doublebzz

I don't take issue with the ambient temperature conditions you and others have mentioned. If you review my history of posts you will see I am a frequent critic of HAL's cost-cutting measures including the very vociferous "New Towel Policy" Thread. But, in this case, without any evidence, the allegation that HAL shuts off the fan motors at night to save electrical costs is not believable in my opinion. The fault is more likely related to ineffective maintenance or a/c systems that have outlived there useful life.

My goodness, there has been a long history of A/C related complaints on the HAL board. The idea that we would have to get a "fan" on a cruise ship is not the kind of thing we want to hear. We used to think that the A/C issues on HAL were more a problem of "deferred maintenance" rather then a cost saving move. But the OP has us thinking that perhaps it is just one more cut-back (like reducing port times) designed at saving fuel. One irony is that if the OPs theory is correct, HAL is going contrary to the habits of many folks. In our case (and the same with many of our friends) we tend to turn down our home temperature at night because being cool helps us sleep better. Only HAL could come up with the idea that passengers would just "love" to sleep in warn stuffy cabins.

 

Hank

I agree that HAL is cutting corners but do not believe a/c problems are related. As a former property manager, I can tell you that temperature issues are the single most frequent tenant complaint. Why - because temperature comfort levels vary widely according to individual taste. GeriatricNurse is a perfect example; she likes the temperature at 63F which, I imagine, many folks would consider freezing. Regrettably, temperature controls aboard cruise ships are simply not that sophisticated to accommodate to each individual's taste.

Final poll results of the issue: "Do you favor HAL's new towel policy?"

Voting "YES" 138

Voting "NO" 2

cbr663 - thanks for your support but I was hoping to be a unanimous dissent.

Perhaps you're unaware, but, before the end of January, HAL recanted the one bottle per person limit and is again allowing unlimited wine with a corkage fee. That's nothing new as the corkage is $18 - same as it always has been.

 

From what I can glean here, you became a "HAL loyalist" because they were giving more perks than the other lines. Now that they're in line with the rest, you're not happy.

 

You're not a "HAL loyalist". You're a loyalist to whichever cruise line gives you the best deal.

Good point! So I assume you choose a cruise line that offers the least amenities at the highest cost.

O.K. So nobody's buying the theory that HAL is trying to sell towels along with or instead of trying to modify guest's behavior? There is a larger issue here as well. Some posters have stated that HAL's new towel policy makes it comparable to NCL, RCL and Princess. With the loss of other amenities such as unlimited wine, complimentary expresso, among others, HAL is comparable to the other standard lines. And isn't that a shame? I became a HAL loyalist precisely because HAL was distinctive from other mass market lines.

So you are saying it is okay to take HAL towels off the ship and leave them on a beach somewhere? Do you feel HAL should have to pay for all those "lost" towels? Your post is difficult to follow - or was that the point?

Of course not. There is a world full of inconsiderate and irresponsible people. So should we make policy based on their fallibility and penalize the majority of us who are considerate and respectful?

Believe me, I respect and appreciate opposing points of view but some of posts in this thread really have me stomped. It seem clear to me that HAL's change of policy has less to do with modifying people's behavior and more to do with selling over-priced towels and/or reducing the cost of replacing lost or stolen towels. In order words, the policy's objective is to enhance profit. Nothing wrong with this if one understands there is some associated reduction in service whether is needless worry about losing a towel, not having a towel available at the gangway or whatever. So why so many people favor a reduction in service without any corresponding benefit is a mystery to me. Its like being led to the gallows and when the hangman has difficulty putting the noose over your neck, you say: "Can I give you a hand."

I think it encourages personal responsibility.

 

Robin

Right - just like we were in Kindergarten again.

I noticed this on my Eurodam cruise in February. My guess it is a marketing ploy to induce guests to purchase these towels at $27.50 a pop. I don't like this policy. Besides the convenience of the old system where you got your towels at the gangway, I don't want to live in fear of losing a towel and having to face an unwanted charge. So, these towels remained in my cabin, unused, for the duration of the cruise. At the risk of being charged with "gaming" the system, I brought a couple of towels from the Lido Deck when I needed them for beach activities ashore. You can be sure, however, that HAL's next step will be requiring you to sign for the towels whether being used on the Lido Deck or otherwise as Princess has done for years.

 

 

IMO Cruise Lines should do everything possible to not become involved with politics..

 

Betty

And IMO these boards "should do everything possible to not become involved with politics."

Your question piqued my curiosity so I checked our Mariner status. We were on a 26 day Baltic and Transatlantic on the Eurodam in 09 when we decided for practical reasons to disembark in Halifax rather than to continue on to NYC. We were given credit for the full 26 days although we only sailed 24.

I had the same experience as Sapper1 on two early debarkation's. One word of warning, however. During a 45 day Singapore to San Diego cruise, my wife wanted to debark early in Honolulu. I requested and received an email authorization to do this and was advised the ship would be so informed. Of course, the ship wasn't informed and I had a very embarrassing confrontation with the ship and port services after my wife departed. So my point is, whatever authorizations you have from Seattle, make sure the ship is informed of your plans.

