Best "Meet & Greet" on Noordam 11/27/08 & 12/07/08 sailings

[G&G]

Just completed 20 days on the Noordam 11/27/08 to 12/17/08. My wife & I attended two "Meet & Greet" Parties for the Cruise Critics. Both parties were the best ever; attended by 40-50.

Hal provided drinks and food at the Crow's Nest. The Captain, Hotel Manager, Cruise Director & Culinary Manager attended the party.

One Cool Chile (Linda) did a great job organizing 2nd party (12/9/08). She was able to get ten door prizes from various departments on ship including a free Pinnacle lunch, 2 gold bracelets, DAM sheet, DAM towel, etc.

Thanks again to HAL & Linda

G&G

[rebeljohn]

We were at the 11/27 sailing CC party.................55 in attendance. Very nice, indeed.............You can see Cool Chile in a couple of the pics........with her DoDads on her head.............
http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/44045/2936630550041895530S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2936630550041895530SCEIdH)
http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/42370/2379922890041895530S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2379922890041895530ONGtxO)
http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/44346/2967556710041895530S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2967556710041895530DMQcnp)
http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/44427/2188737670041895530S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2188737670041895530gkodTq)
http://inlinethumb05.webshots.com/18820/2981976660041895530S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2981976660041895530JqxiEL)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Great Pictures!!

We were also fortunate to have 2 wonderful Meet & Greet parties on our Eurodam cruises.

And the people who put them together (different people for each cruise) were very surprised to when they were informed that they had been "upgraded" to cold appetizers and wines, champagnes, mimosas.


Would be nice to see this on all HAL ships.

[CoolChile]

Omygosh, G&G, just poked my head out of a snowbank and caught your sweet post. m_steve and rebeljohn did a good job of rounding a big bunch of us up for ms Noordam's Nov 27 sailing Meet 'n' Greet, and I loved plotting and planning for our Dec 7 sailing one. HAL's officers and managers were so wonderful to us and helped make it memorable for both newbie and recidivist cruisers. :D

I had so many comments about HAL's generosity and involvement and obviously there are photos to prove it .... thanx rebeljohn. Oh, and by the way, you did a great review of the Nov 27 sailing. You DID seem to be having a good time every time Maggie and I saw you and Phyllis et al .... couldn't tell if it was because of the cigars or the rum. :p

[rebeljohn]

You DID seem to be having a good time every time Maggie and I saw you and Phyllis et al .... couldn't tell if it was because of the cigars or the rum. :p

I had an EXCELLENT time on our cruise. I think it was a combo of three of my favorite things, Rum......Cigar.......Wife.........YUM!

[mamaofami]

Glad to hear that HAL treated you so well at the Noordam meet and greet. The Crow's Nest is looking good. We're looking forward to the same good time when we cruise on her on 1/23.

[Djptcp]

It was a fabulous party and the best we have ever attended on any ship. Thanks for posting the photos, RebelJohn -- I found myself in several. Left our camera in the cabin that morning, so I appreciate you having some.

[m steve]

I never thought about them for our cruises for the M&G. I'll contact the shops and Pinnacle on the first night for my Feb. Cruise. It's nice to have a few hellos from the group as you travel the ship or an island. We prefer to dine by ourselves.

[rebeljohn]

Perhaps, Steve, you could give away some of the rhum you bought in Martinique...............:D

[spcl4cs_gal]

CoolChile just how hard did you have to twist HAL arms to get those door prizes for your M&G?? :confused:

[m steve]

No way, I had to lug that stuff all over Port de France and back to the ship.

[rebeljohn]

No way, I had to lug that stuff all over Port de France and back to the ship.

Rich and I bought 8 different rums between us. He had a large bag hanging on his motorized wheelchair. It was nice not having to tote them around.........

[kakalina]

Welcome home G&G, glad to hear you had a great time. Looks like a wonderful M&G. Connie, I saw a pix of you but not Rick.

Happy Holidays and good to see you posting.

[CoolChile]

CoolChile just how hard did you have to twist HAL arms to get those door prizes for your M&G?? :confused:

I think it's all about making connections actually, spcl4cs_gal. As you know, you have to touch base with the Onboard Events Coordinator in Seattle prior to sailing. In my case this time, that was Arica Hawley, who was friendly and helpful. Onboard, I connected with the beverage manager, Mark Spijkerboer, who was extremely accomodating in assisting with the planning of our Meet & Greet. I am cautious about not expecting more than the basics (coffee, tea, and the famous HAL cookies) because really it's all about, well, meeting up with folks you've met here. But if and when the ship provides more, I consider it a generous gesture. HAL cannot be sure there is a "return" on such an "investment," but I know from talking to members of "my" meets that when HAL does provide more, or small items for draws, that people really do appreciate it.

Now (and you didn't ask me this I realize :o), does that translate into more "business" for HAL? I don't know, but I know it does contribute to setting a nice tone for people's cruise experience and that can't hurt.

OK, I know I turned this into a bit of a soliloquy but to answer your question more directly, all I did was just inquire about the possibility of items being contributed for draws at our Meet 'n' Greet. We had a few things donated, mostly HAL-logo'd things, from Mark and the cruise director (the superb Drew Murdoch), and a couple of others. The people were the best part; the items just added to the fun.

With all the snow in Victoria, how I wish I was still on the wonderful Noordam.

[spcl4cs_gal]

I think it's all about making connections actually, spcl4cs_gal. As you know, you have to touch base with the Onboard Events Coordinator in Seattle prior to sailing. In my case this time, that was Arica Hawley, who was friendly and helpful. Onboard, I connected with the beverage manager, Mark Spijkerboer, who was extremely accomodating in assisting with the planning of our Meet & Greet. I am cautious about not expecting more than the basics (coffee, tea, and the famous HAL cookies) because really it's all about, well, meeting up with folks you've met here. But if and when the ship provides more, I consider it a generous gesture. HAL cannot be sure there is a "return" on such an "investment," but I know from talking to members of "my" meets that when HAL does provide more, or small items for draws, that people really do appreciate it.

Now (and you didn't ask me this I realize :o), does that translate into more "business" for HAL? I don't know, but I know it does contribute to setting a nice tone for people's cruise experience and that can't hurt.

OK, I know I turned this into a bit of a soliloquy but to answer your question more directly, all I did was just inquire about the possibility of items being contributed for draws at our Meet 'n' Greet. We had a few things donated, mostly HAL-logo'd things, from Mark and the cruise director (the superb Drew Murdoch), and a couple of others. The people were the best part; the items just added to the fun.

With all the snow in Victoria, how I wish I was still on the wonderful Noordam.


Thanks for the tips, CoolChile. At the past two M&Gs that I did on HAL ships, they provided us with hot and cold snackies as well as glasses of wine along with the usual beverages. It was quite a surprise for everyone considering we all thought we would be munching on cookies.

I agree with your comment about Drew...he is a superb CD. I'm not yet sure who will be our CD on the Westerdam in March. Last year it was Jason Venner and he was fabulous.