I’m nearly a 4 Star Mariner with HAL, but pretty much signed off any future plans to sail with them a year ago. One of the things that kept me coming back was their unobtrusive policy towards personal alcohol. I like to have something at hand in my cabin for a pre-dinner drink; beyond that, I usually buy one or two of the premium wine packages (depending on the length of the cruise), and enjoy several cocktails through the day. HAL certainly hasn’t suffered any “loss” when it comes to my bar tabs! This new policy is nothing more than a ploy to snatch that one, last remaining nickel that may still be lurking in someone’s pocket. HAL was once a gracious, quality cruise line. This is just the most recent (and, for me, last) nail in its Carnivalization – which, over the past few years, has seen the quality for which HAL was once known badly eroded – from food, to linens, to overpriced insipid wines. I guess that all Carnival “brands” now have to squeeze their patrons by every means possible to recoup the losses incurred because of their disastrous PR incidents – which, many believe, were largely the result of mismanagement and corporate greed. For anyone worried about finding paper towels in the washrooms, I remember when HAL was famous for the magnificent bouquets of fresh flowers adorning its public spaces – including restrooms! Yes, I’m THAT old!!
Bringing Unlimited Wine Policy Officially Change Yesterday
in Holland America Line
Posted
I’m nearly a 4 Star Mariner with HAL, but pretty much signed off any future plans to sail with them a year ago. One of the things that kept me coming back was their unobtrusive policy towards personal alcohol. I like to have something at hand in my cabin for a pre-dinner drink; beyond that, I usually buy one or two of the premium wine packages (depending on the length of the cruise), and enjoy several cocktails through the day. HAL certainly hasn’t suffered any “loss” when it comes to my bar tabs! This new policy is nothing more than a ploy to snatch that one, last remaining nickel that may still be lurking in someone’s pocket. HAL was once a gracious, quality cruise line. This is just the most recent (and, for me, last) nail in its Carnivalization – which, over the past few years, has seen the quality for which HAL was once known badly eroded – from food, to linens, to overpriced insipid wines. I guess that all Carnival “brands” now have to squeeze their patrons by every means possible to recoup the losses incurred because of their disastrous PR incidents – which, many believe, were largely the result of mismanagement and corporate greed. For anyone worried about finding paper towels in the washrooms, I remember when HAL was famous for the magnificent bouquets of fresh flowers adorning its public spaces – including restrooms! Yes, I’m THAT old!!