Woofbite

19 hours ago, iancal said:

I would very much suspect that even $130. does not come close to reflecting  the real cost of processing, issuing, and forwarding a passport.

 

It is a bargain at $130.

I'm sure you're right since it is the Federal Government doing it.

14 hours ago, Torquer said:

I really don't understand most of people's posts above.  It has nothing to do with what it costs HAL to serve us the food in the MDR.

 

If I go to a nice restaurant on land, I would pay around $40 USD for what I get in the MDR.  So I can pay $0 extra (over what I paid for the cruise) and get the equivalent of a $40 meal in a restaurant.  Or I can pay $39 extra to eat in the Pinnacle Grill over the $0 meal I get in the MDR.  That means the Pinnacle Grill has to be equal to a $79 meal in normal restaurant.  Well, the food and service is very good in the PG but in my opinion, it is simply not worth $79.

Don't forget, more and more items in the specialty restaurants cost an additional $10 to $20 or more supplement if you order them. 

8 hours ago, nimiq said:

Hello,

 

I think your the first person that I here from that complained about the Rotterdam. 
 

Not sure what you mean with downgrade entertainment ? Is having BB King,Lincoln Stage,Rock room,Billboard onboard plus the new interesting Half moon bar a downgrade to you ? 
 

Downgrade in food also needs to be explained ? 
 

Downgrade of staffing what do you mean by that ? 
 

It looks like you are very angry about not having the discount and took it to an other level by being negative of all the rest that was offered to you. 
 

Don’t forget you are a privileged person being able to travel these days as still lots Of people can’t. 
 

#behappy

 

 

Wow, did you miss the point.  I said nothing specific about the Rotterdam.  It is a magnificent new ship but every Holland America Ship, every cruise, every night now has the same entertainment: music music and dance, music and old BBC TV shows from 2006 and an occasional movie in the big theater.  Not everyones preference.

Food has definitely taken a downgrade unless you want to pay a hefty surcharge for what used to be included.  I'm sure someone on here has sample menus that make the point.

Staff in the dining room was running around like crazy trying to handle drinks, food service, refills, special requests, clean up and all the rest.  First night took over two hours for dinner.  It wasn't leisurely, it was slow.  Maître d apoligized and things slowly improved after that as more and more people, (our party included),  chose to eat in the Lido, Dive Inn and elsewhere.

Room steward said they now had 40 cabins to maintain.  Last cruise a couple of years ago they had 26.  Now encouraging once-a-day service.  Chocolates eliminated aside from Gala nights.  (Okay, so it 's minor - it's still a downgrade).

Not sure what your comment about being privileged has to do with anything.  Should we all mourn,     wear sack cloth and stay home in sympathy with those still unable to travel.  Yes I feel sorry for them and yes I'm thankful I can now waste my money once again on frivolous things such as cruising  where it helps numerous families in Indonesia, the Phillipines. various Islands and poor countries around the world.

I'm not angry with HAL, just disappointed.  I know it's a business but they used to be really special.  Now just somewhat less so in my opinion.

23 hours ago, taxmantoo said:

Modern??? Crepes Suzette have been around since the 1800's 😏

I'm talking about the ones made since flame was outlawed on ships.   Who knows how long they are made in advance.  Just lukewarm crepes with orange sauce.  No wherenear the real thing.

8 minutes ago, zounds said:

Our bdg. time has gone from 2 pm to l:40 to 1:00 to 1:20 for the New Am. Dec. 4th.  We are only 1-star Mariner, but we still intend to arrive at pier at about 12:30 and hope for the best.  Have to wonder why all the changes.  What's your experience ?  Thanks.

Our experience on the Rotterdam a couple of weeks ago was that nobody was checking times.  By the time you got to the front of the line you were well past your appointed time anyway so it didn't matter. 

13 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

And, why should that be?  

 

I have not ordered that dessert.  I have always ordered Crepes Suzette and have always been pleased.  (But, I do miss the flambe table side preparation that once was possible to have been done.)

I personally really don't like these modern things.  They seem like nothing but pancakes and marmalade.

Just returned from the Rotterdam and discovered Rudi's is no longer eligible for a discount for 3 star or above members.

What other negative changes have they made while I was asleep?

It is really sad how HAL seems to be downgrading everything about their cruises from entertainment to food quality to

staffing and now their already meager award program.

(Has Mariner 4 status always required 200 days?  I seem to remember in ancient times it was less.  For a single, that translates

to about a $100,000 spent and they can't even discount their seafood restaurant 50%?)

23 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

What cabin category are you in?  Sometimes that makes a difference.  Also, cabin avialibility may be an issue.

Category DD as a single. Thanks for all the advice.   I'll follow up again. 

I inquired about Club Orange on the 21 day Spitzbergen next June and it is only $315 but the HAL agent said there wasn't an upgrade promotion available for my reservation.

