HAL 4* Mariner (Returning to HAL) from NCL!

[GeriatricNurse]

20 hours ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

Good to hear from you again.

 

Many ships now have pre made sandwiches.

Hi Krazy Kruisers,

 

   Thank you for your reply.

 

   I always enjoyed reading your informative posts and will continue to do so, going forward.

[GeriatricNurse]

19 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

No more health forms!

Hi *Miss G*,

 

   Thank you for your reply.

 

   'No more health forms', ?on Check-In at the Pier?  I wonder why HAL eliminated the completion of the 'Health Forms'  They are mandatory with NCL on 'Check-In!

[kazu]

7 minutes ago, GeriatricNurse said:

Hi kazu,

 

   What is the current 'Daily Service Charge' for Inside Stateroom accommodation?

 

$14.50 pp per day.

[GeriatricNurse]

20 hours ago, colonialinnkeeper said:

Some changes with the two new ships:

--bathrooms; large glass walled showers, nicely lighted mirrors, (dislike) toilet on Koningsdam at weird angle so knees for taller people hit shower glass wall but fixed on NS

--bedrooms; well thought out storage, fridge at counter level, lots of electrical sockets and USB outlets, good hair dryers,  flat screen tvs with a wide range of movie options, (dislike) smaller coffee table, sofa side cushion that falls off end of sofa, the tv doesn't swivel so you can only watch it comfortably when sitting on the bed, smaller balconies with tiny table and only one footstool

--entertainment;  large theater has fantastic 280 degree surround that allows for computer driven graphics/pics and good visual seating almost everywhere in the room, Music Walk with dual piano lounge (Billboard on Board), a Rock lounge, BB King theater and Lincoln Center (classical music concerts), (dislike) the cancelling of live shows with singing and dancing.  One Step (an outside company)  has two shows that are sometimes done with dancing to canned music, the elimination of most music in the Ocean Bar, having to go very early to get seating for some shows in the large theater

--public areas; like the individual art on each ship fleet wide, many smaller areas to find a place to read, (dislike) the elimination of the wide promenade with lounges (smaller/older ships still have this), the depth of the promenade in some areas so it is difficult for two people to pass each other,  the

identical design of the atrium of the K and NS,  smoking still allowed in the casino

 

One thing that hasn't changed is the staff's friendliness and helpfulness.  Yes, there are fewer of them but they still go the extra mile to make our stay memorable and comfortable.  

 

Hi colonialinnkeeper,

 

   Thank you for your reply.

 

   It is unfortunate that HAL has not, as yet, glassed off the casino, to eliminate the 'drifting' smoke, (as NCL has done with their latest newbuilds)!

[GeriatricNurse]

19 hours ago, Cruzaholic41 said:

Cutbacks have been the worst I’ve seen on any line. No more relaxing live entertainment in the Crows Nest and Ocean Bar. No more live music by the pool. Main theater production shows have almost all been eliminated. 

Hi Cruzaholic,

 

   Thank you for your reply

 

   I am surprised that the main theater shows have almost all been eliminated as they were outstanding on my NCL cruises, with such productions as 'Kinky Boots', 'Jersey Boys' and 'Six', for example!  

[Caribbean Chris]

29 minutes ago, GeriatricNurse said:

Hi *Miss G*,

 

   Thank you for your reply.

 

   'No more health forms', ?on Check-In at the Pier?  I wonder why HAL eliminated the completion of the 'Health Forms'  They are mandatory with NCL on 'Check-In!

Celebrity stopped doing them, too. It’s been several years since we filled one out before boarding HAL or X. 

[FrankieSue]

I am also very sad to have seen all the beautiful fresh flowers arrangements disappear.  The Lido is not the same without those delicate, exotic orchids on each table... and throughout the ships, there are fewer and fewer fresh flowers..... I remember the days when there was a florist on each ship.

[GeriatricNurse]

16 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

Especially on the NS, the addition of the Grand Dutch Cafe and Sea de Mer!  Real treats.  At the Dutch Cafe, the food is free, just pay for the specialty drinks.  The apple crepe dish is to die for!  (It's lunch time here - you can tell)

 

No more eyes on the towel animals.  I hate to see them blind, I think I will tell our stewards not to bother making them on our next cruise if there are no eyes!!

