GeriatricNurse

2 hours ago, YXU AC*SE said:

 

The sky has not fallen.   Actually, what has has happened is the 8-pager NY Times has gone away and has been replaced w/ a similar publication called USA Today (not to be confused w/ the newspaper of the same name).   It seems to have been sporadically distributed in the public spaces on my last cruise -- but one may go to guest services and 'subscribe' to stateroom delivery.   The Canadian still exists as an available publication, which I sign up for delivery as well. The daily (now called When and Where) is still on your bed at turndown every night, although with the Navigator app on the larger ships, it becomes rather redundant and a waste of trees.  And one still has free internet access to read the NY Times online (for as long as that marketing relationship continues to exist.)     Scott. 

 

 

Scott, thank you very much for this info.  Ward

12 minutes ago, GRACECRUISE said:

We found Splenda hard to find on our Dec. NA cruise. Our first four days of 14 day  cruise it was in Lido and main dining room.  then gone.  

 

 I did find it in Explorations cafe when I would get morning coffee.  We only use in iced tea but I took a handful two morning and we took with us to lunch and dinner.  So it was on ship but only there.

 

I did mention on comment card.  There was pink and blue sugar but no yellow Splenda.  A couple nights later we were in Pinnacle grill.  A man dressed in a uniform came in and found our table.  He called me by name and told me he had been looking all over for me.  Guessing he was the supply master and he had a handful of Splenda for me.  Told me it had been misplaced when loaded and now found.  So for the rest of the cruise we had Splenda.

 

The cut that I hate is the morning paper.  My dad is 87 and loves to read the paper in morning.  With his coffee and chocolate croissant he would read the paper on the balcony and then do crossword and sudoku.  He can not read it on a phone. The little things they cut to those who have cruised for 10 years or more are the ones that hurt.

I am distressed to learn that the daily (news)bulletin/paper has been discontinued on HAL ships since I last cruised!  Is the HAL 'daily' still called 'EXPLORER'?

Where does one obtain towels on the Lido Deck, is there a limit how many may be taken and do you have to have them signed out, (like on NCL, where if they are not returned, you will charged $25 per towel)!

5 minutes ago, avian777 said:

Pinnacle Grill is $39 pp and Rudi's Sel de Mer is $50 pp, although a 20% discount is currently being offered for online bookings for our January Koningsdam cruise.  Of course, those prices are subject to Mariner discounts.

avian777, thank you for the info. 

What is the cost of dinner at the Pinnacle Grill as opposed to the cost of dinner at Rudi's Sel de Mer?

4 hours ago, GlamorousGirl said:

We sailed on the Jade in November from Rome to Dubai and the process for organizing for excursions was absolute chaos. We were supposed to meet in the theater, like other ships. But unlike other ships, the aisles remaining clear was not enforced at all, and people were tightly packing the aisle into the theater where bus stickers were being handed out instead of coming down into the theater and taking a seat like they’re supposed to. I’m the kind of person who’s willing to get up a half hour earlier to get to the theater early and be one of the first out (the FAIR way!) But in this case the latecomers had the advantage - crowding the exit aisle, blocking people trying to get out, and getting out first even though they arrived late. All the cruise excursion director had to do was announce “I’m not calling ANY more excursions until EVERYone sits down!’ - they do this on other ships, and mean it (no excursions called) and it works great! No blocking fire lanes, no people getting trampled, no chaos... I’m sailing on Jade again this spring and really hope they get it sorted out by then... By the way, why do people do that instead of being courteous??!

This is just ONE of the MANY reasons why I have returned to HAL!

14 hours ago, sail7seas said:

 

Well, well,  how wonderful  to see you posting again  I have thought of you often and  am happy you have 'returned' here.  🙂

Hi Judy,

 

I am happy to have 'returned' too and I have thought of you often as well!

 

It would a pleasure to meet you on a cruise!  I have one booked and perhaps you might consider booking the same cruise too!

 

Kindly,

 

Ward

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55 minutes ago, yerdua said:

Keep in mind that if HAL has gifted you the beverage card (vs you purchasing it) there is no refund of balances remaining at the end of the cruise. Only cards that have been purchased refund the balance to the cruiser. 

Hi yerdua,

   Thank you for the clarification.  I was unaware of the difference.

1 hour ago, Cruise Suzy said:

The menu price plus gratuity is automatically charged and deducted from the card's balance. Some have reported getting receipts, but on the Koningsdam in February none were given. Sometimes I was told my balance, other times I had to ask.

Hi Cruise Suzy,

   Thank you for the reply. 

   So, the value of the beverage card would decrease quickly, depending upon the cost of the beverage, along with the cost of the gratuity!

   What is the cost of the gratuity?  On NCL it was 20%.

When one uses their Beverage Card, how does it work with the gratuity and do you receive a receipt?

19 hours ago, USN59-79 said:

The elimination of the libraries is the cutback that bothered me the most.

There are dedicated libraries on the NCL ships, quiet, well stocked, but greatly underused!

1 hour ago, kazu said:

 

$14.50 pp per day.

It's $13.50 pp per day on NCL.

9 hours ago, VennDiagram said:

Perhaps if you told us why you left HAL for NCL, and are now returning, we could provide more targeted information as opposed to random bits and pieces.

Hi VennDiagram,

   Thank you for your reply.

   I left HAL to just try another cruise line for comparison.  I choose NCL as I had read so many negative things!

   In fact, I was quite impressed, having cruised on three different NCL ships!

   Two things that stand out were the EXCELLENT shows in the Theaters along with the fact that the food service in the 'Garden Cafe', ('Lido Market') on Hal, was 'Self-Serve' so one could help themselves to anything as much as they wished at many different Food Stations; (whereas on Hal, I recall having to stand in a line in the 'Lido' to be doled out the food, (in small(ish)!

