Antarctica was great but HAL cruise was so-so

[Ken the cruiser]

I think it can help reduce the chance - slightly. But I've used commercial Clorox hand santizer on every cruise and sometimes I'm fine and sometimes I get the crud. It's a crap shoot when you're in tight spaces with lots of people.

That's good stuff! My DW has had a big stock of the Clorox hand sanitizer on hand since we were on a 14 day norovirus cruise back in Mar 2016 where the ship was under quarantine for 12 of those 14 days. With its 71% alcohol base, it's supposed to kill up to 99.999% on the lingering bugs to include the norovirus. She gets it from Amazon and she wanted me to ask you, if you wouldn't mind, where you get your supply from?

[sail7seas]

Isnt ' a combination of chlorox and alcohol brtual on your skin?

sounds terrible.

[sail7seas]

You jumped into the thread agreeing with some other folks that the hand sanitizers were useless and HAL shouldn't be brought to task because of their lax approach to minimize the spread of the flu and cold by getting folks to sanitize their hands on the recent Zaandam cruise we were on. That put you in my category of people who think HAL can do no wrong and anyone that challenges that is simply wrong. If I misunderstood your opinion, I apologize.

 

 

You have misunderstood me if you put me in a category saying HAL can do no wrorng. I have written any number of posts critical of HAL L in recent weeks and months... I have found lots of fault with the cruise line HAL seems to be morphing into. As to hand sanitizer I a m firmly in the camp of using soap and water, frequently washin g hands way preferably to any of the hand sani tizizers. The alcohol ones CAnnot be highly effective for cruisers coming gthrough gtthe MDR door and being seated immediately.. the alcohol dries too fast on the hands before germs are done in..

 

alcohol is quick dfrying, put that napkin in youtr lap and your hands are now dry of any sanitiizer that was not yet air dried before you were sedated. In order for alcohol to be effective it m ust remain wet on the hands a length of time.

Edited February 9, 2018 by sail7seas

[Ken the cruiser]

Isnt ' a combination of chlorox and alcohol brtual on your skin?

sounds terrible.

Clorox is the brand name of their commercial hand sanitizer that has 71% alcohol (with no bleach). Yes, mixing Clorox bleach and alcohol would be very bad for your skin.

 

As far as using the ship's hand sanitizer when going into the MDR or anywhere for that matter, it is to simply help reduce the number of microscopic bugs that have found their way to your hands since the last time you washed them with soap and water.

[cruisemom42]

No flaming from me. HAL is not known for it's entertainment options, both day and evening. They're known for their itineraries and peaceful, quiet atmosphere. This is not for everybody. Lots of folks enjoy varied activities throughout the day and in the evenings and into the wee hours of the morning and they enjoy being social with fellow passengers in the bars, etc. If this level of entertainment is your preference, then probably HAL is not a good fit for you. Celebrity (our #2 cruiseline) offers lots of entertainment, but we find the constant, loud music a bit much for us at times. Princess also has very decent evening entertainment. That being said, our days are so busy, what with excursions and sightseeing, we're happy to just enjoy a nice dinner and an evening in the casino or a cocktail in a lounge. HAL is a good fit for us, but we recognize that other people have much different needs.

 

For a lot of us I think the issue is not that HAL doesn't have the entertainment of Celebrity or Princess.... It's that HAL doesn't even offer the entertainment that they PREVIOUSLY offered.

 

Fewer onboard lecturers than previously

Fewer staff under cruise director to run some daytime activities

Fewer live musicians (other than with special acts)

De-emphasis on library and no designated librarian

 

I'm willing to accept that HAL is not going to offer me a lot of late-night carousing. But do we have to accept that HAL is going to provide very little daytime entertainment and music at all, as well as limited evening options?

[sail7seas]

Anyone know if Bill Prince is head of hAL entertainment department?

[Lady Arwen]

For a lot of us I think the issue is not that HAL doesn't have the entertainment of Celebrity or Princess.... It's that HAL doesn't even offer the entertainment that they PREVIOUSLY offered.

