Have the Mariner Perks Gone Away?

[0bnxshs]

2 hours ago, erewhon said:

 

Surpring that the senior staff did not speak, who was the Captain?

 

Captain was Henk Draper.  HD was Mark Pells.

[SilvertoGold]

2 hours ago, 0bnxshs said:

 

Captain was Henk Draper.  HD was Mark Pells.

 

We had Draper on the Noordam in April.  Same thing, he and a different HD just stood there, while the CD said a bit.  I think there were 3 Mariner Brunches, so I guess it gets old for him.

[0bnxshs]

I was just a bit surprised and disappointed that neither of them said anything and barely seemed interested in greeting Mariners as they entered the MDR, somberly nodding as they stood shoulder to shoulder as if at a funeral.  Perhaps there was a reason to behave thusly we didn't know about.

 

I expect it does get old but, they choose the profession.... ..🤷‍♂️

[boards]

On 4/29/2019 at 9:55 AM, Despegue said:

Is anyone actually wearing these pins?

Yes we do.  We are 4 star and very happy to have received the pins and the medallion.   Next step is a little of out reach for us.

[Btimmer]

1 hour ago, boards said:

Yes we do.  We are 4 star and very happy to have received the pins and the medallion.   Next step is a little of out reach for us.

It's actually surprising how fast 5 star is reached.

[canadianbear]

23 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

It's actually surprising how fast 5 star is reached.

 We are 4 star and I told my husband I doubt we’d get to 5 star.  With luck we will but we are happy reaching 4* as we love the laundry perk.  

[Btimmer]

4 minutes ago, canadianbear said:

 We are 4 star and I told my husband I doubt we’d get to 5 star.  With luck we will but we are happy reaching 4* as we love the laundry perk.  

Yes, that is the great perk especially for the longer voyages.

[boards]

41 minutes ago, Btimmer said:

Yes, that is the great perk especially for the longer voyages.

We agree.

[VMax1700]

59 minutes ago, canadianbear said:

 We are 4 star and I told my husband I doubt we’d get to 5 star.  With luck we will but we are happy reaching 4* as we love the laundry perk.  

Free Laundry and 50% discount on the wine package, what is not too like! 

[taxmantoo]

3 hours ago, 0bnxshs said:

I was just a bit surprised and disappointed that neither of them said anything and barely seemed interested in greeting Mariners as they entered the MDR, somberly nodding as they stood shoulder to shoulder as if at a funeral.  Perhaps there was a reason to behave thusly we didn't know about.

 

I expect it does get old but, they choose the profession.... ..🤷‍♂️

Similar experience on the Koningsdam last year.  At the Mariners' Medal Ceremony, both the Captain Noel O'Driscoll and the Hotel Director Mustafa Gulbahar stood there and said absolutely nothing (not even "Welcome") while the CD did all the talking.  Then they presented the medals again without saying a word and walked out as soon as the last medal was given out.

[kazu]

4 hours ago, 0bnxshs said:

I was just a bit surprised and disappointed that neither of them said anything and barely seemed interested in greeting Mariners as they entered the MDR, somberly nodding as they stood shoulder to shoulder as if at a funeral.  Perhaps there was a reason to behave thusly we didn't know about.

 

I expect it does get old but, they choose the profession.... ..🤷‍♂️

 

32 minutes ago, taxmantoo said:

Similar experience on the Koningsdam last year.  At the Mariners' Medal Ceremony, both the Captain Noel O'Driscoll and the Hotel Director Mustafa Gulbahar stood there and said absolutely nothing (not even "Welcome") while the CD did all the talking.  Then they presented the medals again without saying a word and walked out as soon as the last medal was given out.

 

Sad, I guess we were lucky on the Westerdam with Captain Van Eerten, on the Rotterdam and they were always well done on the Prinsendam and a lot of fun on that ship.

 

How many times did our HD and Captain run down to escort an older person/couple up?  Assist someone.  Get on a knee for a short person.  They were enthused and it showed.

 

So sad if this special time is just becoming “routine”.  If the Captain and HD aren’t enthused, it takes away a lot from the event IMO.

