Pleasant Surprises Onboard HAL ?????

[GmaPajama]

I thought it would be fun to see what surprised (or even amazed) some of us when we had our first HAL experience. Now, bear in mind that I've led a sheltered life out here in farm country - but ....

I was amazed at the REAL CLOTH handtowels in the public bathrooms. I thought to myself "now, that's class!" I tried to follow up when we got home, but it got old fast - what with no laundress on staff.

What first impressed you?

[middle-aged mom]

What first impressed you?

Great idea for a thread, GmaPajama!:)

I was impressed by how accommodating and kind so many of the crew were. A couple of examples:

1)When we accidentally "unravelled" our towel monkey after our room steward, Deni, had so meticulously put it together, he made us a new one that same day!

2) Our older daughter's dietary requirements are rather difficult even for us, her parents, to keep track of. HAL did a splendid job catering to her specific food allergies. The head dining room steward for our area in the main dining room, Asep Saepulsah, was particularly attentive and helpful to us in this regard.

There were many helpful crew members who answered our questions patiently, even though I'm sure they hear the same ones asked all the time. Everyone of the ship's crew to whom I ever said "hello", always responded with a smile and a greeting in return.

[GmaPajama]

You are absolutely right, middle-aged mom, the HAL Staff is definitely the most amazing thing on those ships. Aside from all the extra things they do, I was really impressed at how many addressed us by name - even after hearing it only once.

And those towels, amazing again. More than just the same old monkeys and elephants - they were SO creative. A Lobster for heavens sake - how cute was that! I tried that at home too (wanted to impress the Grandkids), but all I ended up with was a lot of laughing. They think I'm nutty anyway. :)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Living in Las Vegas we see so many things that some times it is hard to "Wow" us. Although I am constantly always impressed with so many things on the HAL ship. But one things that really stands out was in July 2005 we were on the Maasdam and after dinner we would go to the Explorer's Lounge for an after dinner drink and listen to the Champagne Strings. Our second night the server remembered our drinks from the night before and asked if we would like them again. A few minutes after he served us our drinks I saw him doing something with the navy and white cocktail napkins. Then he came over to our table when the Strings were taking a brake and gave me the paper carnation he made out of the napkins. I thought that was so very sweet.:)

[newmexicoNita]

I thought it would be fun to see what surprised (or even amazed) some of us when we had our first HAL experience. Now, bear in mind that I've led a sheltered life out here in farm country - but ....

I was amazed at the REAL CLOTH handtowels in the public bathrooms. I thought to myself "now, that's class!" I tried to follow up when we got home, but it got old fast - what with no laundress on staff.

What first impressed you?
yes, it is: Celebrity has the same and it is a nice touch. NMnita

[newmexicoNita]

Living in Las Vegas we see so many things that some times it is hard to "Wow" us. Although I am constantly always impressed with so many things on the HAL ship. But one things that really stands out was in July 2005 we were on the Maasdam and after dinner we would go to the Explorer's Lounge for an after dinner drink and listen to the Champagne Strings. Our second night the server remembered our drinks from the night before and asked if we would like them again. A few minutes after he served us our drinks I saw him doing something with the navy and white cocktail napkins. Then he came over to our table when the Strings were taking a brake and gave me the paper carnation he made out of the napkins. I thought that was so very sweet.:) On our last NCL cruise the cocktail waitress in the piano bar remember our names after just 1 night and also remember DD and I ordered Martinis. It does make a difference and we showed her by our tips the last couple of nights. NMNita

[newmexicoNita]

Living in Las Vegas we see so many things that some times it is hard to "Wow" us. Although I am constantly always impressed with so many things on the HAL ship. But one things that really stands out was in July 2005 we were on the Maasdam and after dinner we would go to the Explorer's Lounge for an after dinner drink and listen to the Champagne Strings. Our second night the server remembered our drinks from the night before and asked if we would like them again. A few minutes after he served us our drinks I saw him doing something with the navy and white cocktail napkins. Then he came over to our table when the Strings were taking a brake and gave me the paper carnation he made out of the napkins. I thought that was so very sweet.:) On our last NCL cruise the cocktail waitress in the piano bar remember our names after just 1 night and also remember DD and I ordered Martinis. It does make a difference and we showed her by our tips the last couple of nights. NMNita

[GmaPajama]

Living in Las Vegas we see so many things that some times it is hard to "Wow" us.

We're headed your way on Monday, Lisa. If we can't cruise, we can at least try to be "wowed" in Las Vegas. :) This is our first flight since the new TSA rules, and it looks like the only thing we'll be carrying on is our meds - in their original containers, of course. Geesh!

I have to agree that the bartenders are outstanding. I like a glass of wine before dinner, but other than that we just sit at the bar sipping sodas and enjoying the atmosphere. The bartenders were every bit as attentive to us (with our cheap sodas) as they were to people who were spending more.

I liked your story about the paper carnation - what a superb extra touch. Those people really ARE amazing!

[purr_30]

Since I haven't been on HAL YET, (oct 15) I will add my "WOW" when we return.

On another cruise line I was amazed that after the first night in the dining room I never had to ask for salad, tea or preferred dinner roll for the rest of the cruise.

After all the great things I read about HAL, I am sure they will top that though.

[RuthC]

First HAL cruise? Well, it was so long ago now, let me try and remember.
I was youngandsingleandgorgeous and was keeping company with an officer I met on board. He treated me very well. ;)

Since then I was very, very impressed when my husband and I boarded the Statendam well over a year after our cruise on the Rotterdam. As we exited the forward elevator and headed toward the pool we heard a voice call out from the pool bar "Norm! Ruth! The usual?" The steward from the Rotterdam had the names and the drinks right.

