TableGirl

I think HAL is not keeping enough staff/crew onboard to maintain any kind of standard. I've heard people think the problem is visas but I don't think that is the problem as I work for the DoS and crew visas are the easiest to renew. I think HAL, along with other cruise lines are so deeply in debt that they are cutting back on staff, among other things, to save money. It IS sad. However, cruise demand is so high they don't seem to be suffering. I read an article on the TPG recently that basically said, don't believe the cruise line ads that say "offer ends soon" because all the offers keep getting extended despite the high demand. I am still cruising on HAL in June/July for a 28 day "Legendary" Voyage and am scheduled (but haven't paid yet) for a Hawaii cruise from Vancouver to San Diego. I'm going on Viking in March next year. There are fewer and fewer reasons to travel on HAL and I'm certainly trying other lines. It's just as a solo traveler it is cheaper to pay for a room on HAL than my preferred lines.

Thank you for that information. I'll be sure to try one next year when I'm on Viking. 🙂

@Gray Area - Who has the best burger at sea? I love a Dive - In burger on HAL and the lunch time burger at the Pinnacle but I thought it was awful on Regent, Oceania, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian.

I was just in San Diego last week and the airport is very close to where the cruise ships dock. I didn't see a ship disembark there so I'm sure others will chime in. Parts of the San Diego airport is under construction (at least the Southwest terminal will be moving into a new terminal eventually, from what I was told.) Either way, as long as the ship docks on time and there are no problems with gangways (which has happened to me on HAL once) or ship clearance you would be fine.

Yes! Thank you again @BermudaBound2014 for those videos. Ah to be in that crystal clear (and warm?) water!

I am too! VO next March. I can't wait. Meanwhile I still have to schedule another Viking cruise with a friend who insists it is a great cruise line..... 🤫

Yes, I pay double too BUT it’s less expensive than say Oceania or Viking or Regent (which would be my preference). But better quality than Royal Caribbean or Norwegian. I prefer a smaller ship - the Pinnacle class ships are great for the dining venues but the number of passengers overwhelm many ports. I miss the Prinsendam and the other smaller ships they got rid of during the pandemic.

The movie issue at the Lido has to do with licensing. We asked during a morning coffee with our CD on one of the Pinnacle class ships - about a year and a half ago - after one evening when the movie that was to replace a football game never showed and they didn’t bother to tell us it wasn’t going to show. The CD said it was a licensing issue and just because they have licenses to show movies in your stateroom, apparently isn’t the same as showing it on the lido or in the theatre/world stage. That’s what she said - I think that was Betty. And licensing means fees — and I think that says it all. Betty also told us that onboard activities are dictated by HAL headquarters. I get that for a 7-day cruise, maybe even an 11 or 12 day but 2 weeks and up? I think they need great staff/crew on board who are energetic and like people and can think on their feet. That might be a lot to ask. But read the ship and the passengers. Not every group is the same. And if they can have the Club HAL for kids then they can come up with more lively activities for adults. I’m from the tail end of the baby boomers but I get the Gen X’ers who are active and want to stay that way. (Just as I should be!) I’ve always said HAL is known for their great itineraries and fabulous service. The food in the MDR used to be great but now I think it’s a bit of a crap shoot. The price is good for those of us who are single and don’t care to share a stateroom. I’m so over ‘roommates.’ I’m on the 28-day Legendary Alaska voyage in June/July this year so you all have set my expectations high based on your 35-day Legendary South Pacific. I’ll have to lower my expectations for my 21-day Hawaii, Pacific coast cruise since it isn’t a legendary cruise - but it is on the Koningsdam with the lovely Grand Dutch Cafe and my favorite - the Tamarind. I might gain a few pounds on that cruise! Thank you @BermudaBound2014 for starting this thread and giving us your thoughtful insights! Enjoy Maui!

I bet you’re right. I remember after the pandemic - well still kind of during it but after the restart, I went to several lectures given by the Cruise Director. I think I was on the Nieuw Statendam and they were all very good and felt very ‘professionally’ done so it made me think someone else created them (during the pandemic with nothing else to do) and maybe sold them to HAL but perhaps they are copyrighted or they made some kind of deal with HAL. (In my mind a really smart unemployed HAL person created these lectures during the pandemic!) Lectures USED to be re-broadcast and I think still are when they are presented by an on-board guest lecturer because the World Stage isn’t big enough to seat the entire ship of passengers. There is a similar issue with the movies. I went to a Cruise Director coffee one morning and asked about why there had been such a movie fiasco at the pool one night. They were planning to show a football game (maybe a playoff) I think and for some reason - weather or the game didn’t go on as planned - and they announced during the day, and put it on the Navigator app, they would show a movie I wanted to see. We waited and waited but they never bothered to tell us the movie wouldn’t be shown after all. (I go back to an earlier comment about information sharing - and people being able to make better decisions with more information rather than less.) It turned out it had to do with HAL’s contracts with whomever they get the movies from. Apparently, it requires different licenses for what is shown on a big screen and what is on the TV in your stateroom and how many times it can be shown. I too would enjoy being able to watch these lectures on my stateroom TV since I’m not big on their evening entertainment options.

I used to think the HIA package would be a waste of money for me (lightweight drinker) because if I had 15 drinks a day I’d be passed out all the time - or dead! But, when they include milkshakes, specialty teas and coffees, hot cocoa, bottled water, bubbly water, fresh squeezed OJ, and smoothies and sodas, then I’m sold!

I think Afghanistan and India are also off by half an hour. Afghanistan may be off by 45 minutes - I don’t recall exactly. An hour is hard enough but start breaking it down and I agree - it’s too much math! I would feel like I’d have to wear two watches, one for my steps and one that I can easily change the time on!

Yes I am and yes, it is a huge roll call isn’t it?

See my post above - my TA found out they were repaired. AND a couple of weeks ago, someone posted a video of them on Facebook and the Retreat area looks to have been totally renovated. I have a cabana for a 28-day Alaska cruise so we don’t have to fight for bow space on scenic cruising days - and there are a lot of scenic cruising days. I had one on an Iceland Greenland cruise in 2022 and loved it. Yes, you do need to bundle up though!

So what happens when you cross the line again to come back?

Thanks for the insight and the photo. We have reservations there the first night so I think I’ll try it!