Tarpeian Rock

Why don't you move up to a premium line, you want to book a suite on HAL. Oceania would be my suggestion.

HAL used to be very good but food and service have greatly eroded. Staffing in dining venues is very thin. The biggest issue I have is ship condition, nonworking plumbing, AC is a frequent issue. They have the oldest fleet at sea and allocate little money to maintain and repair.

 

The announcement didn't influence my opinion in any way but if you read the thread its entirety there are very honest assessments. I've experienced Ac and plumbing problems but did not know about three ships leaking diesel fuel and HAL no plans to fix the leaks. Why do you want to sail?

 

We've sailed a lot of Princess, you asked for comparison. Princess has steadily improved their product while HAL went south. Travel professionals have told me Carnival Corp purposely upgraded one and let the other one slide.

I will totally echo this. After 4 HALs, 2 Princess, and 2 Oceania - with our next Oceania in January - O has been a great fit for us. What we look for in a satisfying cruise beyond the itinerary are quiet, good service, meals to look forward to, and an understated classy atmosphere. Found it all in Oceania, plus a wonderful lack of nickle-and-dimeing. Neither shows nor other activities are important to us beyond an occasional diversion. I think Princess absolutely does Alaska best should that be your interest, but beyond that we think that HAL has some 'splaining to do in terms of its apparent priorities per the announcement this week, vs. the food, staffing, and maintenance issues documented on CC so often. While in the future we might try Königsdam for the right itinerary and price, we're most happy with O. We do keep up with HAL news as that was our choice for a while, but they lost us after food, service, and maintenance issues on Zuiderdam.

I will add my voice to those who did not get any notice (email) from HAL. If not for Cruise Critic, we would be unaware of the "changes"... I noticed from an entry above that the changes will not apply to the S-class ships and, of course, our next reservation is on the Veendam.

 

To further add to my rant, we also just got a BLAST email from HAL to change our departure port for an April cruise. The email addresses for a ton of people were in the TO: line so we can now freely communicate with each other. In fact, I already got an unsolicited email from one of them... I am a little disappointed in HAL for this past week of events...

 

I look forward to the next BIG announcement now that I know about the drinking game...

There are easy ways to send blast emails without disclosing each recipient's email address. If HAL has disclosed peoples' addresses this way I would consider that a serious breach of trust and something that would be actionable. And we didn't get the "announcement" email either. Based on what's been discussed in this thread, it would seem to be serious Keystone Kops time at HAL.

instead of T&L or F&W. Afar has great photos and not much info.

Correct. We subscribed once and didn't renew it. So little content that it wouldn't even hold one's attention in a dentist's office. And so few people have ever heard of it I believe.

Hmmm....maybe not food, maybe hotel branding...let's see, how about a high visibility political figure with hotel branding...OH NO!

There you have it! Ladies and gentlemen, I present the "Trumpdam!"

Our pictures were beautiful too, which is why we spent so much. Yours may be a different vendor because we had to pay for the digital copies and we are only supposed to get the 6 images that we bought.

 

AN UPDATE - since posting this issue on CC, as well as Twitter and Facebook, I received a phone call about 20 minutes ago from Black Label who tells me that my pictures will be sent out on Monday, october 26th! Success at last!

Good news, but did you ask them WHY it took going to CC, Twitter, and Facebook in order to get your pictures?

I haven't yet found a way to refuse to have my photo taken when embarking - seems we are herded past the photographers - we never have our photos taken on board the ship nor at the bottom of the gangway.

 

We don't cruise to have photos of ourselves - we cruise to see places and photograph scenery.

 

Biggest waste of money in my opinion. With iphones and ipads etc. there are more photos out there than ever.

When we're on a cruise line that has embarkation photographers, we just cry out "Witness Protection Program," keep our hands in front of our faces, and keep moving.

I thought the same--was finally chastised by a worker in the Explorations Cafe' on the Oosterdam that the cookies/pastries etc. were for the paid customers only. Embarrassing! :mad:

Glad you posted this - that's been my experience also. Not being a coffee drinker, I've never succeeded in getting anything at Explorations. What a world of difference from Princess' International Café, which HAL would do well to adopt, at least in some form.

Not that it's a big deal, but on principle: is/should there be a charge if you have O air? If you've booked through O, one might think . . . . .

Fuel savings impact bonuses.

