ships.