Hi VictOriann,

 

   Thank you for your reply.

 

   On NCL, the towel animals, pitchers of ice water, chocolate on the pillows and a beach towel in the staterooms have all been eliminated!

Edited January 8, 2020 by GeriatricNurse

[GeriatricNurse]

9 hours ago, VennDiagram said:

Perhaps if you told us why you left HAL for NCL, and are now returning, we could provide more targeted information as opposed to random bits and pieces.

Hi VennDiagram,

 

   Thank you for your reply.

 

   I left HAL to just try another cruise line for comparison.  I choose NCL as I had read so many negative things!

   In fact, I was quite impressed, having cruised on three different NCL ships!

   Two things that stand out were the EXCELLENT shows in the Theaters along with the fact that the food service in the 'Garden Cafe', ('Lido Market') on Hal, was 'Self-Serve' so one could help themselves to anything as much as they wished at many different Food Stations; (whereas on Hal, I recall having to stand in a line in the 'Lido' to be doled out the food, (in small(ish)!

   Now I'm returning to see how Hal 'operates' as opposed to NCL!

[GeriatricNurse]

1 hour ago, kazu said:

 

$14.50 pp per day.

It's $13.50 pp per day on NCL.

[GeriatricNurse]

19 hours ago, USN59-79 said:

The elimination of the libraries is the cutback that bothered me the most.

There are dedicated libraries on the NCL ships, quiet, well stocked, but greatly underused!

[Aquahound]

1 hour ago, GeriatricNurse said:

...things that stand out were the EXCELLENT shows in the Theaters...

 

Oh, you're going to very very disappointed.  Of the cruise lines I've sailed, HAL has the worst theater shows....by far.  

[VennDiagram]

3 hours ago, GeriatricNurse said:

the fact that the food service in the 'Garden Cafe', ('Lido Market') on Hal, was 'Self-Serve' so one could help themselves to anything as much as they wished at many different Food Stations; (whereas on Hal, I recall having to stand in a line in the 'Lido' to be doled out the food, (in small(ish)!

 

Except for the breakfast pastries and breads, and the pre made sandwiches at lunch,  the crew still serves the food in the Lido.  One new-to-you  change might be the salad station, a huge selection of made to order / pick your ingredients salad fixings and the crew makes it for you.  (I am unsure when this was started, so it may or may not be new to you)

As for "smallish" portions served in the Lido, I've never had a request for "a bit more, please" refused.

[USN59-79]

One positive with HAL is that you can order room service hot breakfast each morning at no extra cost.  Can ask for changes also, such as extra bacon or eggs cooked a different way.  We enjoyed it last month on the Westerdam. Wonder what NCL charges extra for that?

[crystalspin]

The self-serve stations in the Lido have in fact been reduced -- most people are in favor of crew-served from behind plexiglass as more sanitary. This was what they used to do AFTER the Noro outbreaks, now it's pro-active to AVOID Noro outbreaks.

 

I always preface my requests with "a little" or "a lot of" whatever. And then "More" if necessary. My mom LOVES the Lido and dreams about it all the time between cruises! She likes a little of a number of things, which is a pain to provide yourself when you live alone.

[mcrcruiser]

14 hours ago, GeriatricNurse said:

Hi Cruzaholic,

 

   Thank you for your reply

 

   I am surprised that the main theater shows have almost all been eliminated as they were outstanding on my NCL cruises, with such productions as 'Kinky Boots', 'Jersey Boys' and 'Six', for example!  

Although we have never in 87 past cruises cruised on any NCL vessel ,we do understand that they & RCL/X  ships have the best  entertainment  ,then comes Princess 

  We are hoping that HAL finally recognizes that a FUN   show with good singers & dancers/Broadway style  is desirable to most cruisers 

[mcrcruiser]

36 minutes ago, crystalspin said:

The self-serve stations in the Lido have in fact been reduced -- most people are in favor of crew-served from behind plexiglass as more sanitary. This was what they used to do AFTER the Noro outbreaks, now it's pro-active to AVOID Noro outbreaks.

