PEB Posted December 4, 2017 #101 Share Posted December 4, 2017 I have cruised on RCCL, Celebrity, NCL, American Hawaii, Carnival, Princess and HAL. I have my favorite cruise line because I truly know what my favorite is because I have cruised on different lines. I have several lines that I have a lot of cruises on. I enjoy all the lines for different reasons. I can enjoy any line because I always look for what I enjoy on every ship and do not waste my time looking for what I do not like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammiedawg Posted December 4, 2017 #102 Share Posted December 4, 2017 We participate in many loyalty programs and I must say the HAL mariner benefits are very, very weak. Benefits through the three star level are mostly discounts to entice you to spend extra money onboard. Pretty worthless. I don’t recall getting anything of value. We leave all the trinkets, certificates, medals, tiles on the cabin desk. The best and easiest to attain benefits are on Princess, without really trying or spending much. At various levels we earned free internet packages, laundry, mini bar set up. They also give the very best past passenger discounts. The best but expensive to attain benefits are on the premium and luxury lines. We’ve hit a sweet spot on one of them but we’ve spent a lot to get there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelingfrog Posted December 4, 2017 #103 Share Posted December 4, 2017 In my almost 40 years of cruising, I’ve only had a handful of cruises that could be considered bad. Instances involved getting violently ill (where I couldn’t eat or leave my cabin for days), another instance when fellow passengers were so disruptive that they turned a short weekend cruise into a brawl which included racially motivated fist fights, destroyed property, trash everywhere and even vomit crusted to the carpet for the entire cruise. And another cruise where a cabin steward single handedly terrorized us for days after we reported his very inappropriate behavior. He was removed from his duties and eventually fired after his subsequent behavior towards us. Try to have a good cruise when you have a stalker with access to your cabin for days, even after he was strictly forbidden from coming anywhere near you. But besides that, I’ve enjoyed every single one of my cruises! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Wow, Tapi, this sounds like a nightmare! Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted December 4, 2017 #104 Share Posted December 4, 2017 I have been in Princess' and Celebrity Loyalty Programs for many years and have no ideea what benefits or any tthey offer. I never looked and really don't care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Btimmer Posted December 4, 2017 #105 Share Posted December 4, 2017 That was our experience on the Allure too. Bigger doesn't always mean crowded. They did a far better job of getting people on and off the ship than any HAL cruise we've been on. And the regular MDR was hands better in food and service than HAL. Only downer for those mega ships is the ports they can hit. Limits the variety. Dan We experienced the same thing on the Harmony of the Seas, especially the getting on and off part. It was truly wonderful. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted December 4, 2017 #106 Share Posted December 4, 2017 originally posted by Tapi: In my almost 40 years of cruising, I’ve only had a handful of cruises that could be considered bad. Instances involved getting violently ill (where I couldn’t eat or leave my cabin for days), another instance when fellow passengers were so disruptive that they turned a short weekend cruise into a brawl which included racially motivated fist fights, destroyed property, trash everywhere and even vomit crusted to the carpet for the entire cruise. And another cruise where a cabin steward single handedly terrorized us for days after we reported his very inappropriate behavior. He was removed from his duties and eventually fired after his subsequent behavior towards us. Try to have a good cruise when you have a stalker with access to your cabin for days, even after he was strictly forbidden from coming anywhere near you. I would have been so gone from that ship. With a steward behaving in such a threatening manner and security doing nothing ab out it......... I would have disembarked with prromises of the action s I w ould puruse once I was home. AWful, awful, awful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatka Posted December 4, 2017 #107 Share Posted December 4, 2017 I have been in Princess' and Celebrity Loyalty Programs for many years and have no ideea what benefits or any tthey offer. I never looked and really don't care. We didn't care for a long time, but there are some nice benefits