 

Next year should be interesting and hopefully, not disappointing.

 

 

 

 

[taxmantoo]

1 hour ago, taxmantoo said:

Similar experience on the Koningsdam last year.  At the Mariners' Medal Ceremony, both the Captain Noel O'Driscoll and the Hotel Director Mustafa Gulbahar stood there and said absolutely nothing (not even "Welcome") while the CD did all the talking.  Then they presented the medals again without saying a word and walked out as soon as the last medal was given out.

 

30 minutes ago, kazu said:

Sad, I guess we were lucky on the Westerdam with Captain Van Eerten, on the Rotterdam and they were always well done on the Prinsendam and a lot of fun on that ship.

 

How many times did our HD and Captain run down to escort an older person/couple up?  Assist someone.  Get on a knee for a short person.  They were enthused and it showed.

 

So sad if this special time is just becoming “routine”.  If the Captain and HD aren’t enthused, it takes away a lot from the event IMO.

 

Next year should be interesting and hopefully, not disappointing.

 

Captain Van Eerten is one of the best we have met.  The chemistry he developed with CD Mario was unbelievable ... they were quite the team.

 

What is weird about our experience with Captain O'Driscoll  not saying a word at the Mariiers' Medal Ceremony is that he is actually a very sociable and funny person.  His "Ask the Captain" sessions are so much fun that we attended both of them on our B2B cruise.

[Btimmer]

We've been on the Maasdam for many days over the past year, and both the HD  Florin Dragomir and Captain Arno Sutton were very engaged with the passengers.  On last fall's  Polynesian segment, the Captain even elected to pilot a Zodiac which we rode in and he was thrilled to do so and was very approachable and answered questions.  I think it also helped that he volunteered for the Maasdam EXC duty. One evening on our Sri Lankan voyage we were walking the deck and both were there and we had extended conversations with them.  Florin could often be found greeting returning passengers and / or seeing them off on excursions in the morning.

 

We're about to re-board the Maasdam in a few days for an extended cruise and I'll report back what we experience. 

 

[kazu]

15 minutes ago, taxmantoo said:

Captain Van Eerten is one of the best we have met.  The chemistry he developed with CD Mario was unbelievable ... they were quite the team.

 

Totally agree.

 

Very grateful I had the opportunity to sail with him twice and Captain Dag and Captain Gundersen on the Prinsendam.

 

The good ones are precious like gold and very appreciated.

[erewhon]

13 hours ago, 0bnxshs said:

 

Captain was Henk Draper.  HD was Mark Pells.

 

 

Thank you for your reply.

[sail7seas]

On 7/9/2019 at 7:33 AM, 0bnxshs said:

 

Captain was Henk Draper.  HD was Mark Pells.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have had the pleasure of sailing many times with Captain Draper. He is one of my very favorite captains. 

 

i canno t recall being at  a Mariner brunch  when he was Capain and he did not speak to us mariners.  Which makes me speculate perhaps, on your curise, he was needed on  the bridge or elsewhere   and thus was  unavailable for a speech.

 

 

 

 

 

 

sail.noordam@gmail.com

Edited July 12, 2019 by sail7seas

[SilvertoGold]

Sail;  take a look at post #52.  Captain Draper does just stand there and not say a word.

[sail7seas]

53 minutes ago, SilvertoGold said:

Sail;  take a look at post #52.  Captain Draper does just stand there and not say a word.

     

Silver, I read it.

 

I chose to comment as my experience and many years of  sailing with  Captain Draper is very different

 

One does not always agree with everything   written here and sometimes we      ( I') say so.'

 

 

 

. 

 

sail.noordam@gmail.com

Edited July 12, 2019 by sail7seas

[0bnxshs]

16 hours ago, sail7seas said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have had the pleasure of sailing many times with Captain Draper. He is one of my very favorite captains. 

 

i canno t recall being at  a Mariner brunch  when he was Capain and he did not speak to us mariners.  Which makes me speculate perhaps, on your curise, he was needed on  the bridge or elsewhere   and thus was  unavailable for a speech.

