cruz chic

Chiquita banana freighters have a pretty liberal policy and free banana daiquiris at Happy Hour

Sign me up:D.

Can we get back on topic and move the "what else can they do to cut costs" to a new thread please?

 

Those saying their bookings will go elsewhere, what line has an all-you-can-carry policy other than Oceana?

Apparently ANY line is better than Hal, especially Celebrity. I think some folks may get a rude awakening when they actually take that awesome cruise.

Where is Copper10-8 when we need him? He posted several years ago that all luggage that went aboard the ship was checked. I think Bruce Muzz posted something similar. It's just inconceivable that in 2013 they would allow luggage to come aboard ship without being searched by some means (x-ray, sight, or maybe dog). We are talking about US embarkation ports.

Ok, I haven't lost it. I was quite sure copper posted that.

He can still sit on the balcony with a glass. It just won't have wine in it.

Unless you buy some...............

My friend also had her iron confiscated and had to go to the naughty room while they searched her luggage and was told she would get it back at the end of the cruise. They found it because they x-rayed her luggage.

I guess that makes two suitcases that were xrayed:D unless this is the same lady.

Of course I can't provide proof, but I cas assure you that all bags are not x-rayed at every port. End of subject. Believe what you want to believe.

Thx for letting me know that was the end of the subject. I didn't realize your word was the gospel on that. You might want to advise Hal of your findings:rolleyes:.

Was the iron found in her carry-on baggage or checked baggage? Or was it was reported by the room stewart?

 

Please let us know why you find it so hard to believe that bags are NOT x-rayed at every port on every cruise line.

It was found in her checked bag. The bag did not make it to her room. This is my proof. I'm pretty sure the someone that works for Hal security has also said bags are x-rayed. I'm still waiting for your proof that they are not but my guess is that you don't have any proof but are trying to save face.

I don't think the policy is different but I really like what I saw of their wine list posted. If HALs were half as good and reasonably priced, we wouldn't bring much wine onboard.

 

I was going to email you about your take on the different cruise lines next year. Maybe I'll do it sooner!! Stand by--i want to finish reading this thread!!

 

How is your knee today?

 

 

ML

I just don't want you to be disappointed. I know some sing the praises of Celebrity but for the life of me I just don't get it. Even if I got free wine Celebrity would not be my choice.

The knee is getting marginally better but it sure gets sore by the end of the day.

What an elitist attitude. Shocking. Buying a few bottles aboard and carrying a few (or several) bottles aboard are not mutually exclusive.

 

I can't speak for others, but if I feel I'm being gouged I won't purchase a bottle of wine even if I can easily afford it. My definition of "gouged" is arbitrary, fluid, and dependent upon the circumstances of the moment.

 

HAL could have easily implemented a different policy which would not have created the uproar and backlash seen in this thread. I'll be shocked if they do not encounter unintended consequences with the new policy and the arrogant way in which it was implemented. Fortunately, I do not have a cruise already booked as some others do.

 

Regarding any potential bookings with HAL, the policy itself will not weigh as heavily in my decision-making as will HAL's willingness to change the terms of the booking contract without recourse.

I don't think there was a good way to roll this out. I'm sure there would always be someone complaining. Lets just say that Hal let folks cancel even though they were past final. At that point folks would be complaining about air. I'm sure there will be adjustments to this policy and I'm sure there will still be more complaints.

I seen this happen on NCL, but no other cruise line. I'm sure CCL has such a room, but I've never heard of anyone being called to a "Naughty Room" on PCL or HAL.

One lady at my dinner table got a iron confiscated that was found by X-ray on a Hal ship. I guess that must have been the only bag that's ever been xrayed. Please let us know how you've come to know bags are not xrayed.

Jacqui

 

Excellent post and you said it much better than I would have! While i don't like the change (and I think it's a stupid decision) I am most appalled by the fact that it is taking effect immediately. No advance notice, no grace period, nothing.

 

We are switching to Celebrity. We have been thinking of trying them for awhile and this is a good opportunity to vote with our feet (and our money)!!

