Best thing you learned about HAL by reading CC

[cruz chic]

I never knew you could get the new price before final payment before I joined cc. Also love getting the obc for owning the ccl stock.

[AV8rix]

Well, it might be trivial to some but I’m eternally grateful for the notices posted about the discontinuance of the Bigelow and the Hal Darjeeling teas and the substitution of the abysmal Fields and Selects brand. I saw those threads in time for my 18-day on Amsterdam earlier this year, and so packed plenty of my own. I cannot imagine nearly three weeks straight without tea. Which is what would have happened to me without CC.

Just a small example of the sort of information that you will glean from this board that is available NOWHERE ELSE!

Edited September 22, 2015 by Av8rix

[Barrheadlass]

I never knew you could get the new price before final payment before I joined cc. Also love getting the obc for owning the ccl stock.

 

Those two things rate with me too. Funny thing was we'd had ccl stock and sold it before our first cruise. I immediately bought it again before our next, and am so glad I did. I've benefited from price reductions twice too. My travel agent is probably sick of hearing me say, "I read on Cruise Critic..." I've learned so many things...thanks all you knowledgeable folks!

[cbr663]

Being able to order dinner from room service from the the main dining room menu. Was a great help one day when someone in our group was not able to go out that evening.

 

This is by far our most favourite and we only learned of it on CC. We love our room service breakfast on our balcony, and now, we also enjoy our room service dinner.

[Cruise_More_Often]

Well, it might be trivial to some but I’m eternally grateful for the notices posted about the discontinuance of the Bigelow and the Hal Darjeeling teas and the substitution of the abysmal Fields and Selects brand. I saw those threads in time for my 18-day on Amsterdam earlier this year, and so packed plenty of my own. I cannot imagine nearly three weeks straight without tea. Which is what would have happened to me without CC.

Just a small example of the sort of information that you will glean from this board that is available NOWHERE ELSE!

Bigelow teas are back, at least on the Maasdam. I packed mine, too, but didn't need them.

[wandb]

I could echo many of the above posts, but will add:

 

The MANY uses of duck tape,

 

Not to open your cabin door and balcony door at the same time! :eek:

 

That most suitcases will fit under the beds,

 

That HAL crews just can't be beat,

 

That when stuck on land, I can watch HAL ships on web cams,

 

That Roll Calls can be fun, and bring wonderful people into your life.

[RuthC]

The most helpful advice that I've received on this forum is the gentle persuasion and, sometimes, brutal honesty and information that I've received from a collection of "old time" cruise critic contributors. Special thanks are extended to Hank, Cruise Chic, Sail7Seas, and RuthC.

 

Hands down, number one is: RuthC.

 

She is a virtual encyclopedia of most HAL ships and willingly, congenially shares with us, Excepting her chocolate!

 

High Five Ruth!

Oh, wow! What nice posts to read! Thank you both so much for saying that.

Two people I most certainly will go out of my way to meet up with (and buy a drink for) if we're ever on the same cruise. ;)

[chrismch]

My best learning experience is for saving money. On one cruise I saved a bundle as other cruisers told me about price drops. As a result, I went from a 20 day cruise to a 36 day cruise for only $200 more by dropping a cabin category. One of our best cruises ever!

[summer slope]

I could echo many of the above posts, but will add:

 

The MANY uses of duck tape,

 

Not to open your cabin door and balcony door at the same time! :eek:

 

That most suitcases will fit under the beds,

 

That HAL crews just can't be beat,

 

That when stuck on land, I can watch HAL ships on web cams,

 

That Roll Calls can be fun, and bring wonderful people into your life.

 

Why not? Waiting for another thing I can learn from CC.

 

[3rdGenCunarder]

Why not? Waiting for another thing I can learn from CC.

 

 

Two words: wind tunnel :eek: :eek: :eek:

[summer slope]

Two words: wind tunnel :eek: :eek: :eek:

Thank you :)

[Ferry Beach Kayaker]

When I was new at crusing all the helpful information that I obtained including getting a credit card and ATM card with no foreign transaction fees, tips on getting to and from the cruise ports, making sure to bring New U.S. Dollars when traveling. I was once in southern Mexico and had Mexican Pesos that I obtained from an ATM and the taxi driver I hired for a tour would not take them.. He wanted U.S. Dollars. Another time we were in France and there was a strike so we couldn't get euros out of the ATM,.My US currency came in handy.

Now as an experience cruiser we usually just go off on our own in most ports and the information about these ports and what to do and how to get there is invaluable. Likewise information on ports that are not as safe or too hard to get from the port so we will planned on taking an organized tour. Holland America Line is my favorite line. I think their service is excellent. We do occasionally do other cruise lines but always come back to HAL.

Edited September 22, 2015 by Ferry Beach Kayaker

[feathersandnananose]

Our first cruise was on HAL - we loved it - and that was before I "met" Cruise Critic. So - in addition to the CCL stock, room service, where to find extra space in a room, bread pudding, etc.....

