mcrcruiser

We are Elite + with X & 3 Star Mariners with HAL . The New Pinnacle ships imo are equal to the S class or the M class . Food is subjective buy we found the food & service about equal . There are some things X is known for & some things HAL is known for .I would gladly sail either line based on itineraries . The main difference is we found X generally more expensive

We once could get Ahi Tuna for lunch . Then X discontinued it . Has any one had Ahi Tuna on X recently & where did they order it ? TIA

Thanks for the info every one .

Mary it was never like that pre pandemic .We have met more friends on cruises than any where else & many on those 7 night cruises with Meet & Mingles . Perhaps more of the older folks are still concerned about ships being petrie dishes for the virus .I can't say for sure but it seems that way to me & as you know HAL has appealed to those age groups vs many of the other cruise lines who attract the younger generations like Carnival ,RCL ships ie which have the water slides ,rock climbing walls ,surfing on the back of the ship ie

We think you are absolutely correct .The longer the cruise in general the more posts on the respective roll calls .I anticipate our 18 night Hawaii will be more active . But what seems strange is that even the Mexican Riviera 7 night cruises did attract a fair number of people to the roll calls pre pandemic times Additionally ,we do also see HAL & other cruise lines cutting prices to fill cabins . Of course they prefer not to cut prices but apparently they must to get people on board for that extra spending at sea . A challenge in these challenging times for all peoples ,to say the least To us we just want to sail on the ocean & breathe in that wonderful clean air even though these Mexican riviera cruises are very old hat for us personally . Been to every Mexican port even those that the cruise lines don't see any longer .Additionally ,it really gives my wife a great vacation from the cooking ,clean ups & general house work . Me ,I take care of all the finances ,car & other essentials like cruises LOL

We been checking on now 7 cruises roll calls . of the roll calls 6 have been going for some time .Even as close as our Dec 10th & Dec 17th B2B cruises on Koningsdam to the Mexican Riviera there really isn't that many people posting on the roll call unlike we experienced pre pandemic times Although we like to have HAL arrange the roll call on the ship with light refreshments their minimum is 25 people in attendance before we can contact them . The point I am making is we don't see that happening for these 2 December cruises . Our roll calls are quite slow .Then does this translate to a lesser number of total pax on the ship for these cruises ? As far as a Meet & Mingle We can meet the first Sea Day & a great location is the Dutch Cafe ,deck 4 mid ships .It has snacks & cocktails as well with a alcove ocean viewing

BTW .I asked my wide's knee surgeon are they testing people going into the hospital & he told me not any longer . There are also chances of covid in hospital environments as well . My best friend as in a NJ hospital 2 years ago for one month .covid came to him by a hospital worker ,He soon died afterward .Life itself is a risk

This will not be a bus tour it is a private tour with a special vehicle 7 all we want is 10 to 14 maximum depending upon the operator .We are just getting info starting soon from here .The actual tour is not until February 6 ,2024 on Oahu Hawaii going to & from the Polynesian cultural Center Is there a chance of the virus being present yes but so it is the same on any cruise ship . It is up to each person to protect themselves us included . We wear KN 95 masks any where we are in public surrounding . However ,there is no sure fire way for total protection from any virus including the yearly flu . Most people already know how to protect themselves & like any public transport it is up to the individual My wife & I are most vunerable because we are in our 80s with underlying medical issues . We decided after being cooped up for over 3 years what is life worth living if we only stay in our home & go no where .So we decided it is getting late vin life lets enjoy what we have left .Each person must decide what is right for themselves in all cases About covid ,it will never disappear now that it is here . all virus keep mutating . All any one can hope is that the future strains are less potent & thus less of a threat .Imo even with being vacinated there are no guarantees as we now see in the news almost daily Hope this explains your question

Today I am thinking of arranging a private tour on the way to the Polynesian Cultural Center on the Hawaiian island of Oahu .Seems to me we then can add in the best of all worlds . I need to do the research first to see who we can use as a tour operator . The focus is the Polynesian Cultural Center but why not see if we can create some scenic interest on the way to the PCC .The drive normally from the pier is one full hour to get to the PCC .so if we leave early we could include some sited that we would not normally see & het the transportation both ways included Hmm I better get started with mu research 😃

We never do ships tours regardless & especially now with this virus still lingering . Ships yours have been on commercial buses got the most part . My private tours never are over 14 people & most in the 10 -12 people range .We like the personnel touch not the commercial . We also custom the tour to the likes of the people on the tour .surprisingly we always wind up with less cost & see a lot more . The caveat is if we are not sure of getting back to the ship on time is when we will take a ships tour for certain like the "Road to Hana " on Maui . I personally warn those on the roll call to not do a private tour of the Road to Hana because of the winding slow going road & the length Even ports I have never been to we have done private tours that we can manage comfortably .One such custom tour was at Livorno Italy where I arranged a mini bus for 14 people including a outdoor luncheon at a vineyard that was in the family for 700 years ,OId was a smashing success with a 4 course luncheon on the property under a white canopy , Even a young American girls got along famously with a Italian boy & neither could understand each others language .We wound up buying their fabulous wine with no chemicals .We arranged all this from State side USA