 

Grrrrrrr...

ML

How is their policy different? Sure hope you have better luck than I do because Celebrity is not even mediocre in my mind. Princess is a lot better.

Omg! All of my pre orders have been pre paid upon ordering, and we always know price in advance!

You would think that would be a given. I would not agree to anything without knowing the price.

You have paper towels??????? We have a hand dryer :)

Your employer is fancy:D.

We are not drinkers (my DH doesn't drink at all) but choose HAL because they have the best itineraries at sea. Our last two cruises on HAL were a 17 night Voyage of the Vikings from Boston to Amsterdam (where stops included both Greenland and Iceland and a chance to go to the Military Tattoo in Scotland), and a 22 night cruise from Valparaiso Chile to NYC with a full transit of the Panama Canal, opportunity to fly over the Nazca Lines (not offered by HAL but we arranged on our own) and ability to leave the ship for a few days and go to Machu Picchu, as well as great Canada New England itineraries (ships can get to Montreal), and non of these are offered on the other lines we have used.

 

BUT, when we start seeing plastic flowers in the public restrooms and now someone mentions paper towels, plus the fact it has appeared they have had no interest in attracting newer and younger passengers based on the fact they have been doing Signature of Excellence upgrades but totally skipping any updates in the gym we start to wonder where they are heading.

 

Note that I did enjoy the ability to bring on wine from a Chilean winery and have done so in Santorini as well, so that is disappointing it will no longer be allowed. There is no way I would place red wine in the same luggage as my clothing, but enjoyed it on the ship and last trip actually brought a bottle and gave a gift to friends we visited in Ft Lauderdale before continuing the cruise to NYC.

I can totally understand about crappy gym equipment but I really don't get the paper towel thing. I SO wished this is the worst thing that I have had to deal with lately. Many people lost their houses in the Calgary area in the worst flooding in Alberta history. Is wiping your hands on paper towels that bad? Pretty sure folks around here would be happy to have such a problem.

Perhaps HAL should co-ordinate their wine policy in the same manner as their pricing.

 

Mariners could be permitted to bring one bottle each on board. Newbies could be permitted to bring in a case if they so wished.

 

This would encourage new customers while no doubt keeping the older, loyal customers.

Don't give them any ideas:D.

They still allow smoking on balconies, don't they? That is usually what has the board up In arms.

Yes, you are correct. I meant in cabins. Sorry about that. I guess I must have been thinking of Princess:o.

OH geez! More cheerleader posts. We have not posted anything about X on this thread, but you can count us among those who really like X (we are Elite on that line and also 4 Star Mariners on HA) for many reasons (including their wine list and neat self-service wine bars (on some ships). No reason to get "smart" with those of us who enjoy many different cruise lines (we ourselves have been on 12 lines). HA has some good points (especially their itineraries) and other lines have their pluses and minuses. Unfortunately, in recent years with all the various HA cut-backs we find fewer and fewer reasons to cruise HA. In fact, at this point the only reason we go on any HA cruise is for the itinerary or an amazing bargain. If we want to choose a cruise for the ship or overall quality there are many other lines (including X) that would be higher on our list then HA. One attractive feature of HA has been the ability of some wine lovers to bring their own selection of wines aboard. On our longer Grand Cruises we have actually witnessed passengers bringing aboard multiple cases of excellent wines (very common on the World Cruise). One wonders if some of these long-time HA fans will now be driven to other lines.

 

Hank

I guess you could be called a cheerleader as well. You've made your position on how much you love Celebrity and how poor Hal is. How is that different? I see nothing in Sails post that could be confused as cheerleading. I've got a pretty good hate on for Celebrity and there would be no policy that would sway my decision to sail on them.

conceptually I don't have a problem with this change. However I do have a problem with:

1. Lack of notice, especially to those of us who will be crusing in the very near future,

2. Not having an implementation date that is, say, December 1st, so that it won't apply to those cruises where you have already made final payment,

3. Not allowing additional bottled to be brought on in port if you pay the $20 "corkage" fee.

 

Bottom line, I like decent wine. I have an extensive wine cellar filled with nice wine. Most of the wine on the HAL wine lists is very expensive plonk.

