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Embarcation day lunch?  Is it possible?

embarcation day lunch possibility?  I hate to bring up an old topic, but I'm wondering if we can go there for lunch when we get on the ship, thus avoiding the Windjammer.  Does anyone know what the cover charge is these days?

Re:  Tipping.  Do the prepaid gratuities not include the specialty restaurants?  Does their staff not partake in the auto grats?

just updated the app, put in the info (name, dob, reg No., now get a message "Something's on the blink, try later."  Grrrr.

couldn't get in last night or this a.m., but changing the password worked.  I thought it might be b/c of an upgrade acceptance email last night, but it seems others are having problems too.  Upgraded to a bigger balcony, still on deck 6, but too far forward for my liking.  But I'm sure we'll enjoy, just hoping it's not too rocky.  At least we'll get our steps in every day.

what nights?  We have a 3-night specialty package and would prefer to not go to a specialty restaurant on the dressy nights as I think there's a superior menu.  Would I be correct the 2nd night for the 1st one, but when would the 2nd one be?  It's a Caribbean cruise out of Miami on the Explorer, 9 nights, 4/19.

got mine for April 19 a few weeks ago.  Downloaded the Royal app to my phone, tapped on the icon of the man's head in the upper right, and there it was!  Location is ok, a little farther forward than I would have picked, but not too far forward of midships.

consider spending some time in Ravenna, known for its mosaics.  Good shopping, good food, interesting city center.  We hired a guide to explain the mosaics and the history of the town.  Well worth it. 

Explorer of the seas, how do we get tickets for the ice show? 

Just off the Eurodam, 10 nights, 2 dressy nights as above.  We saw men wearing shorts in the MDR, women wearing cocktail dresses, so anything goes.

We board her on Saturday, hope LCS is still performing.  We, too, are sad to read of the changes, it's always been something setting HAL apart.  I remember when Azamara had a harpist on board, what a wonderful thing that was, sad to see it go, too.  just as I make 3 star we'll be moving on unless this cruise changes our mind.  Since the menus look the same as last October, this will probably be our last HAL cruise until things change.

We are on the Eurodam, 2/5 to 2/15.  We are stopping at Half Moon Cay, then a sea day, another sea day 2/10, sea days 2/13 & 14.  I can guess they are 2/7 and 2/13, but is there any way to KNOW before we get on board?  That was really my question.

We are on the Eurodam 2/5.  I've made specialty reservations, but how do I find out which nights are the gala nights that have the better menus?  I can guess, but is there a way to find out before we board so I can, hopefully, change our specialty reservations?

Between the poor food choices and the disappearance of LCS, the lack and qualtyi on the main stage, think it may be goodbye to HAL, hello Celebrity, Azamara, Oceania, maybe Seaborn/Regent, even at the higher prices.  Just as I'm getting to 3 star.

We will make 3 star in February on the Eurodam, but unless food and entertainment improves, we'll be looking elsewhere for our next cruise.  We were disappointed on an October cruise with HAL, and it doesn't seem like there's been any change from Seattle.

I completely agree with your comments about the food.  We are on the Eurodam in February and unless there's an uptick in the food quality it will be our last HAL cruise, just when I got to 3 star.  Headquarters, are you listening?  And now I have to request evening turn-down service?  i love coming back from dinner/drinks/show and everything is so tidy, certainly not like home.

The extreme  cost cutting is so very obvious.  It's Celebrity or Azamara next for us.

maybe our lasts HAL cruise is coming up in February.  We were so disappointed in the food and the obvious cutbacks in an October West Coast cruise we seriously thought of canceling in February.  If nothing has changed from October, it will be our last HAL until I read more positive reviews.  I agree with the Lasagna and meatloaf poster, not what I expect and want on a cruise.  Now I have to request turndown service??  Unless things change, I'm back to Celebrity or Azamara.  Just when I become 3 star; how sad.

We make our bloody marys with V8 juice.  Try it, you'll like it.

1 hour ago, Damcruiser said:

Mott's Clamato juice rather than tomato juice.  It's not all fishy but has a bit more of a tang.

By the way my handle used to be "Cruisenut" but that must have been a decade ago.

 

Just left Vancouver on a Noodam cruise 2 weeks ago.  You do NOT go thru US customs & immigration in Vancouver.  In Astoria (first US stop), they came on board (late) and everyone was processed with an assigned time to report.  You got a sticker on your sea pass. 

Back last week for a 6-night cruise on the Noordam, Vancouver to San Diego.  You can read my review.  Staff was great, food was not.  Several cold itmes from the Lido.  Not as many choices in the MDR..  Meatload on the carving station with peas & carrots, mac & cheese on the MDR menu 2x.  Sent back 2 breakfasts, 1 fish dinner @ Pinnacle.  In over 25 cruises I don't think I ever sent a meal back.  I loved Billboard on other cruises, these 2 piano players not so great.  Lincoln Stage, another favorite, takes place in what seems like a conference room.  Room steward knocking on the door around 5 p.m. to ask what time are we going to dinner.  We have the Eurodam booked in February and are not canceling only b/c we want the itinerary (partial of the Panama Canal).

On the Noordam.  medium hair, it was fine.  Not attached to anything.  Very lightweight, I almost wanted to steal it.

not liking the cans of water.  On an excursion, you open the can, only want half of it, then what?  Luckily I had brought along a thermos to fill, but much prefer a bottle you can close.  One more disappointment on the Noordam.  See my review, soon to be published.

We leave soon for a cruise from Vancouver.  What's missing from HAL's information is the ArriveCan that we will need to enter Canada, although it appears in other places.  Wouldn't it be nice to see ALL the requirements in one place.