MISTER 67

We've been cruising since 1982 and the changes in the industry down through the years when you think about have been quite startling. If this keeps up with cuts along with nickle and diming, we will find somewhere else to spend our vacation money.

We had the same exact experience on the Nieuw Amsterdam last month, out of 24 cruises with HAL it was by far the worst.

We were on the NA last month and at the beginning of the cruise all of the crew were masked, with 2 days left in cruise only a few were masked. I asked our steward why the change and he said it wasn't mandatory for the crew for the last 2 days as there were very few Covid cases on board.

I don't know what has happened since our October 1st cruise on the Infinity but it was one of the best cruises we have had among the 69 since December of 1982. Everything was excellent from the food to the entertainment to the service and on an older beautiful ship. We also cruised on Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam in December and it was one of our worst cruises, talk about cutbacks.

That’s not what we were told.

Exactly and except for the service HAL has downgraded many facets on their ships and even the service has been cut back with only once a day cabin service. For now we are taking our business elsewhere.

They need to use the main theater like Celebrity with various entertainers from comedians to singers to magicians along with no more than 2 production shows. Celebrity also has live bands in the main showroom to accompany some of the acts plus they have live bands in some of the lounges on their ships, we hate canned music and singing. We were on the Infinity in October and the entertainment throughout the ship was outstanding, wish I could say the same about on our cruise in December on the Nieuw Amsterdam which also had food which was not up to HAL standards with miniscule portions.

We are also finished with HAL, we will stick with Celebrity and Princess.

Hate to see Lincoln Center Stage discontinued but the venues on all but the 3 new ships are a joke, it's like watching a concert in a shoe box besides being a Covid spreader event.

Be careful what you wish for.

We were on the Equunox in June and those who ordered lobster in the MDR received 2 right of the bat, same with shrimp cocktail, 2 orders were presented by the waiter. We sailed again on the Equinox in August and the Intrepid in October and both of those sailings only one lobster was presented but we were asked during the meal if we would like another order. To tell the truth I don't care if I ever eat lobster again and certainly would not pay an upcharge for it even if liked it.

I wouldn't be surprised if there is eventually a charge for all meals in the MDR forcing passengers to dine in the more expensive restaurants or in the buffet. That's when we will just look for other vacation options.

It's probably the people who have been cruising for years that are noticing the changes the most, we started cruising in 1982 and some of the changes by most of the lines have been pretty drastic. It's going to get to the point were the cruise lines are going to nickel and dime so much that people will consider other vacation options. I know that we are done with HAL as they have reached the point that their product has really suffered in the food and entertainment aspects of their cruises.

We never book more than 2 in the future, I think one time we booked 3. We are getting to the age of not buying green bananas anymore.

My 2 favorite ships but I’m down on HAL right now.

After 24 cruises with HAL, we feel the same way. There has been just too many cut backs on HAL with food and entertainment, not the same line we cruised on in the 90's and the first 15 years or so of the 2000's. The ships are still beautiful with great service but everything else leaves a lot to be desired.

We have been on 69 cruises and have never ordered room service.

Foggy here in Punta Gorda also but I got my bike ride in, had to take off my glasses as they were coated with the mist.

Happy New Year to everyone here at The Daily.

7 or 8 days is all we do now, we liked 10 and 11 days at one time but the older we get we just prefer just one week. That being said, we cruised 5 times this year, all 5 were for one week and we will probably do 3 or 4 a year for the foreseeable future.

Offering lobster at only an upcharge is just another one of HAL's cutbacks. We were on X 3 times this summer and lobster was on the menu the last dressy night on all 3 cruises, on our sailing in June everybody who ordered lobster had 2 tails on their plate. Shrimp Cocktail was one of the appetizers every tonight with no upcharge, one night they brought out 2 to those who ordered it. We sailed with Princess twice at Thansgiving and Chritmas of 2021 and lobster was on the menu one night on both cruise at no extra charge. HAL's chintzy ways have put a real bad taste in our mouths and we are done sailing with them for the foreseeable future.

Can't disagree with anything you wrote and it was freezing on that ship for the whole week.

We were on the Equinox in June and as soon as we boarded I went to guest relations as we were in an inside cabin, I asked if any verandas were still available and what the cost would be, lo and behold the lady put us in a verandah at no extra charge, as you said if you don’t ask, you don’t get. BTW, that nice lady received a nice tip, at first she refused to accept it but I insisted that she take it.

You probably eventually will get an upsell offer.

I thought that was a snarky comment also, some people just can't help themselves. BTW I believed you.