Out of my lanai chair!!

[tcook052]

Privatization of public areas refers to the private deck chairs in front of the lanai cabins and also to the private cabanas up on top (as on the Signature class ships).

 

"Privatization" in this context refers to deck areas, previously freely available to all passengers, which is now assigned to particular passengers and to which all other passengers are excluded.

 

igraf

 

I see your point but can also see HAL just trying to make the biggest buck off it's available resources.

[mariner]

and they paid extra for cabins thatused to be the smallest aboard.

[GatorV]

and they paid extra for cabins thatused to be the smallest aboard.

 

We did not pay extra, booked an inside on LP, as always... then offered an ocean view on Main deck...declined to stay on LP and was offered a Lanai.

[pms4104]

We did not pay extra, booked an inside on LP, as always... then offered an ocean view on Main deck...declined to stay on LP and was offered a Lanai.

The lanai cabins are on the LP.

[GatorV]

The lanai cabins are on the LP.

 

Hope i did not miss anything with all the back and forth your above quote makes me think I did.

 

I know the Lanai cabins are on LP...I was saying that HAL offered us an "up grade" from an inside on LP to Ocean View on Main deck....I declined and wanted to stay on LP then asked about a Lanai and they said yes. We always do LP if possible always an inside, we are thirilled about our cabin

[RMLincoln]

Sounds like you got great deal. I hope you enjoy your Lanai cabin, your deck chairs and have an excellent cruise.

 

Would you report back to us how it worked out? Our Maasdam booking isn't until March. Many thanks in advance. m--

[pms4104]

Hope i did not miss anything with all the back and forth your above quote makes me think I did.

 

I know the Lanai cabins are on LP...I was saying that HAL offered us an "up grade" from an inside on LP to Ocean View on Main deck....I declined and wanted to stay on LP then asked about a Lanai and they said yes. We always do LP if possible always an inside, we are thirilled about our cabin

Sorry ... I misinterpreted your post. No, you didn't miss anything.

[igraf]

You forgot to mention any private group using a meeting room or even the CC meet and greet in the crow's nest! There is a big difference between a private event that last for an hour or two versus large deck areas that of privatized for the entire cruise.

 

What is your point? Do you want to see the best of the public ship areas partitioned off to the highest bidders, with the rest of the passengers crowded into the leftover space?

 

igraf

 

 

 

 

And what's with breakfast in the Pinnacle being only for suite guests?! And the MDR lunch on embarkation day only for Mariners?! Discrimination, I tell ya!! :rolleyes:

[Boytjie]

You forgot to mention any private group using a meeting room or even the CC meet and greet in the crow's nest! There is a big difference between a private event that last for an hour or two versus large deck areas that of privatized for the entire cruise.

 

What is your point? Do you want to see the best of the public ship areas partitioned off to the highest bidders, with the rest of the passengers crowded into the leftover space?

 

My point is that the Lower Promenade has not been "privatized". You have just as much access as before - only a few loungers are now reserved.

 

It's not a new idea - in the old days (I hear) one reserved a deck chair by paying for it.

 

This is much ado about nothing IMO.

 

It's not about what I want to see happen to ships, it is what has been happening for a while. The cruise lines have to make money yet everyone wants a bargain and expect the same luxuries. There is no free lunch. Or deck chair.

[Nancyquilts]

It's not a new idea - in the old days (I hear) one reserved a deck chair by paying for it..

That's quite right. On the old Queen Mary it was 10 decks from our cabin to our deck chairs, and we took the stairs every time as a matter of principle. ;) Wish I could use the stairs now - even one flight is problematical.

[RMLincoln]

On my first cruise as a teenager in 1972 on Home Lines Oceanic we had to pay $1pp per day for our reserved deck chair. It came with a warm wool blanket. At least we could get a deck chair!

