If A Cruise Line Really Wants to Pamper You......

[sail7seas]

HAL pampers those right now whom they want to.

 

We have too many incidents in the last year where some people practically have the red carpet rolled out for them.

 

 

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[brt2995]

Yes, go back to the service from 10 years ago. I loved the smaller ships, the wonderful service and exceptional dinners in the MDR, I would pay more if I knew I would always get that. :)

[vicocala]

HAL pampers those right now whom they want to.

 

We have too many incidents in the last year where some people practically have the red carpet rolled out for them.

 

Care to elaborate? Sail deleting her comment only make me more curious.:D

[RuthC]

Are the Rosario Strings gone forever?

As mother used to say "Nothing is forever".

But right now there is no reasonable expectation that they will return to HAL ships, sad to say.

[Jo-Bob]

Care to elaborate? Sail deleting her comment only make me more curious.:D

 

As the risk of sounding arrogant, I'll take a stab.

 

From where I sit and observe, there are those who feel and report that they routinely get shafted, get the crappy end of the stick.....are treated with a lack of 'specialness' that others seem to experience almost always.

 

I could say more, but it boils down to a perception that some are getting more than others, while paying roughly the same price. Have no idea whether it's a reality or not. Apologies for any offense my post may cause.

[jaguarstyper]

I addition to what I said previously, I would also like to see the level of personal attention and unrushed service return to where it was when I first started cruising on HAL in 2002. And I think the quality of the food in the MDR has declined on every cruise I've been on. It was very good back in 2002 and now it has dropped to a level of barely mediocre. Please bring back the food from 2002.

 

I tend to be critical of food a lot more than I used to, even in land based restuarants. In my mind, the quality of the food being served is declining. My ex-wife insists the quality is the same as it ever was and that I just became a pain in the butt over 10 years. I like to think that maybe the quality has remained constant and my tastes have refined over the 10 years and I have just become more discriminating. I'm not sure which of the three it really is, but I know its not as good as it used to be. :)

[Alcarondas]

I addition to what I said previously, I would also like to see the level of personal attention and unrushed service return to where it was when I first started cruising on HAL in 2002. And I think the quality of the food in the MDR has declined on every cruise I've been on. It was very good back in 2002 and now it has dropped to a level of barely mediocre. Please bring back the food from 2002.

 

I tend to be critical of food a lot more than I used to, even in land based restuarants. In my mind, the quality of the food being served is declining. My ex-wife insists the quality is the same as it ever was and that I just became a pain in the butt over 10 years. I like to think that maybe the quality has remained constant and my tastes have refined over the 10 years and I have just become more discriminating. I'm not sure which of the three it really is, but I know its not as good as it used to be. :)

 

 

Funny. By 2002 I had already been sailing on HAL for 4 years, and even then I was musing that food and service quality had declined perceptibly.

 

I get where people are coming from - the atmosphere on HAL used to be like you were spending a few days at the (well staffed) home of a buddy from way back who had struck it rich but still invited you over from time to time. You had the run of the place, and everybody fell over themselves trying to accomodate you and make you feel relaxed, welcomed and at home.

 

Now it's more like any other place of business - everything feels more like an arm's-length commercial transaction than a visit to an old friend.

 

All that said, however, I had an excellent time on my last trip (2011), and remarked in my review how it felt more like my earlier cruises than my other more recent ones - so in the end it probably has as much to do with each individual ship's (and even voyage's) staff and crew and fellow passengers as it does with any top-down policy decisions.

[SilvertoGold]

Mostly what we would appreciate is some consitency from ship to ship. This is old news, but every ship does its own thing, in it own way. We get tired of hearing "oh, we don't do it that way", "we don't do that".

 

As four star Mariners, it would give us a very pampered feeling if we had a group photo taken at the pre-Mariners Brunch get-together and then actually be given a complimentary photo (not asked to pay for it). When we actually make it to the high Mariner on the ship status, it sure would be nice to be recognized as such.

Also, we would appreciate a complimentary photo of the ship, as the rewards system says we are supposed to receive.

 

We would feel pampered if the Front Office could make good, consistently, on their promise to deliver a Times Digest paper every day, not just occasionally.

 

We would feel pampered if the various lounges could get their recipe books figured out and make the same drink the same way more than once.

 

All this is about a bit more attention to detail, some serious supervision and a more service-orientated attitude.

[ellieanne]

Honestly, the only thing that I truly dislike about the cruise ships is the fact that there is no quiet, well-lit place to read after dinner. I wish they would keep some of the public spaces brightly lit and quiet in the evenings. I do not like the library for reading -- I prefer to sit in the Crows' Nest or the Ocean Bar, but neither are suitable for reading after dinner, so I am forced to retreat to my cabin.

 

To truly pamper me, they would keep a quiet well-lit bar so I could have drinks service while I read.

[RuthC]

We would feel pampered if the various lounges could get their recipe books figured out and make the same drink the same way more than once.

Yesss!!!!! I thought I was the only one!

[ellieanne]

If the MDR food could just taste as good as the menu promises?

 

And I do love good coffee.

 

I think this is a problem of restaurants no matter where they are. I have been to many restaurants, even fancy 5-Star restaurants where the dish that I was served is nowhere near as tempting or delicious as the menu promised. Other times the dishes have far surpassed the menu description -- both on land and on the ship.

