cbr663

10 hours ago, Vineyard View said:

Why would the lunchtime service be so much better than the dinner at PG?  Not challenging, sincerely curious. 

Sometimes lunch time is better, some times it isn't.  We had 2 reservations for the PG lunch on our Koningsdam cruise this past November and the first experience was so poor we cancelled the second reservation.  YMMV.

11 hours ago, nannygoatjunction said:

We had our meal last night on our embarkation day.

Seriously. Fried onion rings and mashed spud with steak? Not my idea of fine dining thats for sure.  😂

 

 

Unfortunately, one thing I have learned sailing HAL is that the cruise line struggles with consistency.  I think HAL needs to drop the "Fine" dining as it hasn't provided a fine dining experience in a very long time.

22 minutes ago, julia said:

I received this same email for our Noordam May 5th sailing from Vancouver, again stating "several ships in port" (its just us and the Nieuw Amsterdam!)  I'm not sure how effective this will be, since 4*,5*,CO, and suites all have priority. We shall see...

Yes, this group all have priority to check in and wait to board.  That was our experience sailing in a NS on the Koningsdam last year.  Once boarding commences, it will literally be by row after row of people who are waiting, with those with priority starting first.  The priority is to board a few minutes prior to everyone else, or however long it takes for people in the queue to be scanned while boarding.  They try their best to conduct the boarding so everyone is actually moving through the terminal and on the gangplank and when they reach the actual ship it is scan on and step aboard and move forward for everyone else.

9 hours ago, oakridger said:

 

Has anyone ever actually had this "special onboard event" when they purchased Club Orange?  I haven't heard of any.

 

~Nancy

We did.  I believe it was complimentary jewellery cleaning.  We never travel with jewellery so completely irrelevant for us.  It was just a sales attempt to get you to the jewellery store. 😉

My experience in the past is that neither the port nor HAL were strict enforcing check in times, but this is the first time I have seen check-in done by decks at Canada Place so no one will know until the season starts.

If you have never sailed out of Canada Place know that it receives many, and I do mean many, complaints regarding the check-in process.  Many people find it very confusing and a long and tedious process.  You have to start underground and endure long lines and several staircases and different level changes.

Also know that the boarding time of 11:30 is only an estimate.  This means that if you arrive before boarding time there is every likelihood that you will be arriving to wait in a very large group to board.  There is a segment of cruise passengers that love to hurry up and wait.

9 hours ago, cccole said:

There are different categories of Neptune Suites?  I did not know that.  We booked a Neptune Suite, did not see different prices, and did not do anything to have access to the CO entree on the dinner menu in the MDR.  This was on the Oosterdam which does not have a separate CO venue.  And, like CruiseBruce did, we did not get a CO tote bag, just the HAL 150th tote.  Didn't even know there was a CO tote.  Our reason for booking a Neptune suite was for an aft wrap balcony and we were happy with whatever came with it.  We have booked another for 2026.   Cherie  

Delete.  Similar post.

5 hours ago, Torquer said:

It is true that NS and PS don't get the free upgrade but you are already in one of the top suites, but there is always a special cocktail party in the Neptune Lounge or somewhere else just for NS/PS.

 

And obviously, NS/PS suites get other perks that are not available to non-suite CO guests.

There are different categories of Neptune Suites though and I would hate for someone to think that they could book the lowest category NS and then request the complimentary upgrade when that CO benefit doesn't apply.

You don't get access to all CO benefits.  Neptune and Pinnacle cabins do not get the complimentary free upgrade or the special onboard event.  

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/ca/onboard-experiences/dining/club-orange

On 4/21/2024 at 1:17 PM, ChinaShrek said:

My first thought is this. I can absolutely see what HAL is doing. They are using groups to subsidize their cruises and make a profit. Do we want cruise fares to increase significantly or should HAL book group events on their cruises in lieu of increasing fares?

I think the opposite that we all pay for these groups and full charters.  We are now in a period of high demand for cruises.  When HAL accepts more and more large groups and full charters it is taking a huge number of cabins out of inventory.  This results in less supply trying to meet a high demand.  High demand with less supply will typically result in higher prices, not lower.  HAL will never limit the profit on a sailing in the manner that you suggested.  That is not how dynamic pricing works.  

On 4/21/2024 at 7:41 AM, MISTER 67 said:

HAL continues to make horrible decisions, who the hell is in charge in this disaster of a cruise line.

