How could HAL Improve?

[kazu]

[quote name='chrispb']Thanks, seems the answer is to become a late booker yourself. It works for me. :D Also, I think if I booked a year or 2 in advance then I'd regret it and wish I was going somewhere else entirely.[/QUOTE]

no - I don't regret my bookings - I usually do some voyages that require serious planning - and air fare is another scenario all together - if we wait until the last minute, our choices are limited and what I save by booking early is long gone ;) I just wish that HAL offered a decent early booking discount like many other cruise lines ;)

[quote name='lorekauf']Clearly, that would be the best thing but some of us are not able to do that.[/QUOTE]

agreed - difficult at best for various reasons:D

[markpark]

I would like to see a seasonal home port in Houston, Galveston, or New Orleans so I can drive to a port. This may be selfish but I hope others out there agree.

[cruz chic]

[quote name='markpark']I would like to see a seasonal home port in Houston, Galveston, or New Orleans so I can drive to a port. This may be selfish but I hope others out there agree.[/quote]
Agree:). That would be closer for me too. The only problem is that air is stupid expensive to fly to Houston from Calgary. It's cheaper to fly to Fort Lauderdale.

[SeaBands]

Offer a package like X with drinks incl.
Have small cabaret shows in the Princess theatre as an alternative to the big show in the main room. These could be on the nights when they have a comedian or a juggler or single entertainer.
Allow 3 and above star cruisers to check in at muster drill and then leave once they acknowledge the location.
Have a way to hear announcements in your cabin if you wish.
Better interactive tv to view bills, menus, etc.
Stop leaving all that paper in your mail boxes for auctions, sales and spa. Most is immediately dumped in the trash.
Price wine like Princess does with a fair markup, not 3 or 4 X like now.
Allow smoking in the casino bar again but with better ventilation, improve ventilation in the casino as well.
Add some new ports to the Caribbean cruises like St. Croix, Progresso and few others sailing from FLL. We have been to all the current ports many times and are losing interest in sailing again. Edited November 22, 2013 by SeaBands

[fuzzywuzzy]

[quote name='SeaBands']Offer a package like X with drinks incl.
Have small cabaret shows in the Princess theatre as an alternative to the big show in the main room. These could be on the nights when they have a comedian or a juggler or single entertainer.
Allow 3 and above star cruisers to check in at muster drill and then leave once they acknowledge the location.
Have a way to hear announcements in your cabin if you wish.
Better interactive tv to view bills, menus, etc.
Stop leaving all that paper in your mail boxes for auctions, sales and spa. Most is immediately dumped in the trash.
Price wine like Princess does with a fair markup, not 3 or 4 X like now.
Allow smoking in the casino bar again but with better ventilation, improve ventilation in the casino as well.
Add some new ports to the Caribbean cruises like St. Croix, Progresso and few others sailing from FLL. We have been to all the current ports many times and are losing interest in sailing again.[/QUOTE]

I understand about the paper ads in mailboxes but it's their way of advertising. If they didn't how would guests know? The paper is recycled.

I wish they would upgrade the tv's with proper speakers Our tv was very difficult to hear even if we turned up volume..

[cbr663]

I agree that the entertainment needs to improve. I also think that a new coffee supplier would be a big improvement. We found the quality of the food on our last cruise lacking. Pastries were dry and flavourless, the MDR was uneventful (the baked alaska was not good), the midnight desert was un-inspiring (enough with the different flavoured sponge cakes and mousse), and the attention to small details missing throughout the entire cruise.

We are hoping that our cruise in a few days will be better.

[Oville]

Two things, most importantly change the smoking policy. It's bad enough HAL allows cigarettes on balconies but, yuk, cigar and pipes. Our balcony last week had a disgusting stogie butt on it that we needed to clean up. The second is the entertainment in the theater. It is subpar compared to other lines. The tribute to New York on the NA was simply awful.

We returned Sunday from the NA, on our first HAL cruise. We are avid cruisers and really liked the product, but until the smoking policy changes our cruise dollars will stay with Celebrity. Too bad, I'd love to cruise this line again but the smoking is a big turnoff. Edited November 23, 2013 by Oville

[Stateroom_Sailor]

[quote name='wallyboag']That price is per person, not per cabin. So $200 per person per day.[/quote]

That's too much, no wonder you were disappointed! Personally the only way I would pay that would be on a transatlantic Crystal Cruise for 2.5K.

Of course had you booked a cheap fare, with the perception that it was no better than Norwegian, you might be raving about all the little touches that exceeded your expectations.

Cruises are almost always going come out cheaper than a land based vacation, but I prefer to compare apples to apples. Besides, the cruise is subsidized by the bingo, the casino, the art auctions, the drinks, etc. It's the same reason why Vegas casino hotels are so cheap.

[GeriatricNurse]

[quote name='lorekauf']Agree:). That would be closer for me too. The only problem is that air is stupid expensive to fly to Houston from Calgary. [B][U][SIZE=3]It's cheaper to fly to Fort Lauderdale[/SIZE][/U][/B].[/quote]

[B][FONT=Arial][SIZE=3]With United, Lorene? :)[/SIZE][/FONT][/B]

[fuzzywuzzy]

[quote name='cbr663']I agree that the entertainment needs to improve. I also think that a new coffee supplier would be a big improvement. We found the quality of the food on our last cruise lacking. Pastries were dry and flavourless, the MDR was uneventful (the baked alaska was not good), the midnight desert was un-inspiring (enough with the different flavoured sponge cakes and mousse), and the attention to small details missing throughout the entire cruise.

We are hoping that our cruise in a few days will be better.[/QUOTE]

We had wonderful entertainment on our cruise across the Atlantic. The singers and dancerswere awesome. Hal Cats were great too.

We loved the desserts. There were many kinds to choose. I especially liked the Tiramisu in the Pinnacle. Delicious! !

I was disappointed though in the lack of flower arrangements around the ship. There were a few small ones but not like on other cruises.

[cruz chic]

[quote name='GeriatricNurse'][B][FONT=Arial][SIZE=3]With United, Lorene? :)[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/QUOTE]

No, with air canada. Why?

[bcscot]

[quote name='sapper1']Train front desk staff not to treat passengers with a patronizing attitude. It is often not so much the problem that is infuriating as it is the denial that there is a problem. They should be more human and less scripted.[/quote]
I have always been very impressed by the front desk staff, their cheerful and professional demeanour and their ability to cope with unhappy passengers. I have often commented on this in the end of cruise questionnaire. However, during my last two cruises, I found their attitude to be perfectly summarised by the above statement, which is a very disappointing situation. Problems can so easily be defused or enflamed by the response of the front desk staff. I think that it must be one of the hardest (and most important) jobs on the ship.