 

As far as new/potential HAL cruisers, I took my 26 year old son on a 10 day cruise last December. After looking at the HAL wine lists online, he went to Total Wine and bought 5 nice bottles of wine, and drank most in the MDR. I told him about this new policy. He said he won't be crusing HAL again.

I wonder if they had waitied to implement this a few months if it would have made a difference. I see many people saying they are upset because they have made final payment. If they were able to cancel how many would? I remember when they stopped allowing smoking on balconies how many people said they would quit sailing Hal. I only know one person on this board that has kept their word. I respect people like that. I try not to let my mouth write a cheque that my butt won't cash but I'm not always sucessful.

I've read repeatedly in this thread how great Celebrity's wine list and wine prices are.

What I don't understand is if they are so much more to your liking, why are you not sailing their ships? :confused: Even before HAL's policy change if you liked Celebrity's choices so much, why were you lugging wine to HAL when you could have simply enjoyed the wine list on board "X's" ships?

 

Doesn't make sense to me.

 

I guess for some folks bringing wine on is the be all and end all and trumps everything. I also don't understand people being horrified at having to use paper towels in a bathroom. Imagine, I've worked for over 30 years and have used paper towels the whole time and lived through it:D.

This is probably what HAL will end up doing to avoid the inevitable confrontations as pax get back on the ships at ports. They may not make it an official change in the new policy immediately, but may just look the other way when a pax has a bottle of wine in their tote bag at a port.

I agree. I'll be shocked if they don't back down. I think they took this hard line so there would be room to back down.

The issue is what started as a very nice policy turned into a way for people not to spend any money on board. That effects everyone in terms of standards and prices.

HAL finally said enough. And that's not a bad thing in the long run.

That is likely the problem. I've seen posters say its ok to fill a to go cup and carry it around the pool or into bars or the MDR. Its people that do things like that that ruin for others and then complain about it.

The key word here is "policy". If one policy is changed giving several months advance notice, then all policy changes should be subject to the same advance notice. The smoking policy was even extended for those on the World Cruise and Grand Voyages. As they say, what's good for the goose is good for the gander.:D

Really, I don't think it's the same and do they have to give months notice for everything? I do drink wine but I'll manage to live thru this change in policy. It really is a non issue to me. If I was so bent out of shape I'd be walking. I'm sure there are lots of people that are still before final. I'd be walking if I felt that strongly about it.

Still dealing with my stupid knee. I'm ready to cut it off at this point. I wasn't prepared for what a pain it was going to be. Some days I doubt it will be better but deep down I know it will. Thanks for the good wishes. I appreciate it.

 

Lorene, I wish to express to you my very best wishes for a speedy recovery! :)

 

Thank you

HAL did not "dump" the smoking policy on pax... as I recall, there was about 6 months notice of the change in smoking policy, well before final payment date for everyone, if they chose to cancel. This wine policy has definitely been dumped on us, especially those of us sailing in the near future, having passed final payment date.

I don't think you can compare a smoking and wine policy. Really, there is another choice for wine drinkers. Hal is not saying you can't drink wine.

Well, as one who never brought on a case of wine or asked it to be delivered to the cabin - I am a bit disappointed to say the least.

 

I have no problem with one bottle at embarkation but nothing in the ports? I would happily pay the corkage fee to bring on a bottle from the wonderful European ports that I will be visiting.

 

If you are only allowed one bottle of wine the entire cruise (I think I am reading the new policy correctly?) then the corkage fee becomes moot.

 

Too bad they hadn't done what another cruise line does - they let you bring it on but you pay a corkage fee then and there and you can take the bottle to the MDR or drink it in your room. To me, that would have been fair ball.

 

Guess we know why the new package came out.

 

Let's hope HAL improves their wine selections. Or at least brings some on in interesting ports.

I think I've ever only brought one bottle on and that was on Celebrity. I do think they should have the option to be able to bring some on if people pay corkage. It will be interesting to see if the policy gets modified.