Crows Nest closed from 4-9 every evening for private (park west) group - Oostradam

[TRLD]

1 hour ago, Haljo1935 said:

This should read "coffee" lovers; too late to edit.

 

Closing off the only place to get paid coffee is a problem. 

Not sure how many buy specialty coffee after 4.

 

Could certainly be why they would not close it during the morning or earlier in the day when it is in max use. Same as the view, too many sleeping in the chairs in front of the windows earlier in the day.

 

At night, especially after dark during dining and prime entertainment hours not so much.

 

Especially since it has now been reported as 4 days, instead of every day.

Edited April 23 by TRLD

[TRLD]

For those still doubting that park West does these type cruises, here is an release about one on NCL

 

https://www.parkwestgallery.com/park-west-gallery-vip-africa/

[Fouremco]

3 hours ago, TRLD said:

I have seen groups take over entire dining venue for a cruise, block a specialty dining venue for multiple nights, and many other things on HAL and its main competition Celebrity and Princess.

Fortunately, there are multiple dining venues, and no one is denied a meal. I've cruised with many groups aboard, of varying sizes, and have never gone hungry. 😇 

[mawvkysc]

So for those who love coffee and have a drink package that could really cut into the value of the package. 

[Iamthesea]

On 4/21/2024 at 10:13 AM, Horizon chaser 1957 said:

It only takes a moment to write a complaint on the Navigator app, and that feedback goes up the chain as well. Send one daily. Get everyone who wants to use the Crows Nest to send one as well. In addition, go to the art showing. Buy a specialty coffee. Enjoy it as you look anywhere but at the art.

 

Can complaints be made on the app from home before taking a cruise?

[Mary229]

1 minute ago, Iamthesea said:

 

Can complaints be made on the app from home before taking a cruise?

No nor after, only while on voyage.  You can also give commendations and kudos.  Currently the crew is eager to receive a special mention through the app 

[SeaMatesNYC]

For every concern I register on Let Us Know, I try to send one commendation. It feels good to know someone’s day (or more) is better as a result. 

[3rdGenCunarder]

8 minutes ago, SeaMatesNYC said:

For every concern I register on Let Us Know, I try to send one commendation. It feels good to know someone’s day (or more) is better as a result. 

 

My husband was a teacher and he always said if he had to do parent calls, which were usually about problems, he would find a kid about whom he could make a positive call. It made his day feel better, and he enjoyed the astonishment from the parent when their kid WASN'T in trouble.

[Blackduck59]

3 hours ago, TRLD said:

Cruise lines do not disclose groups on board. Nor do they provide advance notice of any venues that might be closed for private functions.

 

Sometimes you get a warning when trying to select dining because some groups lock up  most of the dining capacity for a given time such as early or late fixed. Mcrcruiser opened a topic exactly about that happening on April 17. Which for many might be more impact full  then taking over Crows Nest for 4 nights.

 

Could be worse as this post indicated

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/1443495-how-to-find-if-a-large-group-is-booked-on-a-cruise/?do=findComment&comment=29914780

 

Just because cruise lines don't give paying guests a heads up doesn't mean that they shouldn't. There seem to be a few who think it's okay that paying customers are blind sided by a large group who in their entitlement directly affect others. Just because the cruise line can screw the guests doesn't mean it's okay.

[TRLD]

24 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

Just because cruise lines don't give paying guests a heads up doesn't mean that they shouldn't. There seem to be a few who think it's okay that paying customers are blind sided by a large group who in their entitlement directly affect others. Just because the cruise line can screw the guests doesn't mean it's okay.

Never said right or wrong only that none of the cruise lines release  what groups are on sailing. 

 

Let's say they were to change that policy where should they draw the line? A group of 10, 100, 1000 ?  Maybe by type of group?

 

Instead the policy is that groups may be board, the group themselves can publish that information, but the cruise lines will not. 

 

We as passengers can research our cruises.

 

Groups may have negotiated special access and/or private functions. That is the reality of the cruise industry.

 

 

 

Was once on Princess when a TA group had Skywalkers as a private functions while in glacier bay.