If all are aboard ten minutes early for leaving port, there is fuel savings by leaving immediately and not waiting for no practical reason.

I wouldn't think this is necessarily so. There's the question of pilot availability and harbor master control. If a departure is scheduled for a specific time, there would be traffic management and potentially waiting for the pilot. Not just like pulling out of a parking space.

Let me give a it of information that is not probably known and applies to anyone that is not accustom to commission or bonus pay income. First off the Hotel Director and the Captain both get bonus based on profit of the ship and the Holland America Shore Excursions are a big part of their bonus of what is sold for each sailing. Their Bonus is a big part of their salary/income. By talking and organizing something that take something out of their pocket right in front of them is rather a slap in their face.

Sadly many do not understand commission based or bonus based income.

 

Over the years these Private Excursions have become rather big and less people purchase direct from HAL. This is often but not always why HAL will pull out of a particular port or region for a short while. Granted not the main reason but one of the determining factors. The Mexican Riviera is a good example and Shore Excursions was was taking a beating because everyone was buying private excursions. I was basically told several years ago by several Officers that the problems in Mexico was a convenient excuse for the ships to pull out of Mexico for a while because they were making no money there. Many of those Private Operators in Mexico did go out of business so now the cruise lines are starting back up fairly strong.

I would love to know more about this. I thought it was a fundamental principle that bonuses related to factors under one's control - thus, the motivation to out-perform. I have trouble understanding how a captain can directly affect the profitability of a given voyage or even calendar quarter. Excursions and alcohol are probably the two biggest money-makers. Excursion contracts are handled by corporate with multi-year durations - what is a captain's role here? Perhaps a captain is more involved in the hotel side than I appreciate, but I also don't understand how a captain can affect alcohol sales. The one area I can understand under a captain would be fuel consumption of course, but courses are essentially automated and fixed, and weather obviously can influence fuel consumption. So where does that leave his bonus?

Well golly, seeing as how we're set to end in Papeete after our January cruise, the starch sure went out of our sails. Sounds like given a choice between Papeete and the Walking Dead, we'd be better off reading up on zombies. We aren't going to cancel the cruise of course. Do we arrange for the day room through our O cruise consultant? Any other survival tips?

If they offer you water from a caraffe in the main dining room there is a charge for that. We always decline and just ask for regular water. We also carry out own bottled water on the ship with us and that is good for poolside or taking off the ship in port. As stated before a water bottle can also be filled at no charge. If there is a refrigerator in our room we ask the steward to remove the contents and the bottled water from the vanity top. We can the place our drinks in the cooler. We also ask the steward to provide ice daily in the room.

Charging for water now? I don't understand. If it were sparkling water in a bottle such as Perrier, that I understand. But almost by definition sparkling water wouldn't be in a carafe as that would cause the water to lose its fizz. Water glass refills during a meal come from a pitcher as I recall. What would be in a carafe that would justify charging extra for?

It is kind of ironic. Some people object to lanyards because they had to wear them for work. Some folks object to suits for the same reason. Do you think those people wore underwear to work every day? Are they "going commando" because they're on vacation or retired? What about people who had to dress business casual for work, but didn’t have to wear an ID badge on lanyard? Are they in jacket and tie with lanyards on vacation?

 

My wife and DSIL use a waterproof case on a lanyard for ID, cash, and credit cards. I use my pocket - except when swimming, when I use a waterproof case on a carabiner clip. They're Witz See It Safes. Highly recommended.

In some cases, I'm quite sure the answer to one of your questions is yes.

Neither of us use a lanyard as we do not like things hanging around our necks.

DH keeps his in his pocket, I keep mine either in my pocket or in a tiny purse on the ship.

Also when off the ship having the lanyard around your neck screams to people that you are a tourist.

This. During the last years "at the office," I had to wear an electronic card around my neck for security purposes, and it felt like a digital cowbell. Darned if I'm going to repeat that experience and brand myself a tourista besides. That's what pockets are for.

HAL has the $50 soda card that you can buy for $25. You get about 6 ounces of fountain soda each time.

We rarely get a fountain soda but once in a while we will split a can between us.

There is a big difference between the flavor of a can and the fountain soda.

Nothing unlimited on HAL.

Except perhaps the amount of ice they'll put into a fountain drink unless you stop them. Cans definitely the way to go.