 

 

 

 

 

 

sail.noordam@gmail.com

 

Captain Draper simply stood with Mark Pells at the head table during the toast by the Entertainment Director.  I then watched as he casually chatted for several minutes with those around him, including guests.  As I was surprised he did not speak I watched as he and Mark strolled to the entrance of the MDR where he continued to chat with guests waiting to enter for regular lunch.  Perhaps he had something more important to attend to but there was no sense of urgency in his step or manner.  His noon position report was delayed until nearly 12:30 which was fairly consistent with when he left the MDR.

 

I'm not criticizing him and I've never sailed with him before, I'm only making note of differences I'm seeing over the several years I've sailed with HAL.  This particular one was a first for me.

[sail7seas]

On 7/13/2019 at 8:22 AM, 0bnxshs said:

 

Captain Draper simply stood with Mark Pells at the head table during the toast by the Entertainment Director.  I then watched as he casually chatted for several minutes with those around him, including guests.  As I was surprised he did not speak I watched as he and Mark strolled to the entrance of the MDR where he continued to chat with guests waiting to enter for regular lunch.  Perhaps he had something more important to attend to but there was no sense of urgency in his step or manner.  His noon position report was delayed until nearly 12:30 which was fairly consistent with when he left the MDR.

 

I'm not criticizing him and I've never sailed with him before, I'm only making note of differences I'm seeing over the several years I've sailed with HAL.  This particular one was a first for me.

 

 

 

Your full right to criticize anyone you  wish,   here on CC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sail.noordam@gmail.com

 

Edited July 15, 2019 by sail7seas

[Terre]

On 7/3/2019 at 4:26 PM, sail7seas said:

 

Yes, 

I agree  the  collectible gifts are the  tiles.

 

Both of my recent  cruises, the tiles were placed neatly at the top of each place setting at  the brunch  and were there when we were seated at the table.

 

 

 

 

I hate we didn't get one, I didn't any anywhere, even as leaving.  It was our first time with HAL, not sure that made a difference or not.

 

[kazu]

13 minutes ago, Terre said:

I hate we didn't get one, I didn't any anywhere, even as leaving.  It was our first time with HAL, not sure that made a difference or not.

 

 

If it’s your first time on HAL and CCL lines, then yes, that makes the difference.

 

You’ll have to wait for your next cruise to get one.  

The tiles are for Mariners (previously sailed).  Sad, but true.

[Terre]

1 hour ago, kazu said:

 

If it’s your first time on HAL and CCL lines, then yes, that makes the difference.

 

You’ll have to wait for your next cruise to get one.  

The tiles are for Mariners (previously sailed).  Sad, but true.

It was our first time on HAL, but we started with one Mariner star because we have many sailings with Carnival.  I didn't see anyone with one or getting one when leaving.  Just a thing, but it would have been nice to get one, though.  My SIL's are all very nice.

[kazu]

6 minutes ago, Terre said:

It was our first time on HAL, but we started with one Mariner star because we have many sailings with Carnival.  I didn't see anyone with one or getting one when leaving.  Just a thing, but it would have been nice to get one, though.  My SIL's are all very nice.

 

If you had one Mariner star then you SHOULD have been invited to the Mariner Brunch when you would have received you tile.

 

Sorry to hear that didn’t happen 😞 

 

But, if you contact the Mariner society, I am sure they will send you the tiles.  They are pretty good at this stuff.

[Terre]

4 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

If you had one Mariner star then you SHOULD have been invited to the Mariner Brunch when you would have received you tile.

 

Sorry to hear that didn’t happen 😞 

We were invited to the luncheon and actually went to it the next day by accident!  We decided to eat in the MDR for lunch and when we got off the elevator there was a crowd and we had nowhere to go but blend in.  We had no idea it was a second Mariner lunch until we sat down and everything was the same as the day before!  They didn't ask for the invitation either day.

To top it off, there were no tiles at the second luncheon either.  Maybe they just didn't have them for that sailing???  No biggie.