Mary229

Here is the new Europe Visa page, as Ann mentioned. You will need this and it can be gotten and carried digitally

I agree with most of what you said but this line. The libraries used to be a gathering spot for quiet activities - reading, games, puzzles, crafts. Gathering these activities in a single spot with the coffee bar was ideal in my opinion. Then, they were always full. Now we have the library void of people, a separate craft area used for limited hours, a separate map area and a separate game area. Just combine like activities in one area is my opinion. I would not be adverse to including an alcohol bar in this area as well but please, not another noisy lounge with branded, homogenized, pasteurized overly loud music

I have upgraded on a guarantee after room assignment. It was a poorly positioned room and they offered a few others in that same category for free or for a small fee moving to the next category.

I agree. I didn’t notice any bad weather on this cruise at all. A little occasional rocking is nice to remind you that you are at sea. This was almost placid. I recall carrying a tray with 4 full cups of coffee down the stairs most mornings.

Not really. They start calling for people to check in at muster well before sail away. They want to get underway on schedule. For checkin and boarding I would arrive no later than 90 minutes prior to sailaway. For port visit days 60 minutes will do

Another , yes it can be negotiated. I usually use the tactic of getting a better room than offered for the price offered.

And I didn’t say otherwise. I merely said it does work for families seeking an enriching cruise. Sometimes when we answer the question who is HAL for we forget all of the others who are seeking a quieter, more subdued environment . And perhaps the lack of distractions, like the amusement parks onboard, does help.

They could for one have truly interactive tv. In many hotels now I can sign into my own accounts on TV. Yes, you need to be very security conscious to use this

I have met families who enjoy the longer itineraries and the lack of distractions as they travel and educated their children onboard. Notably I met a family with 3 teenagers on a 45 day journey with many port visits who home schooled their children as they went. They only used HAL occasionally for any of the children’s activities and that was usually when the Club HAL team created an shore excursions for the teens so the parents could spend some time in port without the children.

I suggest sitting down with your librarian at home and installing all of the apps and going through a demonstration of the depth and breadth of the modern digital library. I have access through my library card to most of library systems anywhere in the state of Texas including the universities, thousands of worldwide newspapers and periodicals, the library of Congress, thousands of videos, documentaries and even some tv series. I am not as avid a reader as some but I have a hard time imagining that there is not enough in digital libraries to occupy every single person on the ship for months. Yes, there is always that odd book that I need to order but that book would certainly not be on the ship either. In the old ship libraries I did enjoy the travel books as I could quick run down and read a refresher on an upcoming port. all of that said browsing the exchange can be an eclectic journey and I always try to leave some interesting book there for the next person

Since you are having difficulty you really should get a good agent and who cares if you get $100 less in OBC. A good agent is worth paying for. @Hlitner seems very pleased with his and claims to get superior deals. The cruise lines will only go further down this automated path, the only regression to the past will be people flocking back to travel agents. as my old mechanic said. Cheap, good, fast - pick two

Call HAL or have your agent call. If your preference is not available they will waitlist you. When you board check your key card for assignment. If it is not what you want then go to the reservation desk and work out a suitable arrangement

If past experience is anything like now I would recommend a tablet and downloading your own selections. In the past the nonfiction is travel related or very popular fluff. There is an exchange area that you may find something interesting

I missed nothing. One study in a situation that is far removed from the situation we are discussing does not move my needle on this topic. My point was I have been on cruise ships and I have been in sailor bars - they are not alike in any way as to the clientele or any other aspect really. No, not the end of the world

I agree. The pinnacle class ships’ pizza is more to my liking plus it is customizable. On the other ships it is just buffet style pizza

You sure got around for a 24 hour ride. It is worth noting that a flight from Vancouver would have been no less than $200 and the ferry around $125. Cruising sounds like a better option😉

I haven’t tried today but I have noticed that if you click that new popup menu screen it doesn’t work. I always click behind it and the correct page shows up.

It can be used for anything that is listed on the shore excursions page.

I accept that and my point was more to the effort to use appearances to determine wealth. My original comment was more in response to the gentleman who works for a line and whose comments seem to indicate he uses “brand identity” and “new fashion” in efforts to determine level of service. That is ,imho, foolish and hopefully not in accordance with the wishes of management. I really have to believe the dress code we are discussing is at base “clean and neat”

You brought up the sailor bar initially not me

He took offense to my comparison with a private yacht. Your comment about a sailor bar swings to the other extreme. I have been in sailor bars and there is nothing in that experience that has gone forth in the rest of my life. I went, I watched, I took my go cup and I exited quietly and quickly

There are equal and extensive studies on the behavior of the wealthy, the rich and the comfortable. All people in the service industry should read those studies. It is a mistake to judge clients by what they wear.

The whole pretense of what you wear makes the person is absurd is my point. I can act perfectly reasonable or badly in whatever I wear and never for a minute misjudge clothing or behavior with the size of a person’s wealth.

I am not as critical as @Hlitner however I share his view is HAL would not be my choice for the Caribbean. Short, common voyages are not where they shine. Their long, exotic itineraries are their best product. I also agree that they have had some shortfalls in that arena recently. That said I don’t classify myself as a “cruiser”, I strictly see a cruise ship as some way to get from point a to point b, it is a value proposition. In the Caribbean there are many other lines and what you value should be your foremost consideration.

You guys are funny. Oceana as an “upscale” experience. That is funny. Jeff Bezos’ yacht is an upscale experience and he wears lots of tshirts, jeans and cowboy hats.