mariner

Let's see, this thread started with "I've been cruising since I was 17." Well, Ive been cruising since 1969 when I was 7.

I have given much thought about not replying to this thread. But here goes.

Haven't sailed on HAL in years, mainly because of the changes that started long ago when Carnival transplanted the Princess model on HAL. Seabourn is more expensive folks, but you get so much more for your dollar (like we once did on HAL).

Carnival often gets a bad rap, but face it. Carnival kept HAL alive and helped it expand. Unfortunately, expansion comes at a price. No way HAL could compete in its markets with its smaller ships. It needed larger ships to lower the price and that meant something had to be traded off: service, staffing, food.

The travel market has changed drastically. I see it at the hotels I stay in. Millennials are more worried about where their meat came from and saving the planet by not washing their towels and sheets. If I check into one more hotel and have to call the desk to reattach my TV because a prior guest hooked up his computer to the jack I will scream.

They don't know there was a time when the extra restaurant on HAL was included in the fare. They don't care the shore ex lectures (and much of that was a huge advert for merchants who paid for it) was helpful. They just look at their phones. They like the idea of paying more for something that once was included in the price. Wine? Jack the price. Drinks? Jack the price.  I recall a post several months ago where someone stated they had disembarked from a very long and exclusive voyage and actually had a credit to their bill. How the hell is that even possible other than gaming the system and not spending a dime. Their call, but everyone suffers when that happens. And it happens a lot these days on HAL.

They're used to marketing ship services in their lives (BB King etc).

I really hate that the perks I once enjoyed in a suite have been diluted with 4 and 5 star status. And Club Orange? Spare me.

HAL must survive and all those changes address a new marketplace. What once had the makings of a 5- star line is now very mass market. Compete they must. 

There are alternatives. They come at a price. Vote with your wallet. But there is no turning back to the Golden Age of transatlantic travel (the newly wed and nearly dead as it was once described).

Foreign flag ships opened their bars during Prohibition once they cleared the 12-mile limit. Hurt business on US vessels.

I could see HAL charging for a pot "tasting." There would be a cannabis consultant. Culinary arts could discuss spicing up your brownies. And lets not forget the munchies man. Of course none of these would come cheap.

Not absurd. It's a money-maker. And ships love to make money. Alcohol is prohibited in Muslim countries, yet ships call there. And you were the first to bring up the actual smoking issue, which at the end of the day, would be the major bone of contention on board.

The figurative ship has sailed. Wont be long before every state is balancing its budget

Not decades.

I'm not sure who HAL is marketing and I'm also sure those same families would buy it.

No joke. There is money to be made. And I always find it funny that in states, such as Colorado, where smoking a cigarette is akin to blasphemy, there's no problem lighting up a joint.

They are Dutch registered ships and yes, I'm serious. If states see the revenue in it, don't think HAL bean counters won't be tempted.

Starts selling marijuana aboard since many states are beginning to legalize it? And what about smoking it aboard?

The HAL master, whom I called Three Names, died last Saturday. He's survived by his wife, Lynn, and a son, Charles.

We had the pleasure to dine with him and his wife on MAASDAM many years ago.

He was always cheerful, available and loads of fun.

We shall miss him.

There's a very simple way to deal with these things. It's called block call.

They now charge for a room service burger.

The cost of alcohol to the lines is beyond cheap. Bought in bulk. No tax. People think because it is less than ashore it's a bargain. They're getting ripped off. Same with soda.

And if lower priced drinks got people to spend more aboard, Im all for it. Seabourn includes drinks in the fare and no one is stone-cold drunk aboard those ships.

Saddens me to read some of this.

The Explorers Lounge was always very popular back when you could enjoy a cigar and cigar ceremony. But HAL did away with the ceremony when it was deemed sexist and then there was the smoking issue. Instead of one of the highest revenue lounges aboard, it became a place for people to sit, eat chocolates and not spend a dime.

Ocean Bar was also packed, before the drink prices started to go up. After that, dead, save for happy hours.

Can't say I ever spent any time in Library, but it was obvious many did. Not a revenue area, but let's call it value-added.

My first cruise, many years ago, was on a Chandris ship. Given no bathroom in the cabin, it was a budget cruise. But the line offered excellent service, cheap drinks (25 cents domestic beer, 50 cents imported) and plentiful gourmet food. Chandris managed to fill ships and compete.

Not sure why HAL can't seem to embrace that formula. Their ships are not of the size and don't offer the variety of activities that the competitors do.

Really, $4.50 for a room service burger that cost them 75 cents to make?

Found this from an earlier MAASDAM cruise. Talk about freebies! And it was for being nice.

Outward Bound from San Juan. 78 Degrees. More sun than clouds.

Mariner has much to tell after spending a wonderful morning by the Nav Deck pool and after getting up at 7 to go through immigration. It was Z to A this time and Mariner waited until they were at the E's before heading down. This was a much better strategy than the middle of the alphabet crush.

It took little more than an hour before the ship was cleared.

