TLHB

I’m so glad to read that someone else feels that way. I just finished my HAL survey. It came by email a couple of hours ago. I definitely let them know my opinion.

I want to clarify by adding that I know I’m apparently in the minority on this picnic bana topic. The other cruisers seemed very excited about them and my friend said she loves the idea. They didn’t bother hubby as much as they bothered me. I just think they take away from the beauty of the beach because they are all spread along the water so you can’t get a good photo of the ship without getting part of a bana (and the people in it) in your photo. Again, I know I’m in the minority in my opinion. I just thought I’d share it though. I look forward to sharing it in the HAL survey but I have not received that email yet. And that’s surprising to me.

https://www.cruisehive.com/new-floating-platform-available-on-carnivals-private-island/112394

Hubby and I just got off of that cruise as well, and we also had a Neptune suite. Though we are close to making four star mariners, this was our first cruise since 2018 due to health issues in 2019 and then COVID stuff hitting in 2020. I will say that so many things were different and honestly disappointing since we last cruised with HAL. We missed all of the yummy gazpacho options we once got in the dining room. We missed the relaxing fountain in the thermal suite where we relaxed on the heated loungers. We missed the nightly chocolates at turn down service at night. All of these things are minor, but were noticeable. I asked about them in the Neptune lounge. I was told that HAL will be removing those fountains from thermal suites on all of their ships. That makes me sad because the sound of that water running adds to the relaxing atmosphere there. I was told that chocolates are now only given on dressy nights. Also, I forgot to mention that we didn’t have a note pad/paper or pen in our Neptune suite but we were given forms to fill out for our cabana butler service at HMC. If they want us to fill out forms, they should leave pens in the room. I agree with others that think portion sizes are smaller at meals, but I think the meals were yummy. I was sad to see all the supplemental charges required for all of the nicer dishes. I missed having those dishes available on some special nights in the dining room. We did dine at Pinnacle and Tamirand so maybe we missed that in the dining room. On all of our dining room nights there were required supplemental charges for steaks, lobster, etc. I again want to say that we still love cruising HAL, and any day on a cruise is better than being home at work. But we did miss those special touches. One other thing I want to say, and I am clearly in a minority with this. I do not like the new Picnic Banas on HMC. IMO they completely ruin the beauty of that beach. You aren’t able to get a pretty photo of the ship and beautiful water from shore because those ugly inflatables are in the way. I understand though that they are a way for HAL to make money and that’s a business move. I just think they are ugly and mess up the beauty of HMC.