What is your biggest HAL "peeve" lately?

[gizmo]

My pet peeves:

• Lousy service in the dining room caused by staff reduction.
  
• 4 dining times.
  
• Auto tipping.
  
• Lack of live music in the dining room.
  

I like the upgraded beds and linens.

[MessyJessy]

I thought I would be in the minority but it seems as though Heather, User8 and Southbound feel the same way I do. My biggest HAL peeve is the auto tipping policy.

 

We have sailed on CCL and also on RCI and enjoy the ability to tip according to service. I believe you should reward good service so I tip based on service received just like you would in a land-based restaurant. I don’t like the fact that if you take the auto tip off, whomever you tip is required to pool the money; it defeats the purpose of rewarding good service.

 

When I first sailed with HAL, they had the controversial “no tipping required” policy where a majority of passengers thought it meant tips were included. Consequently, a lot of hard working employees probably got the shaft by some of the inconsiderate passengers.

 

On that sailing, we had an incredible wine steward (Anthony) who remembered our names, preferences, and always spoke to us when we saw him in the other bars or in the Lido. He even made it a point to come over to us while we where lounging around the pool and ask if we needed anything. Needless to say, he was one of the folks that walked away with a pretty large tip from our group because of his consistent service!

 

These are the things I like about HAL –

 

• the promenade deck that circles the ship

• the wooden deck chairs

• the friendly staff that remembered our names

• the Crows Nest for great views and a nap in the comfy recliners

• the quiet areas you can find at any time of the day

• the formal evenings where people actually wear formal attire

[mr green]

:( My biggest beef with HAL is thier 'overnight policy'. This fall I will stay overnight in Fort Lauderdale at the expense on Princess. However, next spring I will overnight in Osaka at my own, $540.00 Canadian with HAL. This nearly killed the cruise, and still could, to me other gripes are small potatoes, compared to this.:( john

[Classynfun1]

Agree with you! We actually LIKE eating at 8:30! It seems few others do! On our January '05 Veendam the Dining Room as LESS than 25% full on each of the 14 nights on this cruise! :(

 

Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

 

 

That scares me a bit. I'm traveling solo and was assigned to the 8:30 seating for one of the legs of my trip. I would really be bummed if I ended up eating the dining room at a completely empty table!

[ekerr19]

That scares me a bit. I'm traveling solo and was assigned to the 8:30 seating for one of the legs of my trip. I would really be bummed if I ended up eating the dining room at a completely empty table!

 

They won't make you sit alone! If you tablemates are gone on any night, the Maitre D' will seat you with others - I'd make a point to introduce yourself right away and explain your situation, that way he can make sure you are always seated with a group, perhaps even at the Captain's table. :)

 

What ship are sailing?

[dot73]

Classy,

 

This actually happened to a gentleman on my last cruise. He was sitting alone the first night at 8:30 beore he was switched to our table at 8:00 p.m. If I were you, I would get waitlisted for the 8:00 sitting and if that doesn't work, see the maitre-d the first night if your table is sparse. I also travel alone and always ask to be seated at a large table. On my last cruise (6th cruise on HAL), my request was ignored and I was seated with only 2 other people. I'm not a fan of these new dining hours. The two sittings always seemed to work on the previous cruises I was on. It seems that on certain cruises, HAL makes the effort to place singles together but on some cruises, the seating doesn't make sense. If you are not happy with your table, ask for a change after the first night.

[sail7seas]

I totally agree with ekerr.

 

Have your TA request you be seated at the largest table possible.....probably a ten seater. As a solo, I think it would be fun to have the chance of meeting as many folks as possible during dinner.

Don't worry. The dining supervisor for your section and/or the Maitre d' will take care of you. Just let them know what you want. If they don't happen to notice something that is not pleasing to you, tell them. They can't fix it if they don't know there is a problem.

 

[Classynfun1]

Thank you Dot and Sail. I hope you're right! I was originally assigned the 5:45 seating on my first leg and 8:30 seating on the second. I got myself on the 8:00pm waitlist asap (for continuity).

