mariner

I agree with Sir PMP. And after reviewing the "special" menu as posted by many aboard the world cruise it dawned on me. Why didn't they do the old Dutch Night menu? Would seem like a no-brainer.

Since the early 2000's, HAL has been a mass market product. Gone are the days when you purchased a suite and received nice perks to offset the cost. Now anyone who has earned their stars can enjoy most of those perks, dilluting it for those who pay.

HAL always treated each passenger to the same food, service and bar tab. But it was nice in suites knowing the extra fare brought laundry, Neptune, an exclusive party, a guarantee on the dining table you wanted and usually stewards who were very experienced.

This is the spot:

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/23cm/holland-america-line-exploring-the-world

iceman & Cunarder, you nailed it!

And don't forget, in these post Covid times, not everyone has to go into the office. People could work from the cruise, until they realize the internet ain't the same.

Of late, many of those seem to be filed by passengers with credits left over when COVID hit. That was money spent in 2019 dollars. 

Banking on filling ships for long voyages isn't a strong strategy. 

HAL needs younger passengers. And gambling junkets don't pay the bills either. 

Our TV channels in the Northeast have been peppered with cruise commericals lately, as is typical for the winter. Princess has a spot featuring the "Love Boat" theme. Virgin has a Boy George song. Not sure what MSC is using for music. But all feature millennial passengers or families enjoying various aspects of the ships, ports or both. They're well produced. 

Then today I saw a HAL spot. Ugh! OK, HAL visits various ports in the world and has FOR 150 YEARS!  (while they're selling experience I believe the perception is your old). Oh, millennials sitting on deck chairs. Really? Millennials on an excursion in lifevests. HAL offers great food (waiter putting down plate). Entertainment (a singer and a piano player).  I wanted to yawn with the lackluster visuals.

I'm not sure what demographic they're targeting, but the only ones I could see paying any attention are past passengers. And if they need to remind them why they sailed HAL then the line is in trouble. 

If they're hoping to get the younger crowd, HAL should demand its money back from the ad agency.

It dawned on me today that when the Whicker program was shot that most of the crew was British so passengers would be interacting with English stewards, waiters and bartenders. The accent would prevail. I'm not sure that's the case these days.

Watching an old Whicker's World show on QE2 and I've noticed seemingly American passengers are affecting a bit of an English accent. Does this seem to happen on long Cunard voyages? There's one woman who is clearly from NYC and yet, to an American ear, she has a touch of the Queen's English. I can just imagine what this must sound like to a British passenger!

11 hours ago, JohninDC said:

Two UberXL (usually a van or large SUV) should get all 8 plus bags to the port.

The hotel seems to use a shuttle that can be arranged through the valet parking guys

Due to COVID, work on Pier 66 suspended. I doubt any of us will be able to return next year and I suspect when it does reopen, the prices will be on the high end.

3030 is presently closed. Broward not as open as some of the other counties in Florida. However, the restrictions appear to be easing.

16 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

I wondered what was going on.  She was in port for much longer than most of the vessels that come in to re-supply.  One day, I saw a cherry picker at work at the stern and thought some painting or cleaning of some type was being done.  Thank you for the information.

 

 

Burt and Jack's:  remember them?  9/11 killed them when the public could not freely enter the Port.  Never tried Jackson's, but if I recall correctly, they went out of business pre-Covid.  Enjoyed Chuck's; great salad bar!  And, the steaks were good and reasonably priced.  

The poor man got scuttled by 9/11, then the 2008 recession and his newest place was on the north end of town. He couldnt comply with Covid restrictions and closed in May. All his places were great.
 

Marriott Harbor Beach has the biggest pool, although the restaurant and bar are closed inside at this time. The pool bar is available.

The Ritz Carlton is amazing, but some services are suspended.

The Westin is a very nice property.

The biggest problem with this hotel when cruising returns is the pool size and lack of chairs. It was that way 30 years ago and a Marriot. G-Bar was called Goosby's then (Fine Grub and Grog). And it was the reason we went to Pier 66. Nothing has changed in that respect and if your idea of a vacation is getting up before 7 to throw some towels on lounge chairs, then go for it. Otherwise, be prepared to throw a towel down on the patio.

