New to Neptune?

[Krazy Kruizers]

With the cut back of the Welcome Aboard Suite cocktail party, no VIP party, we just thought that the Awards Ceremony was just another cut back.

We found out that there was one while we waiting in the Pinnacle Bar for a wheelchair to take me off the ship. Several of us were talking about the cutbacks.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I wonder if the ships still have a Question Session at the end of each cruise?

If I remember correctly TA's, group leaders and high day mariners used to be invited to them. Usually not too many people showed up.

We haven't been to one since 2013.

[sail7seas]

I was invited to some of those sessions and think I only attended maybe two or three. Most of the time, I was busy packing us to go home so didn't go.

 

DH never chose to go.

 

Edited December 30, 2015 by sail7seas

[RocketMan275]

Thank you

The Golden years seem to have passed us by.

 

We've only discovered cruising and I can only hope we can cruise long enough to have the memories you must have.

[DaveOKC]

I wonder if the ships still have a Question Session at the end of each cruise?

If I remember correctly TA's, group leaders and high day mariners used to be invited to them. Usually not too many people showed up.

We haven't been to one since 2013.

 

At the recent Mariner lunch I was seated next to a lady with over 1100 DAYS! She was very interesting to talk to and she sure was not happy with all the recent changes. If she went to this event, I am sure HAL got an earful from her!

[Krazy Kruizers]

I was invited to some of those sessions and think I only attended maybe two or three. Most of the time, I was busy packing us to go home so didn't go.

 

DH never chose to go.

 

 

 

We enjoyed them.

It was our Nieuw Amsterdam cruise in 2013 where -- for some ships -- In Transit passengers in Ft Lauderdale had immigration in the show lounge instead of over 700 people going ashore and taking up a good portion of the seats. We waited over 1 1/2 hours for a couple of people to do immigration. With so many of us, they were able to only process some people as the seats upstairs and downstairs were full by 11 AM.

So something good for some of the Collectors cruisers happened to ease that mess in the terminal.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We've only discovered cruising and I can only hope we can cruise long enough to have the memories you must have.

 

 

Yes we do have a lot of memories.

You will too -- just keep booking those cruises.

[RocketMan275]

Yes we do have a lot of memories.

You will too -- just keep booking those cruises.

 

We have our first HAL cruise in March. We were lucky enough to snag one of those wonderful deck five aft suites on Westerdam. We're so looking forward to having dinner there a few times and starting to build our HAL memories. Wish you well.

[Krazy Kruizers]

At the recent Mariner lunch I was seated next to a lady with over 1100 DAYS! She was very interesting to talk to and she sure was not happy with all the recent changes. If she went to this event, I am sure HAL got an earful from her!

 

 

We gave up the Mariner's brunch/lunch about 3 or 4 years ago.

After the awards ceremony, we were all turned loose to join the mobs to get elevators down to Deck 2. People were pushing and shoving. I use a rollator which made for a long wait. Once we got into the dining room, there were no reserved tables for high day Mariners. We were seated with a couple who had just gotten their silver medals and all she did was kept talking about was how we should book more cruises to get to 300 days and get the extra perks. We were sitting there wearing our Platinum medals and she had no clue about how many days that represented. We waited until the lunch was over -- about 1/2 long -- and as we left, I turned to her and said that they should book more cruises and catch up to us with over 700 days. Her mouth just dropped open.

I think it was Lisa who mentioned that the captain and many officers now want less events because they are tired of people complaining instead of enjoying the events.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have our first HAL cruise in March. We were lucky enough to snag one of those wonderful deck five aft suites on Westerdam. We're so looking forward to having dinner there a few times and starting to build our HAL memories. Wish you well.

 

 

Westerdam is one of our favorite ships. We have done a few Caribbean cruises on her and quite a few full Panama Canal cruises.

[bshow]

DH was very upset with many things on our Eurodam cruise in October.

 

 

I'm sorry to hear of your health problems. Wish you the very best.

 

I hope whether you take that next cruise or not, you are enjoying and thankful for the many blessings we all have. I for one am thankful to be able to afford to cruise periodically, even on HAL [emoji846]

 

Have a very Happy New Year!

[Ricktan]

I have thought about all that I have described here and truly credited to cut backs and have changed my mind. I don't think that accurately states what HAL has been doing on the ships. I think they are close to totally remaking the product. The things we call cut backs and miss, they no longer value. They are interested in a very different product. As not only the long time cruisers age and stop cruising, their old time Hotel MANAGERS, CAPTAINS, MAITRE d's, CHIEF OFFICERS etc as well as bar staff, cabin and dining stewards and crew/staff in general are aging and retiring.

 

This seems to suit HAL just fine and I think I understand it.

The cruises have changed but mostly because the CRUISERS have changed. What their vast majority wanted and enjoyed is no longer what they want now.

 

If my DH had not passed away, I doubt I would have recognized it but I am now among those that no longer want some of those former way of doing things.

 

Of course, doing away with cocktail parties saves money and money is always the driving factor of all cruise line decisions but I think it is more than that.

