Really Disappointed with HAL.........

[peaches from georgia]

The cruise lines don't have to discount Caribbean cruises in the summer. They get there highest per diems then except for holiday sailings. There are not that many ships in the caribbean in the summer months as the ate in Alaska and Europe so there are less berths to fill in the summer compared to the winter when every ship under the sun is sailing in the Caribbean.

 

Bill

Huh? I'm not sure what you were looking at, but if you check out the Zuiderdam from July thru Sept., while it varies from category to category, the avg. discounts range from 30% to over 50%. It's hard to make $$$$ with those kind of discounts unless you are making it up with heavy spending at the bars and in the casinos, which are not your normal 'family' venues. Alaska must be much more lucrative or why would HAL put 8 ships there vs. 0 in the Caribbean in 2006.

 

Apparently other cruiselines have the same problems making money in the Carib in the summer, too. Are they all making a bad business decision and giving up their highest diems? :confused:

[HeatherInFlorida]

Yes2Sail, you are absolutely right. We have often gone to the islands of the Caribbean in the summer and it's a fabulous time! Less crowds ... rates are down. And the temps are really not that much different than other times of the year (unless you get as far south as Barbados). I love it.

 

And the good news is if you can find a cruise in the Caribbean in the summer, the ports sure won't be so crowded! I'm a glass full kind of gal:D

[Oceanwench]

Heather, I'm like you -- I couldn't wait to read this thread and see what S7S was disappointed in!

I couldn't imagine what it would be!

 

S7S: When do the ships return to the Caribbean? The height of hurricane season is September, but it technically ends Nov. 30. I usually cruise in early November.

[sail7seas]

For those who love the Caribbean in the summer and are disappointed that their favorite ship isn't going there at tha time . . . try another line OR you might try a land vacation. We did St. Thomas twice on land and the summer has GREAT prices. aYou can get a condo, car rental etc for not a lot of money and explore the island and enjoy the offerings for more than a few hours at a time.

 

That is a reasonable suggestion. Long before we ever started cruising, we went many times to various Caribbean islands (including St. Thomas) and stayed at resorts for a week or ten days. Those were great vacations and we may begin doing them again.

 

We have gotten so into cruising that we stopped thinking about returning to some of those fabulous resorts. HAL may have just lost a lot of our vacation time to hotels which do not 'reposition'.

 

We're not going to give up going on vacation because HAL chose to not have a ship in the location where we wish to go.

[sail7seas]

Huh? I'm not sure what you were looking at, but if you check out the Zuiderdam from July thru Sept., while it varies from category to category, the avg. discounts range from 30% to over 50%. It's hard to make $$$$ with those kind of discounts unless you are making it up with heavy spending at the bars and in the casinos, which are not your normal 'family' venues. Alaska must be much more lucrative or why would HAL put 8 ships there vs. 0 in the Caribbean in 2006.

 

Apparently other cruiselines have the same problems making money in the Carib in the summer, too. Are they all making a bad business decision and giving up their highest diems? :confused:

 

 

 

To simply gauge the profit margin by the amount of the discount overlooks the obvous IMO

 

Thirty to fifty percent OFF OF WHAT????!!!!

 

The percentage is not nearly as relevant as What is the Bottom Line Price?!!!

 

We have gotten some excellent, very low prices on summer Caribbean cruises and other times we have paid as much as we paid in February.

I have not looked at the bottom line prices for this summer as we are booked for Canada/New England and planned to return to summer Caribbean cruising next summer.

[sail7seas]

 

S7S: When do the ships return to the Caribbean? The height of hurricane season is September, but it technically ends Nov. 30. I usually cruise in early November.

 

 

 

Zuiderdam will do a 21 day repositioning Panama Canal Cruise on September 30. The first 7 day Caibbean cruise will be October 21, 2006.

 

 

:( Bummer!!!

[KAJOKG]

Yes, Brian.

 

DH and I have been to Europe at least 20-25 times and have cruised there about 4 cruises.