 

Fewer onboard lecturers than previously

Fewer staff under cruise director to run some daytime activities

Fewer live musicians (other than with special acts)

De-emphasis on library and no designated librarian

 

I'm willing to accept that HAL is not going to offer me a lot of late-night carousing. But do we have to accept that HAL is going to provide very little daytime entertainment and music at all, as well as limited evening options?

I totally understand what you're saying and you are, of course, correct. For whatever reason, none of these things really impacts our enjoyment of our cruise. We're not expecting things to be the same as what they were and, although disappointing occasionally, we just go with the flow. We're just so happy being on a ship (with just about any cruiseline)! We're sailing on Prinsendam next and they do have a lovely library, so that's a very good thing. Edited February 9, 2018 by Lady Arwen
spelling

[sail7seas]

Anyone know if Bill Prince is head of hAL entertainment department?

anyone know?

 

?

[idiebabe]

For a lot of us I think the issue is not that HAL doesn't have the entertainment of Celebrity or Princess.... It's that HAL doesn't even offer the entertainment that they PREVIOUSLY offered.

 

Fewer onboard lecturers than previously

Fewer staff under cruise director to run some daytime activities

Fewer live musicians (other than with special acts)

De-emphasis on library and no designated librarian

 

I'm willing to accept that HAL is not going to offer me a lot of late-night carousing. But do we have to accept that HAL is going to provide very little daytime entertainment and music at all, as well as limited evening options?

 

Spot on! Totally agree!

[jabrown40]

Posted by mistake

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forum

[3rdGenCunarder]

For a lot of us I think the issue is not that HAL doesn't have the entertainment of Celebrity or Princess.... It's that HAL doesn't even offer the entertainment that they PREVIOUSLY offered.

 

Fewer onboard lecturers than previously

Fewer staff under cruise director to run some daytime activities

Fewer live musicians (other than with special acts)

De-emphasis on library and no designated librarian

 

I'm willing to accept that HAL is not going to offer me a lot of late-night carousing. But do we have to accept that HAL is going to provide very little daytime entertainment and music at all, as well as limited evening options?

 

On our K'dam cruise, the daily program looked pretty full, but a lot of it was "Lectures" in the form of port shopping and port info (selling tours), not enrichment lectures. They also offered games, but not hosted. I think they just put out scrabble boards, etc. and left it to guests to organize themselves.

 

Evening entertainment has improved in variety with the addition of Lincoln Center, plus the expansion of BB King to more ships. But I think this will only be on Vista and larger ships, not the little ones. Lincoln Center was a step up in music quality that I never thought I'd see/hear on HAL.

 

They told us K'dam is getting 700 books when she goes into drydock. So perhaps HAL does listen to some feedback.

[cruisemom42]

They told us K'dam is getting 700 books when she goes into drydock. So perhaps HAL does listen to some feedback.

 

If so, that should make a lot of folks happy.

[3rdGenCunarder]

If so, that should make a lot of folks happy.

 

It got a lot of applause at the Q&A with the captain and hotel manager.

[RandyinDEN]

Wash your hands, don't touch your face. The hand sanitizer goo is not a good way to stay from illness.

[rkacruiser]

It got a lot of applause at the Q&A with the captain and hotel manager.

 

More books being added! This is great news! I believe that comments that have been made to HAL through this web site and directly to Seattle have made a difference.

 

I left some good books on the Zaandam when I disembarked in January. I hoped that they would not eventually be thrown out. I'm encouraged they won't be!

[Cruiz'nBaers]

For a lot of us I think the issue is not that HAL doesn't have the entertainment of Celebrity or Princess.... It's that HAL doesn't even offer the entertainment that they PREVIOUSLY offered.

 

Fewer onboard lecturers than previously

Fewer staff under cruise director to run some daytime activities

Fewer live musicians (other than with special acts)

De-emphasis on library and no designated librarian

 

Ill willing to accept that HAL is not going to offer me a lot of late-night carousing. But do we have to accept that HAL is going to provide very little daytime entertainment and music at all, as well as limited evening options?

This the point I was trying to make. Thank you.

 

And why do so many CC threads have to turn so mean and nasty?

