Tampa Girl

Thank you for your interesting analysis. Regarding profit of selling alcohol, I was thinking very simplistically: $8 or $9 drink x 15 drinks, should one actually go through that many drinks in a day, would cut into the profit, i.e. Up to $120 - $135 a day in lost income if the person had to pay for each drink. However, as you pointed out, the ship makes a healthy profit, considering the cost of the bottle.

Question: By "running blood" you are not referring to a transfusion, I assume. But does the ship's infirmary carry O negative, or whatever constitutes the universal donor? Or doe the ship have to depend on the med evac units to supply the emergency transfusion? I understand that many or most of the evacuation helicopters and ambulances do carry this blood in order to stabilize the patient until he/she can get to the hospital.

Note the reference to "smiley face!" That was a joke!

It is obviously not a fact which is applicable to everyone. This "conclusion" is based on some people's observations and is, IMHO, an over-generalization of the poster's contention that making alcohol freely available will invite an excessive consumption of alcohol. Nor does an additional one or two drinks necessarily constitute an excessive consumption of alcohol. And as another poster pointed out, of what concern is that possibility to any of us? A HAL ship is not usually filled with out-of-control spring breakers, to whom this over-generalization might apply. It has been my observation that the average cruiser on a HAL ship is mature and sufficiently intelligent enough to drink in moderation, even when tempted by "free drinks." As far as the HIA signature beverage package being a marketing tool, I wonder what profit, if any, HAL realizes from that particular package. I doubt if there is much of a profit if a cruiser is taking advantage of 15 free drinks per day.

A true amateur! (I can't find the smiley face, sorry!)

What about the main dining room - was the food bad there, as well?

Speaking as someone who does drink, I do not think that the drink package encourages to drink more than I would normally imbibe. Since you do not drink, I am not sure from where you get your assumptions.

No question that our memories of the Amsterdam must just be let go. However, memories of what constitute a "Grand Voyage" are another matter. These voyages cost a lot of money and if they are no longer "Grand", I, for one, do not intend to waste that kind of money on "it's just another cruise". That having been said, I realize that ports accessible to these larger cruse ships are necessarily more limited, and I am content with that. The diverse menus on the Grands, the special attention by the staff, the particular perks, the pillow gifts, etc. are all part of a Grand and, IMHO, justify the additional cost. The other essential, at least for us, is the existence of a library, which I understand is being installed on the Zuiderdam. Has that actually been done?

Sorry, I hit the "Reply" button after the wrong post. I was responding to the poster who was talking about the WC's and who was describing a FLL going east directly to South Africa.

What will be released - 2024 itineraries or the '24 Grands?

That is going east instead of west, a direction that many seasoned WC's do not prefer because you are constantly losing time.

Would that a Grand Asia return!

For all your 2023 WC bloggers, I am particularly interested in your observations of any post-pandemic changes in these Grand Voyages. I am also, being being booked on the '24 WC, interested in how the Zuiderdam fares in comparison with its smaller predecessor, the Amsterdam. If any '23 cruisers are so inclined, your observations will be most welcome.

HAL is usually the last to post new itineraries. Nothing new in this. Think early 2023 and be pleasantlyl surprised if they post eariier.

Perhaps I am thinking of the S and R class ships, which do not have Signature Suites or "Vista suites." They have Verandah cabins and Neptune Suites, and we did get double points on those ships for verandahs. That would make sense.

You are right that they are not called Vista Suites. However, does HAL not classify these verandah cabins or, as they used to be called, Verandah Suites, as a suite for the purpose of double points? I believe they used to be called verandah suites, and for years we booked only these cabins and we always got double points. Then . . . we got introduced to the Neptune Suites, which has now put an end to our booking verandah cabins. Hard to go back!.

I think that they are called Vista Suites on this class because they are eligible for double points, but there is only one balcony class, so the balcony sells as a suite.

Why would you be stuck with a Vista if a SS didn't come through? You can always cancel prior to final payment, or even later if you want to pay for the insurance. You have been given some good suggestions to promote the possibility of an upgrade. If HAL needs to upgrade the Vista Suites to SS by upgrading the latter to Neptunes and you are not booked in a Vista, where does that leave you? Very possibly out. Doesn't make sense to me, having experienced being offered an upgrade from an SS to a Neptune and reading countless other reports of the same.

Another thought: Why don't you book a Vista Suites and express a desire for an upgrade. You may have a better chance at the Signature Suite when one becomes available.

Final payment is over eight months away. Don't expect much until the June payment is due and, then, until after final payment in September. Relax.

Thanks, Scrapnana, I will look forward to reading it.

Scrapnana, you have been on many, many Grand Voyages. In your opinion, has this first, post-pandemic Grand Africa voyage been changed or diluted by the pandemic? In other words, has it actually been a "Grand Voyage" as we remember them from pre-pandemic days?

It doesn't "sing!"

Gotta love Dollar Tree!

Isn't there a way to block incoming emails with some sort of a "This mailbox cannot accept messages until after ......"? Who is your email provider? It seems to me that AT&T has something like that.