 

They do not want the same Officer/guest interaction. The stewards are too short handed to have time to chat and be friendly with guests in the way we always enjoyed. We truly got to know many of them. We spend time ashore with many. We had friendships in whatever way you wish to define friends.

 

HAL has moved along as has the wants and needs of society in general.

It is a very different world we live in today than it was when DH and I started cruising.

 

Recessions, stock market crashes, wars, violence and terrorism, unemployment, Me, me, me values of some in the new generation, casual dress and the evolution of our culture have directed much of the change. HAL is responding.

 

JMO..

 

I do want to add I don't think it all bad. Some of it really does suit me fine. :)

I also want to mention I made those Officer titles Capital Letters as what was the need to change those long respected titles? There seemed to be another message in doing so.

 

 

 

[

 

I think you are correct. My DH and I have loved the few cruises we have had and are finally at the point where we can do a little more. A lot of the things (complaints?) that I read on here, I shrug off because they don't affect us at all. And, because we don't know how it was done in the past, we aren't spending our cruise days comparing them to a previous standard. We only know what we experience now and we have been very happy. We couldn't care less about Captains and Officer parties, suite parties, VIP, etc. the very idea would send my DH running for the hills!:) Don't get me wrong.....we love meeting new and interesting people just don't care about planned gatherings so much. On our last cruise, we made several friends in the casino, struck up conversations with people everywhere, from the port waiting to board, at the bar waiting on drinks, in the NL. We even did a tour with someone I met on roll call (we still stay in touch) and then had another couple join up with us and ended having them all to dinner on our balcony. The Master Chef dinner introduced to several more great couples. Since we don't know any different, we don't see "cut backs" we just know that it fits our lifestyle and that we have a great time! JMO

[sail7seas]

I think you are correct. My DH and I have loved the few cruises we have had and are finally at the point where we can do a little more. A lot of the things (complaints?) that I read on here, I shrug off because they don't affect us at all. And, because we don't know how it was done in the past, we aren't spending our cruise days comparing them to a previous standard. We only know what we experience now and we have been very happy. We couldn't care less about Captains and Officer parties, suite parties, VIP, etc. the very idea would send my DH running for the hills!:) Don't get me wrong.....we love meeting new and interesting people just don't care about planned gatherings so much. On our last cruise, we made several friends in the casino, struck up conversations with people everywhere, from the port waiting to board, at the bar waiting on drinks, in the NL. We even did a tour with someone I met on roll call (we still stay in touch) and then had another couple join up with us and ended having them all to dinner on our balcony. The Master Chef dinner introduced to several more great couples. Since we don't know any different, we don't see "cut backs" we just know that it fits our lifestyle and that we have a great time! JMO

 

 

Nice post and I 'get' it. :)

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

I'm sorry to hear of your health problems. Wish you the very best.

 

I hope whether you take that next cruise or not, you are enjoying and thankful for the many blessings we all have. I for one am thankful to be able to afford to cruise periodically, even on HAL [emoji846]

 

Have a very Happy New Year!

 

 

Thank you for the well wishes.

I won't know if we can take our next cruise until after another check-up with the doctor in February.

Have a Happy New Year.

[CowPrincess]

>SNIP<

 

As to future cruising -- my health is going downhill quite rapidly and I doubt if I can cruise any more.

 

>SNIP

 

KK, I just want to let you know how very sorry I am to read this.

[sail7seas]

Thank you for the well wishes.

I won't know if we can take our next cruise until after another check-up with the doctor in February.

Have a Happy New Year.

 

I wish you well and hope you get a good report when you see your doctor.

[WeLoveCruising]

S7S,

I think you made some excellent points in giving perspective on the changes.

 

I also have to remind myself that different people value things differently. Not everyone wants the interaction. One of the things I used to really like was that when I sailed on HAL I felt more like a "guest" of something special, vs a passenger on vacation.....same as I might feel in any large hotel or resort. It was a different feeling, something intangible, but it doesnt exist in the same way, and hasnt in years.

 

But others might not want that. I am reminded of a time I sailed on the Maasdam with a big group of extended family. One formal night we noticed an extra setting at our table in the MDR. We were joined by one of the officers, who hosted our table for the night. While I knew I would enjoy it and considered it a privledge, my sister and BIL did not like it at all. In fact they assumed the guy just wanted a dinner out and was squeezed into our table. They did not want to be forced into small talk. I tried to explain that they were doing it as a nice thing for us, and that he would host us (and buy our wine)....but they just saw it differently. Neither of us were right or wrong, we just prefer different things. There are probably many cruisers that wont care a single bit if they see an officer at a cocktail party or not.

Edited December 31, 2015 by WeLoveCruising

[Lizzie68]

Thank you for the well wishes.

 

I won't know if we can take our next cruise until after another check-up with the doctor in February.

 

Have a Happy New Year.

 

You have to keep cruising, KK - we rely on your updated menus and information!:) Tell your doctor there is no option.:D

[Lizzie68]

S7S,

I think you made some excellent points in giving perspective on the changes.

