doublebzz

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.

We have taken six HAL cruises and feel that HAL provides an excellent product.

 

However, we shall not sail HAL again until they adopt a 21st Century smoking policy.

Am I the only one who's wondering why all these folks that have switched their allegiance to another cruise line still subscribe to the HAL board?

It is also quite uncomfortable when made up and used as a couch.

We are boarding for a TA on April 6th - our 3rd time on NA. I agree completely with your assessment. We have sailed on Eurodam twice which, in my opinion, runs a close second.

You are probably wasting your time cruising. Those persons with such extraordinary olfactory nerves that they can sense smoke in a blowing wind could probably earn a fortune detecting truffles in the forests of Burgundy.

My wife and I were recently on a Caribbean Cruise with the Maasdam. We had a verandah suite, and are non-smokers. Our neighbours were smokers and used their verandah for smoking. When the ship was in port, the second had smoke bothered me. I discussed our problem with my neighbours, and they agreed to smoke only while the ship was at sea. The resulting wind blew away the smoke, and we were not bothered. The discussion, and compromise was a "win-win" for both parties. I don't know what we would have done if our neighbours refused to compromise. As they stated, they were completely within their rights to smoke on their verandah. In fact, they paid a premium to be able to smoke on their verandah.

A very sensible and understanding compromise by all parties concerned. As a one cigar a day smoker, I would have no problem with HAL adopting a policy that permits verandah smoking only when the ship is at sea.

When one has a gripe, best get off your chest and then forget it and that is what will follow here. I have detailed the more obvious negative points, not of the cruise but of the host country and so we can now move on.

Obviously the Cuban Government is in complete favour of the Cuba Cruise concept as exemplified by the presence of the son of Fidel Castro at the Captain’s table on the Louis Cristal many a Monday evening before the ship sets sail. So if it is in the interest of the Cuban government to propagate this cruise why then have they not had that message sent down the line to their border control people? At each port arrival did they see us as an advanced naval landing party for some dubious purpose? In an immigration building placed on the dock one finds over a dozen uniformed officers milling about with little to do while one officer sits in the cage and grunts at the arriving passengers viewing and viewing over and over again first passport photo then looking deep into your eyes. Take off your cap, take off your glasses are the hand commands. Within this group of “trained” officers who we are told were educated with a second language of English was there not one that could speak English? Could they not see the value in making us feel welcomed? Tourism is their largest foreign exchange producer..

In most countries a wheelchair is inspected by security by swabbing various areas of the chair and analyzing the swab. In Cuba they wanted it sent through the x-ray unit, which being metal would tell them nothing. Initially they insisted that we fold and lift the chair and place it on the belt. Eventually we had had enough of this stupidity and told them in their customary sign language that if they wanted the chair placed on the belt they would have to do it themselves. After a committee meeting of sorts they decided, rather than get off their backsides and lift the chair, to just wheel it through the gate without inspection.

While we would not have missed this cruise nor will miss the opportunity to repeat it in the future regardless of the reception, we would have to recommend that anyone contemplating the Cuba Cruise do so by planning to embark at Montego Bay. The harrowing Havana airport reception clearly indicated that. In the presentation of our entry documents we were subjected to veiled suggestions that a monetary contribution be made to the troika panel of beurocrates to allow us through the terminal to retrieve our luggage. As this then evolved into veiled threats, we quickly came up with some Canadian cash having yet converted our currency to CUC. The exceptional delay in baggage is the actions of Cuban security. After final delivery of the bags we then waited for our wheelchair. We travel at times with our chair to assist us in long distances between airport, gates, etc., and on land tours. Normally the chair would be waiting for us at the door of the aircraft but not in this case. Long after most passengers had departed the baggage area we searched, found and retrieved our chair from the tarmac, we having ignored security warnings and then being chastised for opening the exit security door. The chair’s armrests had been broken open presumably to satisfy Cuban security’s paranoia. Montego Bay will be our point of embarkation when next we take this cruise.

