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@SueMo thank you, I've been struggling with trying to say what you said so well and so clearly 👍 We have met several people who were very concerned about getting the "most for their money". Pre-Covid, one couple spent the entire welcome-aboard lunch talking about how they'd gotten a free promo on the beverage package and how they would work it to their advantage. They had 3 drinks each over the course of about an hour. They were unsteady on their feet when they left the dining room, with their firmed-up plan for getting the most for their money 🙂 Saw them the next day, and it was OBVIOUS they were getting the most for their money. I have no idea if they drank like that at home, but that free beverage package was obviously a high point for their vacation.

Yes, and my experience is that you pay the upsell price for 2 pax.

Our favorites parts are the complimentary laundry and dry cleaning, breakfast in the Pinnacle Grill, the personalized attention from the Neptune concierges, and the great nibbly food in the Neptune Lounge throughout the day. Congratulations on the upsell! Have a great time.

Pronounced "Bouquet", spelled "Bucket" 😄

I can sympathize. We made the mistake of taking a cruise over American Thanksgiving too. It was very busy. Now I check the dates for American Thanksgiving before I book a cruise. We do not want a repeat of that one experience.

1. Wish list -- Asia 2. Smoked salmon eggs benedict, gorgonzola and lemon pasta offered at a Welcome Aboard lunch once, creme brulee 3. Less sparkly, usually a little black dress, DH wears a suit

We tortured ourselves watching this episode recently (can't remember which channel). I cried to see the crew welcoming people aboard. Won't make that mistake again. We aren't cruising until mid-2023.

The stuff-a-bag option worked well for us, you'd be amazed at how much you can get into one of those bags. Trust me, if my DH thinks it is a good deal (he does think that), it's a good deal 😉

Yes, similar has happened to us, and we don't have the vast cruising experience you and many others on CC have. It was many years ago on a Caribbean cruise. I don't remember the details.

When we left the MDR on the second night of our cruise, I announced quite loudly while standing up from the table that I was DONE with the dining room. As I stormed off, DH behind me, one of the "someones" came running over to the table and asked the man who'd been seated across from me why HE was upset. So yeah, for us the gong show continued 😄

As others have said, your Mariner status shouldn't matter at all. An acceptable level of service should be standard. On our last cruise, before Covid, our MDR late seating was ridiculously bad. We thought we were in the trainee section. Table of 8. Appetizers were served randomly, with long waits between deliveries, so 1 or 2 of us would have our app in front of us, and everyone else would be waiting 10 or more minutes. Then another 1 or 2 would arrive. Repeat, repeat. The same happened with the main courses and desserts. After the second night with no improvement, we asked to be moved to a different section. The service in that section was perfect. Service should be at least "good" everywhere in the dining room. I'm sorry you had such an awful experience.

Since the daily gratuity has increased I would think (JMHO) that what you were tipping previously would still be fine.

Is that writing on the bars at the bottom, or a design? If it is words, they may provide some info. Got a jewellers' loupe?

What a shame for the people who thought they would be boarding 😞

I'm pretty sure that a long time ago, RuthC mentioned she was Platinum, so definitely she's over 4* I think she's pretty modest about that. As I said, I think she's mentioned it only once or twice, unlike some posters who regularly mention their status. Working as a house cleaner has shown me that some of the people who say the least are the ones who have the best reasons to say plenty, and choose to not say it. I suspect some of the highest status cruisers, best tippers, and most highly respected members of their home communities never mention it on Cruise Critic. PS --- I'm looking forward to an opportunity to cruise from SD again. Won't be soon, but it will happen 😃

As you note, many things have changed, post-COVID, and not just travel. I'm not pleased with most of the changes. I can adjust or be unhappy -- those are my choices. I'm working on adjusting but I'm having difficulty with many of the adjustments. I am prepared to try whatever the new iteration of cruising is, and will try to have an open mind.

Not much in life is perfect. Do I think HAL is perfect? No. Don't like a grocery store? Don't like your church? Don't like the nearest fast-food place? Don't like your barber? Don't like HAL? Move on. Please. If, when we return to cruising, we find HAL is no longer a good fit, we will find another cruiseline. Or adapt to the new HAL. It seems like some of the people who repeat their list of complaints multiple times ARE threatening to move to other cruise lines, and I think that's a positive for those of us who will sail HAL in the future 😉

There's an option to filter by port of call. Might that work?

Thanks very much @Navybikermom ! I've been on that deck previously and the noise from the promenade deck hasn't been an issue. Your reassurance is just what I needed. 🙂 And I'll check halfacts.

We are considering booking HH 3417 on the Zaandam. I know it is smaller than a regular OV, but the HHs are about the only cabins in our price range. My concern is noise from above. Would appreciate hearing your experience and/or thoughts on this cabin. Also, I would appreciate any other suggestions for an HH that would not be subjected to noise from above. Thanks in advance.

We've been on both, and like both. For me, the itinerary would be the deciding factor. If the itinerary is identical, the NA would get a slight edge because it has the Tamarind restaurant.

IMHO the best value (which may not be exactly what you are looking for) is lunch in the Pinnacle Grill. There is a cost, but the value is much greater than the cost, IMHO. My DH agrees, and like you he is "economical" 😉 If you like wine, check out the wine packages that are offered. For me, they also offer good value. YMMV.

In the past (pre-COVDI), using a PCC, we received email offers. I have no idea how it works now, or how it works when using a TA.

The Signature Suite has more space than the verandah cabin, but not much in additional perks. The Neptune has more space and some nice perks. We started with Oceanviews, moved to a few Verandahs, and have had the good fortune to get reasonably-priced paid upsells to Signatures and Neptunes. We have moved backed to booking Oceanviews, having learned we don't use the verandah enough to justify the price difference. We would very likely take a reasonably-priced paid upsell to a Nepture if offered for the additional space, the complimentary dry cleaning 😉 and to have access to the Neptune Lounge. We have figured out we care more about the ports and the ocean than we care about the accommodation and perks. So my question to you is, what component(s) do you care about most? IMHO that's where to start in making your decision about whether to change to a higher category.

What ship?