Did Veendam's Canada/New England a few weeks ago, and I brought back lobster roll in Saint John and in Halifax, no questions, no problem.

 

For the poster who considers "crushed grapes" food, be careful. Although I recognize it as a food group, the ship won't see it that way. When I returned to the ship in Portland, I had a nearly full water bottle in my tote bag. One of the screeners looked into the bag to make sure it wasn't a wine bottle. It wasn't as large as a bottle of wine, and it had a sports cap, which should have been a giveaway that it wasn't wine. But he wanted to see it. So they are looking, at least some of the time.

Similar thing just happened to me on Princess - the clear contents of what was obviously a water bottle were checked to make sure it wasn't vodka or gin. (Senior citizen here - not a party hearty twentysomething....)

You can bring food on board like frozen dinners, pizzas etc., but you cannot take it on shore..

Bringing frozen dinners onto a cruise ship? Is this an editorial on the MDR?

Canada has to get visas for Australia as well and we are in the same commonwealth. Most countries with an embassy or consulate in your country also have a website. This should link you to those countries or you can google them directly. They have links to visa applications.

Interesting. Even more surprised that Commonwealth citizens require a visa. Before this thread I would have thought that citizens of current Commonwealth countries wouldn't have needed one, with U.S. citizens thrown in for old times' sake.

I got Admiral Amorous. And at my age!

FDR used to monitor and occasionally contribute to this board. Would be nice if, after 8 pages, he chimed in on this.

Port times changed to save port fees. Port times changed to save fuel (on ships that sail more places than most). Port times shortened to increase on board revenue (on ships that don't nickle-dime).

 

All conspiracy theories from folks who don't trust the companies they choose.

 

Oceania has always had my best interests at heart; I trust (a huge word, today) them to continue.

"Conspiracy theories" are "New World Order" and chemtrails. A mere 5 hours in Key West is a frustrating annoyance and nothing to do with not trusting one's choice of cruise line.

IMO they do this to save on fuel as they can go slower to the next port. They have done this on NCL as well.

This is what my understanding is also.

That's why I posted the ADA service animals link from the government. Dogs and tiny horses only.

I recall a 2006 story from the FAA stating that "emotional support" pigs are allowed to fly. This administrative decision likely evolved apart from the ADA. We are fortunate that the FAA doesn't regulate cruise ships.

We are planning a land tour/cruise to Alaska next summer and narrowing down options. We have been on Princess land/rail/cruise tour 7 years back but contemplating HAL trip this and need help from anyone who can give me details regarding the following. I have asked a few questions on Alaska board but still need some clarification from anyone who has traveled recently:

 

1. Any differences in style, service and conveniences between Princess and HAL lodging in Fairbanks, Denali and Anchorage

 

2. Any differences in the style, service and conveniences of the rail cars between these 2 cruise lines from Fairbanks to Denali to Anchorage to cruise port

 

Thanks ahead for anything you can share as I am trying to help a group of travelers narrow down a trip

We just returned from a lengthy land-sea escorted Princess Alaska tour beginning in Fairbanks. Would do it again in a heartbeat. The Princess cars and Holland cars were all attached in the same train, so I'm guessing no difference there. Our concierge escort told us that only Princess has its own lodges, and that Holland makes arrangements with 3rd-party hotels; this surprised me and I have no independent verification of that. All I can say is that we were delighted with our experience, the 4 Princess lodges were wonderful. We were also glad that we did the extended land portion first, can't imagine doing the land portion after a week on the ship. Good luck!

Booking direct is the equal of going to a car dealer and paying full list price, Purchasing a home for the ask for price, or going to a casino and letting them place your bets as they see fit. Or waiting till things are not onsale to buy.

 

A good agent will get you advantage and opportunity far more than the company will. credits, rebates, up-grades extras..... none of which the line will offer you

 

Why? Well agents are the lifeblood of the company, they are a commission only sales force . managers know that labor costs can be 60 to80% and a salary free sales force is money in their pocket.

It is counter productive for the line to undersell or over offer customers than the agent..... They want you to deal with an agent as it is in their selfish best intrest to make the agent the best deal going.

I know that's how it's supposed to work. Our one experience with a TA for an O cruise was like hiring someone to go to a car dealer who then agreed to pay full list price on our behalf. That won't happen again. Still looking for the kind of TA that produces the good stories I see here.