helby

10 hours ago, Boatdrill said:

They seem to start earlier every year.  

And many leave later in the fall

Thanks POA1. I had this issue in December on K'dam and found myself very irritated. On Princess for a 10 day cruise in September last year  this problem didn't happen and I was logged for the whole cruise. 

If this happens in the fall I'll try your fix.

Thanks for starting this thread, 1 of 4.  As a past Scenic passenger with fond memories of my Budapest to Amsterdam cruise I'll be following you along your journey.

1989 Sky Princess -first cruise

You will also meet people onboard and can arrange to eat with them in the dining room.  I've also eaten in the speciality restaurants with people I've met.   There are usually a few solo lunches offered in the dining room on sea days on all the cruises I've taken.

Going on shore excursions is also a good way to meet others for meals and socializing.

On 2/25/2024 at 6:32 AM, EatonDoolittle said:

 

So do Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.

HAL, to my knowledge, is the only stingy outlier in this matter. 

Princess also gives double points and has done so for years. 

I booked onboard in early December and my TA for that cruise received the booking info  for the future cruise in about 6 weeks. 

Here's a photo  from 1995 of my first tile from the days when each ship had its own.  I stayed in a suite with three other family members, my one and only time in a suite. I remember it being a large room with no added features like what is expected today.

I got a survey on January 12th asking for my opinion about a number of areas on onboard services. I took the opportunity to express my displeasure about  the outrageous solo prices in what seems to me to be an attempt to book only double occupancy with an assumed  revenue increase, and the policy of sale fares not applying for solo passengers.   

Like others I haven't booked anything  on Celebrity and have been deleting most emails other than the PUP ones. Last year I was on HAL and Princess cruises where sale prices were available  and I paid less than double, and where onboard I felt welcome. 

I will start looking again and thank everyone for their posts.

On my recent K'dam cruise I had included gratuities as a promo and this showed up daily as "Marketing Promo".   Perhaps this was an included promo with your booking and did not show as an extra charge to you. 

I am quite amazed by the number of replies to my initial informational  posting and note that others also have TAs who also passed on the same information.  I neglected to say initially that the information was sent by HAL to my TA.

Yes, the increase is small  and I agree that an increase in crew compensation is a positive thing. I would like to see gratuities included in the fare  on the small luxury lines and on many river cruise lines.  My experience there is that a high  level of service is maintained and crew don't get less because some remove the crew appreciation.

2 hours ago, Fouremco said:

 

 

Erroneous mini fridge charges usually occur after you've departed the ship. While I'm a firm advocate of checking my account daily, it doesn't help when it comes to these delayed charges.

Yes, these charges usually appear after leaving the ship.   The last time it happened I sent the photo to HAL(can't remember to whom I sent it) .The charge was reversed.

Last month when  someone else's drink charges appeared on my account I was able to take care of it right away.

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

Like many long-time HAL cruisers, we have learned to have our mini bar/fridge emptied of all chargeable items on the first day of a cruise.  Sometimes this is done by our steward and other times the room service folks will do the deed.  We make sure to take a picture of the empty fridge/counter.  Trying to dispute mini-bar charges on any cruise line can be difficult and it can become your word against somebody elses word.  

 

Hank

I also do have the mini fridge emptied  and then take a photoon the first day after several times when charges were added after I left the ship. As many have said, check your account daily so that the issue can be resolved onboard.  

This was included in an email received today from my TA

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

Beginning on February 01, 2024, the daily Crew Appreciation fee will be $17 for Inside, Oceanview and Verandah staterooms and $19 for suites. The existing 18% service charge on optional purchases such as dining and drinks will remain unchanged.

Koningsdam also has the library.

.

On the Koningsdam Nov 25th cruise there was no classical music.

I can log in and see and do everything except the cruise that ended recently doesn't show in my history and my new booking isn't recognized .  On Navigator all the  information shows and I wonder when it will appear on my account on the website. 

The issue is the same on Safari and Chrome.

Got a 150th anniversary tile a few days ago  on the Koningsdam Nov 25 to December 5th cruise.

49 minutes ago, Yehootu said:

On the Regal, Concerto had the Reserve Class dining set aside. We switched to Symphony to get a better table. Wonder if the Majestic is set up the same way.

Same on Majestic with part of Concerto being Reserve Class dining. We booked a table for two in the regular area of Concerto, got a great location  and waiter the first night and reserved to sit in the same section every day, cancelling on the nights we ate elsewhere.

Last month I bought the internet package onboard Majestic at 50% off. The discounted price was charged at $7.50/day and the other half did not appear on my account at all- so no full amount charged with half as an onboard credit. Other ships may do it differently.

26 minutes ago, JeffM1 said:

 But unless you think Princess might be just a little slow with their emails, this morning I received an email telling me that the excursions on the cruise (we just completed) are filling up fast, but there is still time for me to book a tour if I hurry!! LOL LOL

This morning I got one too for a cruise that ended September 26th!!!

Recently on Majestic and saw very few people dining there.  In the past we've eaten there a few times each cruise and even though it's the only place for pizza on the ship  we won't pay extra for pizza  on a cruise and many said they would do without it.  Seeing the low use of the restaurant I wonder how many people with packages even  ate there. 

I also agree. Just off Majestic  two days ago and enjoyed the extended midship "obstructed" balcony and convenience of deck 8.

On Majestic right now, and as others have said, it is very easy to change or cancel reservations if your plans change.

14 hours ago, RuthC said:

San Diego is notorious for enforcing check-in times. 

Thanks RuthC. We will board in San Diego in November. We'll be on Princess next week  with no  assigned boarding times, just a time range to board, and I was wondering if the assigned times were enforced on HAL.