En Route with Hank in Japan and the Westerdam

[GeezerCouple]

14 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Have not done it, but imagine you would be accommodated.   Do it in the PG and you would be charged an extra fee + 18%.

Right.  I assume in any supplemental charge specialty, there'd likely be a charge, or at least for the mains.

 

But for the "included meals", I've never encountered that, and... let's just say that when there is something I really enjoy eating... I'm not shy.

But I haven't done that on HAL, so I didn't know if that would indeed incur a cost, which was why you were mentioning the small portions.

 

I'd actually rather see small portions, and ask for more (or order double to start with), than to see the huge volumes of food that don't get eaten just removed from tables.

GC

[Hlitner]

Evening Folks,

Another dreary overcast sea day (with showers).  This ship has an all weather pool deck that was quite cold today. Nothing all weather unless you wear your willies.  This cruise (for 5 weeks) has been blessed with the worst weather…but such is life.

 

This evening, we had cocktails in the Ocean Bar with a previous 5* fan.  She told DW that she just cancelled a 70+ day Grand South America and a World Cruise (totaling about 200) days as the result of the accounting errors and entertainment on HAL.  While I did not hear the conversation, I get the sentiment.  She also told DW that she will now only cruise Azamara.  My bar companion, a single man who has only cruised on HAL (3-*) told me he has 3 more HAL cruises but is considering some changes.  I do think that those of us who have a lot of HAL days are the ones most surprised by the negative changes. He also told me that he went the Mariners Lunch (we never bother) and had awful fishy tasting Barimundi.. DW and I have been getting sandwiches from the Lido, and eating them up in our decent Crows Nest Seats.

 

Dinner was so-so and my main had only 4 medium size shrimp.  The starter was a strange (but quite good) fish cake made with smoked salmon and spinach.  After dinner we went to the 9:30 comedian show which was very funny.  The originally scheduled instrumentalist was postponed because of safety concerns securing a piano on a moving stage.

 

After a week at sea we finally get to Kodiak (and immigration) in the morning. Seas today were about 13 feet at noon, but have now calmed to about 8 feet.  It is nice to be able to shower without holding on for dear life.  The outside temp is now a balmy 39 f.

 

Hank

 

 

[ontheweb]

On 4/30/2023 at 4:08 PM, Copper10-8 said:

 

My 2 cents; there is no excuse for these erroneous charges to keep appearing, especially after 2-3 weeks onboard! Having said that, I'm really surprised that will all your cruise know how, your travel experience, and your take charge attitude, you haven't made it down to Westie's hotel gm's office yet and knocked on his door/curtain! You do know where it's located, don't you?

That sounds like a challenge that has not been accepted.

[cruisemom42]

4 hours ago, Hlitner said:

This evening, we had cocktails in the Ocean Bar with a previous 5* fan.  She told DW that she just cancelled a 70+ day Grand South America and a World Cruise (totaling about 200) days as the result of the accounting errors and entertainment on HAL.  While I did not hear the conversation, I get the sentiment.

 

Usually when I get back from a cruise I like to give it a week or so before I give my final thoughts. Here's where I'm at right now, a week after getting home from Westerdam:  

 

If you had asked me whether I would cruise HAL again after the first two weeks onboard, I would have said that I would, for a good itinerary. The Lincoln Center Stage made up for a lot of the entertainment deficiencies for me. I realize they're not everyone's cup of tea, but once they were gone -- and no equivalent entertainment replacement was put in place -- I really noticed the lack of entertainment and activities much more.

 

In the absence of LCS during the last two weeks, it was hard to find enough to do in the evenings. While the Rolling Stone band was great, I can't do it night after night. Not enough variety for me. Every third or fourth night, sure.

 

So for now, I would probably not book another HAL cruise until they make it clear what, if any, additions they plan to make in the entertainment/activities/enrichments offerings. (I do have one other reservation, but it's refundable.). And even then, I don't think I would book HAL for a cruise longer than 2-3 weeks. Things got pretty stale by week 4....

 

 

[Destiny0315]

From 15 years ago. It's like deja-vu all over again...

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/653242-why-did-holland-america-sell-itself-to-carnival-in-1989/

[Expo67]

16 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

Right.  I assume in any supplemental charge specialty, there'd likely be a charge, or at least for the mains.

 

But for the "included meals", I've never encountered that, and... let's just say that when there is something I really enjoy eating... I'm not shy.

But I haven't done that on HAL, so I didn't know if that would indeed incur a cost, which was why you were mentioning the small portions.

 

I'd actually rather see small portions, and ask for more (or order double to start with), than to see the huge volumes of food that don't get eaten just removed from tables.