[Epicureangirl]

It’s a tough time of year with how many are sick! People bring it onboard and so many people spread it through poor hygiene. I’ve been on Cruises where Sanitizers we’re positioned outside Lido, MDR, etc. and it didn’t make a difference with the Colds and Bronchitis that went through the Ships!

 

Absolutely. Honestly, I don't consider the ship any different then my office. I am with people, people get sick, germs are in the air or on surfaces. It is up to me to keep my own hands clean, cover my coughs if I am sick (or better yet, stay home) and keep my own immune system in good shape so I'm not as susceptible.

 

I saw plenty of hand sanitizer stations on board the Volendam, no one would force you to use one of course, just as no one could force you to cover cough or sneeze. Obviously outbreaks of noro are of concern, but I don't think you could point one cruiseline out as being healthier than another -- there are plenty of people with bad hygiene habits from all walks of life (and income levels). I don't think if I start cruising Regent or Crystal instead of HAL that I would be less likely to get ill, though I would be willing to participate in an experiment, if one of you would like to fund it. ;p

[trixiee]

Absolutely. Honestly, I don't consider the ship any different then my office. I am with people, people get sick, germs are in the air or on surfaces. It is up to me to keep my own hands clean, cover my coughs if I am sick (or better yet, stay home) and keep my own immune system in good shape so I'm not as susceptible.

 

I saw plenty of hand sanitizer stations on board the Volendam, no one would force you to use one of course, just as no one could force you to cover cough or sneeze. Obviously outbreaks of noro are of concern, but I don't think you could point one cruiseline out as being healthier than another -- there are plenty of people with bad hygiene habits from all walks of life (and income levels). I don't think if I start cruising Regent or Crystal instead of HAL that I would be less likely to get ill, though I would be willing to participate in an experiment, if one of you would like to fund it. ;p

Best response ever!

[VennDiagram]

I totally understand what you're saying and you are, of course, correct. For whatever reason, none of these things really impacts our enjoyment of our cruise. We're not expecting things to be the same as what they were and, although disappointing occasionally, we just go with the flow. We're just so happy being on a ship (with just about any cruiseline)! We're sailing on Prinsendam next and they do have a lovely library, so that's a very good thing.

 

A big YES to the part I bolded. Nothing is the same as it was (except possibly my boring home decor ;) ) While I can be quite nostalgic at times, the fact remains that the entire world has changed/is changing. And that's the way it is. ;) We can adapt, or not.

[cruisemom42]

A big YES to the part I bolded. Nothing is the same as it was (except possibly my boring home decor ;) ) While I can be quite nostalgic at times, the fact remains that the entire world has changed/is changing. And that's the way it is. ;) We can adapt, or not.

 

Fair enough, but HAL may also find themselves in a bind eventually. If they choose not to compete with other mass market lines in entertainment options, they are unlikely to entice many of their customers to try HAL. And if they continue to diminish what they themselves have traditionally offered, loyal HAL cruisers may also drift elsewhere...

[ithaca gal]

 

They told us K'dam is getting 700 books when she goes into drydock. So perhaps HAL does listen to some feedback.

 

When we were on the Eurodam in November, we were told that an average of FORTY books a week "walk off the ship". That's disgusting.

[ellieanne]

When we were on the Eurodam in November, we were told that an average of FORTY books a week "walk off the ship". That's disgusting.

 

Disgusting but not surprising, especially after HAL eliminated the librarian position to ensure books were checked out properly and could charge on-board accounts for books that were not returned.

[Epicureangirl]

Best response ever!

