Trending on this board -- pay attention HAL

[sail7seas]

When I finish books on the ships I always give them to another guest or leave them in the on the ship for others to enjoy.

[wander]

I do NOT agree with the OP, although from the HAL CC board it is obvious many folks shop around. I of not think it is at all unusual that folks want to try various lines.

 

Since I have been cruising (mainly since 1990) I have almost 600 days on HAL and I have almost that many on other lines combined. Since I began cruising regularly almost everyone I meet on board has cruised more than one line. These folks do NOT hang around specific CC boards, if CC at all, unless they have an upcoming cruise that they want to talk about. Many of us look to itineraries rather than a specific cruise line. I have NEVER had a cruise I did not enjoy and I have never cruised on a line I would not return to, depending on what my specific cruise desires were at the time. (I cruise on Royal Carib. for very reasons than HAL or Princess.)

 

One limiting factor for me is that I like cruises that are over 30 days, and that limits my options unless I want to piece cruises together. I also like to cruise to ports or areas of the world that are new to me, or at least less well known. In general, HAL seems to excel with these items. Also, I prefer to stay away from the premuim priced lines - not my style. (and yes I have some experience with them).

 

So no, I do not think HAL has anymore reason to fear us trying other lines than before. Of course, there may be more good options out there - but previously my favorite was Royal Viking and we also enjoyed Royal, but they are gone - now there are others.

 

Then again, I have to admit that I am no longer in the demographics that most cruise lines are trying to attract. I do not drink alcohol anymore, do not buy stuff on board (well, not anything expensive anyhow), I do not use the Casino, I limit the number of ship's tours I take, etc. I do fill a cabin - either with my husband, a friend or single supplement, so they do get that covered. Oh, and I do not smoke but have been fortunate to have verandah cabins with NOOOOOOO smoke smells at all (over 100 days in 2013 for example). OK, so now I jinxed my next verandah cruise.

[Roz]

I tried Princess for a partial Canal transit back in 2012 and really liked it. Would sail them again, but their Caribbean itineraries are rather boring, and I like HAL's 4-day Coastals in the spring.

 

Roz

[PathfinderEss]

We've tried other cruise lines and keep coming back to Hal.

[CowPrincess]

>SNIP< still prefer to have a real book but I buy them from charity shops and give/dump after they're read.

 

I always get paper-backs as they weigh less. My decent hard-covers stay home.

 

We do the same thing, real books, paperback edition, from the charity shop. Once finished onboard, we leave them in the "take one, leave one" section in the library unless a tablemate wants it.

Edited November 10, 2014 by CowPrincess

[summersigh]

We just got off an RCI cruise..our first in a number of years.

 

So, I keep reading about how RCI is full of children etc, and how the rock climbing wall must be an indication of a ship gone mad. Well we had a rock climbing wall but never saw anyone on it. Very few children, mostly late forties and older. No surprise given the time but it did fly in the face of some pre conceived notions we had prior to actually cruising on RCI. The big surprise was that after Barcelona, where we disembarked, they were expecting just under 1000 Diamond Plus members to be on the TA. That is incredible repeat cruising and it reminded me of HAL's high repeat number. That number was exclusive of guests at other RCI membership levels.

 

Apart from the great benefits that we had based upon our Celebrity status (we are quite low...elite I think)- lounges for breakfast and pre dinner drinks, concierge services, free pre dinner drinks loaded on the room card, free hour of internet each, etc. RCI had two things that we had never seen before.QUOTE]

 

None of the lines are swamped with children except at school vacation times. What children are on board otherwise are often visiting crew's children or homeschoolers.

 

The RCCL loyalty program is very, very good. Comparing HAL to it leaves HAL looking "cheap" :D They also allow loyalty days to flow back and forth between bookings on RCCL and Celebrity.

 

For us, despite the loyalty programs, HAL remains our favorite. IMHO there is an ambiance on HAL that's just not there on RCCL or Carnival.

Edited November 10, 2014 by summersigh

[qsuzi]

Does anyone really know if HAL reads Cruise Critic? If not, I hope those with feedback use other avenues available to give HAL their feedback.

Edited November 10, 2014 by qsuzi

[sail7seas]

Yes, I know many both in Seattle Office as well as on HAL ships read CC. Some who perhaps don't have the time to read all the threads may see printouts of threads that might interest them prepared by assistant/associate etc

 

Edited November 10, 2014 by sail7seas

[frankc98376]

Yes, I know many both in Seattle Office as well as on HAL ships read CC. Some who perhaps don't have the time to read all the threads may see printouts of threads that might interest them prepared by assistant/associate etc

 

 

I met the HD on Zuiderdam by the sea view bar. He knew who I was and he said "I've been reading your live from report on CC" He gave me a hard time for thanking the Captain and his crew for their hard work during code red. He said "The Captain drives the ship". I updated my live from to say thanks to the great HD and his hard working crew :D

I know from past experience first hand that Seattle reads CC.

