taxmantoo

We tried to get the VPM or ZPM offer last week when booking another cruise. Our TA advised us it was no longer available. Was surprised however when she confirmed that HAL was throwing in a $200 OBC on top of the OBC for using a FCC. Just got the email offer this morning so will be trying again !

Now you can even spill wine on your clothes and get them cleaned for free...life is good 🤣

Like much everything in life ... 5% of the folks are in the parade, 10% of the folks are watching the parade go by and the other 85% don't even know there is a parade going on or don't care 🙂

A quick trip to Guest Services after boarding could have easily resolved this situation. A gentle reminder, although it should not really be required, never hurts.

All receptions seem different and are mostly conducted as the cruise director and/or captain wishes them to be conducted. Once again, HAL displays its lack of consistency. Our last ceremony on the Nieuw Stantendam last month saw silver medallions and up given to the recipients, with pictures taken with the Captain/Hotel Director and then the Presidents' Club members introduced with their pictures also taken. The ceremony then was ended but the cruise director announced that any 4-Star or 5-Star Mariners still present who wished to have their photo taken with the Captain were welcomed to do so. The picture was then delivered to our stateroom the next day free of charge. A nice touch.

Update! Seems like patience, hard work and a lot of stubbornness paid off! 😉 I finally succeeded in reserving Premier perk's Specialty Dining without using a credit card or making any kind of payment by using the website tool instead of the app. Does not show yet on Travel Summary but clearly shows now as reserved on the app.

We are also in a suite but no success. I keep trying!

That is exactly what we are trying to avoid... I want to be the one to decide where and when we will eat, not a computer program thousands of miles away!

Thank you. That is the way I assumed it would work because that's also how it works for excursions when you have OBC.

Booked a cruise with Princess Premier option that includes two Specialty Dining reservations per person. When trying to book on Medallion app, it allows me to go all the way up to actually confirming reservation but then a credit card number is required. Called Princess and they explained that before final payment, I have to pay with credit card even though complimentary dinners are shown on our cruise summary. How easy is it to get reimbursed for these two pre-paid but complimentary dinners once onboard? Is the credit card charge reversed and the amount added to your onboard credit?

Service definitely has changed in the PG. Last month, we ate at the Pinnacle Grill on the last night of the cruise using our 5-Star complementary perk. After over 25 cruises with HAL, we were shocked when the waitress approached our table at the end of the meal for what we thought would be an offer of coffee and desert. Instead, she dropped a leather wallet on the table with a slip for us to sign, opened the wallet and proceeded to physically show me where I should put in the amount of tip!!! Keeping in mind our meal was $0 dollars, I tipped her 100% of that 🙂

Sort of like the HalCats, some were good and some were not ... Sort of like the comedians on the World Stage, some are good and some are not ... Sort of like Cruise Directors, some are good and some are not ... Usually the ones we like are good and the ones we don't like are not that good 🙂

The Princess mini-suite is definitely a much nicer and livable cabin. It is also our choice on Princess cruises. The HAL Vista, which we have been in many times, is more like a Princess balcony cabin. The difference between a HAL Vista Suite and a regular HAL balcony in the "V" category is a few extra square feet and a bit of extra storage space.

Don't waste your time trying to deal with a Future Cruise Consultant. They are notoriously the least knowledgeable person on board about anything. Just wait until you are back at home and deal directly with someone at HAL headquarters guest services or through your travel agent. I am positive the result will be a different answer and a better solution to your situation.

Wouldn't that be contrary to expected Cruise Critic poster behavior? 😁

Totally agree. We have sailed out of San Diego a few times and have had nothing but frustration every time. Being a 5-Star Mariner or occupying a Neptune Suite does not seem to matter in the least when trying to navigate through their complicated and illogical embarkation procedures. Regardless of what a few San Diego port supporters report, I have spoken to many San Diego residents who readily admit that the port is a mess with the blame to be equally shared by the port authorities, the security personnel and the city administration. HAL is simply the unfortunate beneficiary of the poor service offered by all these people blaming everyone else but themselves.

Anyone else having problems. Half an hour ago I was able to view all cruises, all dates, all cabin prices. Now I can see all cruises but cannot see the prices. They are all listed as "Not Available" once you try to select a cabin to see the price.

When will people realize that BLUE and GREEN lanes have absolutely nothing to do with boarding??? It depends on whether or not you have a medallion before entering the terminal. They simply identify the lanes you get into in order to check in to the ship. Once you've done that everybody has their medallion and the regular boarding process resumes as it always has. Those with priority (Elite, Platinum, Suites) get priority and those that don't have priority get assigned a number. Blue lanes and green lanes wind up in the same group with the same number.

Not much sense in bringing those on board as they will cost you approx $30 ($10 for wine + $20 corkage) and a comparable wine on board can usually be purchased for approx $32-$33. Schlepping your wine halfway across America to save $2 seems a bit useless.

The wine experience on HAL has pretty much been the same as you describe before or after the pandemic. We have brought on a case or two at different times and not been charged but then brought on 3 or 4 bottles and been charged. Be prepared to pay the corkage fee and if it is not asked of you when you board, it may be asked when you bring a bottle to a dining room. If not, enjoy 🍷!

I am pretty sure he paid more than $1000 and it seems to me that nothing short of a full refund would be acceptable in this case, regardless of who he complained to. HAL missed another opportunity to show compassion and earn a bit of goodwill.

50% discount only on the edible flowers 🙂

Would appreciate it if you could get the names of the Billboard Onboard musicians.

Same in the wine industry. You have to pay Wine Spectator a bit more than $500 just for them to consider you for their award and then, extra charges, if they deem you worthy LOL. That little sticker in the front window of your restaurant doesn't come cheap 🙂