They lost our business about 19 months ago and not sure if we will ever sail with them again.

I agree.  The past several months CC threads and posts have shown that HAL has decidedly moved away from a passenger service focus.  We won't be returning until we see some changes.

Thanks so much for taking us along and sharing your final thoughts.

Like you, washrooms are important for us.  For our upcoming Avalon River Cruise we spent so much time watching review videos to try and find the perfect washroom for us.  I realize that cabins are smaller on these ships, yet sometimes, it is simply too small for us.  I also would have been very disappointed to discover a bath in the washroom after confirming that there wasn't a bath.

I find it surprising that after meeting with the Chef on embarkation to discuss your dietary needs that canapés were served that didn't meet those needs.  That was certainly a bummer.

Enjoy your next cruise planning and I am sure that those wonderful chocolates will help with your choices.  😃

HAL does a great job explaining all the perks and costs in this link:

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/ca/onboard-experiences/dining/club-orange

Was it a HAL Booking Agent?  Reads like whomever made the change didn't apply the CO upgrade properly.

Once CO is paid, you tell the PCC (HAL Booking Agent) which cabin you want as the complimentary upgrade.  That person then puts you on hold as they have to contact Ship Inventory to have the change applied.  The PCC then comes back and finalizes the booking with the new cabin noted.  I've always completed the complimentary upgrade when originally booking.

At least this is how it was for me when I did it.

6 hours ago, Christina2067 said:

I have been on many cruise lines.  Because it was so hard to get the answer from Holland America I do not plan on cruising on Holland America, they do not have a true spa class/category.  I prefer a true spa category like NCL spa rooms and Celebrity Aqua Class.  Holland America is not for me.

I agree that it is natural for someone to think that labelling a cabin as a Spa Cabin, and charging significantly more the cabins, would allow you access to the Spa for the premium.  I doubt that it is natural for most people not familiar with HAL to wonder if they are calling them Spa cabins and charging more it is only because the cabins are located close to the Spa.

On 4/14/2024 at 4:45 PM, 3Shelaghs said:

^^ your correct, carry on according to this gal was at the gate, but her checked luggage was in belly of the plane.

I posted this not to specifically to "rant", (was it cathartic? no I didn't need emotional support)but to ponder where we have gone wrong with the "youth". Why arent' they thinking and planning for themselves? Why do they expect others to fix their problems? Yes, I know it's centuries of youthful thinking, but honestly I think they are getting more flakey. I was shocked that Air Canada actually went to all the trouble to off load this gal.

 

As a grandmother of all grand daughters, I'm glad they helped her, but as a crotchety old lady, I was miffed after preplanning to arrive days earlier than needed, arranged transportation to arrive early and be picked up at destination upon arrival, I do my due diligence, but somehow end up with the short end of the stick. Glad they dumped her off vs her going postal over the Atlantic.

So don't get me wrong, I fully understand all kinds of delays with airlines and certainly not green to flying, but quite shocked they actually went to this extent to accommodate her issue, and was wondering if this is the norm nowadays.

I hear ya.  Unfortunately, when asking questions like why aren't they thinking and planning for themselves and expecting everyone else to fix their problems, I am reminded that we raised them.  🤪

Just today my DW and I were next in line at Tim's in a mall.  Suddenly a girl about 20 asked my DW and I if she could jump in front of us because, and I kid you not, she actually said, "I am so hungry that I am about to pass out and I only have 10 minutes to get something."  My DW thought the about to pass out comment was a tad dramatic, but as we weren't in any hurry and we remember all too well the experience if working in retail, e simply said okay, go ahead.  As karma can be nasty, I'm sure that no one is surprised that even after letting her go ahead another cashier opened up and we received our order before this lady received hers.  She thanked us for helping her and I don't think she thought for one second that there was anything wrong with her making her needs much more important than ours.  

Thanks for sharing.

I do understand the reason though.  Nexus is a trusted traveler program in which you are deemed very low risk.  Allowing your children to use your home address as a permanent address when in fact it isn't is a misrepresentation.  I understand how you may find it simple and convenient.  I also understand how authorities would find it simple and convenient for your children to rent a mail box.

As the active ingredient in non-drowsy Dramamine is meclizine, I assume that it didn't work well so Bonine is out.  Meclizine works really well for me.  Prior to this though I used the Scopolamine Patch.  That also worked well for me.  It has been discontinued in Canada and I believe you need a prescription for it in the US.  After a few days though I did encounter side effects with my vision being a little blurry.  Nothing that would cause me to pause just feeling like my vision was a little off.  I would still be using them but it is no longer available in Canada and I switched to meclizine.  