Why thank you trixiee -- you're making me blush! :o

[stan1]

The HAL defenders are admirable in their loyalty, but that's all folks. Other cruise lines

in the HAL class offer excellent itineraries, port calls, first-class evening shows ( if you can stay awake to see them), excellent meals in buffet and MDR, AND good hygiene ( with no toilet sewer smells). And HAL can do it also, and does it well on the newer larger vessels ( Nieu Amsterdam, Konigsdam, Eurodam) . Unlike Princess ( also owned by Carnival) and Royal Caribbean-Celebrity, which do excellently maintain their older, smaller ships (we sail all of them), provide generally better food than HAL, provide superior evening entertainment, HAL management elected not to spend the $$ to provide better and higher grade food provisions, upgrade their galleys, and finally fix their continuous plumbing problems. Specific complaints have been posted for years, but I had a conference call with senior Seattle staff some time ago, and theyacted as if it was news to them. Conversely on a recent Royal Caribbean cruise I met one of the named VP's who told me that RCI/Celebrity assigns an emplyee to scan Cruise Crititc and other cruise critique websites daily tocopy any comments good or bad about any of their ships and to submit that file daily to top management. He told me that every complaint is quickly investigated with the ship Hotel Manager required to report findings and corrective action if any to Miami. This may explain the tremendous Royal Caribbean/Celebrity growth and profit and increased stock share value. It is not a secret: Provide a fine cruise product at a fair price and cruisers will return. Comparison: the major American Airlines downgraded the passenger experience in many ways, knowing there usually no travel alternative. HAL has done the same on their older, smaller ships, and thousands of cruisers have booked elsewhere on many travel itineraries. HAL can fix it if they wish, not I'm not sure they want to.

[Hlitner]

The HAL defenders are admirable in their loyalty, but that's all folks. Other cruise lines

in the HAL class offer excellent itineraries, port calls, first-class evening shows ( if you can stay awake to see them), excellent meals in buffet and MDR, AND good hygiene ( with no toilet sewer smells). And HAL can do it also, and does it well on the newer larger vessels ( Nieu Amsterdam, Konigsdam, Eurodam) . Unlike Princess ( also owned by Carnival) and Royal Caribbean-Celebrity, which do excellently maintain their older, smaller ships (we sail all of them), provide generally better food than HAL, provide superior evening entertainment, HAL management elected not to spend the $$ to provide better and higher grade food provisions, upgrade their galleys, and finally fix their continuous plumbing problems. Specific complaints have been posted for years, but I had a conference call with senior Seattle staff some time ago, and theyacted as if it was news to them. Conversely on a recent Royal Caribbean cruise I met one of the named VP's who told me that RCI/Celebrity assigns an emplyee to scan Cruise Crititc and other cruise critique websites daily tocopy any comments good or bad about any of their ships and to submit that file daily to top management. He told me that every complaint is quickly investigated with the ship Hotel Manager required to report findings and corrective action if any to Miami. This may explain the tremendous Royal Caribbean/Celebrity growth and profit and increased stock share value. It is not a secret: Provide a fine cruise product at a fair price and cruisers will return. Comparison: the major American Airlines downgraded the passenger experience in many ways, knowing there usually no travel alternative. HAL has done the same on their older, smaller ships, and thousands of cruisers have booked elsewhere on many travel itineraries. HAL can fix it if they wish, not I'm not sure they want to.

 

Great post (I have been censored for saying less). HAL is fortunate to have quite a few fans (most in the Senior category) but we think that loyalty is fleeting at best. We are semi HAL fans (and 5 Star Mariners) that continue to book HAL cruises because of the great itineraries. But to be really honest, we have to hold our noses and ignore the old troubled ships, lack of late night (on HAL this is after 9pm) entertainment, alternative restaurants that might have been nice in the 70s, music often from the 40s and 50s often played on keyboard sounding like roller skating music, dark nights with old movies in place of real entertainment, etc.

 

Yes, we continue to book some HAL cruises....but our days per year are dwindling as we take advantage of other better cruise and land options. I read these threads and just shake my head. Today I loaded over fifty books on my Kindle (all books I want to read) and my Kindle holds more books than any HAL library. We have met fellow HAL cruisers who are resistant to Kindles (or other similar options, WiFi, Smart Phones and any music written after 1930! The fact that HAL tries to cater to these loyal folks in commendable...but is not going to attract many new (and younger) cruisers. Perhaps HAL can continue to survive as a virtual Assisted Living Center....but we have our doubts.

 

Hank

P.S. We expect to get flamed...but we should mention that we are also Seniors.