cruz chic

My bad, I mixed the figures up. IMHO, still think $299 for 7 days is great value.

I agree! I'm obsessed with the cabanas. That's what I'm looking forward to on my next cruise. I'd be happy to only cruise on ships with cabanas.

Thx for the update.

Canaletto.

 

Thankfully I have never had a bad dinner in Canaletto. Problem with service... yes! Not a problem with stewards.... but with the 'small plate / big plate' nonsense. Thankfully those kinks seem to have be ironed out.

 

Last summer in VEENDAM... I have to say that Canaletto was very quite good. In fact there was a bit of joke.... "Better than Pinnacle!" I was in the ship for two weeks and then was able to visit several times when in Bermuda during the summer. Canaletto was thriving.

 

One evening we had a special dinner in Canaletto. Ten of us around the large table. The food was good.... the wine flowed, conversation and the dinner lasted almost three hours. The Maitr'd said this was 'like in the good old days'. He was very happy... and so were we.

 

Mind... if I had a bad experience like yours... I would not be happy either. No excuse. None at all. Tamarind.... Pinnacle..... Canaletto.... they should ALL be at the same standard. Not just because it is a $10 dinner.

I agree. Canaletto was very good on the Veendam last year. I was on basically the same time as you were.

You are a very lucky person. Unfortunately, unselfish people who are willing to compromise like that, especially involving those who have an addiction, are few and far between. Also, remember, that's your immediate neighbor. These discussions aren't so simple when the balcony is below or a couple over. All it takes is one cigar to pollute an entire block of balconies.

Exactly. Smokers are within their right to smoke on their balcony. If you are lucky you might get a considerate smoker beside you. I have a friend that is a hard core smoker. She does many sweet things and has been a very good friend and support system for me. I know that if someone asked her to not smoke on her balcony she would tell them to pound sand. It's just better for me to book a oceanview so I don't deal with it and spend smoke free time in my cabana.

Thanks for all the threads concerning the retreat cabanas. They were very helpful. One question, though - if you take the cabana for the full 7-day cruise and do not plan on using it on a particular day, can you notify the front desk and see if they can sell it for that day - in turn receive some sort of credit back on your on board account if they do sell it?

No, you have purchased it for the 7 days. You could ask but I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope. Depending on when your cruise is, it can be quite difficult to do daily rentals if you decide to choose that route.

We had one on Eurodam, 7 days for $249. I don't think the price has changed. Best value of anything I've purchased on a cruise, that's for sure!

It's actually $299 for 7 days. Please see the thread I linked. There is a PDF within it and that price has been in force for many years.

What type of info are you looking for? There is a good thread about pricing etc. I'll take a look for it.

This thread is about lido cabanas but there is info related to the retreat cabanas within it

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2184912&highlight=retreat+cabanas

Have a great cruise everyone, especially elycelynne.

We always leave the ship in first group after the 'self-debark' people and because of that, we always have to show our tag. They always checked to be sure we were, indeed, supposed to be in that group.

I've seen security tell people to step aside when they showed the wrong coloured tags. I'm a rule follower but I've gotten out without showing my tag.

Did I read this right? :confused:

 

You weren't flying after the cruise?

You had a later number because you didn't have to catch a flight?

You chose to tell the person at the exit you had a color other than what you were issued?

You went before you were supposed to go?

There were those with the number currently being called, who probably had to catch a flight, but they had to wait because a group of friends went before they were supposed to?

Those folks may have missed their flight because they had to wait even longer?

 

Surely I am mistaken?

If I'm not mistaken, Why would a group do that?

 

It's a me me world. I've seen it happen before on my cruises. Hal should stop these people by asking for there luggage coloured stub.

Thx for the update.

I can't believe that after reading some of the medical reasons that people have mentioned for covering their scalp that you would be so unfriendly and even ignorant and post this.

Is this post friendly? It's one thing to disagree but why do insults always have to be part of it? I sure hope the moderator shuts this down.

I did not see a "Mariner's tab" and just looked at the website again.

I called the number given to me above and talked to a very nice lady who gave me our HAL history and loyalty level. She then emailed it to me. Thank you all for your help....Judith

You have to be logged in to see it. It is not visible otherwise.

What an absolutely pointless topic. Banal in the extreme. And surely not what this forum is supposed to be about.

What is this forum about? What are the acceptable topics?

Thx for the update.

Absolutely. There are many choices and there is no reason to continue using a TA who performs poorly.

 

I currently use two different TA alternating between them. That way, if one disappoints, I have an alternative. I also continue to do research on possible TA. I would like to use someone local. I've identified three TA who might work. My next bookable cruise is Nov 2017. Those cruises won't be available for another month or two. I'll contact those three when we get back from Westy and see if any of them want to play. I do not want to be locked into a single TA.

For sure. There is also no reason to go to a PCC that performs poorly. If a person just loves their ta and can't imagine why they use a PCC and then complain about it. It's like me returning to a ta and complaining about them constantly. I don't use them because they have been bad. I don't keep going back to reward bad service. That makes no sense to me.

I'm actually really concerned for Solo Canadian. She is usually such a feisty, can-do, upbeat person. I pass on a lot of threads, but for some reason I felt compelled to not pass this one by. I appreciate her sharing, and yours, and perhaps I'm reading her posts out of context.