15 hours ago, Ready2go11 said:

 

 

The Cellar Master's Dinner looked amazing.  

I've really enjoyed reading your live thread.  Thanks so much for your generosity.

If you want to dine in the MDR after 6:30 I suggest you try and get fixed dining.  I wouldn't risk the chance that I would be turned away.

1 hour ago, 1of4 said:

We are a bit wet and cold but the gardens were spectacular!  It is a very windy, rainy day below 10 C or about 47 degrees F. ...

 

Beautiful pics.  Tulips are our favourite flower.  We regularly have fresh tulips in our house.  Your post reminded me to check out the dates for the Tulip Festival here in Ottawa.  We still have about 3 weeks to go.  🙂

16 hours ago, 1of4 said:

Even reading our information sent by email a month before departure, Scenic pushes the suites and ties and cocktail outfits. Seasons may have some effect but on this cruise I would say nobody went by Scenic’s dress guidelines for dinner attire..

Yes, that was the impression we gathered from the seminar that Scenic pushes the dressy environment.  

Many years ago when we sailed in our first Neptune Suite on HAL we decided to go all out with its formal nights.  That was back when HAL delivered corsages and boutonnieres to your suite for formal night.  We decided after that cruise that we were one and done with that.  The dark suits and sequins have never travelled with us since.  We are now at the point that we would rather avail of a ship's laundry service than take any bag larger than a carry on.  

Thanks for providing clarity around the dress on board.  We attended a Scenic information seminar and the marketing materials all showed men dressed in jackets/ties/suites and women in dresses/dressy clothes.  There was also a lot of emphasis on the "ultra luxury" aspect of Scenic and its Enriching Experiences where they highlighted excursions to private symphonies and orchestras.  We left the seminar thinking that Scenic is not the cruise line for us as it really presented a formal experience.

Carnival Corp and I believe every other cruise lines are reporting that bookings are up and ships are sailing at more than 100% capacity.  No one can predict what capacity will be for your cruise in Nov, yet there is little reason to believe that it should be any different.  Added to the over capacity challenge is if you follow any live threads you will see that for the most part HAL's ships are sailing with less crew.  Less crew can mean less than ideal service and longer waits onboard.

It unfortunately happens because there seems to be a segment of people who refuse to follow the rules.  As this traveller was clearly upset and refused to remain in her seat with her seatbelt fastened while the plane was underway to takeover, I would think that the decision was made that the passenger could no longer fly.  Removing the passenger from the plane is, in my opinion, Air Canada not accommodating her behaviour.  It's unfortunate that for Air Canada to do the right thing in this instance it meant delaying the flight even more.

18 hours ago, cccole said:

This afternoon we were driving thru town and a woman was walking a great dane.  I slowed and commented that it's like walking a pony, sooooo cute.  It reminded me of a case that was brought against a major hotel chain several years ago by a man who was denied access to the hotel for his great dane.  The man said his dog was a service animal but the hotel said "no."  In court the man brought his great dane which freely roamed the courtroom.  The judge said, "no, no, no."  The "service dog" then went over to the jury box and almost put his head in the lap of a juror who was afraid of dogs. The prosecution was instructed to not bring the dog to court again.  A couple more days of lies by the man with the service dog ended in the case being dismissed.  The judge saw the total abuse of someone trying to claim their pet was a service animal.  My husband worked with the lawyer representing the hotel chain and today we laughed at the audacity of someone trying to pass a pet off as a service animal.  But it's really not a joke, it's a sad reflection on people who think the rules don't apply to them.  This was a major hotel chain, maybe HAL should not be afraid of the frauds.  Cherie    

Companies faced litigation often.  Larger companies face it so often that they have entire legal teams on staff.  It's the cost of doing business.  Companies decide all the time which legal challenges they will mediate and which challenges they will gladly take to court as they know that they are operating within the law.

Challenging a passenger whom you have valid reasons to believe is fraudulently presenting themselves as having a service animal when in fact they are travelling with a pet should be an easy challenge to win.  I accept that we are currently living in a woke society, but that doesn't negate the risk that is associated with allowing passengers to travel with pets.  The risk is that the pet may cause harm or injury to other passengers and leave the cruise line open to that litigation.