GC

 

If you order more than one appetizer in any of the specialty dining venues you will be charged an additional $7.00 + 18% gratuity. As I stated on our cruise and earlier on this thread the main issue I have with this is that I do not consider soup or salad a appetizer. Unfortunately someone in corporate HAL does. If I want a shrimp cocktail and crab cakes then I understand the extra charge but not for soup and salad. Soon there will be an extra charge for more than one side. 🤔

[Florida_gal_50]

16 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

Right.  I assume in any supplemental charge specialty, there'd likely be a charge, or at least for the mains.

 

But for the "included meals", I've never encountered that, and... let's just say that when there is something I really enjoy eating... I'm not shy.

But I haven't done that on HAL, so I didn't know if that would indeed incur a cost, which was why you were mentioning the small portions.

 

I'd actually rather see small portions, and ask for more (or order double to start with), than to see the huge volumes of food that don't get eaten just removed from tables.

GC

I've sailed with hal for about 40 years.  The last time I saw huge portions was about 40 years ago.

[Destiny0315]

The Hotel Manager's office on the two oldest HAL ships the Zaandam and Volendam can be found on the starboard side of the ship across from the Cruise Director's office in the Atrium on the Lower Prom deck. That can be seen on any good deck plan. On the Zuiderdam I believe it is behind guest services in area called the front office on the Main deck port side. After that it does get fuzzy just where it is as it doesn't show on the deck plans for the newer ships. 

[Hlitner]

Greetings from Kodiak,

After a week of rocky seas, we are finally docked.  The morning started out with 40 degrees, cloudy with some showers, but it soon started to clear.  It is my first time in Kodiak, and the setting is gorgeous with numerous small mountains…many still snow covered.  This is a major fishing port which seems to be the only industry.  

 

The Pier is about 1 mile from town, and the locals provided some limited free shuttle service on two school buses (which must go back to moving school

kids around 1:30.  Everyone on board (passengers and crew) must be seen by US Immigration and this process is still continuing at 1:50 pm.

 

DW and I got cleared at 10:45 and walked into town, explored, and were back on the ship by 1pm.  We would have bought lunch at a local restaurant, but it was crowded with HAL folks and we practice active queue avoidance….so back to the ship.  We had thought about some hiking in the nearby park, but chickened out (just too darn lazy).  And recent rain would have made any off-trail hiking a  bit messy.

 

Hank

[clueless2]

"Active queue avoidance" lol

[Hlitner]

A few comments about meeting with our Hotel Manager.  She has managed to mostly be out of sight for the past 5 weeks.  On many ships you can see the Hotel Manager everywhere..  but not here.  At this point, meeting with her would accomplish nothing.  She must be well aware they have an accounting problem (we have heard similar complaints From quite a few folks).  One change, from early in our cruise, is that errors are quickly fixed (with no comment) once a passenger notifies guest relations.  
 

Another complication is that there is nothing on the drink receipts (which you usually must sign) that indicates whether a drink is covered by a package.  We never know if we will be overcharged until it actually appears on the onboard account (which we now check every day)

 

Hank

[Florida_gal_50]

21 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

A few comments about meeting with our Hotel Manager.  She has managed to mostly be out of sight for the past 5 weeks.  On many ships you can see the Hotel Manager everywhere..  but not here.  At this point, meeting with her would accomplish nothing.  She must be well aware they have an accounting problem (we have heard similar complaints From quite a few folks).  One change, from early in our cruise, is that errors are quickly fixed (with no comment) once a passenger notifies guest relations.  
 

Another complication is that there is nothing on the drink receipts (which you usually must sign) that indicates whether a drink is covered by a package.  We never know if we will be overcharged until it actually appears on the onboard account (which we now check every day)

 

Hank

You don’t have to sign those receipts.  Those stupid things appeared for the first time for me on the koningsdam in November.  They were also on my recent cruise in April.  I just told them I’m not interested in killing trees nor touching a pen that’s been touched by many others.  I got no pushback whatsoever,

[Destiny0315]

2 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Not his fault that the hotel director is hiding out. I hope the thumbs down are for her.

You are correct and I consider it all now to be a waste as nothing gets accomplished as usual. Whether your a "cheerleader" of HAL or an "expatriate" of them or just someone in between all the posts and points made in this thread now just go into the CC archive to be pulled out 2 or 5 or 10 years from now as a reminder of the fact that this is not the first or last time something has happened or will happen.

[bennybear]

IMO it’s always nice to make a situation known to those who can do something about it.  No guarantees, but if you don’t ask, that’s a guarantee that nothing will change.

 

And  in person, sometimes there may be some more accountability. YMMV

[Hlitner]

Some of you might recall me mentioning that our ship ran out of Rose’s Lime juice.  Not only is that the oldest commercially produced drink mixer, but it also a key ingredient in a vodka gimlet which happens to be one of my favorite pre dinner cocktails.

 

Tonight I arrived at the Ocean Bar

at 6 to find a drinking buddy waiting at the bar with two bottles of Roses that he purchased ashore…for me.  Yes, on HAL when you need a staple like Rose’s, you either bring it aboard or go without. I thanked my friend and turned the 2 bottles over to my favorite bar tender.  Consider that a new drinking buddy did something that would have been done by the old HAL.  
 