 

I appreciate the words of wisdom!

[zdude]

My biggest peeve is really the passengers, or enforcement of "rules" by the staff.

 

I was in the crows next during a suite brunch with the captain, you know caviar, champagne, the works. A guy walks in to a private party and has a swimsuit, flipflops and no shirt. He should have been escorted out immediately. I really do not like back hair in my caviar, thanks. Dress code on the invitation only event was clearly marked Casual/No shorts.

 

This rule should go for the Lido and Dining room too. All it takes is a friendly host there to remind people about shoes and shirts. Signs are ignored.

 

Then there are the people that come to the pool, place a rolled towel on the chair at 5:00am and do not return until 10:00. Signs say that stuff is removed after 20 minutes, but the crew never did anything. I DO THOUGH. Then when the person comes back I say there was nothing there when I came, must have been the staff that moved it. Did you see the sign. LOL. Cracks me up. If people just took their stuff when they left, give o-ther people a chance, likely there would also be at least a few seats. If you are one of those people, change your ways.

[mr green]

I hate being negative, [i like HAL very much], but have you tried to get them on the phone? This last time I gave up after 20 minutes. john

[zdude]

I hate being negative, [i like HAL very much], but have you tried to get them on the phone? This last time I gave up after 20 minutes. john

 

Many times the week before my cruise, always talked to someone in the first minute or two. Strange you have much different experience. I usually called at the end of the business day.

[sail7seas]

I hate being negative, [i like HAL very much], but have you tried to get them on the phone? This last time I gave up after 20 minutes. john

 

Yesterday, I happened to call both Ships Services and Shore Excursion Departments. I must have been very lucky as I didn't wait more than 2 minutes to be helped by both.

By this message, I by no means am saying that you didn't have a long phone wait. My point in posting is just to say that is not always the case.

 

[HeatherInFlorida]

I'm not sure what number Mr. Green was calling, but each time I call Ship's Services I get someone almost immediately. Could be luck, could be the time I call.

[helenp2]

What happened to the Dutch dinner??? We also miss the Dover Sole. We are also a bit upset with their corkage fees $15 is a bit much considering the limitations on their wine list. One thing I miss is the frequency of their movie times. They use to show a movie at 3:00 or 4:00pm before dinner - what happened to that? How much can it cost to run a movie??

[blackbird71]

 

When I first sailed with HAL, they had the controversial “no tipping required” policy where a majority of passengers thought it meant tips were included. Consequently, a lot of hard working employees probably got the shaft by some of the inconsiderate passengers.

 

 

For one I hated the old "no tipping required" policy. Mainly at the bars. They would not automatiically include 15% or allow you to enter an amount to be added to the bar bill. So you had to carry cash to tip at the pool etc. I do not know how many times I have tipped $1.00 for a Diet Coke.... Grrrrr..

[Boobaby]

I don't care how they do the tips, I don't care how they do the dinner seatings, but I really, really hate it when signs and rules are ignored!!! I have not been on a cruise yet, my first will be in June, but this seems to happen everywhere,

not just on cruise ships! We are taking our grandson and will expect him to follow rules, but why should he want to if no one else does?

 

I have been looking so forward to our first cruise and I sure hope that HAL reads this thread and takes it to heart before we cruise! I have always heard how pampered people are and now it seems that that will not happen. I guess it could be our first and last cruise.

[mr green]

I don't care how they do the tips, I don't care how they do the dinner seatings, but I really, really hate it when signs and rules are ignored!!! I have not been on a cruise yet, my first will be in June, but this seems to happen everywhere,

not just on cruise ships! We are taking our grandson and will expect him to follow rules, but why should he want to if no one else does?

 

I have been looking so forward to our first cruise and I sure hope that HAL reads this thread and takes it to heart before we cruise! I have always heard how pampered people are and now it seems that that will not happen. I guess it could be our first and last cruise.