On 11/23/2021 at 10:51 AM, sevenseasnomad said:

Oh, boy.  Can't wait.  Now, if only they'd reintroduce chocolate bread pudding. . .  I can dream, right?

As far as I know it was available along with the plain each day on the Rotterdam last week

On your main booking page, go to Cruise Activities and the line that shows Specialty Dining, Dining Packages, Spa, etc. Scroll to the right and there should be a Beverages header.  Click on it and it will show a list of various packages and at the bottom are beers and spirits, (most over $70 and up - outragous but certainly cheaper than by-the-drink prices on board>)

I used it last week on the Rotterdam in Ft. Lauderdale.  Earliest flight departure was set at 11:00 a.m.  My flight was at 11:03.  Worked perfectly.  Set baggate outside cabin before midnight, didn't see it again until baggage claim at destination.  Great service and for me well worth the $25.

Last week on the Rotterdam it was at the opposite end of the Sweet Spot ice cream bar where all the bread stuff is. (They also had some sugar free pie and cake there).  There was vanilla and chocolate

bread puddings.  I think they changed their recipe a few years ago because it just doesn't seem to taste as good for some reason.  Maybe they stopped putting vanilla in the sauce or maybe my taste has changed.

Is it possible to have a few mixers, a bottle of vodka and some decent snacks, (not the standard  bare shrimp, cheese/jelly stuff available as indulgences),  waiting in a suite for sailaway with 7 people?

Waiter said we have 1900 on board for Nov. 10 cruise.  

6 minutes ago, CRu1853!! said:

A question for some of the experienced flyers. I have been checking Flight Ease for cross country flights to Alaska for next May.

Some of the options have stops for as short as 35 minutes! Can this realistically be done? Thanks for your help in this.

Depends on where but can always be risky these days.

On 10/30/2021 at 7:30 AM, sansterre said:

Headed to the Pinnacle for lunch.  Seth had a HAL trivia the day we missed Azores and our team won.  The prize is lunch at the Pinnacle.

 

What?  No longer any fabulous, collectable HAL pins?  Oh, the humanity of it....

Time to consider other cruise lines I guess.

15 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Experienced that; didn't work then.  Many, including me, still offered gratuities to those whom I felt deserved them.  An advertising gimmick for HAL as the company transitioned from Holland America Line to Holland America Cruises, in my opinion.  

 

These cruise offers with "gratuities included" always make me wonder what percentage of guests still tip.  And, what about the "all inclusive cruise lines" where, I understand, no gratuity is expected by any of the staff?  

And now that tips are charged, many including me still offer gratuties on top of the included tips. I expect in a few years it will be expected of all passengers or they will be considered chintzy.  Seems to be the natural progression of things.  In the U.S.take out restaurant and curbside delivery people expect tips and an area is included on all credit card charge areas.  Even fast food counters have tip jars.  To top it off, Mariott Hotels now asks guests to tip room attendants on their $300 a night room because maids are so poorly paid.  Totally out of hand.

Got a single guarantee Neptune category SC on Nieuw Amsterdam next april for $3,673,  I think that was a bargain.

21 hours ago, mcrcruiser said:

We are finding that HAL cruises are more expensive than either Princess or Carnival cruises to  the same locations  . Are there ways to get better prices on HAL cruises ?

Find a great travel agent.  Good ones can almost always save you 8-10 percent plus various onboard credits and freebies.

I can only assume those who insist on paying TA's full price with no discount or OBC also pay full published rates for hotel rooms, rental cars, brochure prices for cruises and sticker prices for new car purchases.  After all, even large companies are nothing but collections of individual people  trying to eke out a living for their families.

9 hours ago, atexsix said:

Why would he not be alive? Were Ahab and Ishmael nearby?

 

Whales are protected.

Covid lockdown?
 

11 hours ago, roxybear135 said:

I forgot to mention we also did afternoon tea which I remember really enjoying from my last HAL cruise. Now they bring you a little tower of plates with desserts and some savory sandwiches. All of it was delicious and I recommend going to afternoon tea at some point during your cruise (they have it multiple times during the week) 

Is that biscuit sandwich what passes now for scones, jam and real clotted cream? 

On 8/15/2021 at 1:08 PM, rizello said:

.  Tomorrow we go on a 4 hour bus/walking tour excursion so we are hoping for the best.

On those walking tours are there places for limited walkers to sit and drink coffee or at least sit and wait while the group finishes their hike?

10 hours ago, Crew News said:

That is what my PCC told me, too.

10 hours ago, oaktreerb said:

If you are in a Neptune you have Club Orange benefits (except for the onboard event).

 

It is my understanding that there is  a limited number of Club Orange memberships available.

Can't figure out why they restrict Neptune from the attending the CO onboard event.  Seems like a very minor thing to bother limiting.