 

I also have to remind myself that different people value things differently. Not everyone wants the interaction. One of the things I used to really like was that when I sailed on HAL I felt more like a "guest" of something special, vs a passenger on vacation.....same as I might feel in any large hotel or resort. It was a different feeling, something intangible, but it doesnt exist in the same way, and hasnt in years.

 

But others might not want that. I am reminded of a time I sailed on the Maasdam with a big group of extended family. One formal night we noticed an extra setting at our table in the MDR. We were joined by one of the officers, who hosted our table for the night. While I knew I would enjoy it and considered it a privledge, my sister and BIL did not like it at all. In fact they assumed the guy just wanted a dinner out and was squeezed into our table. They did not want to be forced into small talk. I tried to explain that they were doing it as a nice thing for us, and that he would host us (and buy our wine)....but they just saw it differently. Neither of us were right or wrong, we just prefer different things. There are probably many cruisers that wont care a single bit if they see an officer at a cocktail party or not.

 

It is a nice gesture when an officer joins your table but I think it would also be a nice gesture if you were asked first if you would like that.:o I very much enjoyed our dinner with the captain, but other than that it is not important to us to be with, or to be seen to be with (that is a big point with some;)) officers on a ship. While it may give bragging rights or whatever, we prefer to meet and mix with our fellow passengers in a social setting. There is not feeling that they are having to do this as part of their job, LOL.

[scamper]

We gave up the Mariner's brunch/lunch about 3 or 4 years ago.

After the awards ceremony, we were all turned loose to join the mobs to get elevators down to Deck 2. People were pushing and shoving. I use a rollator which made for a long wait. Once we got into the dining room, there were no reserved tables for high day Mariners. We were seated with a couple who had just gotten their silver medals and all she did was kept talking about was how we should book more cruises to get to 300 days and get the extra perks. We were sitting there wearing our Platinum medals and she had no clue about how many days that represented. We waited until the lunch was over -- about 1/2 long -- and as we left, I turned to her and said that they should book more cruises and catch up to us with over 700 days. Her mouth just dropped open.

I think it was Lisa who mentioned that the captain and many officers now want less events because they are tired of people complaining instead of enjoying the events.

 

Then the officers shouldn't be in "management." You're always going to run into the occasional person that just cannot be pleased, but suite and high day Mariners are your best customers. If you want to retain them you should listen to them.

[pauladolla]

We will be on the Eurodam this Sunday and we are looking forward to seeing the changes on the ship especially the Neptune suites as this will be our 3rd cruise in a suite. We have been on over 20 cruises, different lines but mostly on Holland and have never had a bad cruise.

Sometimes service can be slow, but we cruise to relax. Yes, quality of food seems to have changed but we can always find something on the menu to our liking, or we go to a speciality restaurant. We like the anytime dining and less formal dress.

We alway meet interesting people and have never come across cruise staff not pleasant or overly accommodating.

I don't have to clean, tidy a room, make a bed, decide what to make for dinner or cook, what's not to like!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

You have to keep cruising, KK - we rely on your updated menus and information!:) Tell your doctor there is no option.:D

 

 

As much as we love to cruise and thankfully we have done tons of land vacations touring Europe, etc. as well as over 140 cruises.

But my body is telling me something different. With DH's Parkinson's getting worse, he can not always be around when I need help. And the doctors are worried what will happen as I am the principle driver.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We will be on the Eurodam this Sunday and we are looking forward to seeing the changes on the ship especially the Neptune suites as this will be our 3rd cruise in a suite. We have been on over 20 cruises, different lines but mostly on Holland and have never had a bad cruise.

Sometimes service can be slow, but we cruise to relax. Yes, quality of food seems to have changed but we can always find something on the menu to our liking, or we go to a speciality restaurant. We like the anytime dining and less formal dress.

We alway meet interesting people and have never come across cruise staff not pleasant or overly accommodating.

I don't have to clean, tidy a room, make a bed, decide what to make for dinner or cook, what's not to like!!

 

 

I'll be looking forward to your review when you get back.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Then the officers shouldn't be in "management." You're always going to run into the occasional person that just cannot be pleased, but suite and high day Mariners are your best customers. If you want to retain them you should listen to them.

 

Sadly there are more people wanting to complain while on the ship than enjoying their cruises.

We didn't complain about the mess we encountered for the Mariner's brunch. Instead we just decided not to go to them anymore. What we found amusing is about some people here on CC always saying how they have sat at designated hosted tables. That happened only a couple of times for us.

I know that HAL is not worried about what we "old timers" think. They do have to start attracting a younger group of cruisers -- and we understand that.

[JohnKen3]

Eurodam - 27 Dec 2015 (New Year's cruise)

 

The Welcome on board Party was held at 7:30pm on the first day. We were the only couple who turned up - literally! We stayed for 20 mins and no one else came to the lounge. The Neptune Lounge was totally dead at that time. Wonder it is was because of the timing with many guest dining early.

 

What a waste of drink that had been pre-poured into glasses.

 

I must say, I would have noticed an invite card for this. Thankfully, the other half did read the welcome letter.