cruz chic

It will be on the last formal night.

You don't have to bribe your stewards to get good service and of course it is a bribe. Just tell them what your needs are and they will accommodate you. We've never had trouble getting ice as we wish it and they are very accustomed to pax wanting their ice buckets kept full. A tip at the end of the cruise is always appreciated.

I've never "bribed" my stewards either but I've also had mediocre service too even after letting them know what I want. My needs aren't huge. I just like getting my room cleaner earlier. That's all I ask. Most times that is more then I get and I'm consistently out of my room by 8:15am. I think you are very lucky or don't cruise a lot. My stewards on the last cruise got a large tip at the end because my room was done 14 out of 15 days by the time I came back from breakfast on my last cruise.

More frustrating is trying to use the provided tong to pick up the ice.:)

Very true!

How do you get your mariner logo on your page?

I hope someone will come along to help. There was a thread a few weeks ago about it but I'm at work so I don't have tons of time to search. I did it a long time ago and I think I got it somewhere on Joanie's web page. Sorry:o.

Wish Hal had ice cubes like Princess instead of those ice chips. They melt so quickly. I know it's a small thing but still annoying.

Not a fan of celebrity. Service was not good and food was good to really bad.

Thanks for posting this live on your cruise. We are reading everyday since this cruise is one we are interested in taking.

 

I think you'd enjoy a Panama Canal cruise on the Westy next April more:D.

I'm going to put in my two cents regarding the cash tips...

 

I work in a bank and I so often have customers that come in to get $2 bills or gold $1 coins to give as tips on cruises. To me, this is an awful idea. We shouldn't be giving cash/coins that we have a hard time spending ourselves right here at home in the US. While I know it all "spends the same" (and maybe I'm just being overly critical), I think we should be giving tips that are easy for people to use, not something that we don't use as everyday currency.

 

 

Sent from my iPad

 

Totally agree. I can imagine how excited peeps would be to get our loonies or toonies. I hate 'em.

Open on sea days. We just made 4* so the $5 pp is definitely a bargain. I love the Pinnacle for lunch...the onion soup, blue cheese encrusted beef tenderloin, scalloped potatoes, and asparagus....YUM!

 

That is a good meal. I also tried crab cakes for lunch and they were tiny.

And hopefully a shiny new sneeze guard in The Neptune :D

 

I'm thinking not.

I'd be more hesitant to book first cruise after a dry dock than last cruise before.

 

 

Yeah, that would be me:eek:. If I didn't have bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all:D.

I asked my PPC about shore excursions booked before the cruise counting towards on board spending Mariner days and she said that they do NOT count. They only count if you purchase them while you are on the ship. This was the relevant part of the email:

 

"Good afternoon!

 

The accrual of Bonus Days are only good for onboard spending. You would have to book the Shore Excursions once you get on the ship for them to count towards the $300."

 

I got this email on October 15 so I'm thinking it reflects the current policy.

 

That must be brand new then. I'm thinking tha person is wrong.

When I was in having a pedicure a little while ago there was also a lady next to me having one. She told the nail tech that next time she was going to bring in some baking instead of a tip. I wonder if she would like to be paid by her employer in baking:rolleyes:. Cash is king.

We received the same on the Prinsendam after dining in Le Cirque.

 

The question is did your DH see those chocolates:D;)?

Thx for the update. I'm enjoying it.

I did this one on the Rotterdam in 2011,

 

 

I thought it was a great itinerary with 2 Panama Canal transits, Central America, South America, and R/T Ft. Lauderdale. For what ever reason, HAL doesn't do it anymore.

 

Yes, have a great cruise. Looking forward to your reviews.

 

That sounds like a great itinerary. Mine want thru the canal twice too. It was pouring for the second transit. I like your itinerary better.

Thanks Lorene :)

How about if we get there at 10 or 10:30 ? Would that be also a slow time without lines ?

Only downside for waiting till 1:30 is we like to get settled before muster drill and maybe tour the ship as it's our first time. We also need to stop by the Hydropool and get a refund. Also making sure we got the right retreat cabanas and also book Tamarind for lunch for sail in San Juan.

 

Sounds like you've gotten some great advice from other folks. I've never gotten to the pier that early because I usually do Hal transfers. My next cruise will be different.

Thought it would be a nice gesture to show them our appreciation for their outstanding service.

I hope you get outstanding wine service. It's been a very long time since that has happened on a HAL ship for me.

I have stood in lines there, sometimes more than an hour. I would for sure suggest after 1PM or later. I have to ask, who does enjoy standing in lines:D? That said, I swear many people in Calgary are brutally rude and impatient and don't want to stand in lines. When it comes to Stampede time they will stand in line for an hour to get a crappy pancake. Is it that hard to make some at home:confused:.

[quote name='mamaofami'][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=4]IIRC, the chocolate purse was on the menu with a different name and then a description of what it was. You needed to read the menu carefully to find it. At least, that's what I recall.[/SIZE][/FONT][/quote]
I remember it having an odd name. Since I heard that I've kept a watch but haven't seen it. That said, HAL drives me to eat in their specialty restaurants because the service tends to be not great in the MDR. I might have missed it on one of those nights.

[quote name='innlady1'][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3]I usually choose the "no sugar added" desserts...they're not bad.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[/quote]
I get enough of that at home as I don't eat sugar. I did have a bite of one on the ship and I have to admit it was pretty tasty.

[quote name='innlady1'][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3]We had an incredible chocolate soufflé in the MDR one night on the NA...it was to die for. Of course, the heavy doses of chocolate kept me awake most of the night![/SIZE][/FONT] :eek:[/quote]
I also had a good dessert. It was some chocolate caramel thing. Can't remember the name but I wanted to lick the plate after. It was so good. Usually I pick the fruit crisps because nothing appeals to me. I'm not a fan of soufflés either.

[quote name='RuthC'][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=royalblue]That's sad to read. When that dessert is done right, it's the best dessert I have ever had in my entire life. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][COLOR=#4169e1]Maybe some day you'll get another chance at one. I hope so. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE]

That's probably why it won't be seen. Hal doesn't want to ruin its reputation for lousy desserts by having a good one:D. I've never seen it on the menu.

Were the flushing problems in a particular area, or ship wide?

 

For me it was several cabins in my area. IIRC my cabin number was 7004.

That is what I was thinking. How can one person keep track of so many aspects of a company. Seems overwhelming to me. I don't see how he or anyone else can do a good job with that many responsibilities.

 

Lots of delegation.