REOVA

HAL has always done longer, more unique itineraries. (Grand Asia, Grand Africa, Grand SA, etc. With options for segments). They tried using Maasdam as an excursion type vessel but for some reason it didn't take (and then later of course the shut down and sale of ship). The bread and butter is Alaska and Carribean and will probably be the focus of the Pinnacle ships and a couple of smaller ships. 

While the current economic environment will focus on bread and butter, and the immediate future of new ship orders is on hold for HAL, wouldn't it be great to build new Signature Class-size ships (include the Dutch Cafe) to continue the tradition of long ocean liner sailings. 

On 12/31/2022 at 10:07 AM, Scrapnana said:

Thanks for all the good thoughts,  I have had two MRIs and have more tests to come.

Let us know how things go

 And if you are still home (Ashland) and need anything, I can drive up and deliver. We have extra rollater, electric mobility scooter or maybe other items if you need them. 

11 hours ago, Colorado Klutch said:

I find anywhere on the HAL web site to book the glacier trip from Tracy Arm Inlet. Does that mean it's sold out?

If it's an excursion and you go to excursions and it doesn't show, they may not offer it. Usually they show sold out or wait listed excursions. 

Depending on the port there may be a line where tender tickets are handed out (find where on your cruise). If on a Grand Cruise or one that there are too many priority passengers, they may require everyone to get in line. On our last GWC, almost everyone was 5* so we all had to get a ticket. Lines started at 4 am to get a ticket (when they open) to most desired ports. So maybe walk by before breakfast to see if anyone is in line. 

Glad you posted your review and equally glad you tried HAL for comparison. Just wish you could have sailed pre Covid on HAL, but then again it may have been a worse review with the cutbacks and changes. 

I doubt a Pinnacle class ship would solve any of the cons in your review. There will be more passengers and short staffed crew to handle them. There might be more restaurant options (to pay for), but sadly the shows and activity would not be different. 

Yeah for Presty! 👏👏

Spot on for Bohemian Rhapsody. I hope you will keep count. 🤣

From experience and recent posts (including above):

Pinnacle ships' MDR is large, loud and sometimes chaotic and service can spotty due to staffing and their experience, whether open seating or fixed. 

Wait times are usually longer for earlier dinner and for smaller groups. If you are more inclined to accept a table larger than 2, will be less time waiting. (In most cases)

Be realistic on time once sitting down. You may have to egg on the Staff for things like wine orders, meal courses delivered together and timely, refills, etc. The staff is trying to hustle but some are new and need guidance. It still can be enjoyable with good tablemates. You can also try to ask the matre d' to put you in the same service area (even during open seating) if you know a good team or they learn your routine. So it's like the best of all worlds, new table mates, eat when you want and get to know the server team over the course of the cruise. (If they stay consistent in that station).

We try not to eat in MDR on Pinnacle Class ships and prefer the alternative dining (or if Neptune or Club Orange) in Club Orange restaurant. You would need to know other people with CO to arrange time and table to meet but it's definitely a less hectic and more personal dining experience. Otherwise know in advance the limitations of MDR and use that for a better experience. 🤞🤞

On 1/1/2023 at 3:01 PM, ChinaShrek said:

This could be the third ship Carnival is selling.

The third ship is probably Aida ship. 

And the clamshells booked up way before the cruise starts so pre-book if you want shade but also grab some extra loungers to put on right side (when facing water) of clam shell and you will have shade and open air if it gets hot inside shell. We walk to the 2nd lifeguard stand with space  next to clamshell (for reason above) and closer to lunch bar b que pavilion. 

The clamshells are lined up the back row of the beach (turn right off steps) with 2 loungers each. The open loungers fill the rows down to the beach. 

We booked a clamshell and people would pull loungers up the beach next to our loungers in the shade provided by our clamshell. 🤪 

The trees shade the area early but by mid day, the sun is not shaded by the trees. You may be able to move some loungers up left if you get there early. With 2 ships in port, it gets crowded quick with loungers taken. 

3 hours ago, Colorado Klutch said:

 

You are correct. It's 5072. Thank you for the information. Better to see the tender boats below than have them obstructing my view from the balcony. 

 

I really wanted an Inside Passage itinerary and hope that was the right decision. The Outside Passage cruises stop at Victoria late in the evening. I assume this is for the Passenger Vessel Service Act, but it seems like a waste of a port call. I think I would also prefer the scenery of the Inside Passage. 

I hope it's all worth it since it appears flying to Vancouver and staying overnight there is twice the cost of flying to Seattle and staying overnight. 

You will enjoy it.

Yes the PVSA had the cruise lines scrambling when Canada closed it borders. Would've been nice if they made the temporary waiver permanent. 

"I'm in cabin 5702"

I'm hoping you mean 5072 which should be fine  between 2 cabin decks and a good level to either go up to Lido or down to deck 2 and 3. The only issue (if any) would be looking down over the balcony you may see the tops of the tender boats but shouldn't block view sitting on the balcony. 

4 minutes ago, Colorado Klutch said:

 

I booked the cruise myself and chose my cabin. Would it have been better to let HAL select my cabin?

Not necessarily. We are particular about location (noise, access, view from balcony) so would never work for us but you definitely want to avoid below or above common areas where noise may be a factor, vents on the ship where wind may blow smell of unwanted air to your balcony, near noisy kitchen or mechanical sections, etc if you want to enjoy the vacation. Some folks are light sleepers or more susceptible to noise so also depends on what you and yours thresholds would be. And since you have the opportunity of choice of cabin for this ship (unlike your past ships 😁) why not take advantage. 

To clarify, you have OBC but not dining credits, correct? 