 

We loved our cruises there and probably will return some day but I really, really love those summer Caribbean cruises.

 

Yup,,,,they've gone and P***ed me off!!!

No big deal --- try Princess/

[sail7seas]

Amsterdam will be doing Baltics, then transatlantic followed by Canada/New England in 2006 and will do a 13 day Sunfarer cruise on October 17.

 

Maasdam will do Canada/New England after her 35 day transatlantic round trip and will do an 11 day Southern Caribbean cruise on October 17.

 

Noordam will start Caribbean 10/11 day cruises on October 14.

 

Ryndam does starts 14 day Southern Caribbean cruises on October 13 and 27.

 

Volendam will do a 17 day repositioning from Alaska on September 27 and then 10 Seafarer Caribbean cruises start on October 14.

 

Westerdan does a 21 day Panama Canal return from Alaska on September 24 then starts her 7 day Eastern/Western Caribbean cruises on October 15.

[KAJOKG]

[quote name=

The Caribbean in the off-season is full of problems, mainly having to discount cabins to get people on the ships in the summer, [/quote]

 

Peaches -- I live in Florida and last summer I was searching for "bargains." NONE -- and every ship sailing the Caribbean was FULL!!! Now this was before the hurricanes. That changed things. I really think that hurricane season has the cruise business thinking twice.

[sail7seas]

No big deal --- try Princess/

 

 

 

Oh...we've tried Princess. We tried Princess about 5 or 6 times and the last time we tried Princess will probably be the last time we will try Princess. We were very disappointed. I don't like to ever say never but there would have to be compelling reasons for us to consider returning.

For me, lack of an HAL ship is not compelling enough for us to go back to Princess. We're far more likely to go to a resort in one of the islands.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Huh? I'm not sure what you were looking at, but if you check out the Zuiderdam from July thru Sept., while it varies from category to category, the avg. discounts range from 30% to over 50%. It's hard to make $$$$ with those kind of discounts unless you are making it up with heavy spending at the bars and in the casinos, which are not your normal 'family' venues. Alaska must be much more lucrative or why would HAL put 8 ships there vs. 0 in the Caribbean in 2006.

 

Apparently other cruiselines have the same problems making money in the Carib in the summer, too. Are they all making a bad business decision and giving up their highest diems? :confused:

 

Peaches,

While I understand that Alaskan cruises produce a higher per diem then a Caribbean cruise I was referring to your comment:

 

"The Caribbean in the off-season is full of problems, mainly having to discount cabins to get people on the ships in the summer".

 

Are you saying in the winter months they don't discount more then they do in the summer to get people on the ships? My reply was based on that. All winter long I'm getting emails for $599 for a week. I rarely get an email in the summer that pertains to a summer cruise. If it does it's late August early September when the kids have started back to school.

 

The only time I can cruise is middle of June until late August because I have a son in school. The prices in the caribbean always shoot up right when the kids get out of school because the demand for families cruising goes way up.

Maybe this doesn't apply to HAL I don't know but it seems to hold true on RCI, CCL, and Princess.

 

What I was trying to say was that it USUALLY cost more to cruise in the Caribbean during the summer and that the per diems were higher in the summer compared to winter sailings in the Caribbean, except for holidays, Presidents week, spring break.

 

Bill

[Peggy Sue]

s7s, I thought I had seen a cruise on the new Noordam leaving from Boston..but I guess my eyes were playing tricks...I do see that the Noordam will be leaving from NY for 10 /11 day cruises next spring and fall ..I know that's not the summer months you were looking for, but I thought this was a great option, as we could drive to NY for a cruise...I really dislike all the air / lugging etc.

 

You mentioned that you probably wouldn't try princess again...we thought we give them a shot in november. we've never been on the line before. Was there anything specific you didn't care on princess? we've been spoiled with the s suites, and I'm a bit apprehensive to go to a minisuite and give up all the perks, like the neptune, clean/pressing, etc. never been on a megaliner ..and wonder how I'm going to like that too. Your comments are most welcome.

