TiogaCruiser

Good morning all,

We have more marine layer again which is supposed to break up into warm sunshine. His Nibs, our golden has started going on strike part way through our morning walk, and really it isn’t hot yet. So he’s going to start his walks earlier (at which time he will likely see the squirrels🥴).

We had recipe #1 from yesterday ( with the added broccoli) and it was good. It was also surprisingly easy and separated nicely onto a serving dish.😁 Next time I’ll add mushrooms.😁 So thanks again to Debbie @dfish for all your work. And also to Ann @cat shepard for the wine. I’ve added several bottles to our collection- and when Dad comes on Sundays we open a bottle, read your notes and enjoy.(I’ve printed out the posts and reviews and taped onto the bottles).

Have a great day everyone!

Adding on to what @RuthC just said, periodically someone has come on here to say they were “bumped”, or allowed to sail if their party would accept a downgrade or moving the members from 2 cabin into one. After the outrage and “unfairness” is wadded through, it comes to light that the individuals were on an interline rate, (either because of their employment or that of their qualified relatives) and that risk comes with the privilege of getting that rate.
 

It seems to happen about 1-2 times a year.

It’s interesting in that this one affects the SALE of alcohol and not the CONSUMPTION.

Well, apparently Belgium has made some changes to decrease alcohol use 

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2023/03/belgium-implements-its-first-ever-alcohol-plan/

I’m wondering how much of an impact that will really make. I’m guessing for those who enjoy an alcoholic drink during the day AND remain onboard would likely have gotten a drink package, so not affected.

If the ship is only in port during the day, come dinner time it’s likely the ship will not be in those ports waters. So those without a package who only order a cocktail or wine with dinner should be fine, right?

24 minutes ago, RuthC said:

Well, it does cost more to recruit a new passenger than it does to retain an existing one. 
That has to be figured in the cost of the program, too. 

That particular couple sails a lot of days per year, so will cost a lot to be replaced. 

Yet aren’t we hearing that it’s the newer cruisers who are buying the add ons: photo packages, excursions, jewelry and other “deal du jour” items that more experienced cruisers don’t as much?

Some use NAS mixes. My guess is yes.

21 hours ago, Moriah said:

And a related subject - for all the years I've been on CC, it never fails that on a roll call thread there is someone posting his or her cabin number on their upcoming cruise.  I sincerely hope this has never led to any mishap, but it certainly has such potential. 

Add to that the individuals who post public links to spreadsheets or other documents that contain private information about a roll call: full names, city of residence, email, cabin numbers.

10 minutes ago, Alberta Quilter said:

If the customer cancelled CO, I agree they should either pay for the upgraded cabin or lose it.  But in this case, it was HAL's error to overbook.  I think the customer should get to keep the upgraded cabin AND the OBC, AND get a full refund for the cost of CO.  Or, at least, increase the OBC amount to cover the cost of the upgrade and give a full refund of the CO cost.

Agreed- it on HAL 

HAL made the mistake and HAL needs to fix it. HAL has just created a bigger issue.

Good morning all,

We have another morning of marine layer and a bit of drizzle. Today’s plan includes attending a volunteer recognition event in one of our parks where we are allowed exclusive access and they are making us breakfast. Then church. 

The meal of the day has me concerned- I would have never thought of avocado being in a chocolate dessert, and I’m allergic to raw avocado.🫤
 

A few questions please:

1) @Heartgrove -are you finding any issues booking Fred.Olsen as an American? Do you have to use an agent or are you booking directly?

2) For those who have been to Moorea recently- how do able and how commercial is it now? I’m wanting to try something in that area as a land based trip. We’re not resort people, so I’m pretty sure an AI where we stay on a beach all day isn’t going to cut it. We like hiking and outdoor activities. DH gets seasick and bored so a cruise to that area isn’t happening.

Have a great day!

2 hours ago, sunviking90 said:

If you can’t get a resolution from ship’s inventory, I would plead ignorance, and show up at the CO dining room. Or, present your keys at guest services when you embark and ask why they are not the right colour.. 36 hours before sailing?? And you’re in transit? They can’t expect you even to have received the email in a timely manner. 

And of course, have your receipt ready 

Having booked it so long ago (4-5 months), clearly your booking is hardly likely to be the one that oversold it… so why should you be the one to lose it?

That really stinks. Wishing you success in getting it back.

Is CO sold as an add on online or only via phone call?

If it makes you feel any better, the old single share program wasn’t just half each of the room rate- there was an up charge ( I seem to recall paying about 50 or 60% of the “other half”.). And if you weren’t matched, you got the cabin without additional fees.

In today’s world I just can’t imagine how that would work now.

7 hours ago, sunviking90 said:

I think your best bet will be room service. The bar at the Pan Pacific closes at 11:30, so that’s an option if you make it down there by then. I wouldn’t advise wandering down to Gastown that late at night unless you know exactly where you’re going and take a taxi.

