What Do You Miss

[vbmom87]

I have only been on two HAL cruises: in 2008 and 2011. What I missed most between those two cruises was not being able to get a bowl of fresh berries at any meal on the 2011 cruise. I am not a big dessert eater, and really enjoyed ordering a bowl of berries instead. It was not an option in 2011. :(

[Watson's aunt]

Hi

 

I miss the old programs I was on the Zuiderdam in November I did not like new program.. No more port news that disappeared on my Amsterdam cruise in 2012.

 

We have only to blame for paid meals onthe ships we were willing to pay extra for specialized meals. so Cruise jumped on it. If people want to pay exyta why not.

 

On my last cruise they had the cheap mints (red and white wrapped) not as much goodies as my last cruise.

 

 

Mary

[YXU AC*SE]

Dutch night ... Ginseng body lotion ... fish being de-boned table side by your steward ... the [fire hazardous] flambé cart and table-side desserts ... the old paper bar chits and chit origami ... themed hors d'oeuvres that complemented the evening's dinner menu ... just a few things ...

 

Scott.

Edited March 26, 2014 by YXU AC*SE

[Boatdrill]

I miss getting the next day's port map and info in my "mailbox" by my door.

I'd read it that night and figure out what I wanted to do in port the next day.

 

Also missed: real Captain's Welcome Aboard cocktail parties.

[lazey1]

We miss the little Dutch girl wearing her Blue Jumper and White hat greeting us and introducing us the the ship officers upon embarcation. Yeah I know I am dating us, this only happened on our first cruise :eek:. Also miss the Dutch Night with the white hats for women to wear at dinner and the black caps for the men. We asked our stewarts for autographs on the white hats and got beautiful scenes along with the autographs.:)

Jane & Gary

Edited March 26, 2014 by lazey1

[frankc98376]

We miss the little Dutch girl wearing her Blue Jumper and White hat greeting us and introducing us the the ship officers upon embarcation. Yeah I know I am dating us, this only happened on our first cruise :eek:. Also miss the Dutch Night with the white hats for women to wear at dinner and the black caps for the men. We asked our stewarts for autographs on the white hats and got beautiful scenes along with the autographs.:)

Jane & Gary

 

Ah yes- the "receiving line" when you boarded all saying "Welkom aan boord" and a white gloved steward would escort you to your stateroom. Sigh......

[chloes nana]

I miss nothing, I feel blessed to be able to cruise when so many cannot. Cutbacks?? well it happens in all forms of business nowadays. I look forward to stepping on the ships gangway and smiling a warm smile knowing I am home again for however long I can be aboard. All other things are minor to me. I guess if I wanted all inclusive and total pampering then I would always have the option of booking my next cruise on one of those ships. I much more prefer HAL's longer itineraries and the wonderful staff they do employ Nuff said. :)

[Typhoon1]

Unfortunately, the ships are getting larger.

 

Back in the 80's ships were in the 800-1000 passenger range.

[frankc98376]

I miss nothing, I feel blessed to be able to cruise when so many cannot. Cutbacks?? well it happens in all forms of business nowadays. I look forward to stepping on the ships gangway and smiling a warm smile knowing I am home again for however long I can be aboard. All other things are minor to me. I guess if I wanted all inclusive and total pampering then I would always have the option of booking my next cruise on one of those ships. I much more prefer HAL's longer itineraries and the wonderful staff they do employ Nuff said. :)

 

I agree with you 100%- I really don't miss anything (except my SS Rotterdam- will always miss the "Grand Dame"). I feel blessed that I was able to sail "back when" and am still able to sail now. HAL may have needed to make cutbacks but never lost the kind, loving and happy employees that made them who they are. It means so much when I see a familiar staff member on a ship that greets me like family and many times remembers my name.

I realize and accept that times change- there is no Mai Tai fountain and Prime Rib cart in first class on planes anymore either.

Edited March 26, 2014 by frankc98376

[moi]

I miss Taiji

[kaylasnana]

I remember one of employees in the Lido on the Zuiderdam that always remembered everyone's name. I wonder if he is still there.

[LVSue]

I think he got promoted to MDR. (His name escapes me, like everything else.)

 

I agree with Chloe's nana and Frank. I just feel lucky to be able to cruise, and HAL feels like home to me. Especially since the caesar's salad is back in the Pinnacle! :D

[George C]

Miss the elegant Rotterdam which I sailed on in 1977 and 1978- I do not think any current Hal ship is special-nice but not special

Miss printed luggage tags and entire package that was mailed to you

Miss caviar

Miss BYOB no limit wine ( one of the main reasons I did 4 Hal cruises in last 4 years)

[zookiebird]

I miss "Love In any Language".

[bepsf]

I miss just about all of the things others have listed already. There's been a real "dumbing down" of the experience we used to know and love.

 

 

Amazingly enough, I have found such things on other lines:

Horse Races: Princess has these in the Atrium/Piazza every sea day - It's quite a big deal!

Little Bottles of Shampoo, Conditioner, etc: Cunard offers Gilchrist and Soames toiletries for Grille passengers: http://www.gilchristsoames.com/

Receiving Line/Escort to cabins: Cunard Grilles

Gratis Cappuccino: Cunard Grilles

Live music in MDR: Cunard Britannia Class

Plentiful Cruise/Games/Fitness staff: Cunard, Princess and MSC

Formal Night observed by >75% of the passengers: Cunard

Dover Sole: Cunard and Princess

[chloes nana]

not everyone can or wants to afford Cunard, not to metion they do not have the longer itineraries that HAL has. ;)

Amazingly enough, I have found such things on other lines:

Horse Races: Princess has these in the Atrium/Piazza every sea day - It's quite a big deal!

Little Bottles of Shampoo, Conditioner, etc: Cunard offers Gilchrist and Soames toiletries for Grille passengers: http://www.gilchristsoames.com/

Receiving Line/Escort to cabins: Cunard Grilles

Gratis Cappuccino: Cunard Grilles

Live music in MDR: Cunard Britannia Class

Plentiful Cruise/Games/Fitness staff: Cunard, Princess and MSC

Formal Night observed by >75% of the passengers: Cunard

Dover Sole: Cunard and Princess

[bobpatj]

On our recent cruise on the Rotterdam, the cast, officers & crew were onstage for "We are the World," instead of "Love in any Language." The only thing I missed on this voyage was the larger cruise staff and the games they used to have available at least twice a day. The prizes aren't so great, now. Even the staff liked to joke about the PINS! :)

[bepsf]

not everyone can or wants to afford Cunard, not to metion they do not have the longer itineraries that HAL has. ;)

 

Just because someone can't afford something doesn't mean those things aren't available. My point was that they DO exist outside of the HAL bubble - and in Cunard's Princess Grille, at a cost comparable to HAL Deluxe Suites.

And Cunard actually DO have quite lenghty itineraries - All 3 Queens are deployed on World Cruises at the beginning of the year, with segments of various lengths available at all levels.

Edited March 31, 2014 by bepsf

[chloes nana]

Just because someone can't afford something doesn't mean those things aren't available. My point was that they DO exist outside of the HAL bubble - and in Cunard's Princess Grille, at a cost comparable to HAL Deluxe Suites.

And Cunard actually DO have quite lenghty itineraries - All 3 Queens are deployed on World Cruises at the beginning of the year, with segments of various lengths available at all levels.

 

And Brian, my only point was, with a smile I might note, was that not eveyone can afford Cunard, or in our case we do not want to pay the price of Cunard when we can get so much more for our money with HAL, ie: monies for tours, extended stays at ports, etc. I did not even mention the world tours, again hot many can afford these. Did not mean to offend you at all. :D