   Now I'm returning to see how Hal 'operates' as opposed to NCL!

16 hours ago, Vict0riann said:

Especially on the NS, the addition of the Grand Dutch Cafe and Sea de Mer!  Real treats.  At the Dutch Cafe, the food is free, just pay for the specialty drinks.  The apple crepe dish is to die for!  (It's lunch time here - you can tell)

 

No more eyes on the towel animals.  I hate to see them blind, I think I will tell our stewards not to bother making them on our next cruise if there are no eyes!!

Hi VictOriann,

   Thank you for your reply.

   On NCL, the towel animals, pitchers of ice water, chocolate on the pillows and a beach towel in the staterooms have all been eliminated!

19 hours ago, Cruzaholic41 said:

Cutbacks have been the worst I’ve seen on any line. No more relaxing live entertainment in the Crows Nest and Ocean Bar. No more live music by the pool. Main theater production shows have almost all been eliminated. 

Hi Cruzaholic,

   Thank you for your reply

   I am surprised that the main theater shows have almost all been eliminated as they were outstanding on my NCL cruises, with such productions as 'Kinky Boots', 'Jersey Boys' and 'Six', for example!  

20 hours ago, colonialinnkeeper said:

Some changes with the two new ships:

--bathrooms; large glass walled showers, nicely lighted mirrors, (dislike) toilet on Koningsdam at weird angle so knees for taller people hit shower glass wall but fixed on NS

--bedrooms; well thought out storage, fridge at counter level, lots of electrical sockets and USB outlets, good hair dryers,  flat screen tvs with a wide range of movie options, (dislike) smaller coffee table, sofa side cushion that falls off end of sofa, the tv doesn't swivel so you can only watch it comfortably when sitting on the bed, smaller balconies with tiny table and only one footstool

--entertainment;  large theater has fantastic 280 degree surround that allows for computer driven graphics/pics and good visual seating almost everywhere in the room, Music Walk with dual piano lounge (Billboard on Board), a Rock lounge, BB King theater and Lincoln Center (classical music concerts), (dislike) the cancelling of live shows with singing and dancing.  One Step (an outside company)  has two shows that are sometimes done with dancing to canned music, the elimination of most music in the Ocean Bar, having to go very early to get seating for some shows in the large theater

--public areas; like the individual art on each ship fleet wide, many smaller areas to find a place to read, (dislike) the elimination of the wide promenade with lounges (smaller/older ships still have this), the depth of the promenade in some areas so it is difficult for two people to pass each other,  the

identical design of the atrium of the K and NS,  smoking still allowed in the casino

 

One thing that hasn't changed is the staff's friendliness and helpfulness.  Yes, there are fewer of them but they still go the extra mile to make our stay memorable and comfortable.  

 

Hi colonialinnkeeper,

   Thank you for your reply.

   It is unfortunate that HAL has not, as yet, glassed off the casino, to eliminate the 'drifting' smoke, (as NCL has done with their latest newbuilds)!

19 hours ago, *Miss G* said:

No more health forms!

Hi *Miss G*,

   Thank you for your reply.

   'No more health forms', ?on Check-In at the Pier?  I wonder why HAL eliminated the completion of the 'Health Forms'  They are mandatory with NCL on 'Check-In!

20 hours ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

Good to hear from you again.

 

Many ships now have pre made sandwiches.

Hi Krazy Kruisers,

   Thank you for your reply.

   I always enjoyed reading your informative posts and will continue to do so, going forward.

20 hours ago, kazu said:

HSC has increased a few times in the last 5 years

Hi kazu,

   What is the current 'Daily Service Charge' for Inside Stateroom accommodation?

20 hours ago, cwtravel said:

A few that I think are good.....

- No smoking on the balcony 

- Larger flat screen televisions in staterooms with on demand movies (lots of choices)

- Taramind as a speciality dining option

- Most likely better/faster internet and unlimited

 

Hi cwtravel,

   Thank you for your reply.  Among other features, are you able to access your onboard account on the 'interactive' televisions in the staterooms?

20 hours ago, Roz said:

Welcome back, Geriatric Nurse.  I remember you.  

 

Gosh, so much has happened in 5 years.  Just like a lot of other lines, there have been cutbacks.  Fewer room stewards and waiters.  Most notable to me is the decline in entertainment and onboard activities.  Speaking of entertainment, on the plus side there is the addition of the Music Walk.  

Hi Roz,

   Thank you for your reply.  I remember you too!  The addition of the 'Music Walk' sounds interesting!  I'll have to check it out.

Hi Folks,

       I am a 4* Mariner who took a break from HAL for five years to cruise with NCL, returning to HAL and will be booking a 21-Day Caribbean Cruise onboard the 'NIEUW STATENDAM'!

       Before I take the opportunity/time to read through all the threads, has there been anything outstanding/remarkable that has happened with HAL over the past five years?

4 minutes ago, Sauer-kraut said:

Why do people quote a post and then not add a reply or comment?

Keep reading!

Happy New Year!

Feel better?

I am distressed to learn that the 'seafood buffet' is being phased out on all ships!  I will especially miss the salmon!

Also, may I add that the size (and choices) of the sandwiches available in the 'Garden Cafe' at lunch have been decreased in both size and variety!  Let alone the selection of the cereal at breakfast being reduced by half!  I will missed my (unfrosted) 'Mimi Wheats' on my recent cruise on the 'BLISS'!

49 minutes ago, lizord said:

On the breakaway in Oct. I remember being unimpressed, I think they had tacos, but nothing stood out. We were disappointed with the dinner buffets, they didn't do the seafood buffet, is this being phased out on all ships or just Breakaway?