With out a doubt the people who gamble on average are the biggest of all spenders & not just on a cruise .For over 30 years I dealt with Casinos & hotels in Las Vegas selling them products . Their economists knew exactly how much the avg guest spent & where they spent it .By far the percentages was on gambling & entertainment . Remember years back food cost was actually cheap in todays Las Vegas terms .There was a time there was a hotel .named the Hacienda & it's day was one of the nicest properties .Well during my stays from Mondays through Thursdays driving in from the Los Angeles area ,at that time ,I could get a room ,with custom omletes , & all the other breakfast trimmings for a total cost of just $10 per day . Ince in awhile the management would even throw in a show for that price . Of course that was many years a go . Today people mostly go to Las Vegas to see pricy shows & dine in vert pricy restaurants ,where gambling has actually decreased Comparing the cruise business of today is similar to those olden Las Vegas days of inexpensive cruise cabins vs land & inexpensive dining ,so people will gamble more on a cruise ship Adding to my comments ,we also get casino deals with Celebrity cruises .The last deal we for was their Net 60 deal that gave us Free gratuities ,the free drink package & free wifi for 2 in all of the three free perks .My game is on the craps table ;which is the best odds game .Occasionally I will play Texas Holdem . So we get lots of great deals but never totally free .If we get a free balcony state room we do not get the free perks ie . Perhaps HAL's gambling arm does similar deals . U kbow of those long cruises at $200 say for 24 or 25 days even B2B but ,they are inside cabins & if it were me I have to upgrade to a balcony & pay vthe differences .So in reality there still is no free lunch

It seems to me that us getting $500 in recent OBC being a stock holder short term was worth the risk for short term .I would not hold this stock unless it was for a great grand child's college education as a gift from birth .Then per haps it would be a good investment . Not paying dividends is a major detractor with any stock. unless you can confirm that there will be a great increase in value of those shares . Increasing the float by 2 billion shares is a lot of watering sown the existing prior shares held by share holders ,Additionally , if & when a new dividend may be declared by the board of directors it cetainly will be a lot smaller than the prior dividend because of all these added shares

We can tell you that we booked as soon as our 18 night Hawaii cruise came out because one we need a handicap state room & 2nd I used club Orange to go up a much more pricy category for handicap . Also ,Hawaii cruises are Extremely popular cruises which tend to sell out quicker than others .Even though SD is our home port ,we could not chance not getting the cabin we wanted . So it really depends on the person's situation .One solution may not fit every one

You should get a on board credit .We now come to like using Club Orange to up grade .It is most valuable on the Pinnacle class ships like Koningsdam ie not so sure it is as good on the other vessels in HAL's fleet .but ,you can ask that question to the future cruise sales desk person when you are on board

please do not feel that way , That OP is irritating to many people . The OP wants to be a cruise critic monitor in it's dreams We certainly enjoyed seeing those cruises . We booked the Hawaii Jan 30 .2024 cruise on Oct 21 st & I truly appreciated the heads up because handicap cabins sell out very fast on certain itineraries & Hawaii is one of those itineraries .It also fives us booking early to use the Club Orange upgrade cabin at a much lower cost . Our TA got us a great price deal & HAL gave us $500 OBC & we got the other $250 OBC as a share holder I read your posts frequently over the past & would dearly miss you here ,so please reconsider who the OP is & tries ti bully people until we put that person in it;s place .

Whats next that the cruise line restricts ? This flower issue seems to me to be over kill l by HAL in this situation .

Great see you on the cruise roll call soon Thank you Florida_gal50 for the info I just printed it all out ,so we can take this info with us to the ship .Those are really neat perks for Club Orange . We are very happy to have chosen this .😀l

If HAL decides to cut services or food quality to the point we can see the lowering of our enjoyment we will go elsewhere to cruise or even to change to a all inclusive land vacation . Yes there are lots of choices out there for any thing .We own high end time share properties & this gives us maximum flexibility for any where in this world

what I am talking about is wages vs service , why would you or anyone else pay more to get less service , Because it is a cruise line really has nothing to do with service . What does impact man hours is corporate dictates from the top ., If corporate decides they will give less services that impacts my enjoyment on my cruise , yes then the salaries should also be commensurate with the cuts in services bot increased We always add more for better service & with 87 past cruises we clearly know the differences ,& now 7 new cruises booked on 3 different cruise lines to get what we wanted & when we wanted to sail

Seems to me that the Have it All is a real money maker for HAL , On our newly booked Hawaii cruise Jan 20 ,2024 for 18 nights HAL is selling the Have it All for $50 per day per person in the cabin or $1800 total for the cruise ;which they claimed was a discount from the original $99 per day per person When the cruise line will discount virtually in half you know that this is a big money maker for them .We are not big drinkers if alcohol .We will bring a couple of bottles of wine for the special restaurant bookings but that is it for us .

FWIW you seem to like to be a cruise moderator although you are not but you sure look like one LOL Additionally I do not recall me asking about those club orange perks perhaps you confused me with another . Wouldn't it be so simple to just humor me & answer the question rather than you trying to embarrass me in a public forum ;which makes you look very small indeed

I don't recall that

We asked to have club Orange added to ur 18 night Hawaii new booking so we could go from a VH category Handicap on dec 4 of Koningsdam to a V Deck 5 or VA Deck 8 handicap state room . We also know that we can dine in the Club Orange restaurant Are there any other perks that we should know about ;as I could not find this on HAL:'s web site ? TIA