Rant about HA port times!

[rkacruiser]

Does the explanation/reasoning from BruceMuzz make it more likely that maybe we might see more cruises with more days at sea and fewer ports?

 

Some of us would be happy with no ports; just give us sea days! This is particularly true in the Caribbean. A suggested itinerary for a HAL 7 day cruise: 5 days at sea and 2 days at Half Moon Cay.

 

Think how long the Shops at Sea and the Casino could be open!

[TiogaCruiser]

From KK: "I found it strange that within days of our arriving home, we got a questionaire about tours we took on our recent cruise. When I marked we didn't take any ship tours -- there was no place to explain why -- and then the questionaire was over with."

 

That sounds like the survey I received. My answer was I took some ship tours and some private tours. It went on from there (probably due to my answer). There were a number of additional questions about how the HAL tours were, how much in total I spent on all tours ( not hard to then figure out what was "lost"), etc.

 

~TC

[Taxguy77]

Yes, been there, last year, a cute bay, an old smelly hotel (they like to call it a 'palace') and a bunch of homeless walking around..

 

Did we go to the same Victoria?:confused:

DW and I went by ferry from Washington, took a carraige(sp) trip up through a beautiful park, had lunch in a great pub with excellent beer, and a delightful walk around the dowtown area before catching the ferry back.

Would go there again in a minute, and the only thing I would change would be to drink more beer!:D

[Taxguy77]

Does the explanation/reasoning from BruceMuzz make it more likely that maybe we might see more cruises with more days at sea and fewer ports?

 

Some of us would be happy with no ports; just give us sea days! This is particularly true in the Caribbean. A suggested itinerary for a HAL 7 day cruise: 5 days at sea and 2 days at Half Moon Cay.

 

Think how long the Shops at Sea and the Casino could be open!

 

Half our 10 cruises have been TAs, so we agree with you. The problem is the Dam* hassle gett to the ship headed west!:(:eek:

[Hflors]

I wish HAL (in the Caribbean) would cut the number of ports in half and spend more time in the ports that they leave on the schedule. Also while we are on the subject talking about snorkeling tours. I checked out the available snorkeling tours. One tour is for 3 HOURS!:D

Now how can you leave the ship, get to the area to snorkel and back to the ship in 3 hours. For the price I just don't see the point in getting ready to take a 10 minute dip with my snorkel gear and get ready to return to the ship.

[Rowsby]

Some of us would be happy with no ports; just give us sea days! This is particularly true in the Caribbean. A suggested itinerary for a HAL 7 day cruise: 5 days at sea and 2 days at Half Moon Cay.

 

Sounds like a perfect cruise.....!!

We have friends who take longer cruises..30 plus days....

We asked them about their favorite ports.....there was this big lull.......and then they said sea days were the best......

[ORCRUISER]

Our complaint regarding port times with HAL is that they had the all aboard at least two hours earlier than the original schedule. We had a private tour in Costa Rica that had to be cut short yet I paid the same and tipped the same because it wasn't the tour operator's fault the tour was shortened. And yes, several of the ship's tours arrived at the port later than the all aboard time. This was our first HAL cruise but our next cruise is scheduled on HAL so I guess I wasn't really upset.

[hpeabody]

I have a little different rant about HAL and Victoria. A couple years ago I was on the Zaandam with the 6pm to midnight stop. I had foolishly booked a ship excursion to Butchart Gardens, which I love. What I was to encounter, just blew me away. Getting off the ship we were in total gridlock. We were literally stuck in the stairwells and could not move if we wanted to. It was a frenzy. It must have taken an hour and half to and hour forty-five to make it off the ship. I barely made the last bus going on my tour. The tour departures were not organized at all. The visit to Butchart Gardens was horrible it was dark and we only a little more than an hour before we had to leave to get back to port. I learned from this!

 

I have a HAL Westerdam cruise booked soon and I will NOT be taking a ship excursion. I will likely book the Pinnacle Grill and eat in peace as the frenzy goes on. If it still exists I will take the shuttle to the inner harbor area and stroll around. It is beautiful, even at night (I think the shuttle has been cancelled except for Princess passengers, probably more cutbacks)

[Cruising-along]

I can appreciate different opinions, but someone claiming there is "nothing" to do in Victoria smacks of a child surrounded by toys saying "I'm bored. I have nothing to do!"

 

There are of course Butchart Gardens (I'm not much of an outdoors/gardener type, but even I could appreciate them)

 

Having tea at the Empress Hotel

 

There is a a lovely small museum with good exhibits (I saw a special exhibit on Rome last time I was there.)

 

There is an award-winning aquarium, and also an "Undersea Garden"

 

There are ferry tours

 

There is a historic fort and lighthouse that can be visited

 

There is a nice local food scene for foodies

 

 

 

So really.........nothing to do? :confused:

 

And if that isn't enough, there's always the Bug Zoo and Miniature World for those who have seen it all. :D;)

[Sir PMP]

And if that isn't enough, there's always the Bug Zoo and Miniature World for those who have seen it all. :D;)

 

Yes, It all sounds very 'exciting': a garden, a zoo, a museum and a smelly Empress hotel, you can find that anywhere...

