zorrosuncle

Hi-

Am doing a major Australian cruise in October (circumnavigation). Anyone have a recommendation for the best guidebook I can buy?

Thanks,

ZU

I booked mine through HAL. I had my flight choices as I was booking the cruise. I was given flight times and numbers and paid the current rate the airline was charging. Maybe if I had used their flex plan offer it might have been different, but I knew what I was purchasing right then and there (and paid for it upfront too).

 

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I book the same way. I have in the past seen ships cancel their trips for various reasons -- damages, illness, and sometimes a late charter opportunities which guarantee the line a full ship. If I were to purchase my own air, I would lose all that money unless it was a refundable ticket. Then I would have to pay out a lot of extra dollars for that choice. But if HAL does the cancelling, I get a full refund. There are other benefits as well.

ZU

Hi –

Considering the millions of dollars that HAL spends on air purchases for their guests on each of the four major carriers each year, why can’t HAL flex their buying muscle and insist on a little extra treatment for their passengers on the flight?

I constantly find myself boarding last, having no place for a carry-on, being treated as second-class, charged with extra fees, etc. All that HAL has to do is tell the airlines that if their customers aren’t given premier treatment that they will take their business to another carrier that will provide it. Period! Money talks.

HAL markets their cruise as a 5-star experience, and they should consider the attached flight they offer as part of that product. I certainly do.

ZU

Hi --

 

I'm glad they offer this service when the ship is not in motion! Now, if I only had some hair!!

 

ZU:p

I figure that is $7.50 each (hair)!:rolleyes:

Hi --

I'm glad they offer this service when the ship is not in motion! Now, if I only had some hair!!

ZU:p

Hi -

Lately, I have been composing all my messages off line on my tablet and then going out into the hall, standing under a router antenna, logging on to my account, and sending them all in a microburst. Probably only uses about a minute of internet time!

ZU

Hi -- Could use some help. I've never gone to an airline's website and checked in or printed a boarding pass on line. I have always done these things at the airport, itself. Secretly, I'm afraid that my printer might hiccup at just the wring time and mess up the processing and possibly my whole trip.

Yet, I should be getting with the times. What is the process for obtaining a boarding pass? Suppose I use my tablet, and don't have a printer with me i.e staying at a post-cruise hotel. What about check-in? I understand it is a different procedure from the boarding pass process.

Regards,

'ZU[/i]

HAL comprehends two things. HAL ships sail full, and they are making money.

The issue should not be whether HAL is making money or sailing full. The real issue is :"How happy am I sailing with HAL?" Over the years I have been growing increasingly more disenchanted with HAL. I only sail them because they have Catholic Mass. But there are other forms of tourism which also offer that including chaplain-escorted cruises on other lines as well as land travel. I would not give HAL a two-star rating at this point; there has been massive degradation of their product over the years in all aspects -- service, tours, food, shows , lectures and dock or tender locations in port. I still have one lengthy cruise booked but I am open to cancelling if something else comes along.

ZU

Hi

How well do the excursions you buy from Holland America correspond with the Mariner magazine article descriptions for the same ports?

ZU

Hi --

It's not the cruiseline that is going downmarket, but the passengers. Look around. Many years ago, air passengers used to get dressed up for the occasion; now they fly in jeans.

Many years ago churchgoers used to do the same. Now they go in jeans.

Theatre goers, ditto.

Standards of people have deteriorated to the point that many passengers have never thought of an upscale experience and don't seek it out. They simply don't know what upscale is.

Everything these days is rush, rush, rush, and they can tolerate quite well a McDonalds instead of an upscale restaurant. Experiencing an upscale environment just doesn't fit with the scheme of things for mthe modern generation.

The cruiselines see all this, and respond to these changed demographics.

ZU

Hello -- I am looking for a cruise line that plans on doing a circumnavigation of Australia in the next year or two -- 2010 is out.

I see that P&O does this, but am not sure they sell to U.S. customers (they have no U.S phone number)

Does anyone know of any other lines? Holland America doesn't have any, nor does Princess as far as I can see.

ZU