Having two locations for currency exchange at the Havana airport seemed wise with the arrival of various international flights bearing hundreds and hundreds of passengers all in need of CUC currency. Alas, at that particular moment at this busy terminal with all these befuddled passengers, they decided to close one of the exchange kiosks. Bedlam followed. Make sure you take full advantage of a functioning currency exchange kiosk while you can for you may not get another chance. And obtain the correct variations in denominations for they will refuse to later exchange say one Cuban 20 CUC for four five CUC’s. Their mandate is to only exchange foreign currency and Cuban currency. Upon arrival at the port of Santiago de Cuba the exchange kiosk, while being marked open and manned, advised us that they had no CUC currency to exchange. Our tour bus arrived back at this port much later in the day only to find that they still had no currency to exchange. The two employees spent the whole day there twiddling their thumbs. Infuriating. The Cuban 1 CUC is available in a coin. Even a bank could not produce any on our request.

There, now I feel better…

My wife still has relatives in Cuba and this is what they suffer through and more every day of their lives. I regret you had to endure this but appreciate you relating your experience which provides a more accurate account of life in Cuban paradise than most tourists present.

Thanks for your response. Only reason I am asking is we have a king at home and my husband has a new hip problem and needs more space on the bed than he used to, to be comfortable. The price of a Neptune for a king bed is just too high on next cruise.

I understand your issue as I, too, need a King Bed. In 11 HAL cruises in cabins ranging from outside to Neptune Suites, I have found the beds to be sufficiently wide whether they are 80", 76", 72" or whatever. My only concern would be a cabin that has a single Queen bed, if there even is such an animal.

oh, forget it, folks. we'll just 'play it by ear' as musicians say. didn't expect much help anyway; just complications and misdirections. that's ok. thanks, anyway

Sorry, I interjected a related question in this thread which probably accounts for the confusion. I was on Eurodam Feb 16-23 and pre-ordered dinners for two one night at Tamarind for $30 and one night at Pinnacle for $58 and a total of $88 was charged to my VISA. About 4 nights into the cruise, I reviewed my bill and noted the following credits individually indicated on my on-board statement: "50% Loyalty Discount 14.50" "50% Loyalty Discount 14.50" "50% Loyalty Discount 7.50" "50% Loyalty Discount 7.50" . It appears, at least in my case, that the discounts are applied on the first day of the cruise regardless of when you actually take your meals.

I hope this clears things up.

They make a Queen. These so called twin beds are narrower than a normal twin bed. Two normal twins makes a king. I know for sure. Just got rid of my twin beds for a new Queen.:)

According to the National Society of Bed Measurers, a twin is 39"; a Queen is 60"; and a King is 80". For sure, when HAL's two twins are pushed together, their width is more than 60". So maybe the twin on HAL is only 36" wide and when pushed together would make what is called a California King at 72" and maybe who cares?

HAL charges us full price for Pinnacle and Tamarind booking if we make them on line in advance of boarding. We are five star and have never had a problem getting the discount applied and that amount credited to our OBC. Five Star get two free Pinnacle Dinners and they automatically refunded what we pre-paid.

 

Remind me again what happens if you need to cancel or change a prepaid dinner.

I've never been in a Superior Suite but I suspect a twin is a twin and 2 twins make a King. Some cabins may have a single Queen configuration.

HAL does push the two twins together if you so request. I believe that makes the size a King, not a Queen.

You will see individual credits for each restaurant dinner posted to your on board account which, of course, will reduce your final bill accordingly.

God - I can't believe I'm subscribed to this thread while munching on my dinner sandwich.

A general hint for those yet to be fortunate enough to sail on the Louis Cristal and/or signing on for the 2014-2915 season.

Has the company confirmed they will be doing this cruise in 2014-2015? From the comments about the low occupancy rate, I don't see how they could be making a profit.

I was on the same cruise and also thought it was a great 7 days. Since my field of expertise does not extend to toilet paper, can't comment on any deficiencies in that area.

You got lucky as the 3% is supposed to be charged.

Maybe, but neither myself nor my wife were charged at two different times. Also, in the past, before they gave you the cash advance they advised of the 3% charge which did not happen in both cases this time.