[Toad]

I feel as if lots of the excursions on HAL ARE better for the older crowd. It is sometime difficult to find much that appeals to us and we are not that young. DH and I are in our 50's and enjoy a bit more excitement on our excursions. In Isle de Margarite they used to have a great horse back tour, and now no more. The hikes, are more like short walks, and as another poster stated the snorkeling is often way too short. We don't want a booze cruise, but would appreciate something a bit more active. Even the tours they advertise as ACTIVE are pretty tame. We did enjoy the white water rafting in Costa Rica and the tubing in Dominica.

[sppunk]

" This meant that we arrived at Victoria in time for sunset, closing shops, chilling weather (it had been a gorgeous day"

 

There is nothing to do in Victoria...

 

As an ardent fan of Alaska, sir it is the best stop on any Alaskan itinerary by far.

[cruz chic]

Yes, It all sounds very 'exciting': a garden, a zoo, a museum and a smelly Empress hotel, you can find that anywhere...

 

Yes, the USA is so much more exciting. It must be terrible to have such a negative view of life.

[cruz chic]

I feel as if lots of the excursions on HAL ARE better for the older crowd. It is sometime difficult to find much that appeals to us and we are not that young. DH and I are in our 50's and enjoy a bit more excitement on our excursions. In Isle de Margarite they used to have a great horse back tour, and now no more. The hikes, are more like short walks, and as another poster stated the snorkeling is often way too short. We don't want a booze cruise, but would appreciate something a bit more active. Even the tours they advertise as ACTIVE are pretty tame. We did enjoy the white water rafting in Costa Rica and the tubing in Dominica.

 

I was just thinking about the Isle de Margarite the other day. I haven't seen that port in ages. Does Hal still go there?

[jimmy2x]

Yes, the USA is so much more exciting. It must be terrible to have such a negative view of life.

 

It's better to ignor a troll than to feed a needy ego.

[Kathie859]

I guess I'm in the group that wants longer stays in the ports. I did the Zaandam 14 day, San Diego-Hawaii trip this past March and discovered those last 4 days at sea were not as enjoyable as I thought they would be. :rolleyes:

 

That was the longest cruising time I've had without a port stop and now I know to really look long and hard at the itineraries before making a reservation. Hence, my next two cruises are river cruises with port intensive itineraries.

[Toad]

I was just thinking about the Isle de Margarite the other day. I haven't seen that port in ages. Does Hal still go there?

 

I haven't seen it in quite some time.

[Rowsby]

I guess I'm in the group that wants longer stays in the ports. I did the Zaandam 14 day, San Diego-Hawaii trip this past March and discovered those last 4 days at sea were not as enjoyable as I thought they would be. :rolleyes:

 

Were the seas rough....??

We've looked at this trip....my biggest problem would be the few short hours we'd have in each port....these are ports I would have a hard time leaving......!!

[cruz chic]

I haven't seen it in quite some time.

 

Good to know its not just me. Thanks for the answer.

[LocoLoco1]

Many grumpy people on our STATENDAM thru the Panama Canal on a 30-day. My STATENDAM CC Member Review of April 2013 echoed sentiments of several aboard. We may just jump to more 'Adventure Vacations' and the heck with HAL if it gets any more tame with so-called Port Excursions. A 2-hour hike and go back? Really? And we are in our 60's... Locomotiveman Tom

[localady]

I guess I'm in the group that wants longer stays in the ports. I did the Zaandam 14 day, San Diego-Hawaii trip this past March and discovered those last 4 days at sea were not as enjoyable as I thought they would be. :rolleyes:

 

That was the longest cruising time I've had without a port stop and now I know to really look long and hard at the itineraries before making a reservation. Hence, my next two cruises are river cruises with port intensive itineraries.

 

Kathie- We felt the same way on our Oosterdam Hawaii cruise 2 years ago, so last year we did 30+ days in the Med with only a few sea days. We saw so much and came home exhausted. ;) :D

Next we head to Alaska to take a relaxing cruise, definitely slower paced than last year but not alot of sea days in a row....

[Sir PMP]

I haven't seen it in quite some time.

 

 

Well, does Venezuela rings a bell??

[Toad]

Well, does Venezuela rings a bell??

 

huh?

[cruisingberger]

Have to agree with OP. Wish we were able to take the Butchart Gardens tour. I saw it as a child and loved it. After reading the tour reviews of how little people saw in the dark we will stay on the ship and enjoy dinner and entertainment.

[Cruising-along]

I'm in total agreement with the OP too, I hate short port times! We sail for the itinerary and watch very closely how much time we'll have in port. We like DIY in port, and 8 hours is more like 5 really, you have to plan your time to the minute practically. When it's less than 8 hours, then it gets dicey...and hardly worth the stop if you want to see much. :(