[vicocala]

I might actually eat at McDonald's if a Big Mac looked like the pictures.:eek:

[brazilgirl]

I would love to have a spa treatment ( ex. Hot stone massage ) that lasted the time adverised ( ex. 1 hr) , with no sales pitch at the end. I really hate that and it takes away my relaxation!

 

One of my best massages was on the Celebrity Xpedition....there is no spa , just a massage therapist with no products to sell....excellent and I got a nice , long relaving moment after all the hiking!

[roadbeagle]

Mostly what we would appreciate is some consitency from ship to ship. This is old news, but every ship does its own thing, in it own way. We get tired of hearing "oh, we don't do it that way", "we don't do that".

 

As four star Mariners, it would give us a very pampered feeling if we had a group photo taken at the pre-Mariners Brunch get-together and then actually be given a complimentary photo (not asked to pay for it). When we actually make it to the high Mariner on the ship status, it sure would be nice to be recognized as such.

Also, we would appreciate a complimentary photo of the ship, as the rewards system says we are supposed to receive.

 

We would feel pampered if the Front Office could make good, consistently, on their promise to deliver a Times Digest paper every day, not just occasionally.

 

We would feel pampered if the various lounges could get their recipe books figured out and make the same drink the same way more than once.

 

All this is about a bit more attention to detail, some serious supervision and a more service-orientated attitude.

 

 

You can get your ship photo at the Photo Gallery by showing your stateroom card.

[SilvertoGold]

You can get your ship photo at the Photo Gallery by showing your stateroom card.

 

Right you are, sometimes.

 

I have been told:

 

1. we don't do that anymore.

 

2. all out, maybe tomorrow or the next day. None available by the end of the cruise. An example of HAL's famous inconsistency.

[sail7seas]

You can get your ship photo at the Photo Gallery by showing your stateroom card.

 

 

The Photo Shop does not automatically deliver the ships photos to Mariner's cabins. Go there and ask. They will give it to you.

 

[mr green]

I would have to also appeal for a return to service levels of a decade and more ago ... gracious and unrushed.

 

 

I have never had any problems with service. Maybe its the way that I ask, I always address staff as my equals.

 

john

[PathfinderEss]

I have never had any problems with service. Maybe its the way that I ask, I always address staff as my equals.

 

john

 

[cruisemom42]

 

I get where people are coming from - the atmosphere on HAL used to be like you were spending a few days at the (well staffed) home of a buddy from way back who had struck it rich but still invited you over from time to time. You had the run of the place, and everybody fell over themselves trying to accomodate you and make you feel relaxed, welcomed and at home.

 

Now it's more like any other place of business - everything feels more like an arm's-length commercial transaction than a visit to an old friend.

 

 

I think a lot of that is related to two major changes on almost every line:

 

1) Fewer staff per passenger, and

2) Larger ships

 

 

I just got off a cruise on Swan Hellenic's Minerva (approximately 350 passengers) and it felt much as you describe above -- like visiting a friend who just happens to have an English country house. Attentive service, no nickle-and-diming. On the other hand, much like cruises of old, there was no specialty restaurant or casino, and minimal entertainment (other than excellent lectures and a quartet of singers who performed light opera four times in a fortnight).

 

At any rate, to get back to the original question on pampering, I think cruise lines could step up the game when it comes to cabin amenities. I'd like to see, for example:

 

-- Deluxe, fluffy towels and higher thread-count sheets

-- In-cabin Ipod docks

-- Better quality toiletries

-- More lighting options

 

This would put cabins more on a par with nice hotel rooms.

[RuthC]

I have never had any problems with service. Maybe its the way that I ask, I always address staff as my equals.

 

john

It's obvious that you don't know Jim.

[ASIWISH]

I have never had any problems with service. Maybe its the way that I ask, I always address staff as my equals.

 

john

 

Maybe your comments should be "more gracious and unrushed".

 

I didn't read Jim's comment as degrading the staff at all....

[Crazy Gramps]

I would have to also appeal for a return to service levels of a decade and more ago ... gracious and unrushed.

 

I agree completely.

It's why I left HAL.

 

Gramps

[lovetocruise2020]

Have no charge iced teas and punch or lemonade passed out on sea days near pools (couldn't hardly find anything in the lido) no iced tea etc.

 

No charge in MDR for suite guests for coffee

 

Start enforcing rules ( chair hogging and cabana crowding(

 

In addition to what i posted above, i have found it frustrating that mdr and pg breakfast hours do not reflect port times... For instance lets say u have a 8:30 excursion that meets at 8:15, mdr opens at 7:30... It forces you to do room service almost every day. Room service is not the quality of mdr at any day and the order is almost never right.

 

Id really enjoy the mdr being open 1 hour before port time, but its obvious they are trying to deter guests from eating there. We do not even try the lido, waiting for syrup for 20 minutes, then not bringing out enough for people waiting was very frustrating. This would have me feeling very pampered, an appropriate time of mdr opening.

[mr green]

It's obvious that you don't know Jim.

 

I call 'em as I see 'em. If you don't like it too bad!:)

 

john

[Cruising-along]

I call 'em as I see 'em. If you don't like it too bad!:)

 

john

 

All due respect, but I don't think you understood Jim's post. He is known as gentleman Jim around here for good reason. Besides, several others said the same thing, why pick out Jim's post? :confused: