HAL Maniner Pins?

[missygirl]

We will shortly be receiving our docs for our upcoming cruise, our fourth with HAL. My question is we have always had the pins inside to wear showing we are maniners. Our second trip our TA said to make sure to wear them for we would be be receiving acknowledgements, perks ect...
We wore these proudly into the port and onto the ship without a glance from any crew or officer. My question is what are they really for other to maybe wear when they have the pin and medalion ceremony? Last cruise I left them at home because they had been usless and I didn't want to set off the airport scanner.

Missygirl

[doone]

I have never received any type of mariner acknowledgement or perks. There are too many mariners now to single us out. You will always find my dad proudly wearing his.

[missygirl]

Our TA stressed to me in her office the day I picked up our docs about the possible perks. When I entered the Oosterdam heading to Alaska, with my pin on I was all but struting and didn't get a glance, nothing, nada. I'm just curious what their purpose are?

Missygirl

[grannynurse]

The metal pins that were coming with the cruise docs serve no purpose at all. The separate round Mariner tags were also used for luggage with the regular tags, but now the luggage tags (rectangular) are all that are issued.
In the past many thought the way your TA thought. The only Mariner pins and medals that have any significance are the ones you receive at the ceremony. 25 and 50 day pins are delivered to your cabin before the Mariner awards party. Higher levels receive them at the party.
GN

[jhannah]

If HAL wanted to trim the budget, they could start with these big Mariner buttons. They should dump them. I know they've already paid for what they have in stock, but they don't need to keep paying postage/shipping charges sending them out. GN is right ... they serve no purpose at all.

[bruceh4]

The mariner buttons do have one useful purpose. It allows me to identify who is on their second cruise!!!!! They like you have been told by their TA that they have meaning and they walk around deck with them for a few days wondering why nothing has happened!!! Other than that they are useless.

[doorcountydi]

I wear mine on check-in and at the Mariner ceremony... it's not that it really GETS me anything different, or that I'm TREATED any different (or that I want to be treated any different), it's just that I'm happy to be a loyal HAL cruiser. ;)

My sister and I were eyeing the Queen as far as taking a cruise there, but found out they still have the "caste" system, with just about everything separated out between the have-a-lots and the have-mediums. I didn't like that, so no Queen. I don't think I'd like it even if I were a have-a-lot.

Diane

[ekerr19]

I have often wondered why people were wearing these pins for the duration of the cruise… now I know; thanks!

There is no special significance attached to them – we have a drawer full.

I wear my copper medallion to the Mariner’s award ceremony and that’s it.

[eh2zed]

We toss them out as soon as the docs arrive. It strictly is a feel good item for those that feel good about wearing them. They do seem a waste.:) :D :D :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

It has been years and many, many cruises since I even took those metal pins along with us. We wore them once on our second HAL cruise. Then the crew recognized you as a repeat passenger.

Now -- nothing - no perks.

[jtl513]

I know this isn't always true (as doorcountydi just pointed out), but I thiink most of the pax wearing them are on their 2nd HAL cruise, first as a Mariner. Otherwise, 60% of most HAL cruisers would be wearing them. :)

[mr green]

The first time that I saw a cruiser wearing a pin, I asked him what it was for. His answer! 'I'ts just HAL's way of saying that I spent too much money with them! :)

john

[prescottbob]

Ahoy!
Since we often need to fly to embarkation ports and need to meet the current airline weight restrictions the HAL buttons were the first items to be 'trashed'.

Bon Voyage and Good Health!
Bob:)

[Copper10-8]

Ahoy!
Since we often need to fly to embarkation ports and need to meet the current airline weight restrictions the HAL buttons were the first items to be 'trashed'.

Bon Voyage and Good Health!
Bob:)

Good move, Bob since those puppies come in at a hefty weight!;)

For what it's worth, we got our docs last week and there were no Mariners buttons with them. Couldn't sleep that night:(

[jtl513]

For what it's worth, we got our docs last week and there were no Mariners buttons with them. Couldn't sleep that night:(
I think at this point you should start sending them two buttons each time you book!! :D

[earl_m]

I see nothing wrong wearing them. I put the pin on the first day and i put it away after that.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

For what it's worth, we got our docs last week and there were no Mariners buttons with them. Couldn't sleep that night:(



Ahhh John, that is too bad, if it makes you feel better I will send you the two I just got with our Noordam Docs;)

Like others have stated the Pin does nothing but identify those on the 2nd cruise but..... I was on one cruise last November on the Zaandam that to my amazement we saw passengers all over the ship wearing them. I thought surely there was just a lot of second time cruisers on board till we went to the Mariners Reception to my amazement there were several in the line with Medallions getting ready to enter wearing these pins:eek: But that was the only time I witnessed this strange occurance.

[jtl513]

to my amazement there were several in the line with Medallions getting ready to enter wearing these pins:eek: But that was the only time I witnessed this strange occurance.Now that you've jogged my memory: on our last HAL cruise I saw a couple wearing the buttons and smugly thought "Newbies!" That night they were presented with their Platinum 700 day medallions! :eek:

[missygirl]

The mariner buttons do have one useful purpose. It allows me to identify who is on their second cruise!!!!! They like you have been told by their TA that they have meaning and they walk around deck with them for a few days wondering why nothing has happened!!! Other than that they are useless.

Exactly, it was our second cruise when the TA told us to wear them. I thought I was hot stuff, really.:p I was niave enough to think the pins meant something. I knew how many people were onboard and repeaters but still thought someone would acknowledge us. Wrong...

Then I was embarrassed when I noticed no one cared and quickly took them off.:o

Missygirl

[hammybee]

Ahoy!
Since we often need to fly to embarkation ports and need to meet the current airline weight restrictions the HAL buttons were the first items to be 'trashed'.

Bon Voyage and Good Health!
Bob:)

Good one:)

[RustaRoo]

Now that you've jogged my memory: on our last HAL cruise I saw a couple wearing the buttons and smugly thought "Newbies!" Likewise, on my last Alaskan cruise, I had the pleasure of dining with two widowed sisters-in-law. They had been cruising for umpteen years as a foursome and after their husband's deaths they chose to continue with their cruise adventures. They were sweet little old ladies:D and every single night, including when they dressed formally, front and centre were their big ugly blue Mariner pins! I got a real chuckle from them and we had so many delightful dinner conversations! I ran into one of them in the Red Dog Saloon in Juneau, sitting at the end of the bar, sipping her beer, having the time of her life. She told me that night at dinner that she does the Alaska tours twice a year and never gets off the ship, unless it is in Juneau and she can go to the Red Dog Saloon. Gotta love her!

[JohnQ]

We just came back from back to back on Volendam and had sailed before on Statendam. When the pins came, I did't know what we were supposed to do with them? Especially when they are plastic and 2 inches across!!! So we left them in the envelop at home, but did see a few being worn on ship. Caste system seems about right. We had some on cruise that had over 400 days.