like Elite lounge (Dimond on RCCL as they match levels) with drinks. Haven't used it yet, but Royal aside from longe offers three preloaded drinks in any bar from 5 till 8 pm daily. Large discounts for wifi or even free WiFi on Princess starting from Platinum are also nice (now that they improved quality greatly) as I sometimes have to work from cruises to get additional cruise weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquahound Posted December 4, 2017 #108 Share Posted December 4, 2017 That was our experience on the Allure too. Bigger doesn't always mean crowded. They did a far better job of getting people on and off the ship than any HAL cruise we've been on. And the regular MDR was hands better in food and service than HAL. Agreed. I've cruised Oasis Class 4 times and I never felt crowded. Plus, those ships have the best entertainment at sea. RCI has a lot to offer as a cruise line and in many fields, HAL cannot touch them. It's just another example of what folks are missing by being married to one brand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea girl 23 Posted December 4, 2017 #109 Share Posted December 4, 2017 We experienced the same thing on the Harmony of the Seas, especially the getting on and off part. It was truly wonderful. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Amazing how they can get that so right with getting on and off..I've run into traffic jams of people trying to disembark on HAL..multiple times.Not fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimAOk1945 Posted December 4, 2017 #110 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Yes we have but they have all been good cruises. *❅.•*˚✻🎄🌺.• * ˚⛄.❅~May you all have a Beautiful, Blessed Christmas Season~full of Peace, Hope, & Love~.⛄•*˚❅.🌺✻•*˚•.༺.•𝓔𝓋𝒶 ღ•༺•✻🌺•*˚❆*❅.•*˚✻🌺🎄.• * ˚⛄.❅🎄 Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatka Posted December 4, 2017 #111 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Agreed. I've cruised Oasis Class 4 times and I never felt crowded. Plus, those ships have the best entertainment at sea. RCI has a lot to offer as a cruise line and in many fields, HAL cannot touch them. It's just another example of what folks are missing by being married to one brand. I also agree. And Quantum class which is smaller (relatively) is much more crowded. Although Solarium is the best among all lines/ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nealstuber Posted December 4, 2017 #112 Share Posted December 4, 2017 We did regret choosing CB for Christmas 2 years ago out of Houston. We’re usually Carnival or Royal people (with some X and NCL) thrown in. But I’d think coming from HAL, you’d find it a bit sportier. With respect to the Carnival brands we think: Carnival = Chevy Princess = Buick HAL = Caddy Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammiedawg Posted December 4, 2017 #113 Share Posted December 4, 2017 We did regret choosing CB for Christmas 2 years ago out of Houston. We’re usually Carnival or Royal people (with some X and NCL) thrown in.But I’d think coming from HAL, you’d find it a bit sportier. With respect to the Carnival brands we think: Carnival = Chevy Princess = Buick HAL = Caddy Sent from my iPhone using Forums Didn’t know Caddy’s had leaking ceilings, non working plumbing, non working HVAC, moldy odors. Just the highlights from recent trip reports. Glad we are Acura/Lexus types. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatka Posted December 4, 2017 #114 Share Posted December 4, 2017 I liked our experience in Veendam, but Caddy.... is a reach. I understand plumbing problems can happen on any ship, but overall condition of her... wasn't great at all. No comparison to any Princess ships we sailed on. Now Queen Mary 2 I'd call a Caddy. If you like Holland ships you will love her. Except food for regular accommodations was nothing special in my mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea girl 23 Posted December 4, 2017 #115 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Didn’t know Caddy’s had leaking ceilings, non working plumbing, non working HVAC, moldy odors. Just the highlights from recent trip reports. Glad we are Acura/Lexus types. Seriously.Exactly why I avoid the older ships.No way in Hades am I spending 2 weeks on a leaky,moldy ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homosassa Posted December 4, 2017 #116 Share Posted December 4, 2017 We did regret choosing CB for Christmas 2 years ago out of Houston. We’re usually Carnival or Royal people (with some X and NCL) thrown in. Sent from my iPhone using Forums What is CB? