REOVA

It would be difficult to get a 100% accurate list. You may have a general idea from your booking but there may be a change at the Port due to other ships docking or something else that would make you change to tender. Now finding which pier/dock is even more challenging these days. 

8 minutes ago, Shmoo here said:

I'm hoping this is true on our upcoming cruise.  I didn't want to make HIA reservations before I see what's on the menus in the MDR.

Suggest booking a time you want and then once onboard try to change if needed. With full cruises and HIA booked, getting a time onboard can be difficult unless you eat before 6 pm or after 8 pm. Also depending on ship, they may be short staffed and not fill times due to service. We were once told we couldn't book 6:30 but could 6. While we were eating restaurant was mostly empty but they didn't have staff for kitchen and service. Another time it was full and service was over 2.5 hours to get through. It's a toss up but if you can get a time you want now, do it. 

I would say prior to 2019, the grand voyages (which usually total 75+ days but do sell segments, which you are seeing) had unique entertainment/speakers, food, onboard activities and best crew. The food starting falling off as did some of the entertainment and events (which you could hear from annual cruises in their complaints of the Ole days). We also found a few crew members that were new to cruising which we thought was odd and 1 particular person was home sick the first month. Generally HAL has tried to make the experience "grand" by adding extra features and ports not seen on regular itineraries. Depending on who you ask will result in yea or nay if they succeed. Many cruisers do the World every year and some don't even get off at some of the ports. It's more of a winter home (or reunion). We look for specific ports to travel to and if a Grand has them (Grand Asia, where art thou?) we'd do it (or a segment) but otherwise it's hard to value. Beginning and ending in US port is a plus (if you live in US) so no international flights (except in 2020 🤪) and there may be added incentives if paying by a certain date or cabin bookings. 

10 minutes ago, phillygwm said:

Thanks everyone, sadly as I suspected 🙂  Appreciate everyone's prompt replies.  I'll be back if my friends and I book it!

If you do, please opine your experience. Especially as it compares to current NCL. 

29 minutes ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

This was disgusted last week.

It's still disgusting 😉

2 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

I went to Bruce Springsteen gig last week and had been to one a few years ago.  Even he played a lot of the same songs each night.  It is the nature of the beast.  Going to Van Morrison at the end of the month and he just better be singing the same songs as last time 😉

Lol. They have their own songs and set list and usually (although I have seen it) don't cover other people's songs.  When you are a cover band with decades of songs to choose from, usually you don't play the same 30 songs every night. They have an approved list of 100+ to choose from.  A cruise ship is a captive audience for 7 plus nights so there should be variety, even the Dead change up their sets each night since many follows went multiple nights. Most artists don't expect people to come every night (many do)  but on ships it limits the options of entertainment and it becomes redundant. From posts, that has been a complaint but there are people that just like music and then others just like to sit and drink. 

4 hours ago, POA1 said:

The more I read these threads, the more I realize that everyone misses the HAL Cats. 😎 They were all the rage 10 years ago.

Even then half the passengers said they were too loud or couldn't sing.  Adagio everyone misses, especially in the MDR. 

The "new" push for families and younger crowd began more than a decade ago when the Pinnacle Class ships were ordered. We've always cruised with children (before being empty nesters) and HAL'S always had kids onboard during school breaks, summer and the obvious times when kids could travel, as well as the popular short itineraries (Carribean, Alaska, Europe, etc) that kids can travel on. (Even on World cruises there were kids). The Pinnacle Class ships were designed (pre 2014) to attract a different cruiser (which it does, but not us) and sail short, popular itineraries that more passengers could sail on. It's HALs alter ego which brings better profit margin (more music, more bars, more paid food, etc). The smaller ships still sail where we want on HAL and longer itineraries and we haven't notice any increase in families on those itineraries. 2019 brought a redirection of entertainment which may or may not have worked had 2020 not stopped things. HAL got stuck with its contracts, a loss of 40% of its vendors/entertainment/crew and a struggle to maintain,  which after 3 years of redundant entertainment, new life is growing (according to recent posts). Also HAL seems to be neglected child of its Corporate parent. Maybe because it assumed long time cruisers weren't going to leave (they did but "they can be replaced") or a lack of identity/direction for the brand (or both). The video seems to just be propaganda on a recurring "new" mantra, that really has been evolving for a long time. But it creates buzz, 👍, clicks and chatter. 

While it's nice to have the multiple bands on Pinnacle ships, it gets a bit redundant if the RR band plays the same songs each night, and of course the quality of the musicians varies on each cruise. (Like any place). I prefer the ocean bar bands or even the old HAL cats/ship band they used to have on stage or in Crows Nest and single piano,  quality musicians. In the Lido it was usually special events from a visiting group or the ship musicians that would play but not a regular venue. While Pinnacle still has Blues Band, the Rock band on smaller ships was supposed to incorporate some of the songs but it loses appeal without the horn section or R&B factor. But there are a few musicians we've seen that scan pick up a song (if on HAL'S approved list) and make it shine. HAL switched its old entertainment dept after 2018 and entered in contracts (costly) with agencies that have been slowly expiring. Things do change and some of the old and new will be shuffled as Corp gets its bearings (and feedback). 

3 hours ago, Dutchman48 said:

 

To me the 10%is fair, will probably not get to use it as I have 3 cruises on the books already for the next 12 months, but still fair. 

 

If you haven't paid in full (or past final payment date) you can apply the FCC to any of those 3. If it's not showing in your account yet, a call to HAL can get it expedited and applied. 