You could book the night and time you want now before it fills up and when onboard go to the dining reservation station and see if they will credit you back the prepaid to your account and deduct from the OBC. It has happened but “Past performance is not indicative of future results” 😉 At best you get your preferred day/time and at worst you have to eat twice in Tamarind (which is our favorite so win-win). 

15 hours ago, Colorado Klutch said:

So no free upgrades on HAL?

Unless it's during a promo "book a ocean view and get a balcony cabin" or you ask when checking in at the terminal (after they've assigned guarantee cabins), HAL rarely does free. Usually they'll offer a discounted price and you have to respond immediately (or asap). 

6 minutes ago, Colorado Klutch said:

Does HAL allow guests to tour the bridge and engineering spaces? (Yeah, I'm a nerd.)

They will do a virtual tour in the World Stage on the big screen. COVID has put a cabash on crowded spaces (except bars, world stage, casino 🤪). 

1 hour ago, soccermom4 said:

My only concern with 8005 is that it's really far forward - with the bridge sticking out, does that interfere with the view?  Last time we had a balcony, we were on Carnival in Alaska- so don't have a good feel for visibility other than the pictures on that other website with deck plans.

Being more forward, you may catch more wind but the bridge shouldn't be an issue. On some ships the Navigation deck is on the same deck as the Pinnacle and Neptune Suites and they don't seem to mind. Besides you'll be able to oversee the officers. 😉

What a nice surprise with K1 and Captain Jonathan.  They really made GWC comfortable in many ways. 

8 minutes ago, Colorado Klutch said:

- Does HAL offer a non-alcohol drink package? I'm confused about this. I tend to have only an occasional beer and lots of coffee. But I like GOOD coffee with real cream. Mrs. Klutch likes to have a diet soda with meals. Is there a HAL drink package which might be good for us?

HALs HIA package usually include a beverage package that includes non alcohol drinks, coffee, milkshakes, water. If not HIA you should be able to buy a beverage package separately. Usually both passengers have to purchase one. Have to check what's included in HIA and itemize cost difference. It may be cheaper with HIA and you may find yourself trying different beers (although 11 drinks of anything is hard to do each day but like to experiment and my DW doesnt drink much alcohol). 

8 minutes ago, Colorado Klutch said:

 

- Does HAL have formal nights? I can't seem to nail this down. I'm happy to wear to a tie and jacket to dinner, but Mrs. Klutch will NOT wear a cocktail dress. She is fine with wearing a nice, long-sleeved or short-sleeved dress. Will this be a problem for us? 

Formal nights are now called "dressy" nights which passengers can dress full tux (with cummerbund) and gown, down to nice slacks and button down shirt. No shorts or t shirts in MDR but you will see it in other areas of the ships. 

8 minutes ago, Colorado Klutch said:

- Apparently, this board has a "Roll Call" for people booked on the same cruise. I searched in the Roll Call area, but nothing came up. Does this simply mean nobody else on my cruise has created a Roll Call on this web site? Maybe I didn't search correctly?

Maybe no one has set one up and you can start one. There is one for May 13 (after yours) but haven't read if anyone is on both in that thread.

And thank you for your service. Our neighbors were retired Navy and could not understand what the attraction of being on a cruise ship was. We never could get them onboard. 

3 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

I notice for the med they might start in one port and end in another.

I like r/t

and yes I feel too many over 14 days but what a great way to avoid riffraff party drunks or lots of kids.

 

Some 20 days trips have 1 or 2 ports that are not on the 14 days so that annoys me.

Usually can avoid kids (and maybe drunks) by not crusing during holidays, school breaks or summer vacation. Although we had a few young passengers on GWC years ago (one with grandparents who were retired teachers and kept up their school assignments) and really enjoyed them as they also did being on 100+ days. They are probably 5* by now. 😁

Med cruises mostly start and end at different ports but you will always find r/t cruises during the season via a B2B. It's a great way to see more of the same ports if you have the time to explore. 

20 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

it is now a requirement to use Verifly?  two famous you tubers mentioned they had to do this on Noordam for NZ.

I thought one could just use the HAL app or on line documents

 

Due to outbreaks down under, it may be but its not required everywhere. It (and testing) are port specific. Actually Verifly is nice to speed the process, when it works. 

7 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

I too am interested and really wish HAL would do more 10-14 days instead of so many over 20 days and also more r/t instead on 1 ways.    I can dream I suppose

The one ways are usually transition to new season or cruise location so the best option is finding a return on another cruise (or do a land tour and wait). HAL has been known for longer itineraries and unique ports. They are marketing their new longer cruises but you have the option to book segments to make them shorter. Doesn't help you for round trips  But beats having to book B2B shorter cruises with repeat ports for those that want to cruise longer. Segments can be booked on GWC (just be prepared to fly). There is a cruise and line that works for everyone depending on where and how long you want to be gone. 

The survey for 4 probably itineraries went out around Thanksgiving to past GWC cruisers. These will be reviewed and modified (or totally ignored🤪). Current GWC passengers will probably get a preview or at least pre-book 2025 GWC in April or May while onboard and the bookings possibly open late May /June. 

1 hour ago, soccermom4 said:

We're going to be on the Oosterdam for a South American cruise.  Have cabin 4025 booked (which has the solid metal balcony thing).  I see that 8005 is now also available.  Further forward (under the hallway in the gym) but has the clear balcony thing.  It's the same class - so I think I could change.  Given that the seas can be rough around the Horn, am I better sticking with Deck 4 - or moving to clear balcony?  TIA for input!

 

Of the 2, I would book under the spa as opposed to over World Stage. And glass o er metal. 

Some one mentioned to us that the servers are no longer automatically bringing hot tea and prawn crackers (with dips) but you have to ask. Not sure if that is true but we asked for them when seated. Fav restaurant on HAL!