 

I've since found that we magically landed on the cruise line that fitted us best -

 

Through Cruise Critic I've learned that:

 

... other lines/ships don't have that lovely full Promenade deck, nor comparable libraries; some have twice (or more!) the number of cruisers, less attractive itineraries, giant indoor mall areas (what?), are so big you lose the sense of being on a ship, too much "fun" (hairy chest and belly flop contests?), entertainments I don't need (lots of evening shows, outdoor movies, skating rinks, climbing walls), and others are just too expensive in light of our needs......

 

Cruise Critic has been really helpful for widening the questions I ask and defining what I want. And after all the questions, I still want Holland America. (Though we still might be tempted by certain Princess or Celebrity ships ......)

[sherilyn70]

Learning about the Neptune lounge and the suite benefits. I loved being able to host a get together with warm treats.

 

Finding out I could special request creme Brule if it wasn't on the menu. We had a standing order for it every night on our last cruise.

[Freckles83]

Finding out you can book in CAD to save a bit on the exchange rate! Thank you CC.

[chengkgoingalaska]

I am new to CC and expect to do my first ever cruise northbound Alaska next year on Noordam. I must give tons of thanks to many kind people in this forum who always share their interesting reviews in great details so that new cruiser like me may learn through those experiences what to expect and what to do in a step by step way. My biggest thanks go to Editor Colleen for her http://gallery.cruisecritic.com/ships/noordam-362/ which shows thousands of pictures of Noordam. So many and so clear and so vivid that I find Noordam, a ship I have never been on, familiar. I googled pictures of Noordam as well but the result from Google couldn't come half as good as Editor Colleen's systemized demostration of what life on Noordam might be. Thanks!!!

 

 

I'm always impressed by the collective knowledge of the posters here. And it got me thinking about all the clever tips I've learned. So what's the best/most helpful/most fun thing you learned about HAL because you read it on CC?

 

I think for me it's the Embarkation lunch, because this is the only place I've heard about it, even with 5 HAL cruises since they started doing it.

[TiogaCruiser]

I've learned so many things too:

One can carry on wine; one can carry on flowers;

Some foods to try; tips for managing a long trip solo; places to go in port; price drops after final;

What a Port Agent is and importance of having that contact info;

 

One thing that has "expired" is the location where they kept the good truffles (DH really liked that).

Edited September 23, 2015 by TiogaCruiser

[CaveDiving]

Two things that come to mind. First is that visas to India and Brazil, with time remaining on them, stay valid even if the passport for which they were granted has expired. I just need to take the old passport, the one with the visas, as well as my new one.

 

Second is that unused OBC can be obtained in cash from the ship’s casino.

 

These have been two very handy items for me.

 

Scott & Karen

[hugger]

Two words: Wang wangs

 

What are Wang Wangs????

:confused:

[Lizzie68]

What are Wang Wangs????

:confused:

 

It's an alcoholic drink. Very potent, from all reports. Someone posted exactly what is in one some time ago, but I forget what it consists of. Apparently 2 is more than enough.:)

[POA1]

It's an alcoholic drink. Very potent, from all reports. Someone posted exactly what is in one some time ago, but I forget what it consists of. Apparently 2 is more than enough.:)

Here's a link to where Copper 10-8 posted the recipe:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=11250187&postcount=2

 

Per the recipe, it's only got 2 ounces of liquor, so it shouldn't be a whole lot stronger than a regular drink, which has 1.5 oz. Of course, if a bartender has even a slightly heavy pour, the numbers go up.

 

It's a fairly sweet concoction. I'm not a big fan, but I drink Bourbon on the rocks, so anything tastes like a fairly sweet concoction by comparison.

[SeaBands]

short term OBCs offered and price reductions that you can get after booking your cruise.

There was a song back in the 40's called WangWangBlues. Might have been about having too many and the results the next morning. You might be able to Google it as well as the recipe.

[RuthC]

There was a song back in the 40's called WangWangBlues. Might have been about having too many and the results the next morning. You might be able to Google it as well as the recipe.

From Paul Whiteman Orchestra back in 1920, although there were several more recordings over the years.

The song doesn't mention drinking, but the loss of a love could have been an instigator for drinking.

 

Thanks for the reference! I just love old music.

[Hows the Serenity]

I am new to CC and expect to do my first ever cruise northbound Alaska next year on Noordam. I must give tons of thanks to many kind people in this forum who always share their interesting reviews in great details so that new cruiser like me may learn through those experiences what to expect and what to do in a step by step way. My biggest thanks go to Editor Colleen for her http://gallery.cruisecritic.com/ships/noordam-362/ which shows thousands of pictures of Noordam. So many and so clear and so vivid that I find Noordam, a ship I have never been on, familiar. I googled pictures of Noordam as well but the result from Google couldn't come half as good as Editor Colleen's systemized demostration of what life on Noordam might be. Thanks!!!

 

 

We are first time HAL cruisers doing a 24 day med cruise in May next year on the Eurodam.

Is there a similar link for photos of the Eurodam?

Thank you

Chris

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[CowPrincess]

Best thing I learned from CC was about the shareholder credit :D Love it :D