They did it many years ago until passengers complained and then they stopped, until passengers complained. 🤷‍♂️

4 hours ago, asebastian said:

At least not Captain Wouter van Hoogdalem who stuffed up our stop at Komodo Island (Singapore Indonesia Discovery cruise) in Nov-Dec last year by disallowing anyone not on a ship excursion from taking the tender to the island (vague safety reasons were provided even though people with mobility issues were seen getting into the tender). After a lot of complaints, we received a letter of apology signed by the captain as well as USD250 non-refundable OBC to each passenger. We were literally 2 days from ending the cruise in Singapore so there was a rush to the shops to spend the OBC! I would have preferred the money to be in the form of FCC.

This was a recent policy change (a few years ago) of the island any time we went there. If you don't have either a HAL tour or a private tour, they don't want you on the island. They were trying to limit the tourist and maintain the environmental aspect of the dragons so they could have some control of people walking around. Nothing to do with the Captain. Lucky they gave you OBC. 

17 minutes ago, LJanet said:

I don’t see the benefit of CO if the stateroom upgrade is not available.  CO for priority boarding, separate dining doesn’t justify extra $

 

 

If it's a Pinnacle Ship, CO in separate dining is worth it for us (and the separate line comes in handy). We don’t like MDR on these larger ships. 

Yes someone on CC in the past few years posted that the Mariner Discount and preboard wifi discount cannot be combined. I pre-purchase the lower wifi. Once onboard they will offer discount to upgrade at which time you can use the $30 benefit to lower the cost. 

1 hour ago, LJanet said:

Our Alaska cruise is July 2025.  Do we need to book shore excursion now in fear of selling out. I know there will be Black Friday sale of some sort.  

No sales on excursions except pre booking may be cheaper on some excursions. If you find an excursion, book it. If you find a better one you can try switching later but HIA excursion credits are use it or lose it for excursions only, any unused credits don't transfer to other credits. 

The Lido pizza does not compare to NY Deli Pizza. If you get pizza, grab the first slice when they bring it out. Otherwise it sits and becomes tasteless rubber. Having fresh pizza from NY Deli is much better. Depending on the cruise and length, there may be a Tamarind night in Pinnacle restaurant so book fast if interested.  We prefer to sail either class ships over the newer. 

Of the 8+ different venues on MSC cruise, there is actually a 5 piece band that only does Country. And they were popular (though a bit flat). Wouldn't recommend booking just for that, but maybe HAL will add some approved songs to their 200 list. Then of course it would be up to the band to agree to play them. On our last Rotterdam cruise, while the Rock Room musicians were good, they chose the same songs almost every night which, which is ok if you didn't watch them every night. 

I would go Princess. We are 5 star with HAL but did a Family cruise in Alaska for my brother's 50th (years ago) with 4 teenage grandkids who loved it. We've seen kids on World cruises with HAL that enjoyed it but those itineraries have dedicated kids activities and people to keeo them busy. Not sure HALs regular Alaska (or Caribbean) cruises are set up for that but things may have changed. I think Princess will appeal to the wider age range. But check with each line whether they will allow BaS and what offerings are for kids onboard and will depend on what the children are interested in. Our daughter, while in her teens, used to travel with us alot on HAL and Princess and says Princess would be her choice for her family, but she likes HAL for other itineraries. 

Yes priority seating is a separate line to enter on the right instead of waiting in general MDR line. Seating is generally along the windows of the dining room or other "preferred" area. On the non Pinnacle shops, since there isn't a separate dining room, your on CO guests will also be able to sit with you in the MDR. You will still get a menu with 1 extra entree offer choice each night. Not sure the cost of CO will benefit all 8 guests in your party though. 

Depends are what you need: medical, cancel for any reason, 100% trip recovery,  cost, time for paying premium, etc. Steve at tripinsurancestore has a whole section in CC (and his website) with info that will keep your head spinning but pretty thorough depending on your needs. Everyone has different needs so their responses may not be right for you. Better to have him match your needs. 

Don't assume the discounts will apply (especially pre cruise). Check your statement to make sure and if needing a correction put it in Navigator onboard in the Let Us Know response to save time standing in line at Guest Services. 

4 star is the best level change. 5 star have a few extra items but (IMO) doesn't rise to another level reward (especially if you don't drink or care for the "alternative" dining). The rise in number of 4 and 5 star mariners now has diminished the exclusive rewards (as has Club Orange), especially on longer voyages (which HAL is known for). Unfortunately they have not been able to come up with a next level category, although talks about it in the past decade continue.  

Low deposits can be nice but price of the cruise is more important. "Bookings" are good for "marketing/media" but there are usually cancellations, even if non refundable $1 or $2 deposits. 

There is usually something happening that you can do, especially if you meet new people and organize time together. (Until you get sick of each other 🤣). We did SD to Sydney many years ago and the hardest part was the initial 5 sea days to Hawaii (our longest initial at the time). Having just begun the cruise and having so many sea days takes getting used to as you are excited on the new cruise. Just have to know it's a slow, relaxing build up to your itinerary. We have an 11 day "sea/cruising" only period coming up in the Fall but it's after an intensive 12 port visit in Japan so the rest will be appreciated by us. 

2 hours ago, RuthC said:

That's good to hear. However, I am willing to bet that the revamped Billboard Onboard is still doing only sets, with breaks the length of sets in Rolling Stone Rock Room, and that those sets are mainly comprised of songs approved by Seattle. 
That's still not a Piano Bar. 

I would love for HAL to return to those intimate rooms of yore, where the musician took his cues from the passengers who were there all night, every night. 

 

I thought someone posted recently a solo piano player did a few sets and the last set was audience choice. 2 years ago on VoV there was only 1 pianist and when she got sick, Glenn Michael (who used to be a pianist on ships) sat in and did sing alongs and audience selections. But that was Zaandam and a unique situation.