Thx Taxmantoo…first time playing dice with an upsell offer…will let you know if I hit double 6's!!!

Your analogy is quite accurate - its a craps shoot. Be anxious to hear how it turns out.

How would the steward do that? :confused:

 

They most assuredly do not have the 'tool' which can open the safes.

That would present so much risk for liability/theft.

They cannot know each individual code all the guests in their area used for their safe.

The only one, other than guest, who can open a locked safe is security or very high officer. I cannot concieve any steward would have the ability nor would they want it. Leaves them open to way too many accusations. It would be unfair to them.

You are correct. I believe only through Guest Services can a locked safe be opened.

I'm almost certain that one of the check out procedures is to zero out the safe 4 digit code. Otherwise how would the arriving guest be able to set the new code?

 

If this is the scenario, then it matters not whether the safe is left open...or locked...by the departing guest. No?

 

What am I missing (DH always sets our code so I haven't paid attention).

No. Whatever 4 digit code is put in last is the new combination. Example: preceding guest opens safe with code 1234; new guest arrives, closes door to safe and enter code 4321. The code is then 4321 until changed in a like manner.

It was my understanding that the guests leave their safes open and they are reset on embarkation day.

 

So, here's the stupid question - if the safe combination has to be reset and the safe is locked, then why isn't this attended to before the guests board?

 

I know, it's busy but - if they have time to reset the combinations, surely there is time to open the safe?

I don't believe they are reset by the crew. Once a safe is open, any 4 number combination becomes the new combination.

I can understand that people can forget they locked the safe the night before and I don't ascribe malice to my predecessors in the cabin. However, such practice invites the accidental forgetting to reopen in the morning. Better yet to lock something vital in the safe like your passports, sail cards or oxygen bottle.

We, too, have arrived at our cabin to find the previous guests left it locked. :rolleyes: Why would someone do that? How juvenile. They emptied it and then made the poor purposeful choice to relock it knowing it would inconvenience the arriving guest.

 

Probably the same folks who are in a stage of utter confusion when they enter an elevator.

One of my great joys of cruising is, weather permitting, enjoying a fine glass of wine with a good cigar for 45 minutes, once a day, on the verandah. For this, I have been tagged an "addict" by Aussiepair.

Let me propose another compromise knowing full well that "compromise" is not in the vocabulary of tyrants. No smoking on verandahs while the ship is in port or anchored; no smoking in the interior of the ship, including the casino; smoking on verandahs permitted for one designated hour between 8am - 12pm and one hour between 1pm - 7pm while the ship is at sea.

The safe is one of the first things I check out upon entering my cabin for the first time. On my last cruise on Eurodam, the safe was left locked by the preceding guests. A call to Guest Relations had the problem resolved within a half hour; better than finding out just before the boat drill or dinner.

Just wondering how many people will try this new cruise line in 2019,they have a great airline and a great rail network in the uk.I wonder how much it

will cost to sail with them as the air and rail is kind of high.I would love to try the cruise line but as a loyal HAL cruiser it would depend on a lot of factors.:confused:

Jim:D:D:D

I suspect it will be quite innovative like Branson's other projects. However, at my age, I can't plan anything beyond next Tuesday.

We all have the right to comment on things that interest us here, without being belittled. What is the point of CC if we cannot comment? It's not just for newbies asking questions. This is an example of what gets smoking/wine posts removed!

I agree and am not attempting to restrict comments. My jibe at Aussiepair is the inference I drew from her/his response is that the poster trolls all the boards for the purpose of crusading against smoking. In my opinion, using Cruise Critic to crusade on any subject, including ones I support, is inappropriate and certainly not interesting.

I personally don't care what HAL does with their smoking policy, there are plenty of good cruise lines that have a smoking policy in place to protect their passengers.

I only come on here to warn non smokers what they can expect if they book a HAL cruise.

I don't understand why smokers can't understand this, it is not that complicated. It is called caring for others so that they may be saved from wasting money paying for something they don't get.

Smoke to your hearts content but don't object to us warning others that they may have to share your addiction on a HAL cruise.

Its a shame you haven't been knighted for your public service.

I wish an a/c expert or mechanical engineer would chime in on this thread and provide some technical reasons why this is happening. I don't buy the reasoning that HAL lowers the a/c to economize. I often experience the same problem in my home and its due to the fact that the outside temperature is generally the coolest between 2 and 5 in the morning sometimes reaching the thermostat level which reduces the efficiency of the a/c system.

I understand the doctors on HAL ships have to board certified in emergency medicine in either Canada or U.S. I would give a lot of weight to medical advice provided by these physicians.

Thank you for taking the time to write your wonderful review.

HAL has had problems with immigration no matter whether you are on a one week cruise, back-to-backs, or whatever in Ft Lauderdale for the last couple of years.

There are 5 officials on duty for the self disembarking passengers. Once they are done -- cut backs start and no matter what ship we have been on -- only 2 officials are on duty for immigration.

We also love the Tamarind.

Not just a HAL problem. Our driver upon debarkation told us all the cruise lines were affected. Probably due to a cutback in Homeland Security's budget and, of course, the "workerbees" are always first on the chopping block when there is a budget cut.