 

That's the point now, many of us won't be able to get a deck chair and on port days most of the chairs won't be used but won't be available either. It's frustrating, at least for me... maybe others don't care about deck chairs. The cost difference between an inside and a lanai on our upcoming cruise is $3200 for the two of us, $1600pp ($1999 inside, $3599 lanai. That's a lot of bucks for a deck chair! And I don't want to intrude on someone else's space, so maybe I will bring pillows and sit on the deck, in the shade, at least it's teak! It's not going to ruin my cruise but it will change it for me. m--

[marco]

We had a lanai cabin on the Veendam this past summer. We usually get a verandah cabin, but the lanai was less $$$ and actually, we preferred that to a verandah. We liked sitting out on a nice big deck rather than on a verandah the size of a postage stamp. We never had a problem with anyone ever sitting in "our " chairs and there are chairs on the deck that are not just for folks in the lanai cabins.

[kobecat]

We had a lanai cabin on the Veendam this past summer. We usually get a verandah cabin, but the lanai was less $$$ and actually, we preferred that to a verandah. We liked sitting out on a nice big deck rather than on a verandah the size of a postage stamp. We never had a problem with anyone ever sitting in "our " chairs and there are chairs on the deck that are not just for folks in the lanai cabins.

 

We are the same, usually a balcony but just booked a lanai on the Maasdam and really happy to hear your opinion Marco.

 

Cheers

 

Beryl

[GatorV]

big deck, lots of fun...and we are now leaving for our drive to FLL to plop our backsides into 4 reserved lanai chairs, by out Lanai rooms come monday...cannot wait...see you on the 23rd ;)

[RMLincoln]

...............and there are chairs on the deck that are not just for folks in the lanai cabins.

 

 

Glad to hear this. Thank you for the info and I hope it will be so on the Maasdam.

[WriterOnDeck]

I'm a little concerned about our upcoming cuise on Maasdam... Are there enough deck chairs to accomodate most of those who don't have a Lanai and a reserved pair of chairs? My guess is that there aren't but that there are usually empty chairs of those reserved.

 

I could bring two pillows and sit on the floor while many reserved chairs go unused, tacky, but that may be my only option. Of course I would smile and quickly vacate if the chair owners wish to use the chairs that they paid for.

 

We will have mostly port days (only 6 sea days in 24) and we don't do much in the ports so we were looking forward to enjoying the ship while others were in port... and that includes the promonade deck because that is where the shade is.

 

Any suggestions? I'm concerned about having booked Maasdam now that they have changed her, but I'm hopeful I'll find a solution and cooperative fellow passengers. Maybe I'll get to make friends with a Lanai occupant:) m--

 

Just got off a 45-day on the Maasdam. Don't be at all concerned. There are lots of non-reserved deck chairs, and even on our cruise with lots of geriatric sleepers (snorers?) in LP deck chairs, there were plenty still to go around. I was concerned before the cruise that only deck chairs with obstructed views would be available, but found that concern totally unfounded.

[RMLincoln]

Just got off a 45-day on the Maasdam. Don't be at all concerned. There are lots of non-reserved deck chairs, and even on our cruise with lots of geriatric sleepers (snorers?) in LP deck chairs, there were plenty still to go around. I was concerned before the cruise that only deck chairs with obstructed views would be available, but found that concern totally unfounded.

 

Thank you so much for posting your experience! That is very good news to me!:):) I feel much relieved to read this. As I said, I wouldn't let it ruin my cruise but it would have changed it for me, and this will be our longest cruise and I'm looking forward to it more and more with each snowfall here. It will be a long winter's wait until we sail in the spring.

 

Voyage of the Vikings in on my Bucket List! Great that you got to do it. Would love to hear more about how it was for you. m--

[Hobbsey]

It really is an interesting conversation, public vs private space.

 

So, I remember a day when the aft of the ship was open decks or public rooms with aft facing windows. Now they are filled 5 decks high with veranda cabins. On the old Westerdam I could sit on any of two or three aft facing decks under the aft pool and enjoy the shade and the view.

 

To get that on the new Westerdam I have to pay a premium. On the other hand, the basic fare has changed little over the last 10 to 15 years.

 

These aren't the good old days.

[WriterOnDeck]

Thank you so much for posting your experience! That is very good news to me!:):) I feel much relieved to read this. As I said, I wouldn't let it ruin my cruise but it would have changed it for me, and this will be our longest cruise and I'm looking forward to it more and more with each snowfall here. It will be a long winter's wait until we sail in the spring.

