LocoLoco1

Here’s hoping higher Re-Fi rates for CCL won’t sink plans for new ships.

SUGGESTION: Grab a window view in a public area and enjoy your soup or a toddy. Sitting on ones Veranda much over-rated for Alaska unless you’re a private person.

I somewhat agree. This all leaves me wondering about corporate needs vs guest preferences. IF operating a vessel (on ALL the cruiselines) at a slim profit requires cutbacks of ‘pennies’ at the dinner table then we best get used to it methinks. We’ve seen this with airlines and their disappearing meals so perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised.

As a long-time HAL fan I see recent Corporate $$ needs are clashing with our previous onboard experiences. A barebones 30/day cruise is still a bargain, but upcharges will be substantial going forward. I’ll miss free hot hor d’oeuvres, Caviar, lobster & cashews. So be it, I guess.

Cruiseships abandon Cold Baltics&Mediteranean in the Fall for the warmer Caribbean & SAmer. Vice-versa in the Spring.

Lido for us. Best ‘Build your own sandwiches’, great Omelet Bar, BreadPudding w/Raisin sauce etc. After 100’s of HAL days we have gravitated to the Lido. No waiting, hot food, eat only what you want and all on your timetable.

Peanut Butter French Toast (2 slices of bread w/peanut butter between them. Dredge that in the Egg Milk then to the skillet. THE signature breakfast item on the EmpireBuilder Chicago/Seattle back in the day.

My tuxedo and Pinnacle dining days are quite over methinks; last year I came aboard wearing a sportcoat/slacks with only a carry-on. Had a GREAT 15-day Panama cruise lolling around the Pool with Beer by the Bucket and LidoCourt for $cheap$. That said, if HAL would have had a 1stClass area I would not have known.

1stClass/2ndClass HAL in the future seems to leave us CC’ers with mixed feelings.

A Premium experience for a Premium $price$ vs a Budget voyage for cheap aboard 1 ship has been around for centuries. Methinks HAL nearly has ‘a ship within a ship’ now ie Hydro-Spa Rm, Cabanas, PinnacleDining ‘No Lobster 4U’ etc. but without the Velvet Rope, as least for now.. Back in the day, when disembarking from a long Cunard cruise, I commented to my spouse, “All those folks have been on the boat with US?? I don’t recognize a face.”

I’ll venture I could far MORE than double the cost of a HAL basic fare by simply signing up for the various $upcharges$.

Personally, I am OK with an ‘Ala Carte’ cruise menu; here’s hoping CCL can prosper.

Thank-you. I can see how a Cruise’s price could easily Double.

Back in the day, I noted ‘VelvetRopes’ aboard certain cruiseships that reserved areas for 1stClass guests. Seems HAL is nearly there now with all these $upcharged$ venues/menus, albeit without the rope. Q: From my InsideCabin in steerage can I, if I’m willing to $Pay an upcharge, access everything or No?

Read like true insider ‘Corporate-speak’ but signifying nothing.

I’ll stand by by characterization that ‘Formality Reigns’ in 1 DiningRm and not the other. Hard & Fast dress rules? No, but the difference was obvious

Several TransAtlantics now and smooth sailing every time. Stabilizers have made it so…

It does..and it doesn’t. Cunard has a 2-tiered ‘Passenger Arrangement’. The higher status one has it’s own Dining Rm. where formality reigns. The lesser one is moreso Coat n Tie &Smart Casual.

I liked Cunard on two longer voyages and clicked with very fun bunch aboard ship. We had a modest Cabin yet the ‘Wow Factor’ onboard was everywhere. The live music, lectures, the food, the furnishings.. with a piano bar and a REAL Library etc. Next cruise was on HAL’s Maasdam. The difference was obvious.

HAL’s corporate press releases of late are rather clear: Onboard Up-charges and longer voyages will be a big part of their future. (Dare I call that ‘Cunard-lite’??) If Shorter cruises with bargain basement $prices$ are consigned to other brands in the family, perhaps they think a profit can be turned in both. Fine with me as I am usually a longer cruise Ports/ Destinations cruiser. I hope it all works out..

CCL seems to have HAL placed (for now) somewhere between Hoi-toi and ho-hum. Sailing recently on a CUNARD vessel told me my ideal would be the Prinsendam ambiance in a Koningsdam sized ship; and I’d pay $extra$ for it. As a loyal HAL cruiser I often imagine THAT for an Around the World.

CCL seems to have HAL placed (for now) somewhere between Hoi-toi and ho-hum. Sailing recently on a CUNARD vessel told me my ideal would be the Prinsendam ambiance in a Koningsdam sized ship; and I’d pay $extra$ for it. As a loyal HAL cruiser I often imagine THAT for an Around the World.

Basic $fares$ are probably money losers. Club Orange, HIA, Cabana rental upcharges etc will be the future corporate profitmakers methinks.

Maybe Carnival has smoother waters ahead? Corporate announcements of far fewer new vessels and adding many on-board upcharges seems to be the future.