The Fairmont Waterfront right across the street has a bar (Arc) that is open until 1 am on weekends, but not sure what food is offered that late.

Agree on not just wandering around the area at night. Just 2 blocks off the Main Street in Gas Town there were several people openly doing drugs in the early afternoon, and we were followed by a questionable individual. 

Not being Catholic, I feel for those of you who are and have benefited from having mass available onboard. I’ve appreciated it when the priest has lead the non- denominational meeting (not all were willing to), and I’ve attended Mass a couple of times when there wasn’t another service. 
 

One cruise the priest was quite visible and jumped right in helping staff get passengers off and excursions organized. He was also a very calming influence when we were the fourth ship into Cabo, running 2 hours late and waiting to clear and tender. Some pax weren’t being very nice to staff and he really helped de-escalate many. 

4 minutes ago, albingirl said:

There has been continuous disappointment on this board concerning music and entertainment on HAL ships.  Well, maybe people should try different lines after all.

I don't expect a whole lot in that arena, and most people read enough here to know that they should have low expectations. I sail for the itinerary and all else is a bonus, honestly. If the food is great, I'm happy, and if my stateroom is quiet, well, even better. Seems prices on everything are through the roof and I'm personally waiting to see if there is change after this election year.

I have been looking at the Fred.Olsen product. I’m pretty sure my years with HAL are numbered.

2 minutes ago, Shmoo here said:

Just my opinion, maybe, but doing a show that's basically a TV show with added soothing classical music after everyone in the audience has stuffed themselves at dinner, just makes it "nap time", not really a show.

 

 

I never saw the point to it either- for me, adding a few live musicians to a canned background track, or the recorded track for the “missing” instruments added nothing to the track, and meant that Adagio didn’t perform that night.

And also for me, the advent of LCS was a negative in that there was less classical music, much of it was in the afternoon, and it was the same performance repeated at each performance on a given day. When Adagio was in Explorers Lounge it was 2-4 sets of different music each night. Big difference.

You aren’t going to get a single answer on this. And you’re not getting the run around.
 

 It’s not like there’s a “set” single supplement that is added to a base fare - HAL charges by cabin, then divides by 2 to calculate per person double occupancy. (People are CALCULATING the “single Supplement”). The difference in per person cost totally depends on the cruise, cabin and the deal you book under. 

With the stand-by program there might be less lower fared cabins when booked for just one person.

And yes, some of those deals you see for double occupancy end up being more than the total of the fare for 2 when booked as a single occupancy.

9 minutes ago, KAKcruiser said:

I can't believe they would change their policy.  How much could it cost to provide a cabin for the Priest?  

Loosing out on $49/day?

1 hour ago, mightycruisequeen said:

Today's Holland America page on Religious services is different: 

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/faq/onboard-cruise-experience/onboard-information/are-religious-service-available

 

Travel Is Our Tradition

 

Wow- so basically they sail only the cruises which have a lot of sea days. 
 

What about the Catholic crew?

6 hours ago, twincheryl said:

Not sure either... I have Teacher and AARP that I emailed about connecting with previously booked cruises (before I knew these existed), and got a very nice email saying that they had been applied to my 2025 cruise, but could not be applied to 2026 as they needed to be re-verified within a year prior.  Understand the AARP since that needs to be paid every year, but my retired teacher status will not change.  It is what it is, so will just set a reminder to do that before needed.

At least retired teachers get it. Retired medical professionals do not. Even though our licenses are still in the system but show inactive.

OP- I know you’re new to HAL and I’m going to guess you rather new to this HAL sub-forum. 
 

My money is on Brian’s response (#30) (  @POA1) not either of the reps you have talked to.  He has an example of what you are seeing from long ago and they are in the PG, and he is a very experienced and knowledgeable HAL cruiser. HAL is notorious for having staff who simply don’t know the product that they are selling, much less have stepped onto a ship.

You might consider shooting an email to (maybe) Ships Services with the first line being “Escalate to an experienced Supervisor please”, and ask your question- and then tell them what you have been told. 
 

(I’ve gotten results several times by sending an email to a business with the subject “XYZ’s Customer Service Needs Improvement” and the first line of the email being to escalate.)
 

That’s just crazy. How in the world would they get food from the PG kitchen to the MDR? Or would they make it in the MDR kitchen? My first thought was whether the HAL rep had full command of the English language, or was even familiar with the product- but the “@“ is troubling…

Please let us know what happens. 
 

(or does the MDR and PG share kitchen space on the Kingkongdam? Deck plans show them adjacent.)

9 hours ago, sandiego1 said:

Which ships have 2 courts? We’ve only been on ships with a single court.

Volendam has/had 2 courts last April.