The captain and his wife stopped by at the table and we chatted in that beautiful sunshine. The captain mentioned it would likely be in the 30s and there could be some snow on the ground when we arrive in Norfolk. Mariner said, ``thanks!''

Of course I tried my usual bribes, but Henk ``You Can't Afford Me'' Draper just smiled.

On to last night's surprise.

Mrs. M was right. At 6 there was a knocked on the door and our steward was there with my freshly polished shoes. ``Some surprise,'' Mariner said.

At 6:01 there was another knock and a chorus of ``Good evening M/M Mariner'' was heard from the other side of the door.

When opened, there stood a food supervisor, two waiters and our wine steward. The waiters had trays, the wine steward had a silver bucket.

In they charged and placed a table cloth on our table. They quickly made napkin fans and started revealing what was beneath the covers.

There was Mariner's usual evening diet of hot and cold hor ds and a bowl of CAVIAR with all the trimmings. The wine steward uncorked a great vintage of champagne.

Mariner has not finished all the caviar. He will stretch it our for the remainder of the cruise, unless a certain captain would like to head south. Then, perhaps, that bowl of caviar might find its way to the other end of Nav Deck.

That was so nice of the HM. Now I feel guilty I didn't give him a swig of Louis.

As if that wasn't enough, this afternoon we headed to the dining room and Andrea, the maitre d, ordered us back to our cabin. ``Why,'' we asked. ``Surprise,'' he said.

At one o'clock there was a knock on the door and a steward entered with a tray of finger sandwiches and pastries, compliments of another HAL captain who is on the other side of the world! It was our own private version of Royal Dutch Tea. Incredible.

The bear (Teddy by day, Bear by night) is beside himself. The concierge met him and proclaimed him cute. He now has a name tag declaring him the unofficial mascot of the MAASDAM. Of course, after hearing about the cavair she asked if she could bearsit.

So, here I sit, stuffed on caviar and pastries. Tanned (or as the captain puts it, ``RRRRed like a lobsteRRRRR) and very relaxed.

There is a dessert extravaganza tonight. Not going.

It's such a great day and the weather is expected to stay the same tomorrow.

There was one glitch. We heard from several pax that the St Kitts train tour got canned after the train derailed. Thankfully, no one was hurt. But they did have to walk a distance in order for buses to pick them up.

Shy saw us this morning and we passed along more regards. He also knew our names, even though he only was told we're M/M Mariner. Incredible.

The dress this evening is informal and it seems like we just boarded MAASDAM. We wish the time aboard would pass as slow as it does at home.

As for bridge tours: Unfortunately, they were canceled after the 9/11 attacks. You used to be able to arrange them through the Front Office.

More tomorrow.

OVERHEARD AT DOLPHIN BAR:

``What's the drink of the day?''

``A Sunsicle.''

``What's in it?''

``Vanilla rum, orange juice and sour mix.''

``How much?''

``$4.95.''

``I sampled so much rum on the pier today and I bought so much if the AARP bus gets stuck on the way home to Maryland, we'll have a party. Yeah, I'll try one.''

Just go to the Front Office and donate to the crew welfare fund.

And if you can time Trinidad at Carnival DO IT. What a blast

My HAL experience (and other lines) has been the Caribbean. They keep changing. St. Thomas used to be fabulous. That changed. St. Maarten too (when you walked off the tender had a block and the beach). These days, St. Kitts and Curacao (Knips Bay $100 r/t cab ride, but worth it). British VI. And always Bermuda.

Have had this treatment even before HAL had stars. In fact, I have no clue how many stars I have on HAL. If the medal ceremony is the last day, I usually pass. Rather get some sun, much to the crew's frustration.

Nope. Being nice has all to do with it. Be friendly with the crew. Spend some money. Take things in stride. Don't take to the internet to lord and extort service. Don't blow a gasket at the smallest things. Handle complaints with the proper person in a civil tone. Don't remind everyone with a uniform what cabin you paid for. A matter of building trust. Has worked for me since 1968.

Correct.

Be a nice passenger and all of a sudden, doors open FREE.

Stood on the bridge wing once going into port (this was before the wings were enclosed). A woman on the other side of the roe wanted to know how she could get there. The captain told her, as he was preparing to dock, you can't madam, you can't.

The trial period was over. I told him a large number of pax should buy him a drink. We were laughing because during the trial period the young guys at the pharma had to take it to see if there were side effects. Suffice to say, they were exhausted.

It was on STATENDAM or MAASDAM that I met one of the guys who invented the blue pill. We were in the sauna. Had some great stories about the "trials."

Page 3....Water Pik

And sometimes you even get to honk the horn!

I think there are better ways to raise revenue. Like going to the bar. But I'm old school.

I'm now thinking I should have charged them for letting me judge the crews' Miss Maasdam contest!

Always got to see behind the scenes. You had to ask. Now you pay.

Dawns on me, HAL now charges $150 to tour the bridge and behind the scenes. It used to cost nothing.

But if you go, think about a shot of Louis.

Your previously free tour now costs more than a shot of Louis.

I'll take the Louis.