Edited November 10, 2014 by frankc98376

[threeedogmedia]

I agree with you 100%. And I'm betting that after people cruise another line, they may not be back. We have cruised several other lines but when we want the long itineraries we sail HAL. I can see the difference on this board also. It's the same old, same old threads...wine, smoking, dress. Nothing ever seems new or exciting. I'm hoping that HAL gets it together. It seems like the food, menus and service have gone downhill in the dining room. We'll be on them for 49 days soon so we'll see. We tend to have a good time no matter what.

 

I agree with you but would like to offer an alternative view of why we have cruised on other lines and not HAL in the past..... Even though our preference is Oceania or Regent, we are giving HAL a first try for the 33 days around Australia next year. Our friends have reached a high status with HAL and convinced us that it's worth a try. Our only hesitation in the past has been the "formal nights". We prefer the much more relaxed "country club casual" that was offered on the other lines that we cruise on. We're not snobs. We just like the comfort of not dressing up that way. My husband wore a three piece suit most of his life and it's darn near impossible to get him to wear one now. My "skinny dresses" won't fit now either....(;-) We've been on Princess several times and Royal Caribbean once and it was the large crowds and unbelievable amount of kids onboard that turned us off as well as the dress up. We have fun no matter what we do so I'm sure that we won't be disappointed in HAL. Somehow, I'll get my DH to put on a tie - I've got a year to work on that one. We had the opportunity to tour one of the ships here in port in Seattle (since it's close to home) and thought it was a very nicely decorated ship with very good food. At the time, you had to be assigned seating for meals and that wasn't something we cared to get into after a horrible assignment when on RCL. So, I will board with no expectations and will no doubt be quite happy. I prefer to wake up with a smile and any day cruising gives me a huge grin.

Karen

[iancal]

There were lots of comfortable places to read on the ship-and many with great views. That was not an issue. The library consisted of a few bookcases filled with books left behind by other cruisers. And they were almost all in German except for numerous English language copies of some religious book which some zealot had inappropriately left in both cabinets.

 

Don't get me wrong. RCI did not suddenly become the best cruise line in the business to us. We don't have one, although all things being equal DW leans to Celebrity. We find that they all have their strengths and weaknesses relative to our preferences. For us HAL is falling a bit behind because of maintenance issues and the deep staff cuts that cruisers seem to be complaining about these days.

Edited November 10, 2014 by iancal

[dadroy]

I'm not sure what HAL can do to keep me from going elsewhere. I prefer HAL, but one of the big reasons I am looking at Princess is they still sail out of Southern Calif.. For me to sail on HAL on a regular basis would mean flying to Florida or further.

 

I am not looking to do the Med., Alaska, Asia, or South Pacific, just a 7day to be on the ship. Business wise, HAL really could not make any profit coming to Los Angeles for anything other than a few cruises each year, thats why Royal is gone and Carnival puts their older ships here. So I will probably start using Princess since it saves me the cost of the airfare.

[qsuzi]

I'm not sure what HAL can do to keep me from going elsewhere. I prefer HAL, but one of the big reasons I am looking at Princess is they still sail out of Southern Calif.. For me to sail on HAL on a regular basis would mean flying to Florida or further.

 

I am not looking to do the Med., Alaska, Asia, or South Pacific, just a 7day to be on the ship. Business wise, HAL really could not make any profit coming to Los Angeles for anything other than a few cruises each year, thats why Royal is gone and Carnival puts their older ships here. So I will probably start using Princess since it saves me the cost of the airfare.

 

HAL does have cruises out of San Diego.....Mexican Riviera (7 days) and also 4-day San Diego to Vancouver "Coastals" (do not include Alaska.)

Edited November 10, 2014 by qsuzi

[cruz chic]

HAL does have cruises out of San Diego.....Mexican Riviera (7 days) and also 4-day San Diego to Vancouver "Coastals" (do not include Alaska.)

 

Those are rare (Mexico). I used to like it when they had the Oosterdam but I have zero interest in the Statendam or Veendam. At least Princess has better ships doing Mexico.

 

As far as libraries go, I really couldn't care less about them. I have my kindle and that's all I need. I haven't been in a library for years.

