My first HAL experience....

[Sigtau21]

I was on the Veendam May 15 through May 22 for Alaskan cruise from Anchorage(Seward) to Vancouver. This was my first experience on HAL. It I had a good time. But there were some bumps along the way. When I was boarding the ship, I felt like I was in Mexico being asked if I wanted to by something from a street vender. When I got their to checkin, I was one of the first few in line. Before I got up to the the counter for the check in process, I was asked if I wanted the wine package 3 times in the span of of five times. I would be asked this several more 5 more times before I got to my room. When we got to the security section, I was held there and told that I could not take my wine on the ship. Between the two people at the x-ray scannning section, they were telling me differing stories about their wine policy. I specifically check this before going on the trip that I could bring the wine. I had to wait for security to escort me on board with the wine. When I got on board I was passed off to someone else who told me he was going to see that I got my wine at the end of the trip. I asked why I could not have it. They said I was not allowed to bring it on the ship. I qustioned it again and he asked someone else there and he had to check with someone else over the radio, at which time he was told I was allowed to bring wine on the ship. At which point he turned and gave me the wine and just walked away without saying anything. Noone said anything like sorry or anything. I was just left there to go on my way. I did not let it bother me. Me and my wife went on our way. We went up to the Lido Deck to eat. It was here that we we asked again if we wanted the wine packeage numerous times( I realize that the employees probably make money when they sell those packeges but they need not barrage the passengers when they are trying to board the ship.

 

Food - Food was good in the Rotterdam. I thought they could have better portion sizes. With the Surf and Turf, the Filet Mignon was the size of a quarter. What's the point in that? Service was great there. Our server(Iceman) was Great. Very friendly and attentive!

 

Room Steward.... Never met him, he never introduced himself. During week, received towels that were stained, I thought the sheets could have been changed more frequently. It was taken care of once mentioned.

 

Overall, I enjoyed the cruise. HAL was good, not great! However, I am likely to try Princess, or Celebrity, First. I have heard HAL was supposed to have awesome service and I dont think it matched my experiences with RCI. I want to see some other premium lines out there. HAL...It was good but was left thinking it could have been better.

[jhannah]

I'm curious ... were the security people in the terminal in HAL uniforms, or were they contracted security folks? It seems like HAL employees would know the wine policy, but it's entirely possible this early in the Alaska season that the contractors wouldn't have it straight.

[dakrewser]

As Jim suggested, my first thought was that these were contract and/or port security people. I would suggest you write or email HAL HQ and let them know about this experience (as well as the experience with folks selling the same thing over and over).

 

As to the portion sizes, that's easily corrected - order two! ;)

 

Thanks for taking the time to tell us about your trip...

[Krazy Kruizers]

HAL's liquor and wine policy went into effect in Feb 2004 so I don't understand why the officials in Vancouver should have had a problem with this since they went through this last summer. Sorry you had a problem.

We have always met our cabin steward - and always on the first day - even on 7 day cruises - don't know why you never saw him until the end of the cruise.

As for portions - maybe we don't eat as big of porportions as others do, but we have always found the proportions in the dining room to be too big for us.

[Krazy Kruizers]

How was your Alaskan cruise? We have cruises Alaska several times.

What did you do?

What ports did you visit?

Tell us more.

[jhannah]

HAL's liquor and wine policy went into effect in Feb 2004 so I don't understand why the officials in Vancouver should have had a problem with this since they went through this last summer.

His cruise started in Seward.

[stormyc]

Thank you for posting your thoughts about your recent cruise. I am so sorry it did not live up to your expectations.

[Sigtau21]

In regards to the people who dealt with me regarding the wine, 3 of the 4 people were HAL employees. One of them had a HAL blazer or sportcoat(dont know what his position was but he seemed important) on and he was the one who had to check on the policy.

[Sigtau21]

This was my first Alaskan Cruise. The ship went through the College Fjords and Glacier Bay. When we were in Glacier Bay, at Marjorie Glacier we saw some calving. We saw a chunk the size of a car fall into the water. It was AMAZING!! Was able to get it on tape.

 

We stopped in Sitka. Me and my wife decided to see Sitka on our own. We Walked to Sitka National Historic Park. We hiked through there and saw numerous eagles. At one point we sat down to rest and ended up sitting under an eagle that was pearched on a tree branch above us. From there, we walked to The Raptor Center. It was very information. It was nice to know they try to help injured eagles and if possible release them back into the wild. We went back to the ship from there.

 

When we were leaving Sitka, we went up to the Crow's Nest and watched for marine life. From 6:30pm to a little before 8:00pm we saw whales and dolphins about every 5 minutes. We saw one whale breech up out of the water.

 

In Juneau, we scheduled a excursion that included Mendenhall Glacier and Whalewatching tour. The views at Mendenhall were great...wish we had more time there. We then went to whalewatching. We saw numerous humpback whales and sea lions. The Sea lions were hanging around a bout out in the bay. Some were doing flips and playing all over.

 

In Ketcikan, we went on the Town and Totems Tour. It was very informative, reallly enjoyed that.

 

In all the experiences in Alaska, it is tough to pick a favorite. We saw so many Awesome sites!

[Sigtau21]

I'm curious ... were the security people in the terminal in HAL uniforms, or were they contracted security folks? It seems like HAL employees would know the wine policy, but it's entirely possible this early in the Alaska season that the contractors wouldn't have it straight.

 

 

Yeah, I figured being early in the Alaska season, and staff trying to iron out the bumps, I would not let it bother me too much. The boarding process is tough enough on the workers as it is.