 

Rule No 1. :( Do not go on a cruise with a chip on you shoulder. The vaste majority of us 'stick to the rules', however I do not know about the so called 'chair hogs'. On my last cruise the Line [not HAL] put me in a very bad frame of mind as I boarded the ship, [through no fault of my own], and I did not enjoy the cruise, to the extent that I used your phrase with them, 'If this was my first cruise it would be my last!'

 

Rule 2. 'Pack a Smile' :) :) :)

[bepsf]

It really irks me when...

 

Um---

Well, like the time - uhhh....

...err (sigh...)

OH!!!

When they send me home at the end of the cruise -

- that really ticks me off!!!

;)

[cdkempton]

BEPSF: LOL I totally agree.;)

[OCruisers]

What I really want returned is Dutch Night in the DR - and Dover Sole!

 

Dave .... Cheer Up! :p While we didn't have Dutch Night, we DID have Dover Sole one night on our January Veendam cruise and it was OUTSTANDING! :)

 

Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

[sail7seas]

:( We were on Veendam 12 days in January and didn't have Dover Sole. Maybe we were at Pinnacle??? But I would have seen it on the menu they deliver every morning. :confused:

 

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Bad service in the dining room, followed by the 4 dining times.:mad:

 

IMHO the bad service is because of cutbacks. Those poor guys have too many tables assigned to them. :eek:

 

We like the new beds and linens.:)

 

I agree about the cutbacks. Now that the prices have rebounded I bet they still don't hire more dining staff though. Usually once something is taken away you never get it back.

I used to like the days when the waiter actually had a chance to stand there and chat for a few minutes. It was nice talking to them finding out about their homelands and their families.

 

Bill

[OCruisers]

:( We were on Veendam 12 days in January and didn't have Dover Sole. Maybe we were at Pinnacle??? But I would have seen it on the menu they deliver every morning. :confused:

 

s7s .... We were on Veendam for 14 days ... immediately after your cruise ... January 15th. Dover Sole was served in the main dining room the first part of the second week. I was sooooooo excited to see it on the menu! It was served with that "great" drawn butter -- the real thing, not what came with the lobster. I'd trade lobster for Dover Sole any time!!! :)

 

By the way (per your mention in another thread ) ... we did meet and like Lesley ... always very nice to motion for us to join her group in the lounge ... fun person to be around. Sometimes, it's not fun being the Captain's wife when everything is going wrong on a cruise and he's always either on the bridge or meeting with the DCD folks who came aboard.

 

:p Maybe we should do a POLL: Was Dover Sole served on your 2005 HAL Cruise??????????

 

Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

[zeldajanuary]

I'm very curious, why does everyone dislike the 4 times? We have not sailed HAL since it changed, but are going again in DEC.

 

We always take the main seating, and are thrilled at the new 6:15 option.

 

So often sail - away, sunset, and cocktails on the balcony are interrupted by the need to get to the Dining Room on time to make the 6 PM.

 

Actually, that is one of the reasons we have taken several Princess cruises recently, the Anytime option allows for that extra half hour or so, but one can still eat early.

[sail7seas]

s7s .... We were on Veendam for 14 days ... immediately after your cruise ... January 15th. Dover Sole was served in the main dining room the first part of the second week. I was sooooooo excited to see it on the menu! It was served with that "great" drawn butter -- the real thing, not what came with the lobster. I'd trade lobster for Dover Sole any time!!! :)

 

By the way (per your mention in another thread ) ... we did meet and like Lesley ... always very nice to motion for us to join her group in the lounge ... fun person to be around. Sometimes, it's not fun being the Captain's wife when everything is going wrong on a cruise and he's always either on the bridge or meeting with the DCD folks who came aboard.

 

:p Maybe we should do a POLL: Was Dover Sole served on your 2005 HAL Cruise??????????

 

Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

 

 

I so agree about preferring Dover Sole to the lobster served on the ships.....but I'm from New England and a real 'lobster snob'. :) We so enjoy the Maine hardshell lobsters which are very different than the 'ship's tails'. ;)