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted December 4, 2017 #117 Share Posted December 4, 2017 We didn't care for a long time, but there are some nice benefits like Elite lounge (Dimond on RCCL as they match levels) with drinks. Haven't used it yet, but Royal aside from longe offers three preloaded drinks in any bar from 5 till 8 pm daily. Large discounts for wifi or even free WiFi on Princess starting from Platinum are also nice (now that they improved quality greatly) as I sometimes have to work from cruises to get additional cruise weeks. What is a preloaded drink? :confused: I don't drink all that much and usually only wine so RCI' i bar doesn't mean that much to me. Again, some benefits mean little to some people but are savored by others. As a Five Star MARiner HAL providing me with i free laundry is worh t nothing to me.......... as I pay for it as included in the price of the cabin we always book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted December 4, 2017 #118 Share Posted December 4, 2017 We didn't care for a long time, but there are some nice benefits like Elite lounge (Dimond on RCCL as they match levels) with drinks. Haven't used it yet, but Royal aside from longe offers three preloaded drinks in any bar from 5 till 8 pm daily. Large discounts for wifi or even free WiFi on Princess starting from Platinum are also nice (now that they improved quality greatly) as I sometimes have to work from cruises to get additional cruise weeks. What is a preloaded drink? :confused: I don't drink all that mcfh and usually only wine so theri bar doesn't mean that much to me. Again, some benefits mean little to some people but are savored by others. As a Five Star MARiner HAL providing me with free laundry is worh t nothing to me.......... as I pay for it as included in the price of the cabin we always book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatka Posted December 4, 2017 #119 Share Posted December 4, 2017 (edited) What is a preloaded drink? :confused: I don't drink all that much and usually only wine so RCI' i bar doesn't mean that much to me. Again, some benefits mean little to some people but are savored by others. As a Five Star MARiner HAL providing me with i free laundry is worh t nothing to me.......... as I pay for it as included in the price of the cabin we always book. Preloaded drinks means that you can go to any bars from 5 to 8 and get 3 drinks per evening. This is aside from drinks in special lounge. We are not heavy drinkers to buy packages, so this would be enough for us without paying current drink prices. Laundry... we won't use as we do not sail for longer than 2 weeks. Edited December 4, 2017 by Tatka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruzaholic41 Posted December 4, 2017 #120 Share Posted December 4, 2017 If Princess is a Buick, HAL would be a Buick with leather seats. The Caddy would be Celebrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runner15km Posted December 5, 2017 #121 Share Posted December 5, 2017 skip thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquahound Posted December 5, 2017 #122 Share Posted December 5, 2017 Preloaded drinks means that you can go to any bars from 5 to 8 and get 3 drinks per evening. This is aside from drinks in special lounge.We are not heavy drinkers to buy packages, so this would be enough for us without paying current drink prices. As I said earlier, status is not a motivator in my cruise choices. But I gotta say, RCI does have nice perks at the higher levels. This is the typical Diamond Lounge on RCI. On top of the nightly pre-loaded drinks for any bar on the ship, the D lounge has unlimited free drinks every night from 5-8:30 and a free 24/7 self-serve cappuccino/espresso machine. Plus, I'd say the view is a lot better than HAL's Neptune Lounge. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedneckBob Posted December 5, 2017 #123 Share Posted December 5, 2017 Answer to OP thread: NO Variety is the spice of life. It's like when I loved peanuts for years until I tried cashews. Though I know a few of CC members love one cruise line and will not switch; you will never know what you might have missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nealstuber Posted December 5, 2017 #124 Share Posted December 5, 2017 If Princess is a Buick, HAL would be a Buick with leather seats. The Caddy would be Celebrity. Celebrity is RC’s Lincoln Vs their Ford. CB is Caribbean Princess, not sure why. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeniEncinitas Posted December 5, 2017 #125 Share Posted December 5, 2017 My answer is absolutely not!!! My main cruise line is HAL with 12 cruises with her! #1 as far as I’m concerned. Windstar, Crystal and Viking Are special to us for many reasons and don’t regret trying another line! Like the saying says “it’s always good to come home!” HAL is my comfort home. Denise:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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