 

Sorry that HAL has taken ships out of the caribbean in 06 .... After 9/11 a lot of folks didn't travel far from home...but people are traveling again...perhaps that's another reason why ships are being moved out of the caribbean. Too bad they don't keep at least one ship there over the summer months!

 

Good luck with your travel plans. I was just helping a woman at work this week with possible plans for a week in aruba...and remembered quite fondly what a great vacation that was .. lots of wonderful sun, beautiful beaches and great nigh life ...

 

Peggy Sue

[KAJOKG]

Oh...we've tried Princess. We tried Princess about 5 or 6 times and the last time we tried Princess will probably be the last time we will try Princess. We were very disappointed. I don't like to ever say never but there would have to be compelling reasons for us to consider returning.

For me, lack of an HAL ship is not compelling enough for us to go back to Princess. We're far more likely to go to a resort in one of the islands.

 

Fair enough and to each his own. I like Princess because I really, really hate traditional dining. And Princess line is a bit "perkier" than HAL. But one of my favorite ships is the Volendam, especially when I don't want to be "perky"....the other, Coral Princess.

[sail7seas]

PeggySue.......I wasn't aware of a Noordam sailing from Boston but I'm going to go look for it.

 

We did know about the New York sailings to the Caribbean and are seriously considering booking one but, as you say, there are none scheduled for the summer months. Still, they are nice itineraries.

 

About our last Princess experience:

 

We found the crew to be mechanical and (in our experience) did the barest minimum they could get away with. We're so used to the friendly, eager to please crews of HAL that we were disappointed.

 

As an example: We went to the same, very small, lounge every evening before dinner. It seated about 25 people. It was never packed full. We were aboard for back-to-backs (14 days). We ordered the same drinks each evening and certainly were in the same cabin. (their largest suite). Same bartender every night.

 

He not once ever greeted us when we entered the lounge. He took his sweet ole time about bothering to serve us. EVERY night he asked our cabin number; every night he asked what we wanted to drink. That never would happen on HAL. The bartenders there would ask if wanted our usual and would surely say good evening, hello, something. When we left for dinner, he never said good evening, enjoy your dinner.....not a single pleasant word. The only reason we continued to go to that lounge was because it was the only quiet one that didn't have blaring overly loud music. We like the quiet of the smaller lounge so we had few options.

 

We found his attitude typical of many stewards aboard the ship.....and indeed, even the Captain. Captain was extremely rude so there's no mystery why his crew was permitted to be so unfriendly to pax.

 

Our cabin steward was barely adequate. He never learned our names and we made almost no special requests but the few things I asked for were 'a real put out' for him to accomplish. These were very minor requests.

 

We did not care for Princess' Lido nearly as much as HAL's and we far more enjoy the meals the Chefs of HAL put out far more than Princess.

Of course I know this is subjective but, nevertheless, our opinion.

 

I went to the Office about our third day aboard and asked for a copy of the New York Times at Sea. I figured our steward had failed to deliver it to us. The girl at the office had one in her hand and told me "we recycle". Okay, may I please have a 'used' copy. Her response (I kid you not) was 'come back tomorrow'. WHAT!!!!

 

Being so used to tender passes given to suite pax on HAL, I wondered why we did not recieve one on Princess before our tender port. I went to the girl handing out the numbers and asked for a Suite pass. She said my TA should have given it to us. WHAT!!!!!

 

DH asked for early disembark as Suite Pax. He was told it would create chaos on the gangway if we were to get off early. The two of us would create chaos? WHAT!!!!!

 

I could go on and on but this does way go off point of the thread, doesn't it. :o

 

I didn't want to ignore your question.

[bepsf]

Tried the big internet vacation sites...

 

 

All I see in the Carib for summer '06 is Disney and Carnival -

Somehow, I don't see S7S sailing w/ the Mouse...

