Coming home to HAL after playing footsie with Princess and RCI

[kangforpres]

Hi Everyone-

 

We are looking forward to coming back home to HAL after trying Princess (sails from our home port of SF) and RCI (Great intermarry and price for Cuba), We are 4 stars on HAL and really appreciate the attentive service from everyone on board, Cabin Stewards, Dinning Room Stewards, Bar and wait staff, Casino staff....and laundry for life! And we just feel like a HAL ship is our home away from home on the high seas.

 

We are on the Zandaam South America Explorer next week, I'm hoping wine options have gotten better with the new master Sommelier. We also have the Signature Beverage Package  which now covers drinks $9 and under. Anyway...cut to the chase has anyone been on board lately who can review the new/different wine options. We also get 50% of wine packages but when you get 15 drinks a day what's the point of buying bottles

 

Thanks, and Happy Sailing

 

Paul

[ski ww]

:  http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Wine-Packages.pdf:  http://www.rogerjett-

Here try this.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome back to HAL.

[EbayCruiser]

Welcome back to HAL.  How did you like Princess?  We have been thinking of booking a cruise with them.  Most of our cruises have been with HAL but we have gone on several RC ships and one Disney ship.

[kangforpres]

13 hours ago, EbayCruiser said:

Welcome back to HAL.  How did you like Princess?  We have been thinking of booking a cruise with them.  Most of our cruises have been with HAL but we have gone on several RC ships and one Disney ship.

Princess was fine, but it's not HAL and difference is a good thing.

 

 Overall I think food and ship-wide service is better on HAL, but what I really liked on Princess was the International Cafe option it's real snack-able decent food 24/7 in the middle of the ship. Also I think Princess has a nicer breakfast option for suite guests in Sabatini's they made it clear to me on my first morning, we have a menu but anything you want just ask and we will get it. As for casual lido dinning I think HAL's world market concept beats any other line I've been on including Cunard.

 

As I get older and rounder the only distinct difference that kind of bugged me is that they still have Formal Nights on Princess and HAL has now gone to Gala nights. Also for whatever reason we just didn't feel the connection with fellow passengers we feel when on HAL.

 

Just on thing about Formal vs. Gala night. I'm a rule follower so If I need to wear a suit to dinner I will and not complain about it, but if I can have the option of pants, a decent colored shirt and shoes it's really so much easier. I hear the "Lux" lines have all gotten rid of "formal" nights too.

Edited February 14, 2019 by kangforpres

[Wishing on a star]

Princess has just made horrible changes/cutbacks to their menus.

That is my big problem with Princess now.

Yes, they do still have what they call Formal Nights,  but it is open to interpretation.

Yes, one should look nice...  But I have not seen jackets required, or even a big percentage of men in jackets....

Nice slacks, dress shirt, tie, etc...  do the trick.

 

The demand for the not-so-formal, more casual cruising is alive and well on Princess as well.

 

[Hawaiidan]

On 2/13/2019 at 7:55 PM, kangforpres said:

Princess was fine, but it's not HAL and difference is a good thing.

 

 Overall I think food and ship-wide service is better on HAL, but what I really liked on Princess was the International Cafe option it's real snack-able decent food 24/7 in the middle of the ship. Also I think Princess has a nicer breakfast option for suite guests in Sabatini's they made it clear to me on my first morning, we have a menu but anything you want just ask and we will get it. As for casual lido dinning I think HAL's world market concept beats any other line I've been on including Cunard.

 

As I get older and rounder the only distinct difference that kind of bugged me is that they still have Formal Nights on Princess and HAL has now gone to Gala nights. Also for whatever reason we just didn't feel the connection with fellow passengers we feel when on HAL.

 

Just on thing about Formal vs. Gala night. I'm a rule follower so If I need to wear a suit to dinner I will and not complain about it, but if I can have the option of pants, a decent colored shirt and shoes it's really so much easier. I hear the "Lux" lines have all gotten rid of "formal" nights too.

Yes....  I have sailed both Luxury Regent and Prem Oceania. and there are NO formal nights or fix seating in any restaurant  .....  No jeans or baseball hats, shorts and time....   Collared shirts like golf and button down.  and slacks like dockers    quite a few blazers though.  Mainly at specialties

On HAL   on gala nights I dine in the lido out of respect for others who do like to dress up.    Just good manners

Edited February 17, 2019 by Hawaiidan

[fatcat04]

We just had the Elite Beverage pkg on NA and made liberal use of it. If you are a wine drinker, the small upgrade charge may well be worth it. 

 

Dh and I generally had 2 glasses of wine with lunch and 3 for dinner plus a couple of cocktails after hours. Only exception was Hemingway Daiquiri night, which I enjoyed with my meal as it is an all time fav of mine I generally only indulge in on cruises. Another bonus of the Elite pkg is you can always request top shelf liquors be used in your cocktails which we did several times.

This was the first cruise dh looked at me and said "Maybe we shouldn't bother bringing wine on anymore." That was shocking as we always bring on several bottles and pay corkage. I'll include some photos of the wine by the glass we ordered from in the mdr.

We enjoyed the Nicholas F Champagne, even though it was not on the menu. I just asked the steward what was the best Champagne on the Elite pkg and he said Nicholas. It was good.

 

For whites we liked Noblio Sauvignon Blanc, Laurenz Gruner Veltliner, and Pian di Remole Bianco.

For reds we enjoyed Mondavi Pinot Noir and Frescobaldi Chianti.

For dessert wine, we had a standing order for Errazuriz Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc every night. 

We were quite pleased with the wine options on the Elite pkg. 

Edited February 17, 2019 by fatcat04

[fatcat04]

[fatcat04]

I don't know if this has been posted recently but here are the Cellar 1,2, and 3 packages we encountered last week. 

Edited February 17, 2019 by fatcat04

[kangforpres]

Thanks FatCat04 for the current wines by the glass menu. So with the Elite it's anything $15 an under and with the Signature it's $9 an under? I can see from the menu where that extra $6 a glass gets you lots more choices.

 

Just printed are AA boarding passes we are headed to Buenos Aries tomorrow and on the Zaandam on Thursday!

 

-Paul

[fatcat04]

1 hour ago, kangforpres said:

Thanks FatCat04 for the current wines by the glass menu. So with the Elite it's anything $15 an under and with the Signature it's $9 an under? I can see from the menu where that extra $6 a glass gets you lots more choices.

 

Just printed are AA boarding passes we are headed to Buenos Aries tomorrow and on the Zaandam on Thursday!

 

-Paul

Correct. It really does open up the wine list. 

 

Have a wonderful cruise!!