 

I always preface my requests with "a little" or "a lot of" whatever. And then "More" if necessary. My mom LOVES the Lido and dreams about it all the time between cruises! She likes a little of a number of things, which is a pain to provide yourself when you live alone.

Concur  that it is the better way to avoid a outbreak of   stomach  virus  .on a  recent Royal Princess cruise   ,my daughter came down with the  dreaded  stomach virus & she stayed in her state room for 3 days until it passed .HUGE problem is people able to handle the serving  food devices  in the lido . 

 There are so many careless people who go to bathrooms & NEVER wash their hands 

[mcrcruiser]

We too feel the cutbacks  .Our beef are the lack of music around the ship &  better shows in the main show room .  We worked up to 3 star mariners & have 4 future cruise credits to us . We are  testing HAL's  ability to improve  & we can only hope that Orlando listens to his best REPEAT customers  requests 

[sail7seas]

On 1/8/2020 at 7:49 AM, GeriatricNurse said:

There are dedicated libraries on the NCL ships, quiet, well stocked, but greatly underused!

 

Well, well,  how wonderful  to see you posting again  I have thought of you often and  am happy you have 'returned' here.  🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 10, 2020 by sail7seas

[GeriatricNurse]

14 hours ago, sail7seas said:

 

Well, well,  how wonderful  to see you posting again  I have thought of you often and  am happy you have 'returned' here.  🙂

Hi Judy,

 

I am happy to have 'returned' too and I have thought of you often as well!

 

It would a pleasure to meet you on a cruise!  I have one booked and perhaps you might consider booking the same cruise too!

 

Kindly,

 

Ward

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[knittinggirl]

On 1/7/2020 at 10:14 AM, Roz said:

 

 

A large portion of the Crow's Nest is now Executive Tours or some such nonsense.  I saw very few people there during my weeks on the Nieuw Amsterdam earlier this year.  

 

 

Several huge computerized touch tables, that show a lot of photos, but not much helpful information.

On 1/7/2020 at 11:32 AM, USN59-79 said:

The elimination of the libraries is the cutback that bothered me the most.

Miss the libraries.

On 1/8/2020 at 5:50 AM, FrankieSue said:

I am also very sad to have seen all the beautiful fresh flowers arrangements disappear.  The Lido is not the same without those delicate, exotic orchids on each table... and throughout the ships, there are fewer and fewer fresh flowers..... I remember the days when there was a florist on each ship.

Hardly any fresh flowers around the ship.  And no flower tours.

On 1/8/2020 at 10:04 AM, USN59-79 said:

One positive with HAL is that you can order room service hot breakfast each morning at no extra cost.  Can ask for changes also, such as extra bacon or eggs cooked a different way.  We enjoyed it last month on the Westerdam. Wonder what NCL charges extra for that?

Room service breakfast is greatly reduced.  But still at no extra cost.

 

Also, no including the knitting/crochet, etc. group in the daily program on sea days.  We were told they're going in a new direction.  Last time I tried to schedule a group, we had trouble finding a place to meet, because they scheduled meetings.

[Roz]

5 minutes ago, knittinggirl said:

We were told they're going in a new direction. 

 

And what direction would that be? 😏 I don't think HAL knows.

[knittinggirl]

2 hours ago, Roz said:

 

And what direction would that be? 😏 I don't think HAL knows.

That's what our Cruise Director told us when we asked why he wouldn't include our knitting group in the daily bulletin on sea days.

 

Big change, on our last cruise the cruise director was combined with the Excursion Director.  Sounded to me like they were consolidating jobs to make do with fewer crew.

Edited January 10, 2020 by knittinggirl

[Molson99]

I also miss the libraries, (the book they have now are all "coffee table books") and the crow's nest.

[Roz]

1 hour ago, knittinggirl said:

Big change, on our last cruise the cruise director was combined with the Excursion Director.  Sounded to me like they were consolidating jobs to make do with fewer crew.

 

To me those are 2 separate jobs, and you would think the person in charge of shorex would have their hands full already.