Edited November 10, 2014 by cruz chic

[Lizzie68]

HAL does have cruises out of San Diego.....Mexican Riviera (7 days) and also 4-day San Diego to Vancouver "Coastals" (do not include Alaska.)

 

The problem with San Diego is it's just down the coast from Vancouver, and yet we can't get a direct flight there. Easier for me to fly to LA (Long Beach or San Pedro) and get a Mexico cruise on another cruise line.

 

And I take my own reading, only ever used the library once on a long cruise.

Edited November 10, 2014 by Lizzie68

[Folk Singer]

Really? There is life outside CruiseCritic with people who cruise on various lines. :D

 

Lions,Tigers and Bears. Oh,My.;);)

[Spendogirl]

We have a $705 credit to use with Holland America.. when we find a cruise for February to use it against, it will likely be our last. I think we will just stick with Princess! :rolleyes:

[kazu]

Lions,Tigers and Bears. Oh,My.;);)

 

You should have been on our Prinsendam cruise - we adapted the Wizard of Oz theme for our Witches and Wizard spread sheet and it just spread :)

 

Love the Lions, Tigers and Bears oh my

Edited November 10, 2014 by kazu

[PathfinderEss]

HAL does have cruises out of San Diego.....Mexican Riviera (7 days) and also 4-day San Diego to Vancouver "Coastals" (do not include Alaska.)

 

I beg to differ with you come 2016 there are no cruises out of SD for Mexico. Only cruise will be for the Coastal's, possible Hawaii/Tahiti. We will have no dedicated Hal ship on the West Coast. The Veendam is going to Tampa.

 

[sail7seas]

I beg to differ with you come 2016 there are no cruises out of SD for Mexico. Only cruise will be for the Coastal's, possible Hawaii/Tahiti. We will have no dedicated Hal ship on the West Coast. The Veendam is going to Tampa.

 

 

sorry

deleted

Edited November 10, 2014 by sail7seas

[qsuzi]

I beg to differ with you come 2016 there are no cruises out of SD for Mexico. Only cruise will be for the Coastal's, possible Hawaii/Tahiti. We will have no dedicated Hal ship on the West Coast. The Veendam is going to Tampa.

 

 

I thought Dadroy was looking for more current itineraries but I should have been more specific on years I guess. Last time I looked at 2016 it seemed it only showed longer than 7 day itineraries. I will check 2016 out. Thanks. Okay I see January through April 2016 cruises are posted and some are 7 days. Do you know if all sailings for January through April 2016 are listed yet? My experience with RCL for example is that they only post a few sailings that far in advance.

Edited November 11, 2014 by qsuzi

[TraelorMex]

I'm one of those who still enjoys holding a book in my hands. :) I have no desire for an e-reader of any sort but I know I am the minority.

 

I use to think this as well...until I got my Kindle ;)

[qsuzi]

Those are rare (Mexico). I used to like it when they had the Oosterdam but I have zero interest in the Statendam or Veendam. At least Princess has better ships doing Mexico.

 

The Veendam is sailing to Mexico November and December 2014 and March 2015. The March 2015 Veendam will be our first time on HAL. Princess also has 7 days sailings in 2014, 2015, and 2016 with choice of the Ruby, Crown, and Grand. We are Platinum on Princess and have sailed the Grand, Crown, and Sun class ships.

Edited November 11, 2014 by qsuzi

[Host Walt]

I use to think this as well...until I got my Kindle ;)

 

I thought I'd feel the same way once I got my Nook, but I guess I'm getting old. I buy some stuff for my Nook when the price is substantially lower than print, but for destination books and web sites I'm back to good old printed books and hard copy of all books and documents.

 

(I even print out EULAs on all software before I click the accept box.)

[Wastegirl]

I am an avid reader and thought I would never use my Kindle, how wrong I was, now I will not be without it. On holidays I would always have to find ways to pack 20 books in my suitcase (yes on a 2 week holiday I can ready 20 books - not huge tomes but regular size paperbacks). My Kindle has given me the freedom to have 500 books on it and I can now choose as my mood dictates, not what I have managed to squash into my case. On long holidays I would spend some of my time in second hand book shops trying to buy new books to replace those I have read, used to drive my DH mad.

 

Back to the subject in hand - just tried a Celebrity trip, admittedly on their older Century but people are right, more similarities than differences. The only thing that stood out to me was the staff, my 3 trips on the Oosterdam is packed with great memories of cheerful, chatty, helpful staff. While the Century staff were efficient and good, that extra level of cheerfulness seemed to be missing and some were downright grumpy. I am interested in seeing if it is any different on my cruise on the Solstice in February.