 

Voyage of the Vikings in on my Bucket List! Great that you got to do it. Would love to hear more about how it was for you. m--

 

Actually, it wasn't the Voyage of the Vikings, but the Atlantic Adventure (or something like that) -- round trip from Fort Lauderdale to Rome and back. I highly recommend it -- HAL is doing a similar next fall, but a few days shorter. We had great ports, from the Caribbean to the Canary Islands, to Italy, Gibraltar, Spain and Portugal. And of course a great final day at Half Moon Cay. Truly a great cruise!

[RMLincoln]

Actually, it wasn't the Voyage of the Vikings, but the Atlantic Adventure (or something like that) -- round trip from Fort Lauderdale to Rome and back. I highly recommend it -- HAL is doing a similar next fall, but a few days shorter. We had great ports, from the Caribbean to the Canary Islands, to Italy, Gibraltar, Spain and Portugal. And of course a great final day at Half Moon Cay. Truly a great cruise!

 

Sounds fabulous and I'm sure I'l love it too while the Voyage of Vikings comes my way:). Glad to hear you enjoyed it. m--

[SwissMyst]

Has anyone ever asked someone to move from your reserved lanai chair AND would you do so? not sure I could, but guessing if I went in and out enough they might get the hint?

First lanai coming up!

 

 

Just back from the Maasdam and noticed the reserved lanai chairs had pads that were a different color than those available for general use which helps set them apart as special, along with their plaqque also stating they were reserved, which unfortunately was partially covered by the chair pad. There were lots of general use deck chairs on the promenade deck so not sure this potential misuse ever became a problem. But this cruise also had a lot of seasoned HAL passengers who probably know the "rules" anyway.

 

Caution- topic departure:

They were a very accommodating group on all counts -90-95% adherence to formal night and nary a peep when at the very last minute our departure from Sardinia required all passengers form a queue to get their passport stamped before the ship was allowed to leave. We returned to the ship only to be greeted by a massive line snaking all the way back and doubling around the show lounge, past the atrirum to make our way eventually to the Queen's Room for this last minute port authority imposition - ("bribe" demands allegedly turned down? by ship captain?).

 

No one complained and all stood quietly doing what was required which made this go well for everyone concerned. But certainly left a bad taste for the over-reaching port offiicials in Sardinia who had to hand each and every passport back to the glowering passenger after the requisite departure stamp. All in a day's work for these public officials in a country facing dire economic crisis.

[PCruzer]

There were lots of general use deck chairs on the promenade deck so not sure this potential misuse ever became a problem.

That is great news. After our experience on the Rotterdam in 2010 where the deck chairs available to the "general public" were in a location facing a white steel wall and were very much in need of repair, we had sworn off any HAL ship that had lanai cabins. Maybe now we would reconsider that decision, (as long the ship has an aft pool, that is.)

[SwissMyst]

That is great news. After our experience on the Rotterdam in 2010 where the deck chairs available to the "general public" were in a location facing a white steel wall and were very much in need of repair, we had sworn off any HAL ship that had lanai cabins. Maybe now we would reconsider that decision, (as long the ship has an aft pool, that is.)

 

Probably two-thirds of the deck chairs were for general use on each side of the promenade deck - and they moved so no one had to be stuck behind a "view obstruction", as they call those metal support barriers.

 

Maasdam also has retained its aft pool and there are also many deck chaises on the aft decks on various floors as well. And they left the library and Explorations Cafe where it belongs on Deck 8. If they could only undo the "MIX" and get rid of 50% of the jarring, intrusive, overly lighted, and not well patronized"retail" space she just might get it all right.

 

And find a way to keep the smoke from the casino infiltrating into the library area - there are glass doors but they were always kept open - how about some of those automatic sliding glass doors for the casino area like the access to the Lido and Crowsnest to keep the smoking area better isolated?

 

Smoking (oh no, another smoking thread) was discussed with the Chat with the Captain who claimed it remains internally a very controversial topic with corporate -- and probably even with upper staff itself since he admitted he had just quit smoking himself recently.