[ozland]

. . . and the waiters up at the buffet who memorize all those names and greet you by name thereafter!

Does anyone remember "Happy, happy?" :)

[missygirl]

First HAL cruise? Well, it was so long ago now, let me try and remember.
I was youngandsingleandgorgeous and was keeping company with an officer I met on board. He treated me very well. ;)

Since then I was very, very impressed when my husband and I boarded the Statendam well over a year after our cruise on the Rotterdam. As we exited the forward elevator and headed toward the pool we heard a voice call out from the pool bar "Norm! Ruth! The usual?" The steward from the Rotterdam had the names and the drinks right.

Ruth, that is amazing after a year since you had cruised. I was impressed this May on the Oosterdam when our steward interduced himself after only minutes of arriving inside our cabin. Every other time the entire trip when he saw us he would greet us by our first and last names. We have cruised before and no one remembered us like he did.

Missygirl:)

[riz]

In the restaurant BF orders rice usually with all of his meals. The first night the rice was not very good...he said it was like minute rice (I cannot tell...to me rice is rice but he is Asian and a bit of a rice snob) The maitre d came by our table that night and BF basically said to him "You guys must all eat rice ...you don't eat this do you ?"(joking of course) ...for every meal after that the waiters went out of their way to get orders of dishes and rice that they eat...without us asking....and BF said they were excellent....in particular not at all the same rice that was served the first night. It almost became a novelty for them to make sure BF was getting a "taste" of the different Indonesian dishes every night.

[ger_77]

On the Prinsendam we enjoyed going to the Explorer's Lounge after dinner to listen to the Champagne Strings and have a coffee and Sambuca - along with the requisite chocolates. :D We did this for the first and second evenings, and on the third evening we arrived to find a little table set aside with flowers, chocolates, coffee and Sambuca set up for us. The fellows with the bass and violin came over and serenaded us at our table each evening after that, and we always had our favorite beverages waiting for us. The memories of those after dinner concerts will say with us forever. Whenever we want to relive the memory, we simply insert the CD that we purchased from the Champagne Strings, and we're transported back onboard.

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[Sunshine91]

I was youngandsingleandgorgeous

Ruth - I'm sure you still are. :)

[Sunshine91]

I'm noticing a trend here. And our experience echoes everyone else's. Our very first HAL cruise on the previous Noordam was an incentive John was awarded from his job - we only had to pay for our onboard expenses. We had SO much fun we came home & w/in a month booked Veendam for the next year. On that trip we got to talking to a bar steward in the show lounge. We had met his brother the year before on Noordam. Well, the steward on Veendam was just so tickled that he made us one of those little dutch hats, decorating it with fabric paint. It shows the Veendam, dates, port calls, our names - its beautiful. It's such a treasure. It all comes down to the staff on HAL, doesn't it? :)

Now, about those Champagne Strings in the ExLounge. John & I have always found other things to do after dinner. I can't believe we've never stopped in there. I'm reading such good things about that place & now that I know that's where the chocolate is hidden - we're gonna check that out come January! Thanks folks. ;)

[AAAAmerican]

In the restaurant BF orders rice usually with all of his meals. The first night the rice was not very good...he said it was like minute rice (I cannot tell...to me rice is rice but he is Asian and a bit of a rice snob) The maitre d came by our table that night and BF basically said to him "You guys must all eat rice ...you don't eat this do you ?"(joking of course) ...for every meal after that the waiters went out of their way to get orders of dishes and rice that they eat...without us asking....and BF said they were excellent....in particular not at all the same rice that was served the first night. It almost became a novelty for them to make sure BF was getting a "taste" of the different Indonesian dishes every night.


Was it BASMATI ?

Have you been to Mainland China? Taipei?

[AAAAmerican]

[QUOTE=Sunshine91] pleasure treasure. It all comes down to the staff on HAL, doesn't it? :)

Such a truism in so many things...

It does come to that..
Service is what sells the products.. and keeps everyone in line coming back for more...

[riz]

AAAAmerican -

I am not sure what kind of rice it was....could have been basmati but I never tried it. It was just plain white rice.

I have never been to Taipei or mainland China but BF travels there for work every few months.

[kakalina]

For us it was being invited to the Captain's VIP party on our very first cruise. We were ignorant newbies and were positive that someone had made an error.We have a common sur name and just knew it was meant for someone else. I had visions of being turned away at the door and other embarrassing scenarios. It was for us and we were treated so wonderfully by everyone there. We enjoyed it so much and it made us feel so special. But then HAL always does. That is why we all go back again and again, isn't it?

[cruise pup]

Deleted - The op asked for "pleasant" surprises.

[happy cruzer]

I remember being amazed by the fresh flower arrangements. I had heard there were fresh flowers on board. Ok I thought one arrangement in the lobby and some in the dining room.

So when I found them in almost every public room and in the buffet tooo. Very nice. We have lots of pictures of the most unique arrangements.

When people compare the different cruiselines, I often wonder how long the beautiful arrangements would last on some of the bigger, rowdier ships.

Fresh flowers ..... lovely.

[RuthC]

Ruth - I'm sure you still are. :)
Thank you for the thought, Susan, but sadly it's only one out of three now. :( And arguably the least desirable "one" at that! :rolleyes:
Ah well, as the new Fats Domino recording says: I'm Alive and Kickin". :)