[kiwimum]

Recently on a Princess 10 day cruise where Park West took over the Vista Lounge for the entire cruise.   Did it affect the cruise, absolutely.   Events normally held in the lounge were forced to relocate or be cancelled.  Severely impacted indoor seating on inclement days.   

[Haljo1935]

1 hour ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

Just because cruise lines don't give paying guests a heads up doesn't mean that they shouldn't. There seem to be a few who think it's okay that paying customers are blind sided by a large group who in their entitlement directly affect others. Just because the cruise line can screw the guests doesn't mean it's okay.

For sure.

"Just because you can doesn't mean you should" applies to many situations and practices, including this one.

Edited April 24 by Haljo1935
Typo

[Real NHDOC]

So many people say things like "Princess, NCL and Celebrity do the same thing" as if it makes it OK for HAL to now follow their bad practices.  Maybe loyal HAL customers feel HAL should be better than those others are.  Like the whole favoring triples and quads things now and their willingness to cheat the general cruisers out of being able to use a venue because they double sell it (selling it once as an amenity and then again as a special events venue to a charter group like Park West).  It's just bad business and saying "everyone else does it" doesn't make it right to do it, it just lowers HAL to the level of Princess, NCL and Celebrity.

Edited April 24 by Real NHDOC

[TRLD]

10 minutes ago, Real NHDOC said:

So many people say things like "Princess, NCL and Celebrity do the same thing" as if it makes it OK for HAL to now follow their bad practices.  Maybe loyal HAL customers feel HAL should be better than those others are.  Like the whole favoring triples and quads things now and their willingness to cheat the general cruisers out of being able to use a venue because they double sell it (selling it once as an amenity and then again as a special events venue to a charter group like Park West).  It's just bad business and saying "everyone else does it" doesn't make it right to do it, it just lowers HAL to the level of Princess, NCL and Celebrity.

You can add every other cruise line to that list including Viking, Oceania, etc.

 

All of have group bookings. They have pretty much since they started. Nothing new. It is part of core practices of the industry. It would be a change if one of them stopped doing it.

Edited April 24 by TRLD

[Blackduck59]

1 hour ago, TRLD said:

You can add every other cruise line to that list including Viking, Oceania, etc.

 

All of have group bookings. They have pretty much since they started. Nothing new. It is part of core practices of the industry. It would be a change if one of them stopped doing it.

Maybe HAL should be a leader in that change.

[TRLD]

27 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

Maybe HAL should be a leader in that change.

Pretty doubtful. Too much money in groups  They get to pay for their private events.

[ghstudio]

17 hours ago, Wehwalt said:

It is not every night of the cruise. Looking through the Navigator App, on this 11 night cruise, embarking April 19, the Crows Nest is listed as closing at 4 pm on April 21, 23, 24 and 26, on the last of which it is scheduled to reopen at 8:30. Of course, the listed hours might change, but the Crow's Nest has already been open full time three of the first five nights of the cruise (it is night here now. Or almost).

Let’s try to at least be accurate

 

the crows nest has been closed on the 19, 20, 21,23. And is scheduled to be closed on the 24 (today) and 26th.  It has been closed for the first three nights of the cruise and 5 of the first six nights of the cruise.  Those include the first night sail away time and the scenic departure in Naples passing mt Vesuvius …let me repeat THE CROWS NEST HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR FIVE OF THE FIRST SIX NIGHTS OF THIS CRUISE.  Just for the record, I was told by the manager of guest services last night that HAL will not be offering any compensation per his communications with HQ.  

[Wehwalt]

5 minutes ago, ghstudio said:

Let’s try to at least be accurate

 

the crows nest has been closed on the 19, 20, 21,23. And is scheduled to be closed on the 24 (today) and 26th.  It has been closed for the first three nights of the cruise and 5 of the first six nights of the cruise.  Those include the first night sail away time and the scenic departure in Naples passing mt Vesuvius …let me repeat THE CROWS NEST HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR FIVE OF THE FIRST SIX NIGHTS OF THIS CRUISE.  Just for the record, I was told by the manager of guest services last night that HAL will not be offering any compensation per his communications with HQ.  

I'm just going by the Navigator. If it's right, or wrong, I cannot say. We don't make a habit of going to the Crow's Nest at that hour, nor do we retain the daily programs. Enjoy the cruise. The itinerary is something, isn't it? And the weather.

