HAL secrets

[2ptu/000]

That cold Guanaba soup on the Caribbean cruises is really good!

[freanesi]

Just finished reading this post which started many years ago!

Can anybody update any of the things on here and are they still the same?

I have copied the list from a previous post and amended it.

 

Complementary lemonade at the pool (at a certain time in afternoon?)

Pizza available in the Lido (all afternoon and evening?)

Iced tea in the afternoon.

Chocolates in the Explorer's Lounge after dinner

Cookies and ice cream in the Lido every afternoon

Freshly squeeze orange juice in the Lido at breakfast

Charge for bottled water but free refills in the Lido

Very, comfy beds in all cabins

Fruit bowl in the room topped up during the cruise

Bath and soap, shampoo and conditioner, a body wash or lotion of some kind (Are these bar soaps or dispensed from the wall?)

Complimentary canvas ‘Tote’ for port calls

Robes in all cabins (larger sizes available on request)

Personalized stationery

 

On Vista-class ships, all cabins have a fridge which can be emptied and used with no charge

Cloth hand towels in the public restrooms

Exploration cafe has a good choice of books, as well as the 'take one, leave one corner' for the paperback exchange. And a puzzle corner with jigsaw puzzles up to 4,000 pieces.

 

Also someone wrote:

On a tour of the kitchen we were told that if we would like any recipes, for anything on board just write it down and give it to your waiter who will direct it to the chef- the recipes will arrive ASAP

 

This is our first cruise with HAL, on the MS Zuiderdam, not until August next year, but eagerly anticipated. I guess I am using the time to do lots of research and find out as much as I can about HAL so that we don't miss out on anything.

 

Any comments and updates appreciated.

 

Thanks, Jen.

[Kay240]

It's always SO EXCITING to plan your cruise; I usually start a packing "spreadsheet" about 3 months in advance! :D

 

Cloth "single use" hand towels in all public rest rooms

Chocolates still in Explorer's Lounge BUT, not as "yummy" as years ago

Cookies and ice cream in Lido from lunch time through dinner time. GELATO available in Caneletto Restaurant (SO good!!).

Robes still in cabins

Refilled fruit bowl in your cabin (you order what you prefer, such as bananas and green apples)

I have requested and received recipes (and used them too:D)

Iced tea all day; seems to me, recently that there was lemonade and / or fruit punch too

Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel in big dispensers on shower wall

 

 

 

Have a WONDERFUL cruise- they are addictive! ;)

[windsor26]

Thank yopu for bringing this back and updating I am going on m,y first HAL cruise in December so all information gratefully accepted.

 

The chocolates in the Explorer's lounge? free or just for high number Mariners?

[take us away]

Hi Freeaneasi

 

Loved your list but alas, the lemonade seems to have disappeared from some cruises. Think everything else is still in place. Oh, the pizza has improved in the last 2 years.

 

Windsor26 - chocolates are free to all.

Edited October 18, 2014 by take us away

[windsor26]

Hi Freeaneasi

 

Loved your list but alas, the lemonade seems to have disappeared from some cruises. Think everything else is still in place. Oh, the pizza has improved in the last 2 years.

 

Windsor26 - chocolates are free to all.

 

Yum Yum Yum :):)

[freanesi]

Hi Kay 240

You mentioned that shampoo, conditioner and shower gel are in dispensers on the walls. Do they have any bars of soap?

I still have 10 months to wait but can't help wanting to have all the information and get things organised.

Thanks.

[MekesMom]

Bar soap for the sink

 

 

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[Ocean Dancer]

Doing the Amsterdam in Oct 15. Do I have access to 24 hour self serve iced tea/juice/coffee/ and ICE in the Lido? What free Lido beverages are available for breakfast/lunch/dinner? Do they close the Lido? Will ice be delivered to our cabin twice a day? Is there a free iron? What is the cost of the self serve washers/dryers?

Is the pizza for room service the same as during the day? We are night owls and would like a pizza maybe at 2am after "stargazing" Thanks in advance.

[dibbitz]

Hi all, not much activity lately....well, none.....am wondering if HAL offers guests the opportunity of buying a bottle of bourbon to be enjoyed in the stateroom? would love this as my DH enjoys a sip on the veranda before getting ready for dinner.....anyone know? We are on the Amsterdam in September...Many thanks for the help. L

[RuthC]

This was answered in the other thread where you asked it.

 

It really wasn't necessary to bump up a 12 year old thread to ask the question.

[kevingastreich]

This was answered in the other thread where you asked it.

 

It really wasn't necessary to bump up a 12 year old thread to ask the question.

 

It is interesting to see some of the old tips that still hold true today. :)

[veryseasonedtraveler]

We like the "Happy Hour" drink specials. Buy one get one for $1. Watch the daily newspaper for time and place.

[Mosaic]

Some people do not need to read and respond to every post. Rude.

[HUNKY]

I love that you can make your specialty restaurant bookings online in advance of your cruise!

 

You can make your Retreat bookings in advance by calling Ships Services (something like that anyway).

[mor mor]

It is interesting to see some of the old tips that still hold true today. :)

 

I would enjoy seeing this thread again - great topic. Come on experts, share current secrets!

[TonyC1952]

dibbitz-

 

Go to the HAL website, log in, and go to the "book gifts and indulgences" page, and you will find a link to "beverages". There are multiple packages available for liquor in your cabin- buon viaggio!

[Sequim88]

Loved the refresher course for HAL. Was interesting to note and recognize posters I had not seen in many years from back when we planned our first cruise (HAL Veendam). I know people come and go (I did for 2 years) but I owe a lot to the advice from many of the "old timers".

 

Also interesting to note some of the changes over such a long time span both good and bad. After reading the first few pages I skipped forward to page 20 but this is still a worthwhile archive.

 

Any recent secrets?

[Tatka]

I am also very interested. Sailing on Veendam in a month.

[travelingirl70]

This is a great post, but is it possible to start a new one with fresh, current information? For those of us new to HAL, we can't decipher what is no longer available.

[cruzincurt]

On our recent cruise earlier this year, the Veendam removed the craps table from the casino. Then they added a Pai Gow table that was never used.:mad:

 

I don't go to the HAL return cruisers party anymore. Last time I did, I witnessed the 10 star mariners pushing and shoving to get in once the doors opened. People got knocked down. It was ugly.

Edited August 4, 2016 by cruzincurt

[RuthC]

This is a great post, but is it possible to start a new one with fresh, current information? For those of us new to HAL, we can't decipher what is no longer available.

There have been many similar threads since this one was started 12 years ago. They have much more current information in them. I suggest you do a search for them.

 

You could also take a look at the "HAL for Dummies" thread at the top of the page. There are still some obsolete posts in there, but it is much more current. Start reading from the latest back if you're looking for current information.

[natonboard]

The green apples at the front desk to help with uneasy stomachs! The chocolates at turn down, and the low key entertainment in the Crows Nest are some of my many favorites on HAL!

 

 

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[Woodfaerie]

The Sky Deck, at night, is a good make-out spot, as there seldom is anyone there -- and, if there is, it's too dark to see what's going on.

 

 

I am new to HAL. Is this comparable to the Balcony Club?

[ithaca gal]

This thread is ages old and much much much of the information is out of date.