WpgCruise

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... but if someone gives you an answer you don't want to hear....

 

So true

 

Sometimes there just isn't a nice way to hear "No". and it becomes poor Customer Service when the customer does not get what they want.

 

So many posters have explained why the O.P.'s expectations may not be reality and it isn't a Customer Service Issue but is instead a Customer asking for something that can't be done.

 

Sometimes it is best to have a Plan "B".

I think giving out $2 bills is lame on a cruise ship........not cool.

 

Also while I am certain the crew can find a way to convert the $2 bills into currency they can spend......it is also lame to inconvenience them. Which is what an extra step like going to the casino, front desk or whatever entails.

 

And you're entitled to your opinion, which after all is no less valid than anyone else's.

 

If the best that can be added as an argument against tipping with $2.00 bills is, labeling someone's choices as "Lame" or "Not Cool", I hope you can understand that not too many will be swayed.

My understanding (and I may be wrong as I've only been cruising since 1998) is the crew has a Pursers desk, and at the Crew Pursers Desk. they have the option to do their banking. They can convert currency, arrange to send money home, buy internet time, pretty much all of their personal financial needs are met. They can also exchange large bills for small, small for large, coin for paper....................I'm sure you get the point.

 

Tipping with a $2.00 bill is not a problem for any crew I have ever encountered on any ship.

 

Come time for a crew member to go ashore all they do is stop at their Pursers desk, convert the coin, currency and the odd $2.00 into fresh bills of the denomination they want and off to Wal-Mart for their stuff.

Ran into the same thing with RCL a few years back. Got a "loyalty discount" and booked over six months in advance. Stock credit was disallowed. My sister booked at the last minute and paid less. She got her stockholder because she did not get a "discount." I understand that policies are policies. So now I have a policy, too. I don't sail with RCL any more.

 

Good for you. Principles are few and far between now days, and I respect people who vote with their wallet. If they don't like a Companies policies, they move on.

 

You're vacationing now (I assume) with a Company whose policies are in agreement with your value system, and RCL's ships are sailing full, profits are up, share value is up, so it's a win win for both you and RCL.

 

Don't ya just love a Happy Ending? :)

This has happened to us twice, and u til the credit card bill came we didn't know our request not to convert was not honored.

 

So when I got the bill I phoned, and both times they sent me a cheque for the amount of their error.

 

This was a couple of years ago and policy may have changed, but give it a go.

I don't mean for this to sound snarky or unpleasant, truth to be told I'm just curious.

 

We've taken probably 20 cruises with 3 different cruise lines, and I'm hard pressed to remember calling any cruise line on the phone.

 

With the reported difficulty so many have with long wait times, answers that sometimes differ depending on which Customer Service Agent responds, can some tell me why they phone Celebrity, or any cruise line?

 

FWIW, we've booked out last 1/2 dozen or so cruises through Travel Agents just to get the perq's offered, but don't recall calling them with any questions either. I suppose if I did have a question, calling the T.A. would probably be my first point of contact.

I understand statistics, and also the odds of not needing a passport.

 

Why is it then if I drop my toast, despite the odds, and understanding statistics, seems the jam side always lands down?

 

Why is that? Statistically I should get a break, but it never seems to happen.

 

I suppose as long as people can travel without passports, and understand and accept the risk, it is their choice.

I doubt there will be a H.A.L. in 10 years.

 

I would suspect that sooner or later Carnival, (the Corporation) will take a look at their brands, and determine a rationalization across those brands is in order. (Perhaps the appointment of Stein Kruse as the head of both Princess and Holland America is the beginning?)

 

Royal Caribbean has already begun this process, using Royal Caribbean as their entry level, Celebrity as the mid level and Azamara as their near premium offering.

 

I would suggest we will see Carnival as the entry level, Princess as the mid level, and Seaborne as their premium North American offerings.

 

If this rationalization goes ahead, there really isn't a need for H.A.L. and the business decision will be made to merge it with Princess.

 

As the industry continues to mature, it is going to be even more about return on investment for the shareholders and the deciding factor will be the business case, emotion will have little to do with it.

To me this story isn't about insurance, it's about Princess selling a product they know full well they can't deliver.

 

For about 3 months they have been selling a cruise on a ship with mechanical problems that preclude it being able to do the itinerary. To me, that's just immoral.

 

Contractually are they delivering? I don't know the answer to that question but the place to determine the answer would be the Courts, not an opinion board.

 

All of us I think would agree that on an individual cruise, things can happen, weather, emergency medical issues, a host of other things that can change an itinerary.

 

This is not the case here, Princess has been selling cruises knowing that they can't keep the itinerary, and worse, they are selling into a market that prevents cancellation without loss of deposit.

 

To me, that just isn't a fair business practice, and it is the Court of Public Opinion that Princess will first be judged.

Travellers Cheques remain a viable option, you can buy them in any currency you want, but as mentioned the places to cash them are fewer and fewer. The Customer Service desk on the ship is the best option to cash them.

 

While Credit Cards and ATM's are popular, far too many times there are issues, machines are down, out of funds, card is "damaged" and kept by the machine, If you are at home and the card won't work, no big deal. If you're out of the country, all of a sudden, it is a big deal.

 

I much prefer either good old cash, or something I can convert to cash, like a Travellers Cheque.

Thanks so much for coming back and letting us know how your plans are working out.

 

I really wish for you and your husband the very best as you move forward and hope you have a wonderful cruise.

Yes, they don't seem to see the other side.

 

There seems to be some inequities between how Princess manages their American customers and how they manage their Australian customers.

 

Below is a link to how an American couple got a full refund.

