Laminator

39 minutes ago, cbr663 said:

 

That wouldn't be a very smart move.  As an enclosed public area the NL does have security cameras.  I would also expect that there is most likely a panic button of some sort that the concierge can access should the need arise.

Panic Button?...LOL...We need the SWAT team to respond to the Neptune Lounge immediately. Mr. Jones from cabin number 7115 just stole 3/4's of a bottle of vodka. 

1 minute ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Just think how cheap liquor is for hal.  If you are sneaking a bottle out of the lounge you’ve got bigger problems.  

No argument from me there. But I can assure you there are those people!

4 minutes ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

Are they though?  I know people love to rationalize Hal’s behaviour.  If you are drinking triples and marking them down that seems like a pretty shady person.  The concierge is in their most of the time.  Don’t you think they would see that? 

There are times when there is only one concierge in there and 4 pax waiting to see him/her. You could pretty much put a whole bottle in your purse and they would not notice. I actually believe it has more to do with the lack of a proper POS system in the Neptune Lounge. 

It's possible the Neptune Lounge doesn't have the POS system that the bars and restaurants have to properly enter and track the drinks! Or it's possible pax were pouring double and triple shots and putting themselves down for one drink. 

9 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

Wow - You're killing me!! Genuinely happy for you; if this weren't so painful, it would be funny. Below is the most recent issue, one in a loooong list...

I am trying to get a deposit moved over from a booking my PCC did that HAL cancelled (they pulled the ship to do a charter that week) that I didn't know was canceled until I called in to ask why it had disappeared from my Navigator. I was told she has to do it and she should have sent me the email they sent out in April - April?!?! I have called and emailed her - she sent an email saying she's busy in Zoom meetings and can't be reached for a few days. I saved the email in hopes I'll one day find someone at HAL sympathetic to my situation. In the meantime, HAL is selling cabins for the alternate date...

Ok, now that I vented, back to this conversation. Your experience highlights the value of a good PCC and the importance of maintaining a good relationship with them. Congrats on winning the lottery!!

I am sorry you are having so many issues. 

5 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

@Laminator I know you can't give it to me, but I'd do everything short of murder to know who your PCC is! Mine was assigned to me and I've had no success in getting it changed; every encounter is painful and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I think she's related to (or maybe be the same person) as @dixiejen has. She actually sent me an email one time, in response to a message I'd sent her requesting a call to book a cruise, saying she was in Zoom meetings and was too busy. No joked I kept that message as a reminder of what Customer Service is NOT!

@dixiejenI hope you're successful in getting a new PCC and hope you enjoy your cruise!

I wish I could help you. She came thru for me again last week. I added my son onto my booking and his GF onto my wife's booking on a 9 day cruise. She was able to get them the HIA package for $574 total. $287 per person when it should have been $450 per person. 

3 minutes ago, PACD_JG said:

So there's a thin line between Carnival pax and HAL pax?  🤷‍♂️

Seems to be!

I discussed the slip signing with several servers on the KSDM a few weeks ago. There are a few ships where the percentage of pax claiming they did not purchase drinks are higher than others. Those ships make you sign the slip. This occurs even if you have a beverage package. 

4 minutes ago, Laminator said:

I was early for my flight to YVR. While sitting outside drinking coffee I talked to the girl who monitored the ship transfer busses. YVR will only allow 3 busses outside the terminal at one time. The busses have to sit at a holding pen outside the terminal until called to unload. It was a mess. Busses were still showing up when I went in for my flight at noon. I paid the flat rate of $38 CDN for a taxi to the airport. I stood in the taxi line for 10 minutes. I know the poster had a flight the next day but I am 100% sure a taxi would have been more efficient and less expensive. 

I think that is what he is referring to. 

51 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I looked at the roll call and @Crew Newswas onboard .  Perhaps he could bring some clarity into this discussion.   I have never seen a disembarkation done as described.  
 

But I ran into a shore ex manager who was a control freak about control, not letting passengers meet the bus off ship so anything is possible.  

I was early for my flight to YVR. While sitting outside drinking coffee I talked to the girl who monitored the ship transfer busses. YVR will only allow 3 busses outside the terminal at one time. The busses have to sit at a holding pen outside the terminal until called to unload. It was a mess. Busses were still showing up when I went in for my flight at noon. I paid the flat rate of $38 CDN for a taxi to the airport. I stood in the taxi line for 10 minutes. I know the poster had a flight the next day but I am 100% sure a taxi would have been more efficient and less expensive. 

5 hours ago, MickeyP said:

This wasn’t the  first rodeo to clear the Noordam in Vancouver yesterday. Groups with colored tags waited to get off the ship . The World stage was packed with everyone wanting to get off the ship at their HAL recommended time slot that they sent to staterooms on Friday. Numerous People throughout the area were coughing and sneezing. Most without masks too. No regard for healthy people around them. We had our masks on as a precaution. Makes me think that HAL although they preach healthy protocols could have recommended masks or had them available if someone was under the weather. After flying home for the last twelve hours my wife seems to have a runny nose and a dry cough. We’re scheduled to depart  the ship at 845am and never got our group called till after 945am and then they treat everyone like school children in line for the bus. I spoke to Representatives from HAL and the port and they blame each other. Just a major disappointment.

We got off the KSDM Saturday. We sat in the Lido drinking coffee until our time to get off. Nice and relaxing. I am sure you could have done the same on the Noordam. Took 15 minutes to get off the ship. What time was your flight? 