I know I'd prefer someone to send me a private email in that case. I realize she doesn't have an email listed but it wouldn't hurt to ask for one. I'd be mortified by the call out.

Actually, OP asked about getting "extra perks". It would seem appropriate to inform OP that the "extra perks" were only available from a TA.

 

The purpose of Cruise Critic is the sharing of information on cruises. That includes how to save money and get better deals. I like to share my experience with TA because I'm so grateful with those posters here on cruise critic that took the time to explain to me the benefits of doing so. It's my way of paying others back.

 

There always are two sides to a coin and you also provide a valuable service sharing your experience with incompetent TA and poor service. I would do the same but my TA is very competent and always provides wonderful service.

Yes, I don't think anyone objects to getting information. There is no reason to insist that if others are not using a ta they are doing something wrong or losing out. The only time I've ever felt I've lost out is when I've used a ta. Clearly you do not feel the same. Please respect my choice as I respect yours.

The op asked if they could get benefits if they spoke to someone at Hal, not if they spoke to a ta.

After my last cruise on Oasis, wife and I decided to cancel our cruises in March 16 (Royal) and Dec 16 (Celebrity). Both cruises were booked with the same TA. Simple call, cancelled both cruises and booked two replacement cruises on Holland and Princess. One phone call, one agent. Done in 10 minutes. Had new invoices in 30 minutes. If I had been dealing with PCC, I would have had to make four phone calls and do business with four different people. And, yes, my TA gave me at least a 10% discount on these cruises. And, no, there were no cancellation fees. And, yes, the charges on my credit card were made by the cruise lines, not the TA.

I'm not at all concerned with "maintaining control of my reservation". Exactly what can one do when dealing with a PCC that one cannot do dealing with a TA? Well, you can't change your dining preferences. You can't cancel a reservation. You can't change your room. You can't change your booking category. How often does one do that? It would seem that changes like that can easily wait until Monday morning.

It sounds like a ta really works well for you but why the hard sell for those that are not interested? I never see anyone insisting that people use PCC's. There are good sides to both if you can manage to find a good ta, pita if you can't. You may not do anything you listed but it doesn't mean others don't.

We would never call HAL or any other cruise line unless there were special circumstances.

 

We prefer to deal with a TA for two reasons.

 

First is price. TA's will provide OBC's-anywhere from 7-12 percent of the commissionable fare. That works out to a free cruise for every ten or twelve that we take. Why give this up? Certainly better than any Mariner benefits-which you will still get.

 

Secondly, a HAL agent, or any cruise line agent, will not give us a heads up about a more attractive offer on another comparable ship/cruise line.

 

This assumes that you have a good TA that you are happy with. We do...it would not make much sense to do repeat business with a TA or organization that you were not happy with. We do not really care how the person who books our cruise is paid or measured. We only care about our net price and the service level.

And that's what it should come down to - service. I find those that use TAs will not stop pushing their agenda. If that works for you that's great. The TAs I have used have booked me the wrong cruise then lied about it and take forever to get back to me. That's not service. I can easily do research for myself on cruises. I don't need second party assistance to find deals. Let's not forget the subject of this thread is -should I book online or call Hal- not should I use a ta.

Sitting at the Embassy Suites this morning, it will be a different morning as there is no rush . Plan on walking to shopping area to get our wine and I see they have opened a TJ Maxx just for me [emoji4]that should take some time . Hate the late boarding as we will be unpacking into the night. We did the Everglades on our last turnaround and really enjoyed it, had a great guide. Weather windy and cool yesterday but found a sunny spot to take a rest. See you soon. I'll miss your posts but can do it in real time ...soon

 

 

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I really enjoy that tj maxx. It actually has some decent things unlike the Ross stores that are pure junk.

I would use a TA. In addition to providing amenities that the cruise line normally doesn't provide they can be your advocate should something go wrong.

 

Keith

Personally no one fights for my rights more than I do.

My friend sent me the link to the thread. Crazy. Hope everyone will be ok.

Don't care one way or the other. Never really read them. What's the harm?

I don't think anyone said it was harmful. It's just like the huge fit that people have about stickies. Doesn't bother me one bit.

How do you get onto CC without being signed in? When I get on I'm automatically signed in...

 

I have signatures turned off but If I want to look up someone I might put them back on temporarily...I also have all our cruises listed by year in my signature.. I'm not trying to brag, but do occasionally go back to see when I last was on such & such a ship.. Don't understand why that would annoy others..

 

Most of you have been on many more cruises than we have & I do enjoy seeing where you all have been when I turn the signatures back on for any reason..

 

I'm having major problems with my PC as I downloaded Windows 10 & screwed it up royally.. Our computer guy will be here Tuesday morning to see if I have a virus or just my stupid errors have screwed it up.. we have dialup service & it took me 28 hours to download Windows 10...I hate it!!:(:(.. Every time I try to turn a page or look at another thread I have to get off the internet for a minute & then come back on just to do one thing.. Hopefully it will not cost too much to get me back on the track..

 

If you sign out then uncheck the little box it likely won't sign you in. I see no value in signing out so I don't do it. I do when I'm banking and on my credit cards.