3rdGenCunarder

The cruise line doesn't control what happens at the port. In Bali several years ago, the line to return to the ship (QM2) was incredibly long because only one tender could dock at the pier, despite the ship having several boats in the water, ready to go. It made no sense, as the pier was long enough to take two, maybe three. But port rules or staffing levels said only one at a time.

This is an interesting statistic. I have always said I never felt crowded om QM2, even on holiday cruises, so I found a list of ships and sure enough, QM2 has 25% more space per passenger than Vistas, with Cunard's Vistas coming out a bit ahead of HAL's. Another difference is that Cunard doesn't cram in as many 3rd and 4th passengers as HAL has been doing.

What port was that?

I missed the amuse bouche in January. I remember the best mushroom soup in a little demitasse cup. I wanted to say, "bring me a big bowl of that!"

I've been in neptune suites twice on K. The one along the side was a good size, and the bathroom was very nice. The corner aft we had the first time was much smaller than any corner aft I've had on a Vista (on a variety of decks), and the bathroom was ridiculous. The stall shower was smaller than a standard phone booth, and no shower over the tub. No way should it have been SB. SX, maybe, but it was inferior to the SA on the side in many ways.

The end of the saga. I was able to transfer the deposit to the 2-week cruise. It took my TA a couple of calls (and several hours on hold) to get someone who could do it, but it's done. BUT I can't transfer the OBC that I had in the original booking. Considering I did not cancel, HAL did, this is a cheap move. And I won't get the meager $100 OBC "bonus" for moving the deposit because I didn't make the change by the deadline. I did not know about the deadline because I NEVER got the notification, nor did my TA. And the cruise I'm booking was not on the website until AFTER the deadline. Despite these arguments, she was told that I couldn't have the $100 OBC. It isn't a lot of money, and I wouldn't normally push on something like this, but HAL has handled this whole thing badly, and I didn't want to let them off the hook for something I think they owed me. But in the end, I let it go. On the plus side, I didn't need to argue for HAL to honor my per diem, because my cabin was less expensive. The HIA was a good deal because it included some OBC, so that sort of replaces the OBC they wouldn't roll over. And, most important, the idiots who answer the phone in Seattle or East Earmuff or wherever will NOT be on my ship. The wonderful HAL crew will be there, and I'm just happy to have this settled.

I sailed on Norway in her later years, when NCL ran her on the cheap. The teak decks were gone or covered over. The promenade deck had some kind of spongy coating to make it soft for running. Upper decks had cheap astroturf. Because they couldn't convert her to freestyle, they treated her like a burdensome unloved cousin. Heartbreaking. The Club Internationale (with the neptune statues) was still one of the most beautiful rooms afloat.

The pass gives you access to the hydropool, the heated loungers, various saunas/steam (I don't use them, so I don't know the details) and other water features, like a wooden bench you lie on that sprays you with water (I couldn't get it to work) and a thing that will dump a bucket of water (cold?) on you. There are some pictures of the spa on halfacts. Koningsdam Lido Deck (Deck 9) | HAL Cruiser Information (halfacts.com)

Seriously?? Oh, come on HAL, give us a break! I thought that would be a good way to use HIA shorex credit if an excursion I booked got cancelled too late to replace it, as happened to me in January. I "left money on the table" on that cruise because of the cancelled tour.

The only cabanas I would like to see gone are the poolside ones on Eurodam. They reduce the space for tables. The ones on the high deck don't bother me at all.

And some of HAL's phone reps don't get the message right. "Unavailable for the next few months" or something like that becomes "discontinued."

You're right, fixed dining is easier on the kitchen. They can focus on one course at a time. I took a kitchen tour on the Norway. Old ship, designed for fixed dining. "Freestyle" on NCL was just starting then. Someone on the tour asked when Norway would go freestyle, and we were told that it wasn't possible. Open seating requires a larger kitchen, partly because so many different items would be prepared at the same time, and partly because of the need for more and separated serving stations so waiters could get what they need quickly. Norway had two dining rooms with the kitchen in between. No way to expand the kitchen, so they decided to keep Norway on traditional fixed dining.

Yes, you do have to check the singles against the price of one person in a double cabin. Cunard has single cabins on QM2, all OV, and they definitely cost more than half of a comparable double cabin.