 

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/investigations/Couples-Anniversary-Cruise-Goes-Awry-270080001.html

 

 

Just my opinion, but very shoddy on the part of Princess

I haven't told anyone to go elsewhere.

 

I said everyone should make thier own choices after a poster that cruised Oceania posted her experience on Oceania on this thread.

 

There can't be a more neutral position than that. Again, I don't smoke, I am a non-smoker. I am absolutely neutral on the issue myself.

 

I think we need to agree to disagree in any case.

 

soccer

 

I think many of us know full well what your message was, but some just want to interpret it to suit their agenda.

 

It could be said the Holland America board on Cruise Critic is an island of information in a sea of drama.

 

Sad isn't it how some have to dominate a discussion somehow thinking that if they state their opinion over and over and over, somehow by sheer volume everyone else will eventually agree.

What a great idea.

 

The only question would be "Why have we not done this before"?

This is only my opinion of course, but is it really correct to ask an employee to pass along any information or speculation on personnel appointments in their organization?

 

I think if H.A.L. wants to share that information they will, but to ask an employee who often shares their knowledge about their life and job to do so may well put that employee at odds with his employers Code of Conduct.

We're really quick to blame the photographer based on nothing but a news report aren't we?

Have none of us ever had a hard disk or memory card work perfectly until the point it goes pfht?

None of us know the photographer didn't check after each picture was taken. Given the photographer does this for a living, I would suggest s/he probably did.

I tend to think it was an equipment failure rather than a human one, just based on my own experience.

Now, the happy couple refusing a "Do Over", well that's their choice but I really don't understand what else can be done. The bride didn't appear to offer any suggestions as to what Royal Caribbean could have done to make her happy, so it would appear it's a case of no one wins.

A tough experience but I hope this is the biggest disappointment the happy couple suffers in their life together. If it is they will truly have had a blessed life.

We've done several cruises, on several lines over Christmas.

 

Our experience has been there are many extended families, including an abundance of children of all ages, from babes in arms to early 20's.

 

The number of children is impossible to predict as is their behaviour. Just like adults, some good, some not so good, most O.K.

 

If the numbers of children is a concern, I would suggest a cruise when most school districts are in session, and cruises longer than a week. Any holiday cruise will probably have more children regardless of the length.

As one who had heart attacks days after returning from two weeks on Maasdam, I assure you I had no advance notice. If one can call having a heart attack lucky, I was lucky it didn't happen days earlier on the ship and, indeed, that could have endangered others but it would not have been intentional on my part. ;)

 

No one plans to have an accident that could critically injure them.

No one plans to have an appendicitis attack

etc

etc

 

 

 

And that would be the difference between a chronic issue and an accident

 

Someone with chronic issues would hopefully understand they have a higher risk, and these issues would potentially put themselves, the crew, the passengers, the ship and the rescue personal in harms way.

 

A big difference indeed between a chronic illness and an accident.

I can only say the skill, courage and of course training demonstrated by not only the rescue personal but the ships crew in these instances is remarkable.

 

I do have to wonder though about the thought process of passengers with chronic issues who would put themselves and the crews at risk by booking voyages when they know they have serious medical issues.

 

None of us can plan for the unexpected, but I have met several passengers on cruises who I doubt have properly assessed the risks both to themselves and the crew.

We've been on the Constellation 5 times and if we didn't like it we wouldn't have gone back so often.

 

But your cruise isn't until next summer so our past experience over many cruises on the ship may well have no bearing on your cruise. The staff will have turned over many times, entertainment will have changed, no doubt there will be changes in menus and probably the facilities as well.

 

Just because it was great for us over 5 cruises has no relationship on the future so I wouldn't be basing my choice on what was, thinking it will be.

 

My recommendation would be to pick the best itinerary the best pricing the options that appeal the most and go forward from there.

Overheard in the Main Dining Room

 

Waiter speaking to 4 D+ Ladies at lunch

 

"Is there anything that meets your satisfaction ?"

 

 

It's only a Joke, settle down and I stole it from another Board:) but thought it was cute.

Once again, YOU posted OFF topic. I'm so sorry about your thing(s) too!

 

I don't have the luxury of posting to Cruise Critic 24/7 365 sitting in front of a computer as a self-appointed moderator.

 

Reminder once again: "I will continue to sail on HAL if balcony smoking is permitted."

 

Again I reiterate (staying on topic), we will continue to sail on HAL no matter what the smoking policies are. To repeat, I don't have a horse in this race as I gave up cigarettes 35 years ago. (That "satisfies" the OP's request)

 

Why are you letting yourself be sucked into the deep vortex of a never ending spitting contest?

 

I thought you were smarter than this.

 

The "Ignore" feature on Cruise Critic is our friend.

 

Keeping this thread on topic will do more to frustrate the bullies while not allowing them to divert the focus.

Let's keep this thread on topic and not fall for the bait by those opposed to the topic.

 

I sense some want to get into an argument which would result in the closing of the thread, and that would suit their agenda.

I think there was a misunderstanding on the ladies part referenced in the review between the terms "Agua Café" and "Blu" and her question as to if others could join her in the "Aqua Café" should have been the dining room "Blu".

 

When on the ship and her mistake became apparent, rather than owning the problem she demanded a policy change to meet her "wants" and when she didn't get the expected change, it became a bad Customer Experience issue.

 

I really hope as previously mentioned that Celebrity has lost their business as I too have no need to meet these people on a cruise.

 

Some people simply have an entitlement attitude and regardless of the policy or rules expect their demands to be met...........and met RIGHT NOW !!!