We have also noticed a big reduction in the varieties of beer.  Now, whenwe order beer or wine we ask “what do u have left?

 

The sail away from Kodiak was

spectacular.  The wonderful

cruise moment was celebrated by nothing.  Such is the life on this vessel. Many missed opportunities to make this voyage special.

 

Hank

 

 

 

 

[oakridger]

How thoughtful of your bar buddy!  He stepped up where HAL should have.  I'll bet the bartenders are somewhat embarrassed by it all and tired of having to explain the shortages to everyone.  Their job would be much easier if everything was in stock.

 

~Nancy

[Stateroom_Sailor]

3 hours ago, Hlitner said:

 

We have also noticed a big reduction in the varieties of beer.  Now, whenwe order beer or wine we ask “what do u have left?

 

 

This has to be a logistical nightmare for restocking.  Even slower moving beverages are going to spike in demand as options fade.  How can this not affect the next cruise?

[HappyInVan]

On 5/2/2023 at 5:18 AM, cruisemom42 said:

So for now, I would probably not book another HAL cruise until they make it clear what, if any, additions they plan to make in the entertainment/activities/enrichments offerings. (I do have one other reservation, but it's refundable.). And even then, I don't think I would book HAL for a cruise longer than 2-3 weeks. Things got pretty stale by week 4....

 

 

 

+1

 

That's why I dread going on a really long cruise with HAL.

[cruisemom42]

3 hours ago, Stateroom_Sailor said:

 

This has to be a logistical nightmare for restocking.  Even slower moving beverages are going to spike in demand as options fade.  How can this not affect the next cruise?

 

Maybe they'll have a whole ship just full of provisions when the Westie finally gets to the next starting point. We can hope, anyway....

[BermudaBound2014]

On 5/2/2023 at 8:18 AM, cruisemom42 said:

So for now, I would probably not book another HAL cruise until they make it clear what, if any, additions they plan to make in the entertainment/activities/enrichments offerings. (I do have one other reservation, but it's refundable.). And even then, I don't think I would book HAL for a cruise longer than 2-3 weeks. Things got pretty stale by week 4....

 

Any HAL exe reading this should have alarm bells ringing loudly.

 

HAL stated openly that their business path to recovery was to concentrate on longer, more exotic itineraries. When a long time HAL customer states they may not return to HAL, and likely not on a longer itinerary; that business plan is questionable. 

 

I appreciate the candid reviews of this sailing. 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[Destiny0315]

20 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

Any HAL exe reading this should have alarm bells ringing loudly.

I doubt if any of this is water cooler talk around the offices at HAL. Maybe beer cooler talk on the weekends, but oh wait, we're out of beer! 🤣

[BermudaBound2014]

3 minutes ago, Destiny0315 said:

I doubt if any of this is water cooler talk around the offices at HAL. Maybe beer cooler talk on the weekends, but oh wait, we're out of beer! 🤣

 

I understand that the odds of exe reading this are miniscule.  Hopefully they are getting the same feedback from multiple other sources. A business path to recovery centered around longer itineraries needs loyal HAL cruisers to book (more so than a business plan that is targeting new cruisers).

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by BermudaBound2014

[BetsyS.]

BermudaBound2014 - I agree with you. HAL executives should pay 

attention to the post cruise surveys. 

[Destiny0315]

I think the plan has been three fold. First keep loyal HAL cruisers, some who have been with them for decades and helped fund their survival. Next bring people back in who may have cruised one, two, or a few times in the past with them, and this is where a lot of those free room offers generated from, especially from pax who spent extra $ onboard when they did cruise with HAL. Finally bring in new cruisers without given some of them a good reason why other than low deposits and HIA promotions. Of those three areas they appear to have not done a lot in the first instance and that is being reflected in some threads on here. They have kept good files on past customers though because a number of people who were getting those free or discounted cruise offers have said on here that they haven't cruised with them in the last 10-15 years+ and rarely or never played in the casinos. The competition for new customers is stronger than ever amongst the lines and the longer itineraries angle is good but at the same time you shrink the audience because the average new customer can't come up with the time and $ for such adventures. Who knows at this point where this strategy leads to.

[REOVA]

8 hours ago, Hlitner said:

 

 

Tonight I arrived at the Ocean Bar

at 6 to find a drinking buddy waiting at the bar with two bottles of Roses that he purchased ashore…for me.  Yes, on HAL when you need a staple like Rose’s, you either bring it aboard or go without. I thanked my friend and turned the 2 bottles over to my favorite bar tender.  Consider that a new drinking buddy did something that would have been done by the old HAL.  

 

 

 

 

Wonder what the conversation was at security when he brought them on board. 

 

New slogan:

 

"Holland American HIA....but BYOB"