I wouldn't know them, either. But if I had a problem, I would make my concerns known. If you don't know to whom you should address your complaint, the Navigator app has a way to send a message/question/complaint. Or leave a note at the front desk. If it's an issue in the MDR, start with the Matire d'. On QM2 last fall, we were the slow table. We would get menus and sit for at least 20 minutes before a waiter came back to take our orders. Long gaps between courses. it was getting to the point that the only way to make the show was to skip dessert. We asked to speak to the assistant Maitre d' and explained our issues. Service got better. If he hadn't resolved it, we could have complained to a "higher up," but we had no need to escalate. Before anyone starts saying that service should be good to start with, yes, that's true. But in the real world, things aren't always as we would like them to be--and not just on cruise ships. So you can sit and grumble and stew, or you can try to do something about it.

Laundry on Cunard is free--if you're willing to brave the launderettes.

That's good news!!!

What do you want to have in your cabin on embarkation day?

My last HAL cruise was in January to the Caribbean. OMG, the food was awful, but fortunately the portions were tiny, so I didn't have to force too much down. The bed was lumpy. The hot water in my shower ran out in 90 seconds. The comedian wasn't funny. The internet NEVER worked except for one night when I stayed up until 3 AM trying to get online to do that day's Wordle. The excursions were boring. When I sat by the pool, a waiter took longer than 45 seconds to come to my table. The captain got lost and almost missed the stop for HMC. When I finally got to the beach, there was too much sand. I had an aft cabin, and when we sailed north, it was too hot in the sun on my balcony. I don't know why the itinerary had to be set up that way, just so we could get back to FLL. But I have recently booked two more HAL cruises, so I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment.

On HAL, the snacks in the lounge aren't crisps and junk food. The foods they put out are enough to make a good light lunch, which makes it possible to avoid the Lido. The teatime snacks in the Neptune Lounge are very good. And the Neptune Lounge has the best tea on the ship.

I agree that the Neptune Lounge is better than the Grills Lounge. On QE in June, I found the bar service rather grudging, and considering it wasn't free, I'd have hoped for better service. I missed the snacks, too. The Grills concierge didn't seem to be able to answer the few questions I had. I have always had excellent concierge service in the Neptune lounge. So there's one point for HAL.

Amtrak is a good suggestion. I just looked at Amtrak and they do have redcaps, as well as checked luggage, in both Milwaukee and Chicago. I did a quick dummy booking, and I saw fares at $25. It's a 90 minute ride. Not as convenient as door-to-door car service, but less expensive. Welcome to Amtrak Hiawatha | Milwaukee - Chicago | Experience

PG suite is not as large as a Neptune Suite on a HAL Vista. I took the picture below in June. You can see the TV mounted above the bar, facing the bed. On the opposite side, there's a second TV facing the sofa. There's a desk opposite the sofa, but it isn't visible in any of my pictures. You'll have a coffee maker and an electric kettle. Plenty of closet space. The PG restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You will have the same table and waiter and may go in at any time that they're open. I don't know who said "private table," but perhaps they meant you have a table for just the two of you. There are a lot of twos and fours, and only two large tables (I think). I don't know what you mean about "full setting." Service and food in PG are WAY above HAL's MDR or even CO. Lots more choices in PG. Cunard's entertainment puts HAL's to shame. Production shows with incredible production values and a talented company. Real, live orchestra for dancing. Guest performers accompanied by live musicians, not recorded. Jazz or classical or piano player in the bars, pub band in the Golden Lion. Go up to the Commodore Club (where HAL's crow's nest is) and have a classic cocktail. Go to the Queens Room for afternoon tea, beautifully served. You can have afternoon tea in the grills, but I prefer it in the larger setting, with music being played. Cunard is more formal and very elegant without being stuffy. People definitely dress up more than on HAL, especially in the grills. A formal night on Cunard, is one of my favorite experiences in travel. QE is my favorite. I don't know what it is, but the first time I walked onto that ship, something inside me said "home."

Have you checked to see if your cruise has a roll call? Or ask this question on the port of call board?

I thought only Neptune and Pinnacle suites have umbrellas. My mere veranda on Eurodam didn't have one.

Back in the day of streamers, you could also invite friends on board for a "bon voyage" party (we always brought on our own treats). The streamer tradition was for friends/family on the pier holding one end and the passenger holding the other until the ship pulled away and the streamer broke. In reality, it was next to impossible to throw the streamer and have it reach your friend on shore. But it was fun and festive.