[sail7seas]

You got that right, Brian!!! :D

 

 

Cute as Mickey might be......I think we'll pass ;)

Now about Carnival..... I don't like to ever say never (again) but --------

 

[sail7seas]

Fair enough and to each his own. I like Princess because I really, really hate traditional dining. And Princess line is a bit "perkier" than HAL. But one of my favorite ships is the Volendam, especially when I don't want to be "perky"....the other, Coral Princess.

 

__________________

KATY

 

 

That is what is great about choices.

 

It's the best when you have several choices you enjoy and can decide which you are in the mood for.

 

Enjoy.....whichever line you are cruising on.

[bepsf]

 

Now about Carnival..... I don't like to ever say never (again) but --------

 

 

 

 

 

 

:eek: :eek: :eek:

 

****bepsf shakes S7S awake from her bad dream****

 

You okay there, Hon?

Have some coffee, you'll feel better soon...

[Rosarymb]

Okay, I'm no expert, but I would be willing to bet that with all the problems last summer with the hurricanes that the insurance on those ships was going to go up if they stayed in the Caribbean during the biggest portion of the hurricane season. It would be a human tragedy, but it would also be a business disaster if anyone's cruise ship was filmed breaking up in heavy seas. Nobody wants to have a 21st century Titanic, much less have it played forever on CNN.

[KAJOKG]

That is what is great about choices.

 

It's the best when you have several choices you enjoy and can decide which you are in the mood for.

 

Enjoy.....whichever line you are cruising on.

 

Ditto. I just love cruising for the cruise experience. I haven't had the same experiences you had on Princess, so I'll go with them or with HAL. Like them both.

[sail7seas]

:eek: :eek: :eek:

 

****bepsf shakes S7S awake from her bad dream****

 

You okay there, Hon?

Have some coffee, you'll feel better soon...

__________________

Brian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Oceanwench]

If the HAL ships are returning to the Caribbean in mid October, it is still well into hurricane season.

Last year's hurricanes that struck the east coast of Florida were both in September -- Labor Day weekend and two weeks later.

 

Some of the ports remained closed for a while. I was on the Oct. 31 sailing of the Oosterdam and we were among the first allowed to go back to Grand Cayman.

 

June and July are typically slow times of hurricane season, as is November.

[bepsf]

If the HAL ships are returning to the Caribbean in mid October, it is still well into hurricane season.

Last year's hurricanes that struck the east coast of Florida were both in September -- Labor Day weekend and two weeks later.

 

Some of the ports remained closed for a while. I was on the Oct. 31 sailing of the Oosterdam and we were among the first allowed to go back to Grand Cayman.

 

June and July are typically slow times of hurricane season, as is November.

 

Then I guess it's pretty much about the profitability of Alaska vs. the Caribbean that time of year.

 

Even if Alaska cruises end up selling at comparable prices as the Caribbean, because of the limited availability they typically book up to a year in advance as opposed to closer to the sailing date. Those longer-term deposits-held contribute to the positive cashflow and ultimately the profitability of a company...

[rkacruiser]

On the Princess Message Board, I have posted my observations on my January 30th sailing aboard Star Princess. My experiences were somewhat different from yours on a Princess Cruise. That said, I fully understand about your comment with regard to the "mechanical" attitude of some of the public room Stewards. There is a difference between HAL and Princess in that area. I did feel that my two Dining Room Stewards and certainly my Cabin Steward provided every bit as friendly and efficient service as I have experienced on a HAL vessel, however. You might want to check out my posting.

 

One positive of the 2006 schedules, as I see it: there appears to be an increase in the number of complete Panama Canal transits.

[sail7seas]

Thanks, rkacruiser.......

 

 

I never go to the Princess board (as I have no current interest in cruising Princess) but I will go there to read your comments.

 

I sincerely mean that I am happy you had a great cruise. Those of us who love cruising, always want to hear fellow cruisers had a wonderful time.....no matter what line on which they sail.