What is wrong with HMC ?

[peaches from georgia]

Having a dock at HMC would be great. Not only because a lot of pax hate to tender, but because so often when the weather is beautiful the water is too choppy to tender. We are only 50% being able to tender into HMC and each day the ship had to turn around and leave the sun was out and it was a gorgeous day. But too choppy to tender.

DH will go over for a quick swim when possible; I stay on the ship. We don't cruise for beaches anymore. Much rather stop at another island or spend an overnight at one of our favorites depending on the itinerary.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Originally Posted by Typhoon1

I think many of the veteran cruisers who have been to HMC numerous times are choosing to spend a relaxing day on board the ship.

There have already been beach stops on most cruises. It's just another beach stop.

Absolutely right.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Originally Posted by VermeulT

Personally - I think they've ruined the true beauty of the place with the shipwreck and two story villas. It's not what it once was. its kind of like going back to the house you grew up in... it's just not the same as the "good old days"

Very true.

Our first stops there -- no cabanas at all.

It was so lovely.

I hate the Pirate Ship.

Haven't seen the new 2 story cabanas yet. But just looking at the pictures -- I don't like the looks of them either.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have missed HMC quite a few times.

A dock like Disney and RCI has -- that would be great.

[Cruising-along]

Originally Posted by cheyenna

HI ..we have done the horse back riding and it is a blast...enjoy!

Thank you! Always good to hear that. We're really looking forward to it!

[Tampa Girl]

Originally Posted by G&G

Based on conversations with people in the know, it will not happen in my lifetime

I don't know about your lifetime, but I am sure that it won't happen in mine. Nonetheless, we do have a new Port Director, for whatever that is worth.

[TheDarkestBlue]

Originally Posted by sail7seas

I agree......... 78 degree water is not quite warm enough for us. We like low 80's.

Me too! Having grown up at the beach here in the NE, I used to jump in on Memorial Day (60's f?) It was Bermuda in the summertime that spoiled me!



The island is so pretty, but HMC would be much better without the tendering. The insane line to get off the ship combined with the limited time ashore (2:30 all aboard), it's not that much fun. Having to tender has other setbacks in addition to the sea conditions determining if you can get there or not, I found each time a boat comes in or out, it shoots the diesel smell of the engines onto the beach, the wind direction was coming right at us in November, plus the wake it creates stirs up the water a bit. The BBQ was not good, maybe one of the worst burgers ever for me, could not eat it, picinic tables covered in ants. Bathrooms were worn out with broken handles, doors, etc... had been looking forward to it from all the descriptions, as I love the beach, but just - meh. The 2 story cabanas look like mini condo's on the shore, the price of the cabana is just over the top for what it is. Sad to say, I can see why people stay on the ship

[sail7seas]

Originally Posted by Krazy Kruizers

Very true.

Our first stops there -- no cabanas at all.

It was so lovely.

I hate the Pirate Ship.

Haven't seen the new 2 story cabanas yet. But just looking at the pictures -- I don't like the looks of them either.

We saw the two story cabanas and they look so out of place. The unspoiled, beautiful beach at HMC is becoming less so what with the 'improvememnts'. Hope it is all worth it to HAL as it has very much changed the experience and beauty IMO

[sail7seas]

We've been told it is possible to build a dock at HMC but would be extremely costly. I am sure that comes as no surprise to anyone. Nor would any of us be surprised if that is the reason HAL won't be building a dock anytime soon. IMO

[Krazy Kruizers]

Carnival is paying for all these "new" improvements" from what I have been told.

And Carnival passengers pay less to rent the Cabanas. Every time I read on another board, there are wait lists for the Carnival people to rent them.

[sail7seas]

Carnival guests pay considerably less for the cabanas and the excursions.

[gelo7]

Love HMC...

[Taxguy77]

Originally Posted by catl331

we have been there on most Caribbean cruises. Now my husbands gets off early, walks down the beach and takes a picture of the ship out in the water and comes back. He is not a beach person. Atlantic ocean is just a walk from our home. Nice and quiet on the ship.

I think due to elderly passengers that may have trouble with tenders, walking on sand and even nutritional no-noes, some passengers are staying on board. Also if Half Moon is at the end of the cruise, maybe they have had enough and wanted to relax on board.

Best part of the lunch is cookies and you can get them in the Lido!!

Several people have said the BBQ was not interesting to them, but none were from Texas, or other BBQ part of the country. But when you say "Best part of the lunch is cookies" something is horribly wrong with the island!

[TheDarkestBlue]

Originally Posted by Taxguy77

Several people have said the BBQ was not interesting to them, but none were from Texas, or other BBQ part of the country.

I LOVE real BBQ and we have some excellent places to eat it (I am sure it pales in comparison to what you can get), but trust me, this ain't no Texas (or any other Southern) BBQ... this was burgers, hot dogs, some awful looking (I assume) beef... a salad that I still don't know what was in it. I gave up and ate on the ship.

[Jalex63]

While my wife and I have been ashore at HMC a couple of times, we feel there is nothing much to do there if you are not beach people, which we are not. We also found the BBQ to be quite poor and facilities on shore lacking and therefore we now stay aboard and have a relaxing day with a much smaller crowd on that stop.

However, we have noted on recent cruises that more and more people are staying aboard and therefore the ship remains much more crowded than it used to. I think that part of the issue is that with the amount of repeat cruisers on HAL most have "been there - done that" to the point that HMC is no longer appealing to a lot of people.

[Typhoon1]

Originally Posted by cruisetrail

The only thing that can be wrong with HMC is the weather.

We've never seen bad weather or high winds on our visits. I guess we have been lucky.

[G&G]

Since I started this thread I wish to make the following comments concerning the responses.

We have lived in Florida over 40 years and we are beach people. I grew up only two hours from the most beautiful beaches in the world; between Panama City & Destin, Florida. There were no condo's and only one motel between the two cities in the 50's. So HMC is paradise to us and will always be paradise.

Tendering to HMC use to be a problem but since HAL uses local tenders not ship's tenders, the commute is very easy. Last month we got on the tender on "A" deck, there were no stairs and a gangway three (3) feet wide to board the tender. No Problem.

I too do not like the two story cabana or the shipwreck bar but it is a very small area of the beach. 90-95% of the beach is lined with trees and white sand. There is a beach on the east side of the island that has no structures, lounge chairs or people.

The food at lunch is ok, not the greatest but it is a barbecue so I do not expect anything special; unless you go on a Grand Voyage or even the Voyage of the Viking. On our 2012 VOV cruise, HAL had barbecues around the Lido pool that included salmon, alaska king crabs (the whole crab), lobster and lobster tails, jumbo shrimp, steaks, etc. The difference was is that those cruises are very pricey.

I will always enjoy HMC even if we are the only passengers that go there !