3 hours ago, decrepit old man said:

Does every single person here have priority boarding? Would like to know what the wait times are like for us peasants

Apparently nearly every HAL pax has priority boarding as witnessed by the 600 or more pax who were sitting in the non priority area waiting to board at 10:30am this past Saturday.

3 hours ago, Mary229 said:

I don’t know why or how they are giving such early times.   Any HAL ship isn’t ready for actual boarding until shortly after 11.  There is no point getting there early unless you want to drop your luggage with porters.  

They are trying to spread out the pax arrivals over a longer period of time. It's a shame they have to do so but to many pax ignore their boarding time and come early causing a huge back up. Those with priority boarding wind up seating on their hands for 45 minutes to an area. When we were in the general seating area shared by all 3 ships in Port they moved the Princess pax to their specific seating area first. There may have been a hundred pax or so. Then they called the Viking pax. Maybe 50. When they called HAL pax there had to be a minimum of 600 of which 60 had priority boarding. 

9 hours ago, HappyInVan said:

 

You took longer than I did. I was there at 10:20 and on board at 11:30. The problem with early embarkation is that the cabins may not be ready, and the fire doors closed.

 

The main problem is that single gangway. When I arrived at the waiting area at 11:15, there were 500 pax still seated. We were clearing US Immigration faster than the pax were trickling down the gangway. Anyway, at least our pax could sit as they waited.

 

In all, it took me 70 minutes to embark, with priority boarding and no luggage drop-off.

We were at the initial waiting area just a little shy of 10:30am. That area was a seating area for pax of all 3 ships in Port. Then we were moved to the HAL specific waiting area at 10:50am. Boarding began at 11:15am.

43 minutes ago, Native Floridian 26 said:

What does KSDM mean?

Koningsdam

3 hours ago, Cade387 said:

Do you go through security and customs after checking in with HAL? Or are you saying it only took 10min to get through all of the customs/security stuff? TIA

It took 5 minutes to check in, 10 to 15 thru security and maybe another 10 thru customs.

8 minutes ago, Gail & Marty sailing away said:

What Port?

Vancouver

I will make this short and sweet. Arrived 9:50am for a 10am boarding time. Completed the check in process and was seated in a general seating area that included Princess and Viking along with other HAL pax by 10:30am. Moved to the HAL seating area by 10:50am which was divided by priority and general boarding. Priority boarding seating area had approximately 60 pax while general boarding area had 600 to 700 pax. Priority boarding began at 11:15am. 

7 minutes ago, POA1 said:

So.. Just for giggles... One can assume that you were in public service?

Do you have any actual info that would say that the passport offices are scaling up to meet demand? (Please no misdirects about profit. Thanks much.)

Actually there were quite a few news stories this week regarding the passport situation. The govt has claimed they have hired additional staff to assist with the backlog. Whether that is 2 additional people or hundreds I am not sure we will ever know.

Passport applications were up 30% last year and are up even higher so far this year. As you all know the delays for receiving your passports are extremely long. These people aren't applying to travel from New York to New Jersey. It's either international air travel, a cruise or a combination of both. Cruises will be at higher capacity and more expensive. 

1 minute ago, kazu said:

 

Since you are belabouring inflation - take a look - $10 in 1990 is now $23.21 - still want to complain?  https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1990?amount=10#:~:text=Value of %2410 from 1990,cumulative price increase of 132.11%.

 

I can’t recall when HAL added the tips but we always tipped well before it was added = however, the people missing on the last night spoke volumes and back then = there wasn’t a lot of specialty dining .

 

LOL on all inclusive except for everything that is all inclusive other than crew incentive.   Doesn’t do much for many of us.  Of course cruising is all about you - out of your port and how you like it.   Just go cruise on another line and stop belabouring it.  I’m done

Always the voice of reason.

15 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Unless you are going to sail high end ships with higher costs, you will find that is the case (gratuities, crew incentive - whatever term you wish to use) that they are added daily.  

 

All have this.  And yes the crew is paid.  Gratuities have not kept up with inflation IMO and I don’t begrudge a dime I pay.  If you do, then just go to the lines that don’t have it.  Their salary is not my business - nor yours.  I do have an idea though - you tell us your salary and we’ll talk.  The staff are entitled to the same privacy you are.

 

All ships are not understaffed - the cruise in December was overbooked.  I sailed on O in November and it was fantastic with some pretty impressive service.  I passed out a lot of extra tips on that cruise. And the cruise was pretty much full.  Personally, I think something is off with the K - whether it be management or whatever.  I’ll find out if it is a Pinnacle Class thing or the K in October this year.

I will be on the K Saturday and will try to report back. I will say up front that I don't really concern myself with the negatives that much as the positives have always outweighed the negatives on any HAL cruise I have been on. I also do not nitpick. 

52 minutes ago, robotpony said:

 

Yes, Ubers, Taxis, and car services drop off in P1 by the porters. From there you follow the signs behind the porters.

Thank You!

2 hours ago, dalesyang said:

Should i bring cash for gambling or just have them bill my account?

You can do either. Whatever works best for you.

1 hour ago, cbr663 said:

We had an 11 am boarding time and arrived at 10.  No one was checking boarding times.  The ship was late leaving though at around 4:50 instead of 4:00.

You stated you had an 11am boarding time and were in a Neptune Suite. Do you remember what Group you were in? We have an NS for the KSDM cruise on the 20th and we are in Group A with an assigned boarding time of 10am. For our cruise the 11am boarding time is Group D which is not a priority boarding time. I am wondering if HAL is attempting to ease the congestion by spreading out boarding times over a longer time period. Of course this only works if pax attempt to stay close to their assigned boarding time.