Sadly I looked at Seabourn Odyssey for 6 days getting her sarboard side touched up

2 hours ago, phabric said:

Is Tom Jenkins BBQ (1236 S Federal Hwy, Ft Lauderdale) still there?  This place was recommended on CC and we have enjoyed their food.

Yes. I could smell the Q while getting car washed next door

7 hours ago, ski ww said:

Thanks for the up date. How is the Embassy Suites doing, that's were we used to stay? 

Open and had a bit of a spring break crowd

Any questions, fire away

Just spent some wonderful days in the warmth of 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale. Obviously some changes and some not in the COVID days. Mariner's faves Harbor Cafe and Joe's have survived. Sadly, Jackson's has not. Not has Chuck's Steakhouse. Pier 66 remains a shell of a tower with work suspended. The Hilton has renovated its rooms and plans call for renovating the lobby and restaurant soon. Sadly, the pool remains too small for the place as it did 30 years ago when it was a Marriott. The Renaissance is doing its best and is fairly clean, but COVID restrictions have kept the restaurant closed. Food is served in the bar and glassware is limited. Cabs are beyond frustrating, but so too are Uber/Lyft. Boatyard is thriving. So is 15th Fisheries, if so inclined. Nice to see some ships sailing in for fueling, provisioning or minor repairs. Batteries and Bulds store gone. Bravo now a Thai/Sushi place. The luggage store has moved across from Harbor Shops to Southport. Kelleys still in business. As is Starbucks, Einsteins and Gilberts. The Wine store remains next to Publix. And Whole Food has opened at the US 1 intersection. And condos are going up all over the place. Such is South Florida.

Here's what you could expect. I went to a college football game last year in a state where COVID restrictions were not too strict. Food & beverage in the suites are akin to the Lido setup. But this time, you started in the line wearing a mask and they gave you a bag. Popcorn? They tossed it in the bag. Nachos? Same drill. All through the line. You then sat down, removed mask and ate. When finished, mask went back on, tossed the bag and started all over again. Half the hotels I stayed at had no food or beverage service. Forget getting your room cleaned daily. One even wanted us to toss dirty towels into the hallway (a policy that made no sense to me from a sanitation standpoint).

So the cruise lines have much to work out and then there are the ports.  Let us not forget what Noro did on the ships.

The things that made cruising fun and easy are now problems that need to be worked out. I don't see it happening in 2021.

25% of the ship's passenger capacity. It can be somewhat profitable by raising fares. The economies of scale would not lend itself to super low fares that many have become used to.

I'm hearing, from very reliable source, 25% capacity

HAL and Seabourn are two distinct brands and there's no chance of merging Seabourn's luxury with HAL's mega ship mentality. Seabourn passengers wouldn't put up with that.

The fact that seems forgotten is Carnival used the Princess model to cheapen HAL many years ago. Most of the changes that bothered HAL loyalists began with Princess.

Careful what you wish for in a new CEO or president. I've never known any who revert on practices.

It's always advance and, given the current climate, they must find ways or stabilizing and boosting the company coffers.

Not myopic for those who lived it. And their reality will be what we sail with in the future. IMO.

Eagerly awaiting to hear comments of the GWV passengers as they return from an unanticipated flights halfway around the world. But from reading various blogs from AMSTERDAM and other ships, it seems there are a few takeaways worth considering.

Has the GWV gotten too grand? They never used to last this long and there seem to be some ports with such a low rate of success of reaching that one is left to wonder why they are even on the list.

Is a medical inspection needed to determine the health of a boarding passenger before the ship departs from its first port?

Is booking own excursions really a good thing?

Did Carnival quickly create and implement a fleetwide plan for handling all its brands when it became clear there was a worldwide crisis? Did it wait too long to recognize what was happening?

What could have been done better?

Why the delay in shipping luggage home? Couldn't arrangements be made to offload the ship?

Should passengers who booked their travel plans independently expect HAL to take over and complete them?

Was compensation fair?

Could Orlando have blunted some of the criticism in the media by reminding people his family was aboard?
 

Was the old adage, "ship happens," lost on everyone?

Some things to consider. Hopefully the industry, once this crisis passes, never has to face another like it. Sadly, no guarantees.

I would first contact HAL support services to try to nail down the plan.

I thought they were American, but since reading, perhaps contact Canada's version of the US State Department for some guidance.

And then I'd book them a hotel and get on a plane with stops in Hawaii.

I would NOT recommend they go solo to Manila.