[ski ww]

Hopefully if all the people who are complaining about it here on CC also let HAL know how very unhappy they are about the closure of the Crows Nest, you think HAL will listen?? 

[Wehwalt]

32 minutes ago, ski ww said:

Hopefully if all the people who are complaining about it here on CC also let HAL know how very unhappy they are about the closure of the Crows Nest, you think HAL will listen?? 

I would think HAL would go where the greater amount of revenue is, given the amount of debt they owe.

[Real NHDOC]

4 hours ago, ghstudio said:

Let’s try to at least be accurate

 

the crows nest has been closed on the 19, 20, 21,23. And is scheduled to be closed on the 24 (today) and 26th.  It has been closed for the first three nights of the cruise and 5 of the first six nights of the cruise.  Those include the first night sail away time and the scenic departure in Naples passing mt Vesuvius …let me repeat THE CROWS NEST HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR FIVE OF THE FIRST SIX NIGHTS OF THIS CRUISE.  Just for the record, I was told by the manager of guest services last night that HAL will not be offering any compensation per his communications with HQ.  

I'd follow up with the guest relations department in Seattle then.  If not during the cruise, when you get home afterwards.  You may not get OBC for this cruise but may receive a FCC for use on another one. 

 

Also, a complaint to the BBB gets the cruise lines attention, believe it or not, and it only takes a few minutes to lodge one.  We had a problem with a cabin on a Celebrity cruise and until I left a complaint on the BBB website we got literally no response.  But within 3 days after posting it I was offered $1500 in OBC as compensation.  So that definitely did work for me.

Edited April 24 by Real NHDOC

[Mary229]

22 minutes ago, Wehwalt said:

I would think HAL would go where the greater amount of revenue is, given the amount of debt they owe.

Any business needs to always be mindful of irritating loyal customers.   If the crow’s nest was truly commandeered for the length of the cruise that would be called irritating the loyal base.  Sure HAL could do this on a 7 day mass market cruise, it may not create any new loyal customers but their dedicated base maybe wouldn’t be there.  Hal is a mass market cruise on the 7 day voyage to many locales and they will do everything that CCL, RCCL and NCL do

[Real NHDOC]

The cruise lines will push and push to get away with everything they can do to maximize revenue but unless people complain they will keep pushing the envelope further and further. 

 

I have no doubt that it was as a result of people complaining about the smell of smoke on deck 2 in the Pinnacle ships (from the casino above) that caused HAL to remove the spiral staircase that was between the casino and  Rolling Stone/Billboard on Nieuw Statendam and that has fixed the problem.  Of course we still can't walk across deck forward 3 but that's a lot better than smelling the smoke when sitting in those lower venues. 

Edited April 24 by Real NHDOC

[ghstudio]

Per a meeting with the hotel director, HAL has decided that there will be no compensation for the Park West private use of the crows nest for 6 nights of our 11 night cruise….and he told me that the CEO is aware of the situation and agrees that no compensation of any kind is necessary.  I guess those of us involved (over 100 complaints, per a post on another forum) will see the reaction to our final comments on the cruise as well as letters sent directly to the HAL executives which may include future booked cruises cancelled as a result of this business decision that impacted our cruise. We always felt that HAL valued us as repeat and loyal customers….now we feel more like just a number on a spreadsheet.

Edited April 25 by ghstudio

[Wehwalt]

2 hours ago, ghstudio said:

Per a meeting with the hotel director, HAL has decided that there will be no compensation for the Park West private use of the crows nest for 6 nights of our 11 night cruise….and he told me that the CEO is aware of the situation and agrees that no compensation of any kind is necessary.  I guess those of us involved (over 100 complaints, per a post on another forum) will see the reaction to our final comments on the cruise as well as letters sent directly to the HAL executives which may include future booked cruises cancelled as a result of this business decision that impacted our cruise. We always felt that HAL valued us as repeat and loyal customers….now we feel more like just a number on a spreadsheet.

Our regrets that you seem so focused on this one thing. It's a great cruise. Everyone we speak to is having a wonderful time, and the main regret seems to be that everyone has to get off in Athens because of the charter. We'd stay longer if we could. 25 days is not enough.